Best Way to Promote Music on a Budget

In the last post I covered How to Learn More About the Music Biz. This is a direct follow-up to that post, so if you missed it, be sure to read it here.

As you now know, the best way to absorb and remember information is to flood your senses: Read about it, talk about it, listen to and watch others talk about it and do it. Most importantly, DO IT yourself. And, to take it to the deepest levels of permanent understanding, teach others how to do it too.

This is an awesome insight into how your brain works and how you can use it to learn the things needed to further your music career and life.

But there's another aspect of this you can use to market yourself in a big way. Here's the secret ...

Your fans and potential fans learn about music the same way.

Think about some of your favorite artists. How did you become aware of them?

Perhaps a friend talked about them. Or you read a review of their CD. Or maybe you heard them first on a radio show or podcast. Or perhaps you saw a YouTube video of one of their songs.

Something brought their music into your awareness for the first time. Once that interest was sparked, each new exposure brought a deeper recognition and understanding of the artist and his/her music.

And if you look at the percentage breakdowns of how people remember (from the previous post), the same elements apply to fans.

That's why getting a glowing written review of your music doesn't always lead to a boost in sales. Simply reading about new music doesn't make a huge impact. People quickly forget.

That's also why running ads is generally a waste of money. Seeing and reading an ad might help create some awareness, but it does little to create a lasting impression (unless done repeatedly for months and years -- which is not feasible for most indie artists).

Ideally, the best way to promote your music is to hit your ideal type of music consumer from various angles. Sure, you want them to read and hear about you. The more often, the better.

But you also want them to see and hear you at the same time (as with online video). You want them to experience you directly (at a live show). And you especially want them to share their enthusiasm with others (raving to their friends).

So, from now on, when you come up with a new music promotion plan, make sure it includes many ways that current and potential fans can:

• Read about you (in your ezine, blog and media coverage)
• Hear your music (and you speak about it)
• See photos of you
• See and hear your music in a visual format (videos, audio slide shows)
• Experience your music live
• Talk about you
• Share your music with others
• Explain something remarkable that you did

In other words, how can you bombard their senses in such a way that your ideal fans won't forget you?

It doesn't take a ton of money to accomplish that. It just takes lots of creativity and action on your part.

Have fun promoting!

-Bob

P.S. Did you enjoy this blog post? Get more tips like these when you subscribe to my Buzz Factor ezine -- the longest running music career tips email newsletter on the Internet. Since 1995. Go grab your free subscription now.

Check out Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook, the classic guide to indie music promotion. Now revised and updated, with four new chapters on Internet and Web 2.0 music marketing.