Promoly

Category: Music Marketing

  • Record Labels: How it All Starts with a Logo

    Record Labels: How it All Starts with a Logo

    There is something about the mythos of a record label.

    Iconic organizations like Atlantic and Def Jam are akin to museums and have played host to the biggest names, songs, and albums music will ever know.

    Perhaps it’s to do with the music industry as we know it. It’s an exciting and mysterious world that involves the most creative minds of a generation. And these artistic people must find a way to monetize their unique creations.

    Which brings us to the fabled studio magic… where transcendently timeless songs are put together. Not just plain old songs – but musical masterpieces that shape the social consciousness and cultural zeitgeist. Oh yeah, and these recordings also earn millions of dollars for the studio and musicians alike. 

    Music studios help bring a musician’s vision to life with a deft mix of technical proficiency, artistic nuance, and business acumen. And as such, are an overwhelmingly powerful entity. It’s not just world-famous conglomerates like Warner Brothers or Sony that can make an impact. Independent Labels are one of the most crucial components of the industry.

    There’s one thing you’ll notice about most successful labels, however, whether independent or major. It’s that, for the most part, they care deeply about their image.

    Thereby making physical appearances a surprisingly invaluable facet of an industry that’s auditory by nature.

    Profitable labels pay attention to the visual aspect of their business as much as what they’re hearing. Many artists possess distinct looks and dress a specific way to establish a motif. How musicians look on an album’s cover matters almost just as much as the album’s songs. And when a look cohesively jives with the sound, there’s a thematic harmony that’s conducive to art in its highest form.

    If you own a record label, you know full-well that the competition is fierce. To survive and thrive in the industry, you must apply the above principle to your own brand image.

    This outlook starts with your logo, which – in most cases – is the first impression people will have of your studio.

    In a nutshell, your logo is your identity as a music recording company. A striking design that attracts the eye will boost sales on appearance alone. On top of that, an increase of talented artists who connect with your overall vibe (further enhanced by your visual motif) will take notice as your record sales increase.

    Below, I’ll examine further why a logo can contribute so prominently to your label’s overall success.

    Books, Food, and Other Metaphors

    We all know the phrase, ‘don’t judge a book by its cover.’

    The reason why people are so insistent about using the above phrase is that it’s just human nature to judge everything, initially, by its appearance. We try to go beyond how things look, yet can’t help but succumb to our base instincts.

    Think about it, the brain can see images that last for just 13 milliseconds, so it only makes sense that humans would be biased towards visual stimuli.

    To add on another visual-related cliché, humans also eat first with their eyes. Meaning, that how something looks (in this case, food) has a psychological effect on our overall perception of the object.  

    Okay, maybe humans don’t eat music. Though I’ve heard someone who visited their share of Grateful Dead Concerts tell me he could taste each note. But that’s a different story altogether.

    Furthermore, your recording studio might boast some of the most state-of-the-art equipment in the world. You might be the next coming of Mozart, and Quincy Jones combines as a producer and composer. Still, if your label design fails to strike some form of a visual cord, your record sales will likely end up a touch flat—at best. Plus, top talent won’t be clamouring to sign the dotted line if your logo is anyway off-key.

    Take Death Row Records, for example. Do you think bubble letters and gentle imagery would have attracted its roster of edgy hip hop talent as well as millions of rebellious teens?

    Would Atlantic have ever recorded Zeppelin, Wiz Khalifa, or Bruno Mars if it didn’t give off bluesy R & B vibes with its logo?

    Then, what of more corporate studios like Warner Brothers and Sony? The cleanness and precision of those logos establish professionalism sought after by many musicians.

    But let’s break it down to its barest elements and eliminate factors such as brand identity and demographics. If your logo resembles the work of someone in their first week of photoshop lessons, what self-respecting artist will want it disgracing their album?

    Learning from the Masters

    Now, it’s time to learn from the example of some of the top label logos in the music industry:

    DFA: When Lightning Strikes

    New York dance-punk and the DFA lightning bolt are symbiotically connected. It’s this unique relationship that symbolizes a time and New York City that was encapsulated by monstrous beats and massive electronic sound.

    The label was responsible for albums artists such as Rapture, Cut Copy, and LCD Soundsystem.

    DFA’s punk aesthetic is perfectly captured with the stick and poke tattoo appearance of the lightning bolt. The idea behind the execution was to add a human element—so it didn’t seem like it came from a machine (a corporate machine, one could safely assume).

    This appreciation of ragged imperfections is what dance pop-punk was all about. It’s a subtle-yet-powerful touch in the logo that made both fans and artists of the genre lean towards the label. Such a self-aware logo showed the company had their finger on the pulse of its audience.

    dfa logo

    Death Row Records: Truth in a Name

    Yes, we’ve brought up Death Row already—but it’s always worth taking another gander at the equally famed and infamous music recording company. To be honest, the history of Death Row could make for an Oscar-Winning true crime movie.

    It’s that air of mystery, scandal, and violence that makes the record label so alluring. Of course, big boss Suge Knight’s shady past and present add as much to Death Row’s story as anything else.

    There’s an air of criminal authenticity in Death Row’s abrasively jagged electric chair design, complemented by the aggressively stark colours. Audiences generally are drawn to authentic designs that speak their truth.

    death row records logo

    Alternative Tentacles: Nocturnally Inclined Design

    Winston Smith was the collage artist whose most revered piece of work was the Alternative Tentacles logo. 

    In 1979, the Kennedys recorded a self-produced single called California Über Alles under the Alternative Tentacles name. It grew to attract some of the most successful acts in the American alternative and punk scenes, such as Butthole Surfers and DOA.

    What I appreciate most about the bat symbol is its establishment of a “creatures of the night” vibe. Those partaking in an alternative lifestyle who’d write this music, listen to it, or do both would immediately identify with the bat symbolism and dark colour motif.

    Alternative Tentacles logo

    Apple Records: The Fruit of Quality Design

    Gene Mahon is the mind behind the corporate logo design for the Beatles’ multimedia company, Apple Records.

    The approach is minimalist, yet entirely outside-of-the-box and creative just the same. It’s a bright green Granny Smith apple—and albums would feature the common fruit whole on it’s A-side. Then, in a clever twist, the B-side would be featured with the apple cut in half.

    The logo itself was straightforward. Yet, it interacts with the content on the album cover in a way that’s both genius and thoughtful.

    apple records

    Differentiating Your Brand from the Pack

    The music industry is harsh—especially when you’re starting as a label and working hard to catch a big break. Alternatively, even if you’re an established label, it’s not like the competition disappears at any point.

    But let’s examine newer, smaller, and independent labels for a moment, before going any further.

    You might have a relatively bare-bones operation and, therefore, zero marketing clout throughout the industry. Yes, you have the channels available that everyone else does; social media, word of mouth, and perhaps you can send around flyers. However, even these marketing methods become less impactful without piles of money to throw around.

    That isn’t to say you can’t catch the eye of a lucrative audience. You just have less of a chance. So, when someone does happen to come across your studio’s label, why not ensure it’s an artistically crafted tour de force that refuses to be forgotten?

    It’s Time to Invest in Your Music Company Logo

    Big, small, medium, and minuscule music businesses alike always need to be hyper-conscious of their brand image if they plan on growing.

    And in the music world, which is wildly artistic and imaginative, visual aesthetics are an integral part of the package.

    Therefore, a record label’s logo is almost as crucial as its business model, mission, mantra, and musical proficiency. 

    I’d suggest going as far as to suggest that your logo should encapsulate all the elements mentioned above in one iconic image.

    If you’re interested in finding a logo that sets your music company apart and strengthens its brand image, contact us today. You’ll be captivated once you’ve seen our portfolio of enticing designs.

     
  • How To Write Superior Subject Lines To Get Your Promos Opened

    How To Write Superior Subject Lines To Get Your Promos Opened

    How many unopened emails are currently in your inbox? 200? 600? Or perhaps, you’re on a few different mailing lists – 1,653 then? And that’s after doing some Gmail housekeeping!

    We receive tons of emails day by day (105 billion emails are sent daily!), and a vast majority of them are never read.

    People are being inundated with truckloads of information – as never before in history. Sadly we don’t have enough time or mental bandwidth to let it all seep in.

    The probability that your email will be ignored is quite high – unless you can craft a masterful subject line.

    Forty-seven percent of email recipients will open an email purely because of the subject line. And on the flip side, sixty-nine percent of email recipients will report an email as spam simply because of the subject line.

    In other words, think of email subject lines as the first (and possibly the last) impression you’ll make on a reader.

    In lots of ways, the subject line is even more relevant than the body of your email.

    After all, sending an excellent music promo is insignificant if it never gets to meet the dance.

    So, while writing your new music press releases, don’t take your subject lines for granted. The ideal subject line is short, descriptive, and makes the reader want to open your promo!

    Are you a music promoter looking to develop into an email subject line writing Yoda?

    There are a few different styles for generating jaw-dropping subject lines when sending promotional music to your mailing lists, let’s cover them below:

    The Informational

    Active, well-organized people appreciate efficiency. Such readers want you to be brief and understandable with your subject lines since their time is a precious asset.

    Make things easier for them by prioritizing relevant information when writing your subject lines. For example, ‘New release from Maverick Records, 4min’. This sort of subject line cuts to the chase quickly and lets the recipient know the intention of the email right away via its subject line.

    The Personal

    Who doesn’t love a personal touch?

    Taking the personalized route when writing subject lines, will help you engage your audience right from the start and quickly help your email stand out from the rest because there’s contextual relevancy that separates it from being a mass email.

    Try to include the first name of the recipient, or other personal details such as recent downloads from your record label.

    The Urgent

    Why are infomercials effective? Because they create a sense of importance; requiring swift action.

    People habitually respond to the likelihood of missing out on something, instead of promises of gaining something.

    Similar effects can be used when writing your subject lines and including tags that demonstrate a sense of urgency can help with this. For example, including ‘[URGENT]’ in the promotional email subject line, or attaching a fear of missing out such as ‘Download this before midnight…’ may draw in recipients to opening the email.

    The Clever and Catchy

    A memorable subject line will stand out amid the scores of dull ones around it.

    Humour can be tricky, though, and you must be careful not to alienate or confuse the reader.

    However, if you are familiar with your audience, a witty joke will ensure that your email is opened and shared.

    The List

    There’s a good reason why listicles have become so widespread: they work.

    A list provides snappy, snackable content and builds curiosity.

    Besides, including numbers in your email subject line causes the reader to focus, since our brains are instinctively attracted to digits.

    The Short and Sweet

    Because most mobile devices can only display five to six words of your subject line—and given that over forty-one percent of email campaigns today’s are opened on smartphones — brevity is critical.

    The Question

    Starting with a curious subject line will engage your audience immediately and generate immediate dialogue.

    Try asking open-ended questions so that your reader cannot respond to them with a swift “no.”

    The Scarce

    We humans have an innate dread of losing out on anything. Hence, an email subject line that threatens scarcity (such as “hurry, while offer lasts”!) tends to perform well.

    The How-to

    A how-to email subject line gives insight into the exact benefits your audience will discover if they open and read your email.

    And provided that your “how-to” is helpful to the reader, open rates will soar.

    The Sneak Peek

    Everybody wants to be an early adopter or a trendsetter, so why not fuel that desire?

    Let’s say you have a priceless opportunity, integrating sneak peeks and an exclusive into your email subject line is an easy guaranteed to boost your open rates.

    While a lot of these tips seem simple, they’re tried and tested – but most importantly, rely on experimentation. The best way to figure out which of these works best (when sending promos) for your record label is to a/b test. Create two identical promos in Promoly and then adjust the subject lines. Once complete, create an A and B group then deliver a promo to each audience. Give it a good seven days and compare which audience had a higher open rate. Once you’ve worked out a formula, keep testing and you’ll see your open rate increase!

     
  • Spotify: How It Can Take Your Music Career to the Next Level

    Spotify: How It Can Take Your Music Career to the Next Level

    When it comes to music, Spotify is a robust platform that you can heavily rely on. This is because it’s a digital music streaming service that provides access to millions of songs, podcasts, and videos from various artists across the globe. Though the full service requires a premium subscription, you can still access the free version.

    There are indeed other music platforms available, such as Soundcloud, Youtube, or Pandora. However, Spotify has been proven to be different from all of these platforms. One good reason is because of the way it has shifted to how music is consumed. There’s no need for you to give in to digital radio stations curated by tastes. With Spotify, you decide what to listen to. Unlike other platforms, Spotify offers high quality listens, and there’s more listening traffic coming into the app.

    If you are a musician wanting to move to the next level and take the spotlight, using Spotify as a medium is an excellent idea and utilize it for your overall marketing strategy. Evidently, it is a place where people are revisiting favourites, discovering new artists, and expanding their musical tastes.

    Below are three ways on how Spotify can help your career and take your music to the next level:

    1. Create More Exposure

    If there’s one thing that Spotify can do, it is to create more exposure for your music. There’s no denying that much traffic still goes to Spotify because of its free offer. Sure, it’s a great place for comfort listens and nostalgic ones as well, but it can also be for a new discovery. Listeners can do so via “related artists” section or curated playlists. If you happen to land one, chances are it can be huge traffic for you.

    2. Increase Tour and Merchandise Sales

    Spotify now provides ways for musicians to engage with fans. Though you may not fully engage with fans as you would in other social media, you can still do so by providing a bio, your curated playlists, linking tour dates, data points, and merchandise sales. It has also partnered with MerchBar, which allows you to sell merchandise through Spotify. There is no set-up fee or monthly fee, only charges for a commission on transactions facilitated on MerchBar.

    3. Streamline Marketing Efforts

    Finally, Spotify is a great way to streamline all your marketing efforts. In this case, you need to know your potential fan’s mood and lifestyle. By doing so, you will know how to target the right audience or market. You also need to be thoughtful about where your music is in playlists. When you look at the “Related Artists” on Spotify, you know that algorithms automatically generate these artists. The good thing is that Spotify provides data regarding the location of your fans. You then can use this data whenever you plan to do Facebook or other social media marketing.

    The tips given can attest to the powerful influence of Spotify on your musical advancements. It all depends on knowing your market, finding your place in Spotify, and making the most out of it. If you do it right, you’ll be amazed at how Spotify can have an overall impact on your career as a musician.

    Liked this article? Find out how to get your music playlisted on Spotify.

     
  • How to Successfully Run an Influencer Marketing Campaign in the Music Industry

    How to Successfully Run an Influencer Marketing Campaign in the Music Industry

    Influencer marketing gets a bad wrap. While some people may think its benefits extend only to weight loss teas and whatever brand the Kardashian’s happen to be peddling, the truth is, influencer marketing has moved beyond fringe marketing fad and has infiltrated almost every industry. So prolific is modern-day influencer marketing, that your purchasing decisions are probably affected by it, even if you don’t realise. It’s called influence for a reason, after all.

    But what about the music industry?

    The music industry by its very nature is well-positioned to benefit from influencer marketing. The exciting nature of the industry and its event-based nature means there are already a large number of people generating a huge amount of content.

    Read on as we take a deep dive into the world of influencer marketing, explaining first what is actually is and how it can be harnessed to assist with music industry marketing campaigns. We’ll then examine the often tricky process of actually finding and contacting influencers, and dish out some tips on cost and distinguishing good influencers from the not so good.

    What is influencer marketing?

    In order to understand the beast that is influencer marketing, you first need to get your head around influencers themselves.

    So what is an influencer?

    Well, in a nutshell, anybody can be an influencer. From media personalities to sportspeople, models and musicians, an influencer is anyone who has a captive audience that listens and acts when they speak. The good news for brands and businesses is, when these influencers open their mouths and recommend a product, service or brand, their audiences tend to move with their feet (and their wallets) and make a purchase.

    Once businesses and influencers cottoned on to the potential of leveraging these engaged audiences to promote products, influencer marketing was born. What started as a niche practice that left many business owners and even marketers sceptical has grown into the cornerstone of many businesses’ marketing strategies.

    These days, influencer marketing is an umbrella term for a wide range of different marketing techniques that harness the power and influencer of an individual to help promote a product or brand.

    Let’s take a look at some of the most common types of influencer marketing.

    Types of Influencer Marketing

    1. Competitions

    Competitions and giveaways are a popular tool to increase brand awareness and increase a businesses’ social following or email database. Typically, a business or brand would provide items or services to an influencer or a number of influencers to promote and give away on their social platforms.

    The key to making a competition campaign stand out is by getting creative with the entry requirements. Maybe all entrants need to engage with the original post by commenting and tagging friends or signing up to a brand’s mailing list on the website.

    Say you are a record label launching the new album for an artist. By drilling down into the target audience for that artist, you could engage a group of influencers with audiences that matched your own.

    Inject a bit of creativity into the competition by having each influencer reenact the album cover in line with their individual style, and ask their audiences to do the same and use a branded hashtag to enter the competition. Not only will you get the posts from your chosen influencers, but your competition will also result in a flood of user-generated content (UGC) that will drum up interest in the album and may even go viral!

    2. Discount Codes

    Discount codes are one of the cornerstones of influencer marketing and are commonly used by themselves or in conjunction with other activities in a broader influencer marketing campaign. Discount codes are most effective in campaigns that are aimed at directly driving product sales and are a great way for businesses to keep track of their return on investment (ROI).

    In the music industry, one way of utilising discount codes could be by offering limited time pre-sale or first release tickets to an event when attendees use an influencers’ code. In order to get the most bang for your buck and really track the success of your campaign, generate unique discount codes for each influencer you are engaging to help you track what has worked and what hasn’t.

    3. Ambassador Roles

    Ambassador roles are typically a long-term arrangement and go beyond the one or two posts that have become typical of many influencer marketing campaigns. Depending on your campaign goals and the requirements of your business or brand, an ambassador could be a good option if you find an influencer who has proven to be a good fit with your target market.

    If an influencer has proven to deliver results for your business, be that awareness, sales or whatever the goal of your campaign is, an ambassador role is a great solution to leverage their reputation and following even more.

    This sort of arrangement is good for many reasons, not only the improved results that can come the more an influencer gets to know your brand. Think about it, while the first post promoting your business may well be good, the more your relationship with an influencer develops, the more they will get to know your products or brand and the better they will be able to promote it to their audience.

    A longterm relationship with an influencer or multiple influencers is also good news for your customers. While working with new spokespeople can help you tap into new markets, the stability that comes from working with an influencer on a long term basis means a lower churn rate in your marketing strategy. This will allow your ambassador’s audience to get to know your brand better while ensuring you remain top of mind.

    4. Reviews

    When most people think of influencer reviews their mind may wander to unboxing videos and other similar content. While it’s true that reviews are commonly used for new product launches and certain areas in the service and experience industry, reviews can be a great resource for those in the music biz as well.

    Typically, an influencer-led review campaign would begin with a brand offering goods or services to an influencer in exchange for a review. The waters can become muddied when the brand gets specific with the content in the review or when a business instructs the influencer to only make positive comments.

    While these sorts of practices are never encouraged, there are a few things you can do as a brand to encourage positive feedback without going as far as asking for it.

    One of the best ways to facilitate a good review is by getting picky with your influencers. Say you are releasing a new album or promoting an upcoming tour. Rather than just looking for influencers with a similar following to your target market, actively search for people who have demonstrated an interest in the artist you are promoting.

    The thing with reviews is their popularity is a blessing as well as a curse. As more and more brands and influencers are jumping on the review format as an effective tool to promote products and services, audiences are waking up to the practice and getting better at spotting fakes.

    Engaging an influencer to give your brand a non-legitimate review is a big gamble and one that may blow up in your face. If you’re looking at going down this road, it pays to do your research and make sure you select influencers who are not only going to promote you to the right audience but really believe in and sell your brand.

    5. Mentions

    One common mistake brands make when journeying into the world of influencer marketing is overcomplicating things. This doesn’t need to be tricky! A kick-ass influencer marketing campaign can be as simple as a well-selected influencer mentioning your venue on Instagram and thanking you for putting on a great show.

    Having said that, there are a few things you should keep in mind to ensure you are getting the most bang for your buck.

    The first thing to keep in mind is that the world of social media moves fast. Considering an influencer may make several posts and even more stories on a single day, that shoutout from one influencer may not get your brand as much mileage as you would like.

    Like any campaign, a strategy involving mentions should be well thought out and executed to have the biggest impact. Consider engaging a number of influencers with similar or overlapping audiences to ensure your message has the biggest reach and isn’t immediately forgotten by your target audience.

    Another thing to keep in mind is the account and hashtag you want to promote. It may sound simple, but ensuring your influencers are provided with your correct social handles and hashtags can be the difference between your campaign making a splash or fizzling out before it’s even begun.

    It’s a good idea to make mentions a part of a bigger campaign strategy and think up hashtags that align with that, so your influencer posts help tap into a bigger campaign.

    6. Guest Blog/ Takeovers

    Social media takeovers and guest blog posts have quickly become one of the strategies of choice for brands engaging in influencer marketing. This strategy is wide and can easily be tweaked to suit the needs of your business.

    One easy way to explore this type of marketing and to assess whether an influencer is the right fit for your brand is to have them create some content for your platform. Depending on your audience and what you are trying to achieve, the influencer could write a blog, create a video or even take a photo to be shared on your social networks and site.

    Taking this one step further, if you are convinced an influencer is the right fit for your brand, consider having them “take over” one or more of your social platforms for a short period of time.

    Both of these strategies are proven techniques to tap into an influencer’s audience and help increase awareness of your product or brand. While guest blog posts have the advantage of having more longevity than a social media post, an influencer takeover promotes a sense of urgency and often results in a significant uptick of people visiting your platforms to view the influencer’s content.

    One common worry with social media takeover’s is businesses that are hesitant to provide their account details to an influencer, particularly one they don’t know well. This is completely understandable and, depending on the type of takeover you have planned, and the level of creative control you want to give your influencer, you don’t even need to give them access to your accounts.

    One way of dealing with this is having your chosen influencer capture the content in advance and send it through to a member of your team all at once or at regular intervals so they can post it on your social platforms from the influencer’s perspective.

    This strategy is most effective when combined with other events in your business. Consider planning an influencer takeover to coincide with a new product launch, event or another moment you want to promote to really make the most of the extra exposure your influencer will bring.

    Benefits of Influencer Marketing

    So now you know what influencer marketing is, how can it benefit your brand? By now you’re probably getting a sense of the wide and varied nature of influencer marketing, so it should come as no surprise that the benefits are just as diverse. Here are some of the common benefits of influencer marketing.

    1. Brand Awareness

    First and foremost, increased brand awareness is a result of many influencer marketing campaigns. Let’s look at a real-life example. Think about those weight loss teas you see celebrities and micro-influencers spruiking all over Instagram – would you have ever heard of them if they hadn’t landed right in your feed? Probably not.

    While it’s true that your target customer isn’t necessarily in a purchase mindset when they are scrolling through their social media accounts, regularly seeing your product and mentions of your brand will help ensure you remain top of mind. When used as part of your marketing strategy, influencer marketing is one of the best ways to boost brand awareness among your target market.

    2. SEO

    This is one side effect of influencer marketing you may not have considered. While there’s no denying the fact that search engine optimisation (SEO) is a multi-faceted beast that takes some serious work to get right, your influencer marketing strategy can add a welcome boost to your search rankings.

    In a nutshell, when you commission influencers to blog about your product or brand and link to your website in the copy, a link is created to your website, these are called backlinks. The quality of these backlinks depends on lots of different things, for example, the profile of the influencer and the amount of traffic their site receives, the legitimacy of their website and more techy factors like whether their site is secured with an SSL certificate.

    While there are some exceptions, the more backlinks to your website from things like influencer blogs, the better.

    3. Engagement (Online and Offline)

    Engagement is a goal of most marketing campaigns, and influencer marketing is no different. The type of engagement your brand receives and the period of time all depends on the type of campaign you opt for.

    Many businesses are satisfied with creating a buzz through online only engagement, with an increase in their social media followings and an uptick in conversation around the brand enough to convince them of a campaigns’ success.

    For brands looking to drive sales or encourage other behaviours from their audience, influencer marketing can also be an effective tool to drive offline engagement. Using tactics like promo codes, advertising sales and even activations, influencer marketing has been proven to boost offline engagement as well as online.

    4. Sales

    The benefits above are all well and good, but if an influencer marketing campaign isn’t leading to increased sales, what’s the point? The good news is, when done correctly, influencer marketing can be a useful tool to boost sales in your business.

    As we’ve mentioned previously, the ability of your business to turn all these social media mentions and extra brand awareness into cold hard cash comes down to your choice of influencer and the effectiveness of the message. If you choose to work with the very first influencer who crosses your path and put next to no thought into how you would like your message conveyed, don’t be surprised if your campaign is a flop.

    If you want to make the most of your campaign and get a resulting boost to your bottom line, it pays to do your research. Really drill down into your prospective influencers until you find someone who meshes well with your target audience but also someone who is a good fit for your brand.

    To give yourself the best chance of tracking the effectiveness of your influencer campaigns, make sure to use unique tracked links anywhere an influencer is driving traffic to your website, your business or otherwise driving customers to take an action. Not only will this help you track your ROI, but it will also help you ditch any influencers that aren’t bringing in the sales.

    Where to find influencers

    So now you know what influencers are and the benefits they can bring to your business, how do you go about finding them? We’re so glad you asked! The recent boom in the influencer industry has really raised the stock of professional influencers the world over. Not only does this bring a sense of legitimacy to the industry, but it has also made it easier for brands to find and connect with potential influencers.

    Here are some of the most common ways of finding influencers that suit your brand.

    1. Use an Influencer Marketing Platform

    These days you can’t throw a selfie stick without coming across another platform startup claiming to simplify the process of finding influencers for brands. From Hootsuite to Buzzsumo to Followerwonk to Scrunch, these platforms all offer similar products helping brands connect with influencers.

    The majority of these platforms include some sort of search functionality that will enable you to search based on factors like age, gender, location, size of following and if you’re looking for more professional influencers, industry.

    An added bonus of some of these platforms is that they also facilitate the meeting and contract negotiation aspect of the job. While this can be seen as more impersonal and even cold, some businesses prefer to have this taken care of.

    2. Go Old School

    Before influencer marketing really took off, the most common way for brands to connect with potential influencers was the slide into their DM’s, or contact them via email if they have an account linked to their social media.

    While this may sound a little personal, it’s still one of the best ways to ensure your message gets to the right person. Reaching out on social media also gives you a great opportunity to engage with an influencer’s profile and get to know them a little bit better. Trust us – both of these will massively help your chances of getting a response. (More on that later)

    Essentially, any influencer worth their salt is likely to view their Instagram and other social profiles as business tools, so they are unlikely to mind this approach.

    3. Let them Come to You

    Now chances are, depending on the strength of your brand and your customer type, you may be overlooking the best type of influencer there is. This is the influencer who comes to you.

    As a starting point, take a dive through your DM’s, examine your social media accounts and your email inbox. What you’re looking for are existing customers who have shown an obvious passion for your brand and a high level of satisfaction with your product. Maybe they left you a Google review or tagged you in a post raving about how much they love you. Either way, these are potentially some of your best influencers and you should be reaching out to them now!

    First off, people who are already familiar with your brand are immediately more believable than someone who has never heard of it. By engaging an influencer who knows the in’s and out’s of your brand already, you are saving yourself a boatload of work and increasing the chances of getting a believable, effective campaign.

    Secondly, choosing to use an influencer who is an existing customer rather than a professional is likely to save you some cash. Depending on the type and quantity of work you are looking for, as well as the size of your chosen influencer’s following, you may be able to get some exposure in exchange for free concert tickets, merch or any other swag you have related to your brand.

    How should influencers be contacted?

    Once you’ve decided on an influencer or set of influencers to use for your campaign, you need to actually get them on board. While it’s important not to overcomplicate this process, it’s important to be clear with your needs upfront when contacting your influencers of choice. Here are a couple of things to keep in mind when reaching out to an influencer.

    1. Get to Know Them

    It may seem simple, but one of the things that can help your message to a potential influencer stand out from other businesses is the time you take to get to know them and their brand. Rather than shooting through a generic DM, take a couple of minutes to follow them, check out their stories and browse their recent posts.

    Armed with this information, you will have a much better chance of connecting with your influencer of choice in your first interaction rather than risking your message getting lost in the digital oblivion.

    2. Be Upfront

    There’s no shortage of individuals and businesses reaching out to influencers asking to “collaborate” on upcoming projects. If you want to cut through the noise, make your first message as clear as possible. What is your business? What exactly do you need from the influencer? What are you willing to pay? By including this information, a potential influencer is far more likely to take your offer seriously than if you start with a generic “hi”.

    3. Pay Attention

    Many influencers, especially those with a higher profile, will indicate on their social media profiles how they wish to be contacted. Rather than just shooting them through a DM, take a minute to stop, read their profile and see if they specify where to direct collaboration requests.

    How much do influencers charge?

    There is no simple answer to this, as pricing for influencers depends on a range of different factors including the influencer themselves, the work you have commissioned and the amount of time needed to produce it. Having said that, some rough online guides suggest that for Instagram feed posts, an average influencer may charge from $1,000 per 100,000 followers.

    Again, this price will vary wildly depending on the influencer, your relationship with them and the work involved. If you have a limited budget, it pays to shop around and find an influencer who suits your needs and your budget.

    What makes a ‘good influencer’ vs a ‘bad influencer’

    Talk of good vs bad influencers is all relative. Things that may lead one brand to assume an influencer as bad may be exactly what another is looking for. Here are some major things to keep in mind when selecting an influencer to work with so ensure you find one that suits your needs.

    1. Good Fit

    The biggest difference between a good influencer and a bad influencer is how well they suit your brand. If you are promoting a new death metal album and select a beauty influencer with a mostly pre-teen following, chances are your campaign isn’t going to get the traction you’re looking for.

    In order to get the best results for your campaigns, it pays to take your time and be selective when choosing influencers to work with. In addition to researching the major things like the location, background and following of an influencer, it’s a good idea to look closely at their past posts as well as previous brands they have worked with. Not only will this give you a better understanding of what the influencer is capable of, and whether it’s a good fit for your brand, it will help you weed out those that may have worked with your competitors or other brands that don’t mesh with your own.

    2. Clear Expectations

    Perhaps the most important factor in determining a good influencer comes back to you and your business. When engaging with an influencer, it is your responsibility to set clear expectations and ensure your chosen influencers understand them. By doing this, your influencer marketing campaign is almost guaranteed to be a success.

    Conclusion

    We’ll mention it one more time for the people in the back – influencer marketing is nothing to fear. When launching your first campaign, bear in mind that it doesn’t need to be huge. The best way to discover whether it will be a good fit for your product or business is to give it a try.

    Now that you know the potential an influencer marketing campaign can bring for your business, what are you waiting for? Armed with the info you need to find, vet and approach an influencer (or influencers), take a leap into this trending marketing technique and explore the possibilities.

     
  • How To Boost Your Plays Through Spotify Marketing

    How To Boost Your Plays Through Spotify Marketing

    Spotify has become such a major platform for audio streaming that musicians must factor it in distributing their songs. Because of this, it’s not enough to just upload songs while hoping that a ton of people will accidentally stumble upon your music. You will need an approach to get the most listens possible – here are four ways to guarantee that.

    1. Establish your goals

    Before anything else, you must first establish your goals for the campaign. Without it, your marketing strategy will not have any direction and the success of the campaign cannot be measured. Your goals should always dictate your action and it should be clear from the start. If not, the push will be worthless.

    Since distribution will be done online, jot down three social media goals to promote your music. Use the acronym S.M.A.R.T to be guided. S stands for Specific, which means that it must be exactly written. M for Measurable, meaning that the results can be quantified. A corresponds to

    Attainable or controlled optimism. R for Relevant to the business and finally, T for Time-bound which states that the goal must have a deadline.

    2. Target user playlists

    Spotify rewards songs that are frequently added by users to their playlists. They also favour songs that have been shared on other online platforms like Soundcloud or blogs. In contrast, you get penalized when your song is skipped.

    If that’s the case, creating playlists help to bump your popularity up. Combine your song with other popular songs with the same theme or emotion and assign a catchy name for the mix. Your plays will increase as your music is being promoted alongside the biggest names in the business.

    3. Give listeners a preview of your work

    Don’t go for long intros and outros if you want to keep your audience engaged – you must upload tracks that play within three seconds to avoid being skipped. Uploading a shorter version of your song can entice new listeners to follow you as well.

    4. Upload the song before the grand release

    It takes time before Spotify finalizes the songs they want to feature. To ensure that people discover your music, upload the song five weeks before you intend to announce its launch. Leading up into the launch, you can create noise by posting teasers on blogs, getting reviews from early listeners and by spreading the word via social media.

    Take note that YouTube, Soundcloud, and the likes are Spotify’s competitors. To funnel listeners onto Spotify, release 30 seconds of the song on other sites and direct them to hear the full song on Spotify. You can also drum up excitement by sharing promotional material on Facebook and Twitter a few weeks before the launch.

    When it’s time to announce the song, make another wave of announcements on social media. This time, include the link to your Spotify song – this will considerably help engagement.

    Struggling to do all the work yourself? That’s what we’re here for! If you need help communicating your music updates to your followers, give Promo.ly a try! We are a music promo delivery system for artists, labels, and PR agencies, helping you maximize your current mailing list. We’re a music PR service that delivers music to your mailing list, get in touch to see how we can help today.

     
  • How to Market to New Fans You Make on Tour – Music Marketing 101

    How to Market to New Fans You Make on Tour – Music Marketing 101

    After years of hard work, planning, and dedication, you’ve finally done it—you’ve built a sizeable loyal following that awaits every new track you release. It’s been a long journey, but amidst the album drops, the tours, and the marketing, there’s one thing that has and will always remain true: the grind never stops.

    During music releases and tours, you’re bound to expand your reach and gain new fans, resulting in a huge increase in your social media following. You might even get a shoutout from a recording artist you’ve always wanted to collaborate with!

    Any up-and-coming artist dreams of naturally growing their following. However, those that click the “follow” button on Instagram aren’t necessarily going to be around forever. You have to keep them interested and show them that you’re worth their attention. Unfortunately, this is easier said than done.

    1. How exactly are you supposed to maintain your newfound fans?

    When your following starts to grow, your dedication to maintaining a strong online presence should as well. Fans are a picky bunch, often willing to drop an artist if they don’t get regular updates. Here’s what you can do to get started:

    Thanks to social media, artists have a ton of different opportunities to keep the conversation going with their fans. By bridging the gap between both parties, social media can help aspiring talents keep their followers engaged and looking forward to the next album drop or concert date.

    A great way to use social media to your advantage is to use the geo-tag tool, which can allow you to see all the photos and videos that your fans took at different shows that you held. Once you’ve found your fans online through the help of the trusty geotag, feel free to personally message them with a tweet, direct message, or comment to thank them for going to your show.

    2. Use social media advertising to your advantage

    While we’re on the topic of social media, did you know that one great way to keep yourself in the forefront of followers’ minds is to run paid ads? With paid ads, you’ll be able to reach a greater audience while ensuring any updates reach your existing fans.

    Want to give it a try? Consider running a paid ad that will promote your latest single or upcoming tour date, giving fans and would-be fans even more reason to follow your page and your journey as an artist. When a paid ad is done right, it can yield fantastic results!

    3. Get your fans to follow you on your artist channels

    Spotify, YouTube, Apple, Amazon, and Soundcloud: what do they all have in common? They can all help your fans discover even more of your material beyond your show’s setlist while allowing them to foster a greater liking to your stuff. Artist channels allow fans to hone their interest in an artist’s material while easily getting updates on what they’re about to do next or release. A great and easy way to get more fans to follow your journey is to put a little self-promotion in between your songs during shows, where you can give your fans the name of your different pages and how they can follow them.

    4. Give your fans something to act on!

    If you’re ready to take things to the next level in terms of keeping your newfound fans (and even gaining new ones), you should definitely try this marketing secret: a call-to-action. As an extremely effective marketing tool, a call-to-action (or CTA, for short) is a marketing tool that you can use to encourage shares, likes, and comments by incentivizing this action for your fans. By giving your fans an incentive towards spreading the word, you can reward them and keep them going with rewards like exclusive content and live-streamed shows.

    Struggling to do all the work yourself? That’s what we’re here for! If you need help communicating your music updates to your followers, give Promo.ly a try! We are a music promo delivery system for artists, labels, and PR agencies, helping you maximize your current mailing list. We’re a music service that delivers music to your mailing list, get in touch to see how we can help today.

     
  • How to Harness Influencer Marketing in the Music Industry

    How to Harness Influencer Marketing in the Music Industry

    Creating and producing music is different from promoting it. The latter takes more than just artistic freedom and talent. It needs a crafty mind and good business sense. 

    While the internet has made it easier for musicians to get their music out there and attract a wider audience, the oversaturation in the online world has created a number of challenges. The competition is quite fierce. However, in today’s day in age, success in the music scene is not exclusive to major labels and popular artists. Even those new to the game have a fighting chance to make it big. 

    A big part of these growing opportunities is Influencer Marketing.

    While this strategy is more popular in the beauty, fashion, and lifestyle industries, it is also effective in the music industry. 

    Research shows that 26% of the music industry made use of influencer marketing. And they do so over various platforms. Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter have billions of users, and their growing numbers show no signs of slowing down, at least not in the near future.

    Most influencers gain their following on these social media platforms. And that means working with them might be just what you need to widen your audience and increase engagement. But how exactly should you do it?

    Identify Your Platforms

    The online world is vast. Before you take a pick from millions of influencers, you need to determine which platform will suit your needs best. Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram are just some of the social media channels that complement the music industry. They are great if you want to market your newest album or expand your audience. But It is important to consider each platform’s benefits before taking your pick so you can more easily plan your marketing campaigns around them and consider which influencers can help you reach your goals.

    Collaborate Creatively

    Sometimes, two heads are indeed better than one. Working with an influencer when it comes to your marketing content can take the burden off your shoulders and allow you more time to devote to your craft. Influencers are professional content creators. So be sure to collaborate with them, while still allowing their unique voice and creativity to shine through. 

    Connect with the Audience on a Personal Level

    Being a musician or producer is a hectic job. Every production requires attention to detail, and the pressure can be overwhelming. Unfortunately, this means that oftentimes you won’t have the opportunity to truly connect and build a relationship with your fans. 

    Influencers, on the other hand, are extremely skilled in connecting with their audience. Their loyal base of followers find their content authentic and relatable, and they often listen to their recommendations. While working with an influencer, this trust can rub off on you, allowing you to widen your reach and increase your music’s engagement.

    Convert Views to Sales

    While influencers can help you generate views and increase your engagement, they can actually do better than mere promotions. Influencers can provide a short music teaser and include a link to buy it, ideally with a special offer of discounts through a unique promo code. This move will help convert your viewers and followers into paying customers.

    The benefits of influencer marketing are numerous. Including this tactic in your marketing strategy can take your next big hit to new heights. What are you waiting for?

     
  • The Ultimate Guide to Starting an Independent Record Label in 2022

    The Ultimate Guide to Starting an Independent Record Label in 2022

    There are a lot of resources out there on starting an independent record label and, frankly, most of them are way too complicated. Luckily, we’ve distilled it down so even your Grandma could start the next Universal.

    (Side note: if your Grandma does start a label, please hit us up cause that’s cool and we’d love to partner and promote!)

    Anyway, moving on…

    Starting a record label involves two key ingredients: a passion for music and an action plan. This guide will give you the latter, but we’re counting on you to bring the former.

    Since you’re already here reading this, we’re going to assume you have the passion in you and you’re dying to get started. So, let’s dive in.

    Starting a independent record label

    This guide’s going to show you how to start a independent record label in six steps:

    1. Ideation
    2. Talent sourcing
    3. Business & Brand Strategy
    4. Legalities
    5. Preparing for Launch
    6. Promotions

    1. Ideation

    Starting a independent record label begins with brainstorming how the record label will stand apart from the sea of labels out there. This is known as a unique positioning or the unique value proposition of the record label.

    To figure this out, the key is to think through what you know best about the music industry. What’s wrong with record labels today?

    Think through an unmet need that currently exists and whether positioning the record label to meet it is a sustainable idea.

    Use this train of thought to pick a vision for your record label that you’re passionate about.

    Picking one that’s trending may sound like a good idea, but this can also mean the trend fades away and you’re left with a failed label.

    Build your record label to focus on something you’re truly passionate about. We believe that the most successful labels out there today got to where they are because the founders picked what they were passionate about. This passion meant they fought through the highs and lows to realize their vision of the label and make it successful.

    Once you’ve found the vision for the label, you can think through the specifics such as: which format do you focus on?

    Determining Format

    Picking the right format for the label to focus on is important. Juggling too many formats can dilute efforts and wind up with your label not doing well in sourcing talent and producing in any of them.

    Pick a few formats that are known to be popular such as CD, Vinyl, and Digital Releases.

    Don’t discount Digital Releases. Streaming is huge right now and Digital Releases primes you well to venture into this distribution channel. This ensures you’re on popular platforms such as SoundCloud, Bandcamp, and Spotify.

    Formats also impact chart eligibility which is the criteria that need to be met in order to enter popular charts such as UK Top 40 or Billboard 200.

    Every track will require an ISRC code (International Standard Recording Code) that helps stores report sales to chart companies such as Billboard. Depending on which region you’re launching the label in, it’s important to look at chart eligibility for different formats. If your format doesn’t allow you to be registered with them, you may lose the chance of being listed on their charts which is lost free marketing

    2. Talent sourcing

    Many start a record label to share music they’ve heard with a broader audience, especially tunes that no other label wanted to put out. But this may not always be the case, or just having one release lined up from an artist you know might not be enough.

    This is where finding music to release becomes the next step. When starting a independent record label, it’s good to have a few releases in the back pocket to help with promotions and finding distribution.

    Play to your strengths when it comes to finding great talent.

    Start with your network and local music venues that you know. Spend time online on platforms such as Soundcloud, Bandcamp, or ReverbNation. Even social media platforms such as Facebook and Tik Tok now boast niche communities where artists publish their music.

    Be patient during this step. It’s better to launch with music that’s true to what the label stands for and believes in compared to releasing something just to get the label launched and going.

    Only represent music that truly moves you.

    3. Business & Brand Strategy

    If you’ve found the talent you like, it’s time to formalize things so you can share their music with the world and represent them with your label.

    This starts with a business plan. Business plans are great in helping think through the nitty-gritty of the record label. What will it be called? How much will it cost to setup? Etc.

    A business plan is also helpful when seeking investment.  Anyone you pitch the label idea to will know you’ve done the due diligence in ensuring it’s a successful venture.

    Here are some questions the business plan should help answer:

    • What’s unique about your record label?
    • Who are your competitors?
    • What will it be called?
    • What’s its branding?
    • How do you plan on marketing the label?
    • How will the record label be legally structured?
    • What products or services will the record label offer?
    • How much will it cost to set up the record label?
    • How much money will it make in a given year? And how much profit?

    We won’t go into detail on how to answer each question above, but we’ll dive into a few that are important in shaping up the record label through the rest of this guide.

    Name & Brand

    When it comes to branding, the name and logo of your record label will be critical.

    We’re big believers in the notion that if the right identity of a label isn’t created, it won’t attract the right talent.

    Brainstorm a few name ideas with your friends. Try to view it through the lens of your target customer as well – the artist. How would they resonate to the name and overall branding of your label?

    Similarly, think through different logo ideas and other branding collateral. What’s the colour scheme of the label going to be? What font will you use?

    The brand identity of your label will be important when it comes to promotion as your label will put considerable effort into marketing its artists work.

    If you don’t have a killer name and brand for your own label, it’s not going to reflect greatly on what marketing you can do for artists that potentially want to join your label.

    If you’re hitting a wall, check out how competitors are branding and see if it triggers any inspiration. If this truly isn’t your forté, then we’d recommend hiring professionals such as a branding and design agency.  They can help craft your brand identity and create marketing assets for you such as logos, typeface, etc.

    4. Legalities

    Now for some grown-up stuff.

    Sorting out the legal aspects of the label is an important step in ensuring credibility when it comes to dealings and as a way of protecting you and the label.

    Firstly, you’ll have to start by setting up the structure of the business:

    The business structure of the label

    One aspect of starting a independent record label will involve structuring the business appropriately.

    Here are a few options to consider:

    Sole proprietorship: This sort of structure means the record label company is wholly owned and operated by just one individual – you.

    That means all of the finances and liability are shared. If the label goes bankrupt, your personal assets are on the line, and if you go bankrupt the same applies to the label’s assets. This set up is appropriate if it’s just you running the label and simplifies the legal steps you’d have to go through in order to get going. Remember, you can always change the business structure later on. 

    Limited Liability Corporation (LLC): If the label is being formed by a group of people, then an LLC makes more sense.

    The owners are also not responsible for any debts or liabilities incurred by the record label. Their personal assets are protected. Setting up an LLC is more complicated and expensive, but it does come with the added personal protection.

    Incorporation: Most major labels will be structured as a corporation. This ensures no liability to shareholders and even the owners are well protected against any issues the label may face such as bankruptcy.

    Incorporation will also allow external investors to come on board without having to relinquish actual voting control of the label. This is by far the most complicated to set up and manage.

    Our advice is to start off with an LLC if there’s more than one of you as an owner the label, and if it’s just you then a sole proprietorship is fine. You can always transition how the label business is structured as the record label grows.

    Setting up contracts

    When you bring on talent to release their music, you’ll have to draft up contracts to ensure the relationship between you and the artists are clear.

    This contract will cover important details such as profit sharing, who owns the masters, royalty agreements, distribution, and promotional guarantees. It will define clearly what you’ll help the artist with, who is responsible for what, ownership, and how revenue is distributed between the artist and your label.

    Licensing

    In addition to contracts. Labels will also have to get clear on licensing and ensure all represented artists are registered with the appropriate companies such as BMI or SESAC.

    These are companies that collect royalties and distribute them to artists. If you miss licensing your artists to these companies, there’s a good chance your label will lose out on much-needed royalty earnings.

    5. Preparing for Launch

    It’s GO time.

    Preparing to go-to-market is the next big step for the label. This will involve understanding how to both promote the label and the artists you represent.

    Distribution

    The first thing you’re going to want to line up is the right distribution channels.

    These are the places where your label’s music is going to be playing or sold. There’s physical distribution such as music stores, and digital distribution through streaming services and online stores (e.g. iTunes). You’ll eventually have to either find companies in these channels yourself or hire distributors that’ll do the work for you.

    Having distribution lined up from the get-go isn’t necessary.

    If you’ve got a compelling brand and a promotion strategy, then that should take you quite far in this technology-enabled day and age. Eventually, however, you’ll want to be on store shelves, and that’s where distribution becomes important.

    Press Kits

    Press Kits help tell the world what your label does and/or who the artist is. Think of it as an entire marketing package that shows what the artist looks like, their bio, demos, upcoming tour dates, and so on…

    These kits can be both physical and digital.

    Digital kits allow anyone to download them directly from your website to use in promotional activities.

    Physical kits come handy when you’re face-to-face with someone that could use it.

    Don’t spend too much energy in filling the press kit with lots of information, keep it simple so that it quickly gives a good overview of your label and the artist.

    Establish an online presence

    If your label doesn’t have a strong online presence, that’s enough for people to doubt your credibility.

    Start with having a website for your label that outlines which artists you represent, your story, upcoming releases, etc.

    Include whatever you think consumers need to know about you. You don’t need a professional to set this up for you.

    There are plenty of web design sites such as Squarespace or Webflow that’ll allow you to create stunning websites with relative ease without breaking the bank.

    Create social media profiles as well on Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and Twitter. Be active on these platforms, posting updates about your label such as new releases, and use it as a way to interact with the community of other music lovers.

    6. Promotion

    With a site and social media profiles set up, the next step is to begin promoting.

    This means getting your label and artist’s music out there. Get active on various streaming platforms such as Soundcloud and Bandcamp. See if you can host music on Spotify and iTunes and create specific video content for YouTube.

    Do some promotion on Reddit such as in the /r/musicpromotion community and find niche Facebook groups that you can join to spread the word.

    If you know of any music blogs focused on a specific genre, reach out to them and see if they’re willing to promote your artist or announce your label. 

    Think of all the places you use to discover new music talent and stay tuned to the latest from certain genres. Go out and try to promote your label’s music on those platforms!

    Work smart and don’t be afraid to cross-post. If you create a post on Facebook, share it on Twitter and Reddit, and Instagram as well. The key is to try and reach as many people for the least amount of effort. There are even some services out that’ll help promote your music at scale such as promo.ly.

    Starting a independent record label is a learning process and you’ll be making mistakes from day one. Don’t get discouraged when you hit roadblocks.

    Persistence is key in making sure your first release gets out there. Hopefully, with these six steps you’re well on your way to sharing the music you love and the artists you admire with the world.

    PS, If you’re looking to get signed to a label instead of starting your own label, our friends at EDM Tips have covered that in the following link.

     
  • Marketing Tips for Musicians – How to Make the Most of Email Marketing

    Marketing Tips for Musicians – How to Make the Most of Email Marketing

    Since the introduction of the Internet, it has been much easier to market and promote various products, services, events, causes, and even art. Social networks, particularly Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, have proven themselves to be powerful platforms for raising awareness about many subjects across a wide range of industries. Even if there is no doubt about the power of social media in terms of online advertising and marketing, the fact is that these platforms are not the only feasible and effective way to make a name for yourself.

    Because social media has been proven effective, nearly all advertisers use those platforms. Many posts and ads can saturate Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.  Your photos, videos, and text posts can go unnoticed, buried amidst the multitude of other posts. How, then, can you market yourself online?

    Email as a Marketing Tool for Musicians

    Although it may seem like a dated marketing strategy, musicians can reach fans and promote their work via email. Building an email list guarantees that you can send content to audiences who may otherwise be distracted with trending content on social media.

    Nowadays, becoming a successful musician doesn’t only involve creating great music. Without the right marketing, branding, and promoting strategies, an artist’s music career is unlikely to begin. While social media sites such as Facebook provides access to millions of music fans, you will be at the mercy of algorithms that you do not have control over. On the contrary, your email list is something that you own and control. You have the choice to create email content as well as choose when and whom will receive your content.

    3 Ways to Make the Most of Email Marketing

    To make sure that email marketing works effectively for your music career, take note of these three tips:

    1. Utilize an email marketing automation service

    It’s not wise to use a personal email account when emailing fans and followers. When you get started in email marketing, consider using an email automation service that will enable you to reach your leads in one go. Some of the more popular options are Aweber and Mailchimp, which provide excellent features on top of their mass emailing capabilities. Mailchimp can be used for free for the first 2,000 addresses. Aweber, on the other hand, is more feature-packed. Although it offers you plenty of functionality, it will cost you.

    2. Include an irresistible call-to-action on your sign-up form

    It goes without saying that you can’t get started on email marketing if you don’t have an email list full of people who want to hear from you. Nowadays, online users aren’t very keen about registering for email newsletters since they believe that they can get the information for free without signing up to anything. Therefore, it’s incredibly important for you to make a case for why they should go the extra mile. Introduce something they can’t resist in exchange for information about them— specifically, their email address. Make sure you emphasize that those who will register on your website or newsletter will get exclusive updates and content. You can also choose to offer something more, such as early access to new music.

    3. Use active or actionable language

    When writing any copy, whether on your social media pages or (especially) in your emails, make sure that you get your point across in a timely manner. Want them to check out your new video? Use a catchy line like: “New music video released. Watch it now!”. Want them to take advantage of a discount? Say, “Get this special limited-time offer!”. Phrases like this not only communicate the whole reason you’re sending out an email, but convey an urgency.

    There’s nothing wrong with using social media to promote yourself, but you may not be reaching as many people as you would like. Consider the use of email marketing to communicate valuable information to a loyal group of fans while building a relationship with them. With these three tips, you’ll start building a name for yourself in no time!

    Promoly is a music promotion platform for musicians. If you’re looking for a music PR service to deliver music to your mailing list, get in touch today to see how we can help!

     
  • How Musicians Can Use Instagram to Expand Their Fanbase

    How Musicians Can Use Instagram to Expand Their Fanbase

    Musicians looking to expand their popularity shouldn’t limit themselves to YouTube, Twitter, or Facebook. They have to use as many social media platforms as possible to reach the most extensive number of audiences. One of the social media platforms that hold great potential is Instagram. With thousands of Instagram users in your community alone, you can use this platform to reach out to prospective and current fans.

    However, merely publishing pictures, memes, viral videos, and quotes on Instagram does not guarantee that you will reach the right audiences. You would need to sit down and strategize. Here are six considerations in your Instagram strategy that you must think about and plan to expand your fanbase.

    1. Create a story theme

    Prospective and current fans would love to know a personal side of you. You can use Instagram to show pictures of who you are or what things inspired you to compose or perform a specific song. The picture or video topics could be about showing you practice or recording. You can also show pictures of your comfort food or brain food and explain how consuming these products drive your creative juices. The theme of your story pictures could be about your fashion, religious beliefs, activism, or community outreach engagements. However, remember to be consistent with the theme you use, so that you can weave a meaningful and streamlined storyline both your old and new fans can grasp and follow.

    2. Focus on Instagram profile pictures

    Your profile’s first nine photos should already encapsulate what your fans would expect from you. Those first nine photos would depend on the genre you perform and the branding you want to impart. For example, if you want to be perceived as someone who can help music listeners to move on from their heartbreak, you can go with picture colours that combine sadness (grey shades) and optimism (bright red colours).

    3. Post regularly and consistently

    Growing your followers on Instagram requires you to keep posting interesting content often, at least three times a day. Consistency shows that you are active online and interested in reaching out to current and potential fans. It adds to the authenticity of your fan service efforts. To make your Instagram releases more regular, you can create your picture or video posts ahead of time and schedule its release using apps like Hootsuite. In this way, your Instagram continues to be active, even if you’re too busy with other engagements.

    4. Determine the right posting times

    In addition to posting often, you need to post your images and videos at the right time. At the most fundamental level, you have to post at times of the day when most of your fans are awake and online. If you are an artist who wants to reach global audiences, you have to consider the time zones for your post schedules as well. You can use tools such as Iconsoquare to find when most of your followers are online. Gather data on your fans’ Instagram use and think about how you can adjust the schedule of your post releases to their usage behaviour.

    5. Make use of hashtags

    Hashtags are more than just an accessory. These words enable you to appear on relevant searches and newsfeeds. Thus, you have to think about the types of hashtags your fans would use to look for you or the type of music you make. At the same time, you also have to create witty hashtags that would resonate with your fans and make you stand out (or even trend!). Note that popular hashtags may change every month, so you have to keep thinking of new hashtags that would align with your fans’ preferences. You can also use hashtags if your latest song or story is related to a trending topic, such as the Ice bucket challenge for example.

    6. Request for feedback

    Feedback lets you hear directly from your fans what they want you to post and what improvements you can make in your posts. It also makes them feel more involved in your career growth, which solidifies and deepens their attachment towards your brand. Use Instagram to ask questions and leave comments on their responses to you online. Prioritize engaging with your most devoted fans to encourage the rest of your following to keep their hopes up of being heard by you as well.

    Promoly is a music promotion platform for musicians. If you’re looking for a music PR service to deliver music to your mailing list, get in touch to see how we can help today.