Okay, so I wasn’t going to tell anyone these tips…not even you. But I just
couldn’t help it. I mean, it’s you after all. You’ve been there for me since
the very start. Even when I had to shelf IndieMusicLounge.Com for a
while most of you stuck it out with me (IndieMusicLounge.Com 3.0 will be
launching officially next October with some elements of the site launching
even earlier!!!!!!) So for you, anything. These are a few tips I picked up over
the years while working on things online myself, tips from online marketing
gurus and ideas I’ve utilized successfully with indie artists that I have worked
with myself.
You Must Blog as a Musician
Blogging is now old in the quick changing world of the Internet, but it is
still effective. I run several blogs (don’t even update them regularly) and
have been able to pick up a lot of emails for newsletters and funnel marketing
as a result. Don’t just blog about your music as most musicians feel trapped to
do, but rather post on everything relating to you and your band members. I
personally think that every band member needs their own blog on a band website.
You all have different interests and personalities which could draw in different readers
and potential fans.
I think it is best to host the blog on your band website rather than some of the
blog engines out there because you can then for sure put up ads (sparingly)
and promote your own material, especially with a Wordpress powered blog.
Plus, you can usually get some pretty awesome plugins too this way. Check
out my personal blog here: www.b-marcel.com/mainblog for some ideas.
Myspace, Facebook, & Twitter My Way
I think most of you have already come to the conclusion that you must be
wasting your time promoting thru social networks the way that you have
been. In other words, the free way. Free is great and all…it’s beautiful and it
can get you started, but at some point if you are serious about getting out
there you are going to have to start advertising and coughing up at least a
little dough per month. Set a budget for each social network you are involved
with and create unified campaigns with a unified message.
There are also some great free ways to get more profile views on your
social network profiles though, but they are not that obvious. For instance,
you can very easily connect and befriend other artists and then make an
agreement that you’ll both email one anothers email lists/newsletter groups
with information about the other artist that you dig and ask that your fans
support them. This is business 101, networking. Set up mashables with other
indie artists and have them do the same with your music and display them
exclusively on your site or social networking profile. I for my blog am planning
on featuring funny shows spots with local actors and musicians to help promote
them and hopefully they’ll reciprocate the favor. At the end of each of these
Vlogs/webisodes-postings I will be leaving information about the actors/artists
and how they can be contacted, their email list sign up info and where to purchase
their material. The opportunity to network and gain more fans thru other
musicians lists are endless.
That’s it for now. Geez, I can’t believe you got that out of me. Those were my
secret plans , haha. Anyway, I help this helps you out greatly in all seriousness.
Until next time, Get Out There and Manifest Your Career Goals!
Peace,
~Brandon Marcel
Tags: facebook advertising, how to grow your email lists, music business tips, myspace tips, networking musicians