The business of music marketing and promotion is complex. As an Indie musician, you will soon realize that to leave your mark in the music industry, you need to know how to market yourself.

Now, it isn’t difficult to find seasoned artists or producers willing to share their top secrets on how to manage this efficiently. At the same time, you need to be aware of the various pitfalls that exist, while trying to market your music. After all, if you do fall into one of these, it may take quite a bit of time to get your career back on track again. So, here are the business of music marketing and promotion mistakes you should avoid at all costs.

Not Having a Business of Music Marketing And Promotion Plan

Perhaps the biggest music marketing and promotion mistake you can make in this business is to not have a marketing plan. Of course, it is understandable if you don’t even know what a marketing plan is. Most musicians are creative individuals, which is why they can let things lag on the business side. However, if you are serious about making music, this is an element you need to work on as well.

So, the first thing you need to do is to outline your goals. While becoming a famous musician might be your ultimate objective, this is not where you should start. Rather select a more specific goal that can be achieved within a shorter period of time. Once you have narrowed down what you want to do, start creating a marketing plan that will help you achieve this. Make sure to prepare each step so that you are more likely to be successful.

Adopting a By-the-Numbers Music Marketing And Promotion Plan

When you are creating a marketing plan, try to avoid music marketing and promotion strategies that have been successful in the “old music industry”. Once upon a time, these strategies may have proven to be successful. Now, however, the music landscape has changed quite drastically. Thanks to the internet, you will have to compete with hundreds, perhaps thousands of other artists. So, it is important that your plan sets you apart.

One of the best ways to do this is to focus on elements outside of music. This means creating content that isn’t just about the songs you are writing. For instance, if you have a blog or a website, try adding some valuable information or support for your fans. Do you have a great deal of knowledge about musical instruments? If so, give your followers tips on how to find the best instruments. Although this may sound like an odd way to draw attention to your music, it will help you in the long run.

Making It All About You

The harsh truth is that before people fall in love with your music, they won’t actually care too much about you. This is why making promotional material isn’t going to help. After all, your potential fans will look at the ads asking them to listen to your music and simply ask – why should I?

This is actually a good place to start – why should people listen to your music? Do you have something important that they should hear? Are you experimenting with a new style that is going to change the way people listen to music? Think about it from your listeners’ perspective and determine how your music will benefit them. Then, when you promote your music, use this as the hook to reel them in.

Not Finding Your Target Audience

It doesn’t matter how great you are as an artist, you simply can’t appeal to everyone. Hey, there are probably some people out there who don’t like the Beatles – it’s hard to imagine but it’s true. So, to avoid wasting time and money, you need to narrow down your audience. Doing this will allow you to direct your music marketing and promotion tactics straight toward them.

First, figure out what kind of music you want to make. To make things a little easier, try to identify what popular artists you sound like. For example, if your sound is more indie, consider hitting up music blogs, podcasts, and internet radio – this is where your listeners will be.

Not Investing in Relationships

When you see famous musicians practically being worshiped by their fans, it is easy to think of this as a one-way street. Since you aren’t quite at that level yet, this isn’t an approach you can afford to take. Rather, you need to invest in meaningful relationships with people who actually listen to your music.

This doesn’t mean that you need to meet them in person. Nevertheless, take the time to reply to their comments or e-mails. Also, mention how much their support means to you, whenever possible. Furthermore, try to make small gestures that will show your fans how much you care. This will encourage them to keep listening to you over the years.

These are some of the top music marketing and promotion mistakes that you should avoid when marketing your music. Doing so will help ensure that you take steps in the right direction with your music career and don’t waste time and money in the process.

Author Bio:

Natalie Landecker grew up in a household surrounded by music and instruments. So, it was no surprise that she followed her passion and turned it into a career. These days, she spends her time writing about any topic related to music – both for aspiring musicians and those that simply love music.