| Music marketing is by and large difficult for | | | | banner ad- looks really good, but never gets |
| most artists, that is something we need to | | | | the click.What you need to do is create |
| realise. Marketing yourself, being confident | | | | content within your site. Simple as that. |
| to allow people to listen to your tracks and | | | | Without content you are just another site |
| most importantly, handling criticism takes a | | | | that the visitor has no real reason to come |
| bit of time to get used to. In the majority | | | | back to. Content also increases the chances |
| of cases though, marketing plans do fail. you | | | | of you being picked up by the search engines. |
| may have a great sounding track, but if it is | | | | Please note:Google, and the other big search |
| not marketed properly then it will just be | | | | engines have stated that their thousands of |
| white noise.However all is not lost.The main | | | | calculations per site includes content |
| reasons why music marketing fails is that 1) | | | | search. This is a fundamental statement, even |
| there is always some money involved, and 2) | | | | if you are a music site giving away your |
| we market our music.They all sound a bit | | | | MP3s.If you have ever looked for MP3s within |
| strange I know, but my plan is for you to get | | | | the search engines, there are about 6 million |
| over these hurdles and to get your music out | | | | sites dedicated to the term MP3. Now, your |
| there without any hassle. I will take each of | | | | one site has to be found by a visitor, the |
| the above points in turn, but remember they | | | | chances are very low. However, if your site |
| are interlinked:1) Money marketing. This is | | | | has content focused keywords, such as "good |
| bad. The economics of this is so: you have to | | | | guitar riffs", "how to gig" etc, then you |
| sell slot of tracks to get back the amount | | | | will be picked up much easily than a simple |
| you spent on marketing, then you need to sell | | | | MP3 search. Within the various pages that you |
| a few more to make any profit. The problems | | | | have created you put, "download free guitar |
| is, why are we spending so much money on | | | | MP3s" or something that suits your music, and |
| music marketing, or, why are we spending any | | | | you then advertise your MP3s through the |
| money on marketing at all?! The Internet has | | | | "back door". Content will also bring back the |
| greatly reduced the cost of marketing by | | | | visitors, they love a site that they are |
| 100%. Yep, marketing should be free, then any | | | | interested in, they sign up to your |
| tracks that you do sell is pure profit. There | | | | news-letter, and then you email them with new |
| are so many music marketing strategies, some | | | | updates, your new MP3s etc. Then you start to |
| of which are simple ideas that are not being | | | | create your own little buzz, you create |
| utilised.Here are some fantastic free | | | | people willing to listen to your tracks.A |
| marketing strategies are not being used, at | | | | sideline to content is always relevant, |
| all. How about leaflet distribution, flyers, | | | | up-to-date content. Offering tapes with your |
| making a mailing list then advertising your | | | | tracks on is music marketing suicide. I have |
| new tracks on that (they already like your | | | | seen these actually being offered on some |
| tracks because they have signed upto your | | | | websites. Offering a tape states that 1. You |
| mailing list). Applying to competitions will | | | | are not up-to-date hence your sounds won't |
| always bring in some much needed traffic as | | | | be, 2. You are offering poor quality, hence |
| competitions generate 1) leads and interest | | | | your tracks won't shine, and 3. You have to |
| from the host site, 2) your tracks will get | | | | pay out for the tape (postage and packaging |
| viral marketed especially if it has become in | | | | etc). People on the Internet want things now, |
| the top 3. Viral marketing is just another | | | | not tomorrow, offering MP3s, even short WAV |
| way of spreading interest, all the people | | | | files is giving the visitor what they want- |
| who voted for your tracks will recommend the | | | | immediate access to your tracks.Relevant |
| great track that they heard, and you name | | | | content is just as important as current |
| spreads. 3) You can always advertise the fact | | | | content. If you have a rock website stick to |
| that you got in first, second or third in X | | | | rock related web pages. If I was into hip-hop |
| competition (always state how many other | | | | I wouldn't go onto your rock site and look at |
| competitors were there as well- coming third | | | | hip-hop related articles. Obvious I know, but |
| out of four entries is nothing to promote | | | | scarily this has been done. It also has |
| really).Surely the ultimate advertising | | | | another effect. The search engines see topic |
| strategy is...give away your MP3s for FREE! A | | | | specific sites as just that, topic specific. |
| simple technique that promotes your tracks. | | | | If you stray away from your chosen topic it |
| People then trust you, they love quality | | | | will not look good for you with the engines. |
| items, they assume then, "hmm, if this is | | | | They will see that your relevance has reduced |
| free, and it's good, what would his selling | | | | and so to will your page ranking.Content is |
| tracks be like?" Free stuff sells pay goods, | | | | not that easy to accomplish. It comes with |
| fact. Give away alot of free stuff...MP3s | | | | time, you need to tweak, track whether that |
| being the main one, and then be patient.Once | | | | has done any good to your traffic or click |
| you have finished your free marketing, start | | | | throughs. You could also just be writing alot |
| again. Just keep on promoting yourself by | | | | of drivel. Content needs to be "Search Engine |
| free processes. It gets your name banded | | | | Focused", you need to honestly persuade |
| around, people will see your Webpage link and | | | | people to buy from you, you need to have a |
| click on it increasing your traffic. It might | | | | one to one style (like you are talking to a |
| not too successful in the first few months or | | | | friend), and definitely not be boring. Nearly |
| maybe even a year, but stick with it, gaining | | | | forgot, you need to assess who your audience |
| visitor confidence will ultimately prevail.2) | | | | is. Are they young, middle aged, |
| The above is great, but why would anyone buy | | | | technophobic? You writing style should cater |
| any track from you in the first place? To | | | | for your audience. For example, a younger |
| most surfers you are faceless, they don't see | | | | audience will like more colour, more tech |
| you on the music videos, so why should they | | | | information, a friendly banter, and |
| buy anything from you?Harsh words I know, I'm | | | | up-to-date chart acts. Generally if you write |
| sorry, but it is true. That is the real | | | | as you would talk to a friend then you will |
| reason why there are thousands of good groups | | | | be on safe lines.Dominic Hough has made music |
| and artists out there in Internet land | | | | for over 18 years. On his site he has |
| marketing away, spending cash and showing | | | | proved that you can make, and market your own |
| nothing for it. They marketed first, wanting | | | | techno songs for free. His site also covers |
| cash, and their visitors are literally saying | | | | sampling, MP3s, loops and much more. |
| "I don't think so". You then become the | | | | |