APRIL 11th, 2018

AUDIO HOW-TO

Putting yourself out there

In the competitive music industry, it’s important for new artists to stay current with their promotional tools in order to stand out amongst increasing competition.

Promoting music isn’t what it used to be, and most artists are already well aware of how important their online, and social media presences are for their careers. Everyone has an Instagram, so how can yours stand out from the rest? With such a wide range of true talent these days, self promo is the key for up-and-coming artists to increase their followings.

Image via The Creative Issue

1. Expand Your Content on YouTube
I daresay all new artists are aware of YouTube and the ways that the video sharing website can help promote their music, or simply share their talent with the internet through cover songs. YouTube is a great tool for posting your footage, but it’s necessary to think outside the box. Try creating multiple channels, and sharing your behind the scenes footage through video diaries. These can include what goes on backstage when gigging, or the process of recording music for instance. This is a way to connect with your audience and tell the story of who you are. Your channels might include one “official” channel, one for video diaries, and one for cover songs. The more exposure you or your band get, the better. Check out James TW’s tour diary below for some creative inspiration.

Image via Food Advisor

“People who use Instagram to follow artists and bands spend twice as much on music each year, as compared to the general population and music fans who use other social media apps.”
—Paolo de Valle (cuepoint)

2. Clean Up Your Instagram, and Start Interacting!
Most artists have an Instagram account, but there are ones who utilize the app’s potential, and ones who just use it to share pictures and announce gigs. According to a Nielsen music study done by cuepoint.com, “People who use Instagram to follow artists and bands spend twice as much on music each year, as compared to the general population and music fans who use other social media apps.” So, we know it’s an important promotional tool, but how do you separate from the rest? It’s great to inform your followers on what your playing schedule looks like, and when you’ll be posting new music, but being too repetitive gets boring after awhile. You want to keep your content varied, and interesting. Try not to post too often or too little, either one may result in some unfollows. Remember to keep it interesting! Make your posts more personal, and welcome your followers into your life beyond your gigs. You also want to try to interact with users as much as possible. Try sending a direct message thanking new followers, and linking them to your new music. You could try using Instagram’s live video feature, or simply respond to user’s comments on your pictures. It also helps to push followers to comment by saying in your caption things like, “Tag a friend down below who loves acoustic guitar!”

“AWAL enables independent artists and labels to get onto iTunes and its ilk.”
—Simon Trask (Sound on Sound)

Check out our Your Heaven Audio CloseUp System on the Products page.

3. Distribute Your Music Online, and Utilize Top Streaming Services
This is an important one for sharing your music with the world, and there are so many different streaming services today, it may get confusing. Spotify accounts for 36% of music streaming services worldwide, so it’s a good place to start. If you’re signed to a record label, your music is probably already on Spotify. If not, you can find instructions on the Spotify website for how to get your music on Spotify without a label or an aggregator. If this is the case you can use companies like AWAL. Simon Trask from Sound on Sound magazine writes, “One highly evolved organisation whose very name calls the need for record labels into question is AWAL, or Artists Without A Label. Like CD Baby, AWAL enables independent artists and labels to get onto iTunes and its ilk.”

Image via la Rata

“Stickers, pins, and patches are also a great promotional tool – the low price you can sell them at makes them much more impulse-buy friendly.”
—Carlyn Hill (Threadless)

4. Merch It Up
Who doesn’t love stuff? Make a logo, or find a designer who can make one for you, and use a website like CustomInk to make all sorts of fun merch. Of course it’s profitable to sell T-shirts, but it’s great to give away low cost freebies like stickers to get your name, and logo out there. You can also use your merch for giveaways. For example, create a contest via social media stating that those who follow your Instagram, and subscribe to your YouTube channel may have the opportunity to win a sweatshirt with your logo printed on it. Not only are you increasing your online following, but you’re getting that extra exposure from the person wearing your sweatshirt around! “Stickers, pins, and patches are also a great promotional tool – the low price you can sell them at makes them much more impulse-buy friendly,” Carlyn Hill from Threadless tells us.

5. Reach Out to Bloggers
Email blasts to your followers are great for sharing updates on your music and your schedule, but try reaching out to bloggers, too. Here at Your Heaven Audio, we’re always excited to hear and support new artists! We’re more than happy to check out and review your EP, and we’re probably not the only ones. Plenty of other music blogs will likely want to hear your best work and spread the word. So next time you’re about to send out some emails, write up a quick message with a link to your music, and send it over to your favorite guitar blogs asking for a review. A good review is a fantastic way to get discovered, and increase your following.