Author: pete

Promoly Tutorial – How to create and send a music promo campaign

I’m going to show you how to create a new music promo and send it to your mailing list using Promoly.

By the way – if watching videos is more your thing, there’s a video at the very bottom of this guide.

First of all, you’ll need to log in to mailer.promo.ly If you’re a customer. If you’re brand new to this, you need to start a free trial – no strings attached!

Once logged in, click on create ‘new campaign.’

For this tutorial, I will concentrate on the promo, which is deliverable by email.

You’ll need to give the new promo a name, and Promoly will create a new promo card.

Once done, you need to click on edit on the new campaign to start creating the promo.

If you’re used to sending emails, Promoly’s editor should be very familiar to you.

Writing subject lines

We’re sending this promo via email, so like any other email, we need a subject line. Marketing is all about clicks and how to get more of them – without someone clicking on your content, it’s challenging to get them to your destination.

In this case, we want to deliver a promo to someone’s inbox, get them to open the email, click on the promo and THEN check out your music. If we get more clicks by writing a catchy subject line, the rest will fall into place much more straightforward.

The subject line has to be catchy. Think about the last time you opened an email – what made you click it?

We’ll call this one ‘My music is incredible‘ for now.

To help you write better and get more people clicking, Promoly scores the subject line out of 100. You can see in the screenshot ‘My music is incredible‘ is pretty hard to scan and not the easiest to read.

This subject line scores 85%. Remember what I said earlier?

“With email marketing, the hardest part is getting someone to open your email.”

Once the email is open, the rest of it should follow suit (in theory). So the more clicks you can get in the inbox, the more people will play and listen to your music.

Uploading album release artwork

Adding artwork is very straightforward – press the orange ‘update cover’ button.

Then choose your artwork and press ‘use this image.’

Uploading music to Promoly

I now need to upload some music.

On the campaign editor, press ‘update tracks.’ Then select ‘add track‘ and ‘upload audio‘ – choose the appropriate format. Promoly supports WAV, MP3, AIFF & FLAC.

For this example, I will choose an MP3; I need to give it a track, artist, name and track title. I haven’t got any metadata in this file, and it’s just called Promoly.mp3.

I’m going to call the track artist Pete and the track title New Tune.

Once done, press ‘confirm’ on the upload window, and Promoly will save your music to the campaign.

Adding music release information

Promoly accepts press release information – like you’d include when writing an email to someone trying to promote your music.

Along with the press release, Promoly allows you to set a release date displayed on the promo landing page and the email to the recipient.

My release is going to come out on the 20th of this month.

So far, I’ve written an incredible subject line, uploaded audio, added press release information and set a release date – I’m nearly ready to send to my email list. Before I do, I need to put in a few more parameters.

I have the options of catalogue numbers, genres and need to determine which sending profile I’m delivering the promo emails from.

I’ve set the sending profile as Made Up Records, genre as ‘breakcore’ and the cat number as 001.

In Promoly, you can change the Call To Action button (the button someone will see on your promo email – see the example below) text and colour. I’ve chosen the colour yellow and the text of ‘Tune!’ for mine.

CTA button setup

Email metadata preview

When someone opens my email, they’ll see everything I’ve just set up. When the recipient clicks on ‘Tune!’, they’ll be taken to a private audio landing page, where they can play and download the music.

Promo email reminders

Promoly has promo email reminders. If I send you a promo campaign and you don’t check it within four days, four days later, Promoly will automatically follow up without you having to do anything.

Promoly sends a simple reminder through email, and it will just let you know that you’ve got a new promo that you haven’t checked out.

Enabling forced feedback

If you need to collect recipient feedback on the sent music, enabling ‘require feedback’ is the option for you. This means when someone clicks through to your promo landing page from the promo email, the recipient must leave a comment, thought, or feedback before they can download it.

Sending the promo campaign

To send it. I need to go back to the campaign menu and press ‘send’ on the appropriate campaign.

I’m going to send it to myself for this tutorial. In the To: field, I can type in an email address or select from my email list in Promoly. There are also options to send to all or to send to a select group – if you’re sending to a group, I recommend spending time segmenting your email list.

That’s it – Promoly will schedule the promo and deliver it to the recipient inbox.

If you want further clarification, please check out this video below where I create a promo.

October 27, 2021
How Jesper Skibsby launched WARM, and now building an algorithm to predict radio airplay success.

Jesper Skibsby is an entrepreneur living in Copenhagen – he founded World Airplay Radio Monitor in 2016, which now monitors 30,000 radio stations worldwide. Jesper talks in-depth about starting companies, the struggles involved, raising capital to grow, and the future of WARM. Don’t miss this incredible show; you’ll learn a ton!

Find out more about WARM here .

Find out more about Promoly here.

October 16, 2021
Why Are Podcasts Becoming More Significant These Days?

You may not even realize it, but podcasts are the trending form of media nowadays. In a world full of social media sites and audiobooks, people are flocking towards a platform or medium that still holds water, even when traditional radio talk programs are going off-air. You may have even heard a few episodes in the past few years, all tackling your favourite past times and topics in an hour or so.

Indeed, they are the modern replacement of traditional radio programs, so much so that even various industries are sponsoring their content just to get a piece of the earnings.

If you are surprised by the sudden boom of this platform, chances are, you are curious to know how they were able to do it and what made them have a surge in followers over the recent years. If that’s the case, look no further than our examples below.

While not all podcasts can follow such methods, the critical thing to remember is that most of these are generalized workarounds that any podcaster may attempt and experiment with in any way they please. The only difference maker is whether or not their efforts paid off by the end.

1. They Are Very Accessible

To tune in to your favourite radio programs back then, you must have a radio device near you. The same principle does not apply to podcasts, as you may be able to listen in using your mobile device, computer, and even smartwatch. So as long as you have an internet connection, you will be able to access all the available episodes.

The problem with traditional radios is that the radio waves per region often limit them, so if you happen to live in the middle of nowhere, chances are, you will miss all your favourite programs. The same can’t be said about podcasts, where wifi connections are a trend even in the world’s most remote regions.

2. They Enable You to Listen to All the Episodes without Waiting

There used to be a time when being a fan of your favourite radio programs would mean that you had to wait each week for new episodes. While some podcasts may apply the same format to their schedules, most of them upload a whole season in one go.

This means that you can spend the whole day just listening to all the episodes, from beginning to end. You no longer have to wait for a week or two, and neither would you have to miss any more episodes just because you had worked for the day.

3. They Are More Intimate and Relatable

Old radio programs are all about selling something that many may not find endearing to their taste. Of course, they are all sponsored in nature. The thing about podcasts is that they are also sponsored, but they have certain limitations about the creative control of their financial backers.

This means that they still have the freedom to deliver their content without being hindered by corporations, making them more relatable and easy to connect with.

Conclusion

Podcasts have been making the waves for the past few years, and for good reasons. Aside from applying the same techniques that made radio programs such a hit back then, they are more accessible, relatable, and complete with their episodes.

If you want to create your podcasts, now may probably be the right time to do it, as it is one of the trendiest ways of connecting to people worldwide. Let your voice be heard, and deliver some of the most relatable content on the airwaves today!

If you are looking for an agency that offers digital music marketing for your podcast, look no further than our expertise here at Promoly. We specialize in innovating brands to promote their audio over email and social media. Contact us today—let us help you make your voice heard across the world!

October 12, 2021
How to Effectively Boost Your Brand through Audio Marketing

These days, brand owners have multiple options at their disposal to promote their business. With the onslaught of technological developments, almost anything is possible to get your business out there.

One of the most popular ways people have been enjoying different brands’ content has been through digital audio advertising. The appeal that audio marketing has comes from the ability to multitask while consuming this kind of content. Out of all the options available to brand owners, audio remains to be the most flexible.

Reports in 2019 have predicted that more consumers will be listening to audio marketing in 2021. Over three-quarters of internet users already listen to digital audio content, especially podcasts. As a result, many brands invest bigger budgets for audio marketing strategies, and it’s not too late for you to do the same.

In fact, here’s what you can do to boost your brand:

Turn Your Blog Posts into Audio Content

While you’re gearing up to create other forms of audio content, it’s a good idea to use what you’ve already got in your archive. Through repurposing what already exists, it involves turning your written content into audio.

Changing your blog posts into audio content isn’t to say you should stop making written outputs entirely. Some people still prefer readable content, but it’s good to offer an alternative audio option. That way, your brand is catering to a broader audience.

Look Into Investing in Some Podcasts

These days, podcasts are all the rage, and they’re the perfect audio marketing strategy to practice. They’re informational, entertaining, and flexible, all while being an excellent way to boost your brand’s online presence.

Podcast awareness grew from 122 million in 2010 to 212 million in 2020, and it’s been predicted that it’ll only continue to grow to 252 million in the next three years. Now is the perfect time to get your brand involved in this kind of audio marketing strategy.

If the idea of starting your podcast sounds intimidating, you don’t have to worry. You can always begin slowly by sponsoring someone else’s podcast or being a guest speaker. While it doesn’t have the same commitment as managing your own podcast, it still gives your brand good exposure to the existing audience of the brand you’re collaborating with.

Stream Your Advertisements through Live Audio

Many social media platforms these days offer their users to stream live audio content. These include Facebook, Twitter, HearMeOut, Listen, and AudList, to name a few. Some of them allow you to create long and short audio pieces, providing flexibility in the advertisements you make. These soundbites are helpful as they’re usually free to create, and they can go with images or text you’d want to include.

Take Advantage of Growing Advancements in Voice Technology

Studies have shown that about 50 percent of online searches will be voice searches by 2020. This can be an excellent opportunity for digital audio marketing. Optimize your brand’s advertising by focusing on common phrases or search questions instead of using specific keywords. You can even create short soundbites that answer common questions.

Conclusion

There are many kinds of advertising you can choose for your brand, and digital audio marketing is one. It’s a flexible form of advertising for both you and the consumer, and it’s one of the fastest-growing ways people are getting their content across to their target audience.

Promoly offers different audio marketing strategies to help brands promote their audio over multiple platforms. Visit our website now to see which services fit perfectly with your brand.

October 7, 2021
How to Boost Podcast Promotions via Email Marketing

Podcasting is a time-efficient form of communication. Listeners can tune in to podcasts while multitasking at work, commuting, or doing chores at home. They can even replace specific meetings, saving time and increasing efficiency.

Simply put, it is another method to entertain, humor, and educate people. Since it’s all sound, users get fewer distractions, and you can easily convert them to loyal followers because listening to podcasts is a more reliable way of consuming content. It means that it’s quicker to get high-quality leads through podcasting.

This is where email marketing enters. The long-time method is still a reliable and time-tested effective digital marketing strategy with the most significant conversion rates, among other ways.

Adding email marketing to podcast promotions will get you the results you need more efficiently. You can update your audience and easily tap into new listeners, establish loyalty with them, and consistently deliver all types of podcast-related content directly to them.

Here are some other benefits of using email marketing for podcasts:

1. Successfully Nurture Less Active Audiences

Your podcast channel will have a mix of listeners, from the most active to those who occasionally tune in to your podcast.

Email marketing can help you keep engaging with them after signing up for your newsletter or subscribing to your channel. Even if they don’t always listen to your show, they can still receive updates on the latest episodes and promos you may have.

If you write your content well, they will click through links you provide in your email to episodes that pique their interest. They will also not get left out, even if they listen to your show casually, since they regularly receive a summary of your updates via email.

2. Convert Audiences into Paying Customers

Whenever you are releasing a promotion, say for brand new merchandise, service, or affiliates, you need to double up advertisements on the email drips you send. That way, you can inform the majority of your subscribers and give them a chance to participate.

Create email campaigns that provide a compelling copy that moves your subscribers to action, converting them into paying customers.

Best of all, listeners can quickly broaden your reach by wearing or using your items, promoting your podcast channel on social media, and recommending your podcast to their inner circle. That’s free promotion for your podcast!

3. Increase Website Traffic

Email marketing can be a powerful strategy to boost traffic to your podcast website. More online visitors means a better chance of appearing in relevant search results. If you add links in your emails, new listeners can locate your platform better, which is the goal every podcast marketer should aim for from the start.

Sending content routinely encourages your listeners to visit your website and get your newest or most trending episodes. Include clickthrough links to your blogs as well and any other running campaign you may have.

4. Optimize Lead Generation to Acquire New Leads

You can promote your podcast further by using effective lead magnets through email marketing. It can provide free content or discounts that aim to “give back” to your audience.

Suppose you prioritize serving what your customers need instead of hard-selling your content and your product offers. In that case, you are more likely to make loyal followers and customers of your audience.

When you offer something for free, listeners who want to participate will not be bothered to give you their name and email address. It allows you to compound consumer data crucial to improving podcast content, keep it relevant, and add value to your listeners.

The Popularity of Podcasts Is Only Increasing

With more time spent at home and screens being less of a delight but more of a distraction, the popularity of podcasts continues to grow. Consumers seek greater connection and variety, so there has never been a better time to be a podcaster than today.

If you wish to reach a massive audience that is highly mobile, social, engaged, and loyal, you need to start podcasting soon. Further improve your digital marketing strategies with email marketing, a great way to kickstart promotions to your target audience.

At Promoly, we are a record label marketing platform assisting brands in promoting their audio content through email marketing strategies and social media platforms. We effectively track recipient engagement, drive more features, and ultimately increase your sales and put your brand out there. You don’t require a credit card to start now. We also offer flexible pricing for your creative brand, so contact us today!

September 30, 2021
How Tasha Baxter launched her career, had an album produced by Noisia, and started her record label, Polyoto.

Tasha Baxter is a singer-songwriter from South Africa whose voice is synonymous with Drum & Bass. Tasha’s career is diverse; she has had an album produced by Noisia, worked with the likes of Feed Me, and sang for Camo & Krooked as part of Red Bull Symphonic, composed by Christian Kolonovits.

This interview with Tasha is incredible – she goes into the depths of how her career began, the struggles involved and how she created her record label, Polyoto, off the back of the pandemic.

September 30, 2021
How Scott Orr grew as an independent artist, launched a record label and now teaches others to do the same.

Scott Orr is a Canadian musician and owner of Other Songs, a label he created as a launchpad for his music. Scott also runs Other Record Labels, a YouTube channel and podcast series, where he teaches other aspiring businesses owners to start and improve record labels. This episode goes into depth about perseverance, marketing skills and how storytelling can help you build a better brand.

Teaser

“I think the blessing out of that is that you just keep your head down. You do what makes you passionate, and you focus on what excites you. If you try to create music for playlists. And I’ve done that. I’ve thought, oh, this song did well on a playlist. So I’ll recreate, I’ll do another one to try to get the same success. And that feels really gross on the inside. That’s not something I would recommend, and I’ve tried it, and it doesn’t work. You know, it’s, it’s silly. That’s not how that song took off in the first place.”

Listen

Find out more about Other Record Labels here.

Find out more about Promoly here.

September 23, 2021
Efficient Audio Marketing Strategies for Startup Businesses

Startup businesses often have a hard time establishing their brand in today’s very saturated market. Aside from dealing with the everyday problems of the modern industries, they also have to contend with the more significant ventures, which may have more traction and pull with their marketing efforts.

While this may sound grim for small businesses, the truth is that there will always be ways to surpass the challenges of being a smaller fish in the pond. One of the most efficient ways that they may break through the competition would be by utilising audio marketing strategies and methods.

Understandably, not everyone is familiar with them all, which is why we have listed down a couple of them below for your reference. Take note of them and understand how they are executed effectively.

By familiarising yourself with the following methods, you may just boost your brand’s sales and visibility in the long run.

Through Podcast

Podcasts are the new radio programs. While the prominence of traditional mediums such as radios has been dwindling in recent years due to the internet, everyone’s enthusiasm in listening in on interesting audio discussions hasn’t died down one bit.

Some are currently utilising the power of online streaming platforms to make their voices heard through their podcasts, the modern version of radio talk shows. You can take advantage of this trend and establish a podcast for your brand as well.

This may seem unnecessary until you realise that you can merge this with your PR strategies to better promote your products and services without sounding too blunt.

Through Message-on-Hold

Businesses that have their hotline may incorporate message-on-hold audio clips to their advantage. Instead of the typical elevator music, they may invest in recordings that promote their new products and services.

They may also voice out reminders or tips regarding their brand’s payment methods and communication channels. Aside from that, you may even promote the official podcast of your brand—the possibilities are endless!

Through Background Music

This may probably be one of the most familiar aspects of establishing a brand identity. If you happen to visit a clothing store that mainly offers skater apparel, you would know what we’re talking about. You may even experience this marketing strategy while visiting your local grocery store.

By picking the correct type of playlist for your branch, you will let your target market know what your products and services are all about. Just be sure to coordinate with the music labels to avoid coming across any copyright claims along the way.

Through Overhead Announcements

When was the last time you had visited your local grocery store and heard an announcement from one of the personnel? Do you recall what the announcement was all about? Usually, it is done to require the assistance of another cashier. That may be the typical use of overhead announcements, but you may spice it up by adding new scripts for your personnel to read on air.

For example, they may announce upcoming promos or sales for the store. They may even advise safety precautions in emergencies, which is both valuable and helpful in branches located in states that are usually ploughed by typhoons and tornadoes.

Conclusion

Audio marketing is as vital as the other marketing tools for your business. While modern companies mostly focus on establishing their presence online, you may still use audio recordings and methods to promote your products and services without sounding too obvious.

Creating your podcast, utilising message-on-hold, picking the right playlist, and adding helpful scripts to your overhead announcements are just some of the ways for you to accomplish this. Invest in these marketing strategies and watch your startup business bloom over the bigger industries in no time.

If you need help with your audio marketing strategy, look no further than our comprehensive tool—Promoly. Our audio and content promotion software provides various features to help you make the most of your audio strategies, ranging from email marketing to smart audio sending. Start your journey today!

September 21, 2021
Get Your Music Heard: 5 Areas to Focus on Music Marketing

Being a musician in the digital age requires more than just simply making music. At this time, where everyone is fighting to get noticed, you need to stand out to be truly successful. This means you should learn how to promote your music, including research and development, music marketing strategy, design, and publicity.

Music marketing sounds intimidating, but getting started is actually simple. To begin mastering the basics, here are some of the most important areas to focus on:

1. Screen Name

Whether you are an independent musician or in a band, the first thing listeners will hear about you is your name. If you don’t want to use your legal name, consider making up one.

Coming up with a band or musician name is probably one of the hardest decisions you will ever make in your career since it will be part of your identity. You might be stuck with it for a long time, which is why it must be catchy and creative. It should also give off a similar feeling to your music. Keep in mind that there are many people in the industry, so make sure it is unique to avoid sharing the same name as others.

2. Branding

Your branding is one of the best ways to be noticeable. Besides your name, your artwork, logo, and typography serve as your identifier. For this reason, they must be eye-catching and memorable to make you recognizable. Partner with a professional marketing agency or designer to come up with the right design and branding.

3. Merchandise

Another way to stand out is to release your official merchandise. T-shirts, hoodies, and posters with your logo or photos on them can attract potential and existing fans to get intrigued about your music and show your support to you.

4. Social Media Feeds

People tend to discover new music through social media. Additionally, social media acts as the modern-day business card. Use these facts to your advantage by strengthening your social media presence.

Use the right social media platforms and curate the feeds with intention. To do this, create a unique hashtag to help make your posts easier to find or use a color scheme to make your feed look more memorable or cohesive.

It’s also important to participate in social media trends to stay relevant, but be careful of looking or sounding just like everyone else. Set yourself apart from others by creating your own take on these trends.

Don’t forget that a single viral post can change your life for the better (or worse). Take the time to discover what works with your audience and stay consistent with it.

5. Engagement with Fans

Part of social media marketing is fan engagement. This means connecting and communicating with your listeners. Make your interactions with them inspiring and meaningful by staying approachable while establishing healthy boundaries at the same time.

Conclusion

Everyone is looking for a fresh sound. Don’t miss the opportunity to make it big in the industry and showcase your talent to the world. These music marketing strategies may be easier said than done, but you can rise through mediocrity and get people to listen to you by mastering them.

To learn more about how to market your music properly, use Promoly. Our audio and content promotion tool promotes your music and grows your audience. Start your seven-day trial today!

September 14, 2021
How Lewis Sinclair started Cygnus Music and now distributes for 1500 record labels

Lewis Sinclair is the Founder and CEO of Cygnus Music, a leading electronic music distributor from the United Kingdom. Lewis talked in-depth about starting and growing Cygnus Music in 2009, running record labels, and pitching to Spotify to get in those needed playlists. If you’re looking at starting a record label or music business, this episode is for you.

Teaser

Here’s a transcript teaser when Lewis arranged started setting up Cygnus: “We’ll contact iTunes, and we’ll say, “I’d like to set up an agreement with you. We’re a distributor,” and they’ll say, “Great. Okay. How many record labels have you got?” I respond, “Well, just a one for myself,” and they’ll say, “all right, so you’re not really a distributor. Come back when you’ve got some more labels.” And so you’ll go back with 10 labels, and they’re like, “no, you, you need to have a hundred labels to get on board,” – you go “Right. Okay.” And then you build things up to a hundred labels. And then by that point, as the industry has grown, their criteria for what they will allow has grown, and they’re like, “no, actually you need 500.”

Listen

Find out more about Cygnus Music here.

Find out more about Promoly here .

September 14, 2021