Sell a Lot More Music & Merch for $7

One of the keys to making money in any creative field is giving your customers a variety of ways they can interact with and support you.

On one end of the spectrum is free stuff -- for you that might be free MP3 downloads and video clips; for me it's this blog, my free ezine, podcast, articles, etc.

Way on the other end you'd have your highest price offerings -- corporate gigs, licensing, and sponsorship deals for bands; and more expensive home study packages, online courses, and consulting services for authors like me.

In the middle is another range of options -- you sell CDs, merch, and admissions to live shows; I sell books, special reports, audio programs, and live workshops.

It's good to give people various points of entry like this. You don't want to price everything so low that you become the Wal-Mart of your genre or field. And you don't want to overprice everything and scare people away before they've even had a chance to sample what you do.

How can you apply this concept to your situation?

Make a list, from free to very expensive, of all the music products and services you can offer. Then be sure to make your fans and business partners aware of the various options they have to experience and enjoy you.

I'll practice what I preach right now ...

Last month, Nick Nanton and I launched a new resource called 7 Secrets to Making Real Money with Your Music. It's available as both an online course and a physical product that comes in a binder with two audio CDs.

And it's not cheap. The online version alone is $77. And I think it's worth every penny.

But not everyone can afford (or they convince themselves they are not worthy of) that amount of money.

And that's fine. Not everything you create will be suited for everyone. We produced this title for serious music makers who are ready to take their passions to a higher and more profitable level.

Yet ...

I know that in the current economic climate, there's a great need for ideas on how to spark new sources of music income. So here's what I'm doing to satisfy people on the other end of the spectrum:

I'm making a 39-page section of my Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook available for just $7.

The section is called "Guerrilla Music Money & Sales" and includes the following chapters ...

• 39 Ways to Sell a Lot More of Your CDs, DVDs and Music Merchandise. One solid idea after another on how to boost your CD and merchandise sales. Includes a list of the top web sites and e-commerce channels where you can sell your music worldwide.
  
  
• The Easiest Way to Make Money in the Music Business. Stop buying into the "starving musician" stereotype. The most prosperous musicians use this technique to support themselves. Here's what you need to do to thrive in the music business.
  
  
• 25 Ways to Finance Your Next Recording Project, Music Video or Major Equipment Purchase. It's one of the age-old music biz challenges: how to overcome a lack of money. Use these ideas to make, save and raise the extra cash you need.
  
  
• How to Double Your CD Sales (in 90 Days or Less). Want to sell a lot more of your music? Here's what the smart indie artists are doing to profit from their hard work and creativity.

Click here to order it now.

There you go. If 7 Secrets to Making Real Money with Your Music is out of your range right now, I understand. I've been there myself before.

Then take me up on this offer to get a ton of money-making music tips packed into these 39 pages -- for only $7. Click this link to order.

Note: If you already own the Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook, you already have this section. But if you don't, it's a great way to get a very inexpensive taste of the great ideas contained in my best-selling book.

If you want the entire Guerrilla Music book, the PDF download is only $24.95, and the paperback is $29.95 plus shipping.

See? I just gave you a number of options to get more involved in my world and come play with me. Do the same thing with your fans.

Variety is the spice, baby!

-Bob

Hollywood Launch a New Music Release

What can musicians learn from software developers about introducing something new to the public? Maybe a lot. But it's probably not what you think.

According to this page on the 37 Signals web site, it boils down to three steps:

1) Tease
2) Preview
3) Launch

Read it for more details, but I think there's a lot that can be applied to music here.

Bottom line: Promotion shouldn't start the day the CDs arrive from the manufacturer (or the songs are available on iTunes). A whole string of activities can take place in the weeks and months leading up to the "for sale" date.

Thanks to Nashville musician Christopher Joel for turning me on to this concept!

-Bob

Get your FREE copy of my Music Marketing Secrets special report. It shows you how to get more exposure, attract more fans, and sell more music! Go here to grab your copy now ...

How to Thrive With Music in a Down Economy

I admit it. We are living through some uncertain times right now.

I'm one of the more optimistic people you are likely to meet, and even I am concerned about the downturn in the world economy and financial markets.

But being aware of financial markets and consumer confidence does not equal being immobilized by them!

If you're an active musician, manager or promoter ... this is not the time to run for cover and hibernate. In fact, you should be doing just the opposite: taking proactive steps to insure your short-term and long-term cash flow and security.

Here are some steps you can take to thrive in a down economy:

If you play music full-time or part-time ...

• Step up your promotion efforts. That's right. Instead of retreating in fear, get more active. And don't use the "I don't have money to spend on marketing" excuse. There are hundreds of ways to spread the word that don't cost a dime.
  
  
• If you depend on gig revenue, make sure you stay in touch with your venue contacts. Sure, some establishments are cutting back on entertainment. But when they do book live acts, make certain you are "top of mind."
  
  
• Communicate with your fans even more. If you have a decent mailing list, use it. If you don't, why not? Your list is your most valuable asset, so start building one -- or put a higher priority on building one.
  
  
• Realize that people need music in good times and bad -- especially bad. View yourself as the provider of a valuable resource. Because that's what you are.
  
  
• Write songs about the economy. Funny songs, serious songs, upbeat songs, or reflective songs that mirror current events.
  
  
• If you live in the U.S., tap into the media frenzy surrounding the presidential election. Offer to play at a political rally or record the next "Obama Girl"-like viral video.
  
  
• Pursue media coverage of all kinds. It's free exposure. And you don't need a fancy press kit to get it. All you need is a good idea that keeps the needs of the journalist, blogger, podcaster, or radio show host in mind.
  
  
• Make smart use of the Internet. Has your web site been updated lately? Haven't published a new blog post since May? Are you making the most of MySpace, Facebook, YouTube, etc? If not, get busy.

If you just lost or are about to lose your day job ...

• My heart goes out to you. But this could be a blessing in disguise. Most people who lose jobs are happier with where they end up a year later.
  
  
• This could be an opportunity to finally pour some energy into that musical passion you've been suppressing for years. Take this time to explore your creativity and see where it takes you.
  
  
• Take all the steps above.

The bottom line here is this: Don't become a victim of the real or imagined economic woes so many people are fearing today.

Instead, embrace the philosophy behind this quote from playwright George Bernard Shaw:

"People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them."

-Bob

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Get your FREE copy of my Music Marketing Secrets special report. It shows you how to get more exposure, attract more fans, and sell more music! Go here to grab your copy now ...

What Are Your Top 3 Things?

I'll admit it. Lately, I've been feeling overwhelmed.

Too many tasks on my to-do list. A constant stream of email in my Inbox. And more demands seeming to come from every direction. Such is the life of a full-time author and small business person.
But I'm not willing to accept this as the normal state of doing what I do.

So here's something simple I'm going to try to get my balance back. And I encourage you to try this as well.

Every morning ask yourself:

What three things can I do today that would have the greatest positive impact on my ...

Then fill in the blank.

You might complete the question with "music sales" or "career as a musician" or "fans." Perhaps "Internet presence" or "live gigs" would work here too.

Really ponder what would have the "greatest positive impact" on your chosen area. And write down your top three answers.

Now you know what's most important and what to focus on today.

Here's another version of this that might be even more powerful. Ask a series of similar questions limited to one thing you can do in the most important areas of your life.

Examples:

• What one thing can I do today that would have the greatest positive impact on my happiness?
  
  
• What one thing can I do today that would have the greatest positive impact on my health?
  
  
• What one thing can I do today that would have the greatest positive impact on my wealth?
  
  
• What one thing can I do today that would have the greatest positive impact on my relationships?
  
  
• What one thing can I do today that would have the greatest positive impact on my contribution to society?

You get the idea.

Instead of being swept up in the endless flow of tasks and trying to get "caught up" -- which never seems to happen for me -- instead focus on the big picture and what is truly important.

Let's try it together. We may still have a long list of things that are "undone." But I bet we make monumental progress on the things that are most important.

-Bob

Get your FREE copy of my Music Marketing Secrets special report. It shows you how to get more exposure, attract more fans, and sell more music! Go here to grab your copy now ...

You Can Prosper With Your Music - Even in This Economy

For months now I've been working in silence on a brand new resource. It's finally ready, and the timing couldn't be better.

I'm sure you've been following news stories about the monumental failures with U.S. financial institutions and the government bailouts.

No matter where you live in the world, you may be worried and wondering how the unstable economy will affect your life and music career.

How will you earn a living now that consumers are getting even more protective of their limited funds? How can you support yourself with all the financial uncertainty in the world?

Well, I help answer those questions on this page.

All I can say is that, for me personally, I have generally done better with my business when the economy was supposedly in a recession. I've never let outside circumstances influence what happens with my own mission and pursuits. I encourage you to do the same.

Again, you can read more about it here.

-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.

Ready to turbo-charge your music marketing campaign? Check out all the new Crash Course packages on Music Marketing, Music Publicity, and Internet Promotion at TheBuzzFactor.com.

Guerrilla Marketing on the Front Lines

After many years of publishing by own brand of Guerrilla Music Marketing books, I am now officially part of Jay Conrad Levinson's series of Guerrilla Marketing books.

You see, Jay wrote the first Guerrilla Marketing book back in 1983. It was one of several books that inspired me to travel the path I've taken.

Jay's original Guerrilla book spawned a series of about 30 books that he's written or co-written over the years, and millions of copies have been sold.

Even though Jay gave me his blessings years ago to use the Guerrilla name, I've never actually been part of his series. But that changes this week with the release of Guerrilla Marketing on the Front Lines.

The subtitle of this new, 300-page book is "35 World-Class Strategies to Send Your Profits Soaring." My pal Mitch Meyerson (an awesome guitar player, by the way) spearheaded this title and asked some of his favorite guerrilla marketers to each contribute a chapter. And I'm one of them!

I'm honored to be in such great company.

Mark Victor Hansen (of Chicken Soup for the Soul fame) wrote the Foreword. Some of the other authors include Alex Mandossian, Michael Port, Rick Frishman, Al Lautenslager, Roger C Parker, Travis Greenlee, Craig Valentine, Grant Hicks, and many more.

Here's the cool part ...

The official launch date is today, Sept. 24. If you purchase the book this week, I'll send you details on how to access a special live conference call that features me, Jay, Mitch, and several of the other Front Lines authors.

You can order the book on Amazon here (please do that today, if you can):

Be sure to forward your Amazon receipt to me so I can send you the conference call details.

Or get an autographed copy directly from me by using this link. Note that I have only about 30 copies in my personal stock, so quantities are limited with this option.

When you order it from me, I'll also send you details to access the call.

This is exciting. Thanks for allowing me to share this good news with you!

-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.

Using Google as a Marketing Tool

Cameron Mizell, a musician from Brooklyn, NY, wrote a blog post last week on how to create a fan email list with Google Docs. It's well done and demonstrates just one way that anyone can take existing technology and turn it into a no-cost marketing tool.
Another way to use Google to build a mailing list is Google Groups. With this option, in addition to having a place where people can sign up to get email updates, you can also create a mini fan community where members can create profiles, start discussions, upload files and photos, etc. Be sure to check out all the settings and adjust them according to how you want the group to operate.

Of course, Google also owns Blogger, which you can use to publish a blog for free. They run YouTube and Google Video. I've also seen some creative uses of Google Calendar to post show schedules.

There are no shortages of free promotion tools. The real question is ...

What will you do with them?

-Bob

Ready to turbo-charge your music marketing campaign? Check out all the new Crash Course packages on Music Marketing, Music Publicity, and Internet Promotion at TheBuzzFactor.com.