I agree, the very best "buzz" created is direct human contact. That being said, there are tons of tips for promoting and enhancing your music presence online and offline, and here are a just a few (these are mainly geared toward online).
*Business Cards- you must include either the link to your website or to at least the best place that hosts your music. Consider your link as your online business card.
*Play for free if you have to, any where, any time. Create an event and donate the proceeds to a charity. This can open up some interesting contacts and opportunities.
*Collect addresses, email addresses to keep your fan base current on what you are up to.
*Consider having a house concert.
*Create your own support group of family and friends- and communicate well with them on your plans and goals.
*Hand out your CDs. Have your web link printed on the CD.
*Print up a poster or flyers about your upcoming show and post it wherever your type of fans would hang out and include your web link, show date, name of CD, where CD can be purchased.
*Send press releases, reviews of your shows to local newspapers, magazines and event papers.
*Check your public and local radio stations that play your type of music and try to get some air time.
*Hand out your CD to club owners that feature your type of music.
*Get your name in a good, comfortable web forum and ALWAYS include the link to your music!
*Join online music groups and newsgroups.
*Give a review get a review, honestly is the best policy, but not brutality.
*Create a newsletter, if you are a decent writer, with content of value to the receiver.
*Send out press releases and reviews of shows
*Get online airplay.
*Know your audience, who and what your target areas are.
*Start a Blog, well written and kept current.
*Use internet class ads to promote upcoming events and possible collaborations with others.
*Create a banner to drop in your forum signatures or other online locations.
*Word of mouth has always been the best promotion. Get people talking about you.
*Be unique and interesting to look at in some way. Let people know you are professional and have star quality...build your image.
*Be innovative in your promotional efforts!
*There is a such thing as OVERKILL, in that it is better to describe your band/music as "we sound similar to the Beatles" rather than "we are the biggest thing since Led Zeppelin!". So word your description accordingly.
*Never spam email.
*Never mail your CD without a purpose or a contact person's name on it and expect miracles. Far better that the contact person knows to expect your CD, his or her name is spelled correctly, and you are mailing it to a company that actually works with your style of music.
*Learn every area of the business you are in. Knowledge is power.
*Meet people, get out there and shake hands, and without overkill, let them know about your music.
*Be on friendly terms with other bands and artists in your area.
*Create a “street team”, whether online or offline…they are core people that wish to help you further your marketing efforts.
*Join quality OMD web sites with useful productivity tools, traffic and collaboration potential and include in your signature in ALL your web travels a link to your music. Example:
http://www.artistopia.com
*Be persistent!
Suggests are just that, suggestions. You find what works for you and/or tweak any of the above. These are all tried and true marketing tips and by adjustment, would work for nearly any business. The old motto of "who can promote you better than you?" ... is the whole basis of your name being on the streets. You never know who knows somebody that knows somebody that will be just the introduction you need.
Check out this link to an ongoing discussion on these tips about promoting your music online and offline - that "buzz"...
Music promotion
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