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How To Blow-up Your Band On An Artist’s Budget
By Aaron Weiner
Co-Founder &VPArtist Relations, Audiolife
I’ve been there. Your sound is amazing, your fan base is growing, you are abundant inpassion and your wallet has not caught up. Many bands approach the marketing game hot and heavy butultimately lose steam when it comes to what I like to call “consistence andpersistence”. Even more artistssimply won’t approach this critical aspect of the industry because they are intimidatedor overwhelmed.
I’m here to offer simple, clear and cheap actions that canrocket your band to stardom. If you believe in your music and commit toembracing the business side with these tools, anything is possible. I suggest you start with afew items that seem fun (or at least doable), apply them for a few weeks andonce you are comfortable, add a few more. And if you get stuck, just give me ashout:
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10 “Easy To Implement” Musical Marketing Tips
1) Sign-upon every social network you can, and go beyond Myspace and Facebook (eg, Bebo,ILike, IMeem, etc.). Some of thesesites have millions of users that you will be missing out on if you only stickto the mainstream social networks.
2) Continueto add new content to your website and social networking profiles (most socialnetworks have feeds so whenever you perform new activities, such as addingphotos, songs, blogs, new shows etc., it gets picked up on your feeds for fansto see)
a) Createas many songs as possible (multiple versions etc…).
b) Createa weekly blog: Your music draws fans in. Once you have them on your site, having a personal blog will keep themon your site. As they get to knowyou, the loyalty grows in leaps and bounds.
c) Createas many videos as possible: This doesn’t have to be a video that coststhousands of dollars to create. Itcould be as simple as a video you record at home working on your newest songwhile playing an acoustic guitar.
3) Getyour fans involved!
a) Havethem rate songs.
b) Engagethem in the process of choosing what songs will be on your album.
c) Engagethem in the process of selecting your album artwork and packaging.
4) CreateFan Ambassadors.
a) Wheneveryou find true fans that love you and your music, do anything you can to makethem feel as involved in your career as possible. They are the ones who will help spread the word.
b) Createcustom CDs just for them with their name on it.
c) Writethem a song for their birthday and give it to them as a ringtone, download orCD.
d) Givethem the task to help spread your music; they are more than willing to do that.
5) Networkwith other Bands constantly. Makefriends!
a) Thisshould be your number one goal anytime you are around musicians. By doing so, you can start booking newevents with these artists, and this will help expand your fan base immensely.
b) Themore people you know, the more people will help you get known.
6) Connectwith Music Bloggers.
a) Thisis critical. Bloggers focus ongetting content out daily, and want to be the person who finds the next bigthing. They love to write aboutmusic, and establishing a good relationship with key bloggers will help spreadthe word about your music.
b) Anytimeyou find a blog you dig, comment and lead them back to your band’s site.
7) Brandyour Band!
a) Makesure your website and social networking profiles are tight and enticing when anew fan visits your page.
b) Create:a cool logo that your fans would post around as stickers, flyers, or somethingthey would love to wear; custom products; a CD and merchandise item for everylive show; custom shirts for specific fans with their names on it.
c) Signeach of the products that you sell at your shows.
d) Giveaway your merchandise to fans who will wear it and promote your music.
e) Havea beautiful girl and handsome guy manage your email list during shows. Many men find it hard to turn downwriting an email when a beautiful girl comes up to him. You have to use that toyour advantage.
8) Utilizetried and true guerilla email marketing tactics.
a) Makesure you add new friends to your social networking profiles on a dailybasis. You can do this allday. I would recommend adding themaximum daily as you never know what new fan you will reach, and how that fancan help you.
b) Themore you send out, the more you increase the odds of getting new fans
c) Don’tbe afraid to send messages out over and over, keep your band and brand in theirhead at all times. If they don’tlisten to you the first or second time you sent a message, they will the third.
9) Followup with your fans.
a) Senda message to every new fan that is added to your social network profile- thisshould be instantaneous. Follow upwith them and ask how they are enjoying the music.
b) Writecomments on other artist’s walls that are similar to you. This helps to create new exposure totheir fans (great minds, and all that).
10) Spread the word!
a) Wheneveryou have a new product, or a big update for your band, get it out there: blog,bulletin, email and SMS text your fans with updated info.
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