Establishing your online presence in a Web 2.0 crazed world is critical for any music operation and their success. This list provides different avenues each artist can tap into to increase their visibility online. These different target areas allow you to focus your marketing energy towards different social networks and forms of music promotion.
Developing a marketing strategy is easy. With all the tools out their for independent musicians, all it takes is some effort.
Purchasing your own domain hosting and establish your brand name. Your own hosting gives you more flexibility to customize your site and expand by creating forums or blogs. I prefer Bluehost because of my experience with their customer service and control panel. Bluhost gives you all the scripts to setup a WordPress blog in minutes.
Promote your music by any means. If you choose not to buy your domain name and hosting then you should take advantage of any FREE blogging platform. Establish your brand name. I like Blogger because you can start a blog for free and use your Adsense code to make extra marketing revenue while blogging. Nice to see out of a free blog site.
Upload your music to major online retailers such as iTunes, Napster and Amazonmp3. Choose distribution service if you currently have no marketplace for your album then promote over various social networks. I prefer Songcast because of its unlimited album upload, free profile page, widget/link maker and 100% royalties.
Setting up a mailing list is essential for your music operation. You can manage a small fanbase and create a better chance of selling your music to your list. They signed up so they are interested in your art. I chose Aweber because of their track record and awesome features allowing your readers to stay tuned to all your news.
Upload your music for free. Create profiles and add friends, allowing them to hear your music and read on your band news and tour info. Bandcamp is my favorite. They have a clean profile page to upload your music, collect emails, allow fans to download album fully coded with cover art, and it is all for free. You can sync up your page with your Paypal account and sell the music for whatever price you choose.
Write a post on your blog and then submit them to these news sites. Great way to promote your band and get free traffic.
Submit your music to these sites and they help connect you with placing your music in television and film projects.
Collaborate online and network with fellow hungry musicians. Work on music together and have twice the promotion. Network!
Participate in different music arenas and find your comments leading to great unique visits later. Share your knowledge and market.
Display your expertise, write articles and create free profiles. Great for backlinks to your site and generating extra unique visitors to your site.
Free widgets are great. Spread them across your music profiles and promote your content. Add one to Myspace and get fans to your website.
Creating a press release is a great way to establish your credibility. Press releases are great to add to your Press Kit and help spread your name online.
As an indie label partner and musician, these websites and services have made it possible for me to sell albums in a digital world. The key to this is finding a nice mix of promotion. Once you develop a consistent plan of attack, your marketing will become an asset instead of an obstacle.
