When a playlister spots your song in their PlaylisterClub feed or a new listener scrolls past your Songfly ad on social media, you have just 30 seconds (or less) to make an impression. In reality, a lot of people actually decide whether they like a track within just the first five seconds. That short preview is all you get to convince them your song deserves their attention, their click, and ultimately, their stream.
That said, you do have full control over what this 30-second will sound like, and choosing the right section of your track can completely change how your campaign performs. We’re gonna walk you through how to change your song’s audio preview on both PlaylisterClub and Songfly, and what kinds of previews actually work best. Keep reading for more!
Why Does My Song Preview Matter?
Your song preview is the first impression your track makes, which will decide everything for the results you ultimately get.
On PlaylisterClub, your preview determines whether a playlister will give your song a full listen, add it to their playlist, leave a review, or scroll past it entirely. These playlisters are listening for moments that instantly connect to their playlist’s mood, energy, and vibe, not for slow builds or intros.
On Songfly, your preview is what new audiences first hear when seeing your ads on social media (unless you’ve already uploaded a custom video). This means that your preview needs to successfully convince someone to stop scrolling, listen closer, and maybe even click on the ad to take more actions.
The right preview helps listeners connect with your song quickly, while the wrong one can make them lose interest and move on just as fast. Your preview is more than a snippet; it’s your hook, it’s how you showcase your identity and convert new listeners into fans.
At What Point Should I Change My Preview?
Ideally, as soon as your PlaylisterClub or Songfly campaign is launched!
Songtools pulls your artist and track data from what’s currently live on Spotify. This means the 30-second preview that automatically appears in your Songtools dashboard is sourced directly from Spotify, but that doesn’t always mean it’s the most engaging part.
As soon as your campaign is live, take a moment to listen to your current preview directly within your dashboard. You can press play and listen from any of the following spots in your dashboard to hear which part of the track is being used:
If the preview isn’t showcasing your song’s chorus or feels like it takes too long to get to the good part, it’s time for a change. Even a small tweak, like shifting your preview to start at the chorus or where your vocals first come in, can make a dramatic difference in how people respond.
What Should I Change My Preview To?
When you’re selecting your 30-second preview, make sure you’re showing the part that makes people want to hear more. Here are some quick do’s and don’ts to guide you:
DO:
- Feature the chorus or hook. That’s the part that captures attention and lingers.
- Pick a section that includes vocals, better if it’s an instantly memorable vocally challenging part of the song.
- Choose energy over build-up. The preview should start strong, not wait to get there.
- Make sure it’s clean and clear. No long intros, talking sections, or fades. Hit the listener right away.
- Choose the part that best represents the vibe you want people to remember.
DON’T:
- Don’t start with a long instrumental intro, people tune out before it gets good.
- Don’t use sections with low or muffled vocals, clarity matters.
- Don’t include slow or repetitive bridges, these rarely excite new listeners.
- Don’t choose something that feels unfinished, your preview should sound complete on its own.
Examples:
- CLICK HERE for an example of something to avoid when selecting your preview.
- WHY? This preview doesn’t highlight the main part of the song. Instead, it features a calmer section near the end, after all the main energy and drops have already passed. Meaning listeners aren’t getting a clear sense of what makes the track stand out.
- CLICK HERE for a more effective preview of the same song.
- WHY? It features the full production, vocals, and main hook from the chorus, giving listeners a real sense of the song’s overall energy and appeal.
How to Change Your Song’s Audio Preview (Step-by-Step)
For PlaylisterClub:
- Head to your active campaign’s PlaylisterClub dashboard
- Click on the “Settings” tab
- Open the “Creative” tab
- Go to “Audio”
- Upload the full MP3 file of your track
- Then choose the exact section of your song to feature in the 30-second preview.
For PlaylisterClub, it should look something like this:
For Songfly:
- Head to your active campaign’s Songfly dashboard
- Click on the “Settings” tab
- Scroll down and open the “Ad Creatives” tab
- Upload the full MP3 file of your track
- Once uploaded, you’ll be able to select which 30-second section you’d like to feature in your ad.
For Songfly, it should look something like this:
Key Takeaways
- Your preview is the first impression your song makes, both to playlisters and new audiences on social media.
- You can (and should) control which part of your song is featured, don’t always rely on the default clip.
- High-energy, vocal-driven moments work best as previews.
- Changing your preview is simple, just upload an MP3 file of your full track and select the section you want.
FAQ’s
Q: Can I upload only the 30-second preview instead of the full track?
A: We recommend uploading the full MP3 as this gives you full flexibility to choose any section for your preview, rather than being locked into one snippet.
Q: What if I pick the wrong section? Can I change it later?
A: Absolutely! You can re-upload your file and adjust your preview anytime during your campaign.
Q: Does the full track ever get shared publicly?
A: No, only your selected 30-second preview is ever shared with playlisters or used in Songfly ads.
Q: How can I test which preview performs better?
A: Try running two short campaigns using different preview sections (e.g., one with the chorus, one with the verse) and compare engagement to see which resonates with listeners better.
Taking control of your audio preview carefully will give your campaign a stronger start, and a better chance to connect with the right audience. Follow these steps and suggestions to make sure those first 30 seconds truly represent your track!
Photo by Jumping Jax on Unsplash
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