Step-by-step guide: Selling music on Square
Selling music online is a powerful way for musicians and artists to share their creativity with the world — far beyond the scope of traditional sales methods. This global platform allows artists to reach a wider audience, without geographical limitations, thereby maximizing their exposure and potential fan base. Online sales also offer greater flexibility and control over distribution, enabling artists to release their music independently, without relying on record labels. This autonomy enables greater profit margins and creative freedom.
The convenience and accessibility of online platforms — like Square and SendOwl — make it easier for fans to discover, purchase, and share music — fostering a more direct and personal connection between artists and their listeners. Overall, selling music online democratizes the music industry, empowering artists to build sustainable careers on their terms. That’s why we want to share how you can start selling your own music online today with Square!
What is digital music?
Digital music isn’t tied to a specific physical product. It can be stored, transmitted, and played back using a wide variety of digital services and devices. The advent of digital music has revolutionized how people access, share, and enjoy music — making it more portable and convenient than ever before. Online platforms and services — like streaming apps, digital downloads, and cloud storage — have further expanded the reach and availability of music, providing listeners with vast libraries of songs at their fingertips. While the streaming apps are great, being the sole distributor of your music gives you unsurpassed control and ownership of your work.
Benefits of selling music online
High profit margins
By passing traditional distribution channels, such as record labels and physical stores, artists can retain a larger share of their earnings. Online platforms allow for direct-to-consumer sales, reducing the need for intermediaries who typically take a substantial cut of the profits. Want to learn more? Check out our deep dive.
No physical product storage or shipping
Digital distribution eliminates many of the costs associated with producing and shipping physical media, such as CDs or vinyl records. This reduction in overhead costs means that a higher percentage of each sale goes directly to the artist. Moreover, with digital music, artists can continuously earn revenue from their music through downloads, streaming services, and licensing opportunities — without the significant upfront costs and risks of physical production.
Setting up your Square Online store
To get started selling music on Square, you'll first need to set up your Square Online store and integrate it with SendOwl, a platform that specializes in digital product delivery.
Creating a Square account
Creating a Square Online account is a straightforward process that involves signing up on the Square website and following the prompts to set up your store. It’s a good idea to dedicate a special email address to this new account, to help you keep track of Square-specific messages. And make sure you download the Square app to keep up to date on your notifications.
Integrating SendOwl with your Square account
SendOwl seamlessly integrates with Square, providing a robust solution for selling digital products. Here's how to get started:
Connecting Square and SendOwl accounts
Head to the settings page in your SendOwl account, and click the "Square settings'' link. Next, hit the connect button. Make sure to read the permissions that SendOwl requires in order to sync with your Square orders and securely deliver your digital content.
Linking SendOwl products to Square products
Once your accounts are connected, you can easily link your SendOwl products to corresponding products in your Square Online store. Head to your SendOwl dashboard, and hit the “sell” button on one of your products — you’ll then see a list of ways to sell your item. Click on “Square,” and select the product you want to link. Now, when someone purchases the linked product from your Square checkout, SendOwl will safely deliver the digital file to your buyer.
Creating your music
Creating music online requires a blend of creativity, technical skills, and strategic planning. Here are some tips to help you succeed:
Invest in quality equipment: Start with a good computer, digital audio workstation (DAW) software, and high-quality headphones or studio monitors. Consider investing in a good microphone and audio interface if you plan to record vocals or live instruments.
Learn your tools: Familiarize yourself with your DAW and other music production tools. Many online tutorials and courses can help you master the software and hardware you use.
Use virtual instruments and plugins: Take advantage of the wide range of virtual instruments and effects plugins available online. These can expand your sonic palette and help you create professional-sounding tracks.
Leverage online resources: Use online tutorials, forums, and courses to continuously improve your skills. Websites like YouTube, Coursera, and Udemy offer valuable insights into music theory, production techniques, and industry trends.
Experiment with different genres and styles: Don’t be afraid to explore various genres and styles. This can help you find your unique sound and expand your creative horizons.
Uploading and listing your music
Once your music has been composed, it's time to upload it to SendOwl and list your songs in your Square online store.
Uploading files to SendOwl
Upload your music files to SendOwl on your dashboard, ensuring they’re correctly formatted and ready to be downloaded by customers.
Creating product listings on Square
In your online Square dashboard, create product listings for each of your songs, providing detailed descriptions and engaging images to entice potential buyers. Make sure they’re connected with the products in SendOwl. Follow the instructions from the “Linking SendOwl products to Square products” section above, to ensure that they’re safely delivered to your buyer.s And download the Square app so that you never miss a notification!
Setting prices and descriptions
Once your items are in your Square item library, set appropriate prices for your music — based on factors such as production costs, market demand, and perceived value. Craft compelling descriptions of the unique composition or lyrics of each song — you want people to want to listen to your stuff! So be sure to highlight the things that make your music different. Do a little research on similar products and their price points, so you can list the most competitive prices in your store.
Marketing your music
Now that your music is live on your Square store, it's time to drive traffic and generate sales through effective marketing tools and strategies.
Optimizing listings with relevant keywords and SEO
Research keywords related to your music, and incorporate them into your product titles, descriptions, and tags, to improve visibility in search results.
Promoting your music on social media platforms
Utilize social media platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook to showcase your music, engage with your audience, and drive traffic to your Square Online store. Check out these resources on how to promote and sell digital products on TikTok and Instagram to get some ideas on content creation.
Utilizing SendOwl data for informed marketing decisions
Monitor sales data and customer behavior within SendOwl to identify trends, track the performance of your marketing efforts, and make data-driven decisions to optimize your strategy. Your Square online dashboard will also provide you with valuable user metrics that will help you make data-informed decisions.
Delivering your music securely
Ensuring the security of your digital downloads is crucial for protecting your products and customers' information. Here's how SendOwl helps you deliver music securely:
Unique, secure download links for each purchase
SendOwl generates unique download links for each customer, preventing unauthorized access and sharing of your digital files.
Customizable link expiration and usage limits
You can set expiration dates and usage limits on download links to encourage timely downloads of purchases and prevent abuse of your products.
Conclusion
Selling music on Square can be a great way to generate passive income by tapping into your passion for creating music. By following this step-by-step guide, you can set up your store, create compelling music that people want to listen to and buy, and market that music effectively to reach your target audience. Here’s a quick recap to get you started:
Set up your Square account, integrate SendOwl, and download the Square app.
Create your original music using high-quality equipment.
Upload your music to SendOwl, and create product listings through your online Square dashboard.
Implement marketing strategies to drive traffic and generate sales.
Deliver your music securely using SendOwl's customizable features.
With the right tools, resources, and mindset, you have everything you need to succeed in selling music on Square. Get started today, and turn your passion into a thriving online business!
Matt Wells is the Head of Operations at SendOwl, a digital product delivery and access solutions for creators, solopreneurs and SMBs. An accomplished entrepreneur and technologist, he has founded multiple companies, including Virtual Value and Shujinko. Throughout Matt's career, he has built and led high-performing teams that consistently deliver world-class software solutions. With deep expertise in cloud engineering, infrastructure, and security, Matt has held impactful roles at Starbucks, CARDFREE.
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