What’s the one question we get asked all the time by musicians? “Pleeease, tell me how to promote my music independently.” Musicians are generally tired of the traditional music business. They want to escape its exclusivity, the high demands it places on an artist’s time and energy, the excessive middlemen and the endless struggle to make art they can be proud of.
As a musician, you put music first. You want to succeed on your own terms. You want to earn a great living by doing what you love most. We see you!
“So, come on, LA Search, tell me how to promote my music independently!”
You got it! Here are our 5 top tips!
- Always promote at gigs and concerts. Make sure you’re performing live regularly and attracting new fans to promote your music to.
- Develop a strong social media presence. Almost everyone who listens to music is discovering new music on social media, so make sure you’re visible and active on all the music-friendly channels.
- Use paid advertising. If you want to succeed as an independent musician, it’s important to see yourself as a business owner. It’s highly unlikely that any successful business is thriving without an advertising budget.
- Use email marketing. Always aim to get fans subscribed to your mailing list. That way, you can speak to them directly and let them know about new releases, shows and news.
- Get featured on music blogs. Getting your music featured and reviewed on music blogs is another great way to bring new ears to your music.
Okay, it’s all very well knowing all of the above, but how do you really make these resources work for you? See our more detailed tips below.
Our Tips for Making the Most of All Marketing Opportunities:
At Gigs:
- At gigs, display all your social media links and your website address clearly, on a banner that’s visible to the audience.
- Display a QR code that takes fans directly to a free music download and email subscription page.
On Social Media:
- On YouTube, make long and short-form video content to grow your audience online.
- Commit to a regular posting schedule and stick to it. Consistency is key!
- Post frequently. Posting one video a day on TikTok can win you tens of thousands of new listeners in a few months, whereas, posting only weekly or on an ad hoc basis will have you struggling to reach a hundred in a similar time period.
Paid Advertising:
- Facebook and Instagram ads are still extremely effective. Try doing a short course if you’re not sure how to use them.
- Experiment with Google’s Pay Per Click advertising.
- Set yourself a reasonable monthly budget and experimentation period. Cut down on unnecessary spending for a while. Take it on the chin and see how much interest you can generate for your music in three months.
About That Email List:
- Social media fads come and go but email marketing is here to stay. All of your marketing should eventually lead back to your email list sign-up page.
Getting Featured on Music Blogs
- Make a list of all the blogs and podcasts you might want to have your music featured on and contact them about your music.
- Be sure to read their submission guidelines thoroughly, so you know exactly what to send and in what format to send it.
How Can We Help?
LA Search works with independent musicians, music teachers, fashion houses and travel brands, helping them to soar in the search engines and attract hordes of raving followers and fans. Our knowledge of how to work with these industries makes us the top choice for music professionals.
Reach out and let us transform your online presence!