E urope - Parent Directory

or you mention something about your music in the blog, they can easily
navigate to your website to find out more information. Creating a blog
serves the purpose of promoting your music online, which you can only do
if you reader can easily access your website from your blog.
11. Ask people to subscribe
RSS feeds allow users to subscribe to your blog and receive an update
when you add new blogs. This makes it convenient for readers so they do
not need to check for blog updates. An alternative is to send the updated
blog through email, so having both an email subscription and a RSS feed is
n e c e s s a r y. Also, make the sign-up process simple and prominent. Display
the RSS button everywhere and occasionally mention it in your posts to
sign-up. The simpler the process to sign-up, the more chance the reader
will go through with the process.
12. O ff e r a bribe to sign-up
Take an example for Marketing Pilgrim, by offering a $600 cash giveaway
by signing-up for a RSS feed. The code to register for the money is in an
RSS-only message. Receiving $600 free is pretty convincing to sign-up.
Other options to get people to sign up are free e-books related to your topic
(“How to Get a Record Deal”), or send a personalized autographed picture
of you or the band to those who sign-up.
13. Comment on forums. Comment on blogs. Comment on chats.
And comment by providing a link back your b l o g
By injecting your opinion and showing your personality through these
comments, people will notice you and want to find out more. Make sure
the comments are meaningful and not just some form of spam to create a
link back to you. People appreciate when an expert adds their knowledge,
so write truthful comments that will help the audience. Comments are the
biggest promotion of your blog in the beginning months of the blog.
14. Leave blogs open for d i s c u s s i o n
If compiling a list, ask for comments to add their suggestions for the list.
The 5 Rules of Social Media Optimization (SMO) blog by Influential
Marketing Blog became instantly popular by people linking to it, posting
comments and recommending the blog. After writing a general blog that
does not include a list, ask a question at the end to encourage comments
and blog discussion. The more, interesting discussion, the more people will
link to your blog, promoting it.
15. Respond to comments
Read your comments daily and respond when someone asks a question to
you through the comments. Once you start getting a steady reader base that
begins posting comments, do not discourage them by never responding
back. Respond rapidly to make your reader happy.
16. S t a rt a podcast
A podcast is a great way to promote both your blog and your music.
Podcasts are an audio blog, but you should not update it as often as your
blogs (unless you just want to run an audio blog exclusively). On the
podcast, talk about interesting subjects related to your blog and mention
your music often. Play a fraction of your music just prior to and just after
your podcast, promoting both your music and your blog.
17. Invite guest bloggers. Be a guest blogger
Your blog gains interest if you occasionally - monthly, quarterly - invite
guest bloggers to write. Your business pals become a good place to start
when thinking about guest bloggers. The guests then feel flattered by your
interest in them and in return promote your blog or music. On the other
hand, ask your business friends to guest blog for them, which immensely
promotes your music or blog through their site. Whenever you get an
opportunity to guest blog, take it.
1 8 . Add videos, pictures, MP3s etc.
Just having words on every blog gets boring. Perk reader’s interest by
putting a funny Yo u Tube video in your blog, adding a unique MP3 or
taking a snapshot of the website you mention in the blog. Any item out of
the norm to create a change will boost your blog’s appeal. Every once in
awhile, make your blog a video-blog through Yo u Tube where you narrate
the blog (and act as well). You can also create a music video for you or the
band and advertise it through your blog.
19. Use tracking software and analyze
Find out how many people are visiting your blogs and which ones generate
the most traffic. You should re-create titles and content that receives many
views. The tracking software can also tell you how people are hearing
about your blog, through Digg, Google, etc. It can give you a great insight
on your viewers and many other marketing hints if you are creative.
20. Build a brand
You want people to recognize your blog as an object, not just another blog.
Make your blog worthwhile to the reader. Promote the blog with any
sources you have. Tell your friends, family and strangers about it. On your
website, promote your blog and on your blog promote your website. Do
the same with social networking sites, Yo u Tube videos, podcasts, live
performances, etc. By marketing in a bunch of different places, you spread
your name and have more sources to promote your blog and music.
Your blog will only see success if you follow all these steps and promote it
as often as possible. Blogging takes a lot of dedication but pays off in the
end with increased music sales. Never stop blogging and remember, you
are writing for your audience.
Lance Trebesch, CEO of TicketPrinting.com , has a successful 18 year
track re c o rd of technology and early-stage experience. Ti c k e t P r i n t i n g . c o m
is the leader in affordable online ticket printing for small-to-medium size
o rganizations, companies, venues, non-profits, schools, associations, and
clubs. Over the past 10 years, TicketPrinting.com has designed and printed
millions of tickets for thousands of events, fundraisers, performances,
c o n c e rts, plays, sporting events, raffles, parties and more .
TicketPrinting.com has hundreds of ticket templates - just put in your event
or raffle information and we print and ship in 24 hour. Or, our Design-
Yo u r-Own ticket online tool enables you to customize your ticket.
W H AT IS THE KEY TO GETTING YOUR MUSIC INTO
FILM, TV etc?
by Brent McCrossen, A u d i o s o c k e t
© 2009 All Rights Reserved. Used By Permission
Know the project
Many different films and T V shows have various musical themes running
through them. A car driving down the street in a LA beach scene might
have some hip-hop or a club scene may have some electronica and big
beats blasting in the background. Still, common sense tells you that a
movie taking place during the turn of the century isn’t going to be using
alternative industrial music and you probably won’t be hearing any punk
music either. There are certain times where there maybe an exception, but
for the most part this rule is pretty reliable.
♦
Have the goods
Increase your odds of placement by having good songs that are W E L L
recorded. Creating a great song is no easy task. It’s takes taste,
musicianship and sensibility. However, once you’ve done that, you need to
assure that it’s recorded well. Levels, the use of digital sounds, and
mastering are all important parts of creating a well rounded product. Yo u
could have the best song in the world, but if it isn’t well recorded it’s not
getting placed.
I t ’s all in the Packaging
Music supervisors are busy people but they DO listen to music that is sent
to them. However, you need to make their job easier. Put a post it note on
the outside of the CD and list the feel and subject matter of the tracks.
f o r e x a m p l e . . . .
Track 1. Style- Upbeat pop rock / Keywords- surfing beach life
Track 2. Style- Heavy driving rock / Keyword- loosing a loved one
A d d i t i o n a l l y, make sure the spine of your CD has your band (artist) name
and defines your style. If you’re a composer with a large catalog send a
couple of CD’s that showcase the different styles you’ve crafted, each CD
in a certain genre.
Last but not least, remember to put your contact info on the post it
note, and on the CD itself, or at least the liner notes. One sheets get lost.
By assuring music supervisor can access all the information they need in
one location you increase your odds of placement.
The Indie Bible – 10 th Edition www.indiebible.com