SoundCloud is one of the best (and often underused) social media resources for musicians and artists. In addition to being a convenient place to host your music for showcasing, SoundCloud provides many tools for independent artists to promote their music online. With the recent move to a user-centric payment system, there's even more reason to up your game on SoundCloud and make your music tickle the eardrums of loyal fans and future fans alike.Whether you're new to SoundCloud or just haven't taken the time to learn how to get the most out of your account, this post will help you get started on the yellow brick road to subscriber growth and perhaps world domination in your niche.1. Who are you?Let's start with the basics: make sure your profile is up to date and in line with your other online platforms. If you have an image or color scheme on your site, create a SoundCloud banner that matches it. Make sure all links work and include a photo or image on your profile so casual viewers get an immediate idea of who you are as an artist before they even listen to a single note.2. Don't be afraid to shareIf you're not sure if your music is ready to be released to the public, why not share a work in progress or a demo? Let your fans see your workflow, all its flaws.3. Metadata is the KeyWhen uploading a track to SoundCloud, be sure to complete as many metadata fields as possible. To do this, go to the "Metadata" tab on the page for uploading or editing a composition. These may include: artist name, lyricist, composer, label.And most importantly - be sure to use tags in your music! This will make it easier for listeners browsing SoundCloud to find your songs.Tagging is a mysterious art, but with a bit of experimentation and looking at the statistics, you will eventually figure out which tags work for you and your sound.Don't spam - be direct, honest and concise with your tags and you'll make your music more discoverable.