Who ever said that music and business do not mix?
Sure, you might think that being an artist means you are above such mundane things as paying the bills, but if you are really an artist, the only way you can continue to be an artist is to take care of business.
Of course, if you make music for your own pleasure, then that’s the end of this discussion. However, if you want to share your music with others, then you have to make the effort to put it out there. That said, there is nothing in the rule book that says you have to be paid anything to share your music. If you simply want people to hear you, then give it away. That should satisfy your artistic morals as you get ready to go to your day job.
You still have to promote yourself, however, and the easiest way to do that is to through email marketing. Here are some do’s and don’ts to get you started.
DO…
Record your music
The first part of promoting yourself is to have something for your audience to hear. There is no point in email marketing if you have nothing to show them yet. Record one or two of your best work initially as well as you can. Pay attention to the quality; it should be at least clear so people can appreciate it. It is easy enough nowadays with the technology you need probably built into your computer or smartphone. You don’t have to invest in expensive equipment just yet.
Have an awesome website
You might think you can simply upload your music anywhere and send people the link, but you want them to be able to find all your music in one place. A website you own and control is the best way to do that. This is also where your fans can go to find out more about your band. Besides, it is easier to mine emails and gather metrics when you have your own website.
Perform live
You want to focus on the local community first before setting your sights on the global scene. Performing live gives you immediate feedback, and you can be sure some people in the audience will be Snapchatting you like crazy.
Nothing is easier than promoting local talent to the locals. Don’t worry about performing to a large audience; that will come later. Go to the local high school, or play some tunes for the local festival. Performing live is also a good way to establish your music as your own.
Have a call to action
Your email should serve a purpose other than cluttering your recipients’ inboxes. You want them to do something, such as register on your website, share your music on social media, or buy something. Make sure you have a call to action. You can ensure they open your email by having an intriguing subject line. When they do, make sure you deliver what you promise, though, or they will feel cheated.
Give something away
When you send out email, make sure you give your recipients something in exchange for doing what you want them to do. It could be tickets to your next live performance, a downloadable link to your music, or promotional merchandise. You need to give value to your audience to get as many subscribers as you can.
Use social media
Your own website is not enough. You have to have a presence in social networks such as YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter. Be sure you include your email address and website URL. This is also a good way to find influencers. Influencers are people that have a lot of followers on social media. They could be artists themselves, or people who know a lot about music. Follow and connect with them, comment on their posts, and contribute to their blogs. You will connect with a lot of people that way and get access to emails.
DON’T….
Make it hard for people to find you or your songs
The biggest mistake you can make in email marketing is not giving people links to your website or your songs. You are asking them to work too hard, and they simply won’t do it. Make t easy for them to find your best work for the best possible first impression. You should also make it easy for them to give you feedback, good or bad. This can help you improve your work, and shows they bothered to listen at all.
Confuse people about your music
You need to be very clear in your head about what group’s music is all about, and you need to explain it in a way that they can understand and get excited about it. Fire them up with the passion you feel, and translate it in words in your email. Provide them with references to other artists they may know so they get a clear picture of the nature and purpose of your music. Make them want to know more about you.
Fail to follow up
Deliver what you promise, and follow up on initial contact by engaging them on different platforms. If you keep yourself in their sights as an interesting group to watch, it will help your marketing efforts gain momentum. Send your email list regular newsletters, and keep them in the loop by giving them links to news articles, events, or new songs.
Obsess over perfection
Waiting until your music is perfect before promoting yourself is a mistake. Perfection is subjective; what may be perfect to you may not appeal to your audience. Show your potential audience what you have, and consider it a work in progress. Feedback and comments will help you develop your music in the right direction. You may or may not agree with them, but at least you know what your target audience thinks.
Email marketing may not be on the top of your list as an artist, but it is the easiest and most effective way to make people aware that there is a new player in town. Promote yourself and your music so that you can share it with an audience. If you make money off it, that is just icing on the cake.
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About the author*
Mary Kleim is a digital marketing specialist. She helps brands and companys to create reputation. Also, she is an owner of her own project dedicated to student help. For more details go on her site https://www.assignmentmasters.co.uk/essay-service/