Commenting on blogs as a promotin strategy

One thing not touched on here is commenting as a search engine strategy - remember when you comment on a blog there's a little place where you can put your URL (website/blog address) and this CAN add to improved "google juice" BUT many blogs have what is called a "no follow" implemented so you cant gank google juice off them just be leaving

"great post!"

comments.






COMMENTING ON BLOGS AS A PROMOTION STRATEGY


Commenting on blogs is often an effective strategy for promotion. It can boost your credibility, bring in more sales, and increase your revenue. A well-placed, well-written comment gets readers interested in you, and they’ll follow you back to your blog, website or profile page to find out more about you.





Blog commenting attracts attention. And attention is good.





Your commenting helps convey that you’re real, with ideas, thoughts, and personality. That’s appealing, because it creates relationships with other people. And that’s what business is about these days: relationships, not just dollars and cents.





Each person that sees your comment is a potential customer. The more people that become familiar with you and your business, the more likely they are to take that next step and buy from you.






The best blog commenting strategy starts with – you got it – research. You need to target specific blogs that offer the best return on your time investment.





Choose blogs that target the same people that you’re targeting or that have an audience that needs what you offer. For example, if you sell personalized cat collars, find blogs for cat-lover communities. If you offer virtual assistance services, find blogs for online entrepreneurs.





Tapping the Activity Potential

Make sure that the blogs you target have good-sized readerships – but not huge ones. Many comments on a post may seem attractive, but the reality is that your comment becomes lost in the sea of other people. Likewise, blogs that have very few comments may not attract enough attention to be worth your time.





An established blog with good participation can be just the right size. Something in the middle between no readers and too many readers – say, a volume of 10 to 20 comments - can be just the right size of blog to target.





Time Is On Your Side

Many people think that blog commenting takes a phenomenal amount of time to be effective. It can take time, yes, especially if you’re not a fast reader or writer. If that’s the case, focus on two to three very targeted blogs and invest a half hour a day at the most in your strategy. Or less. Or more.





Your efforts directly determine your returns. Do more and you’ll get more attention and clients. Do less and you’ll be forgotten quickly. On the Internet, out of sight is out of mind, and fast.





The Nitty Gritting of Commenting

Want some fast tips on effective blog commenting? Here you go:

* Never leave one-liner sentences that don’t add value. “Great post!” is a fast way to make sure people gloss over your comment.





* Keep your comments on the short side. Long novels tend to become boring and people skip past these monologues to the next comment.





* Sound positive. People like happiness and inspiring comments. Show your optimism each time you write.





* Be friendly. Address other commentators directly. Instigate conversation. Ask questions about their work or a comment they left.





* Disagree – politely and gently. Sometimes, taking the opposite stance with some friendly debate can be a good thing. Avoid disagreeing all the time, though.





* Don’t push a sale. Focus on building a reputation and a relationship. No one wants a sale shoved in his or her face.





* Don’t link drop. You have a field for your URL – use that instead of peppering comments with links.





* Use your name. Some people hide behind cute or witty nicknames or only use their business name to identify themselves. It’s a bad idea and detracts from your business credibility.





Already Have a Blog?

If you have a blog, and you’re ready to commit to its success, then it’s time to become part of the blog community.





Your goal is to establish a firm presence to be easily recognized by others. It doesn’t take long before people remember you and treat you as one of the gang. They may discuss directly and address you personally. You might even strike up a conversation or move on to emailing, which is a step closer to a sale.





It’s word-of-mouth marketing, the best kind.

Bob's on fire: New music industry paradigm

Bob Lefsetz has been on fire recently.

Check it out at http://www.lefsetz.com

He's got a new game now which relies heavily on the theme of telling it to the artists like it is with some tough love and from my position, I'm loving it.

Labels and other irrelevant parts of the industry are going down like the titanic.

No one actually knows how to break a new act right now.

I know Im making my business a success using the methods I apply working with my artists and clients but you kinda gotta remember I'm benefiting now from work I began like . . .

5 years ago!!!! You get me??? It used to be in the past that if you were really talented and attractive and worked hard, you'd get signed to a label and that was your only chance.

Now, everyone's got a chance.

That doesn't mean you dont have to work harder, or be good, or have and an image! It actually means you have to work harder, be better and ! Back in the day there was all those people at the label who did the work - if you were lucky enough to get signed to a label.

Now there aint no one to do all the work but you.

Well what? Kids go to uni for 3 years just to get some lousy job.

What makes you think you shouldn't have to put in 3 years updating your content every day before you can make a decent earn?

2 LISTS FROM BOB LEFSETZ @ http://www. lefsetz. com

(no bob doesnt have a feed. Just add http://www. lefsetz. com to your reader)

The big breaks today?

1. Being able to give up your day job. Used to be, you got signed, you thought you’d made it, you were just a year or so from going back to McDonald’s, behind the counter. Today, since you’ve invested in yourself, built everything yourself, if you can shitcan your day job and make it playing music, kick back and have a drink, congratulate yourself, you’ve truly made it. Carly Smithson had a record deal and national TV exposure and she’s still pulling drinks in a bar in San Diego, or will be again soon. That’s the first hurdle, earning your freedom from the everyday grind.

2. Which may come before 1, getting an agent. It’s hard to book yourself. The road is where you make money. If someone’s interested in booking you, they think they can make money on you, they want their 10%. This is a good sign. This is more important than getting a record deal.

3. Owning something besides an amp and your instrument. Maybe it’s a car, maybe it’s real property. But once your musical enterprise is generating enough extra cash that you can acquire extraneous items, you’ve truly made it.

4. And this can happen anywhere in the food chain, really. An act YOU respect says it likes YOUR music.

5. You play larger and larger venues and your merch numbers grow.

And that’s about it.

NEW MUSIC INDUSTRY MODELS: Crighton and Allison are creating the ultimate artist/fan relationship. They are asking people to give Clint the opportunity to make his own record and this is how it works.

Limited to 1000 individuals who want to be involved, Talking Moon Music (Crighton and Allison’s new label) are asking them to purchase a membership for AU$100. This is the deal.

1.Members will have the 1/1000 chance to be randomly selected for an all expenses paid 10 day journey to LA to witness part of the recording process as well as see the sites of LA including Hollywood, Santa Monica Beach, Sunset Strip and Universal Studio’s.

2. Members will be a part of the creation of an independent record which will be marketed to the world (names will be printed ON the CD artwork).

3.Members will receive lifetime entry into all solo/headline performances by Clint Crighton.

4. Members will receive a signed CD prior to its official release.

5. Once 100 000 copies of this album are sold worldwide, members will get their money back.

/bob> Matt: Now thats what I'm talking about!!!! INNOVATIVE MODELS!!! KIILLER PROPOSITION!!!!! LOVE IT!!! (ps America's big. You cant make money in NZ touring)

Promoting your music on Trademe - which is like EBay

oh oh killer post on the loose!!! Look out!!!

This is very NZ related but if you can think of Trademe as Ebay, much of it applies.

Trademe is my local New Zealand version of Ebay. It’s kind of a bit different but one things for sure.

New Zealanders are crazy about trademe. They’re insane. It’s worse than P (meth), there’s likely to be suffering in every family.

I think this is because kiwis love getting a sweet deal. They want to get the best deal, no matter what!

Sites like Trademe, Youtube and things like Mp3’s are all part of a megatrend called “digitisation” which is really a revolution in communication that we can interact with each other in this way, but of course is HIGHLY disruptive to certain industries the music industry obviously being one of them, and it wont be the last by no means.


But lets cut the fluff, the most important thing about Trademe in online music promotion is that essential concept:

It’s where the people are. This is why Myspace took off. Because everyone was there! When it comes to trademe in New Zealand . . . everyone uses trademe!!!!

I mean seriously. You have a profile on myspace but you’re not taking advantage of New Zealand’s biggest online community????

Lets look at what you can do on Trademe.

You can sell CD’s. You want physical distribution for your CD’s?

Your physical distributor is now crying in his soup because he is a poor poor man now. He does not care about sending 2 copies of your CD to every store in the wop wops so he can make what? $2? on each one.

He does not care.

Go see someone at Real Groovy. Make sure you ask for it to go to the four centres. Go home, put an ad on trademe.

YAY! You've got a distribution deal!!! Congratulations!!!!

And what do you know? You’ve got a “profile” on trademe! You can search it on google, pity you CANT put your website address, that’s against the rules.

But theres no reason you shouldn’t cram as much information about your music into that page as possible. This isn’t myspace! You’ve got a customer in the shop!

This is your opportunity to paint a picture of what it is that makes you a unique local voice and win them over with a stunning depiction of your raw essence that makes them just want to support!!!!

When you reflect on the new paradigm of the music industry and bloggers going on about the “1000 true fans” model for a successful career in music, the personal connection you make when you sell a CD on trademe is doing more work than a mountain of spam to take one step closer to having a viable fanbase.


For kiwi musicians who want to work hard this is FOR REAL. Make that interaction as positive as you can make it.

Put things in the envelope! Posters, stickers . . . use your imagination!

These people are purchasing directly off the artist and that makes them feel positive.I honestly feel, especially from lots of touring etc., that everyday New Zealanders everywhere want to support local musicians. They feel good about it, but the opportunity doesn’t really arise. Work that!

And you know what’s next!!!

”Wellll what else can we sell on trademe????”

Well it’s a little bit like that magic question

“What kinda stuff can we sell from our website in the future?”

Which I will posting about soon, BUT different because trade me is only for PRODUCTS and not SERVICES.

So you can sell a CD. Or a DVD. Or a T-Shirt. Or mugs. Lighters. Pens. Balloons.

Condoms.

Uh . . . you get the picture. There’s quite a bit of stuff you can sell on trademe.

In fact that’s the whole thing about this long tail thing I’ll tell you about sometime. You have to sell something for everybody. DEFINITELY have one area that you specialize in. But DO NOT have one measley little thing that you sell.

Innovate. When you innovate, success can creep up on you so fast its scary!

LUCKY DIP!!!! 10 RANDOM SONGS ON A BURNT CD $6.73 NO RESERVE FREE DELIVERY WITHIN NZ!!!

What products can you create with the resources you have that can be uniquely branded?

Hmmmm But no services! . . . SO that means you cant sell like

A performance, offering to play somewhere

Rights to a song. Or offer to write a song

BUTTTTT guess what?

You can sell ticketssssss! That’s right.

Got a gig on? Got a felt tip? (:p) Make some tickets and sell them on trademe!!!
Remember! It’s not about making $20 selling a couple of tickets if youre lucky on trademe.

It’s that YOUR GIG IS ON NEW ZEALANDS BIGGEST WEBSITE.

Remember how I said go where the people are? MMMM

So okay how much were you spending on promotion for this gig coming up? Hundy? 2 spot? You’re doing radio??? You can get the front page of Trademe for what $40?? And like . . . 50,000 people are going to see it!!!

Could work out good if you timed it jjuuusssstt riiightttt

UHHHHH yeah.


Again. You can go on an on about your band and your CD, and all the other wonderful products you can purchase online!!! Good to have someone who can write well for that.

That’s why radio and magazines and stuff are in bigggg trouble. When you put your money to work smart online by giving it to google or trademe you can potentially do so much better with your investment, even if its $20.

Radio works when it plays KFC ads at lunch time. Trust me, I’m in marketing. HAHA


Okay moving right along. I actually have been working on a song called “Positive Feedback” and that’s what led me to right this blog.

I’m not even a real trademehead but even I – and I’m sure you identify with me – proudly maintain my feedback rating. It was only just now that I looked at my feedback and realised

”Great music, top guy!”

”Wicked sounds man!”

”Awesome beats!”


my feedback is now not just a pretty number but a totally compelling reason and impartial recommendation to purchase one or several of my fine products!

I can quote that stuff IN the listing, hell I can even put it on my CD Baby page, My myspace and let me just underline that point – that because of the pervasive use of Trademe in New Zealand telling people to buy your CD on Trademe is not a stretch because everyones got an account!!!

it's likely a lot of people would feel MORE comfortable buy on trademe than say Itunes!!!


So that’s my blog about trademe!

I think the most important things to remember are

- everyone in New Zealand is there, so you should too

- use your ad to tell readers about stuff that makes you unique

- innovate with your product line!!! Don’t just sell your CD album!! Get creative, look at your resources.

- You can sell tickets on trademe like it’s a default gig guide! You can use paid advertising to create exposure that goes beyond the product on auction

(that’s a big tip!!!! You owe me!!! HAHA)

- Lastly and most importantly:

You’re selling stuff on trademe. YES it is smalltime. This is your opportunity to invest in creating something out of what you have got – Other New Zealanders on trademe who are interested in your music!!!

You’ve got their email!!! You’re going to be sending them a physical delivery, you’ve got a chance to make that a significant interaction and begin building a quality fan base !!! DO IT!!!

Theres lots of other ways and reasons that online classified sites - such as craigslist - can be used in highly innovative ways for bands to sell services as well as products all over the world. But we'll have to get to that!



"So give me Positive. Feedback!

- trademe baby wont you save me!

Positive. Feedback!

- yeah just so I know, goods came as described!"

viral video marketing, death of old media - and still whinging about amplifier.co.nz

I can’t stop marketing even though I really should!

Still got way too much work on!!!

You see if I stop testing and developing new online marketing strategies then how am I going to create further and increasing value to my digital promotions clients by providing the most effective new techniques?

It’s really time I made some more videos but I’m trying to find a unique angle.


That USP (unique selling point) is essential in what you do!

We have the internet now. If there’s something better, than people are going to find it.


I’m always trying to find something better, I think that’s what I just told you. But you can't always be the best.


But you can always be unique!



So I’ve been planning for a while to try some true viral video marketing techniques – that is – focus more on being “remarkable” than actually pushing my product and reasoning why people should give me their money.




This is more of a branding exercise. Selling stuff is so 20th century. Building relationships and attention with your audience is the new paradigm.



I was going to do a typical TV ad style video going on about how “bands were exploding” online and have a warzone bunker theme with explosions going off in the background and musicians who were literally blowing up.



Silly stuff.




I thought about making a funny video based around Seth Godin’s “purple cow” concept the original metaphor for “remarkable” marketing where some hick farmer calls me up wanting services from Kurb because they’ve used purple food colouring to make a purple cow and now they want to “Mana Tai’s” it

(that’s monetize for all you non Maori :p)

This is stuff that people want to see and share. Not me asking for money.



The state of new media in New Zealand leaves me with mixed feelings, much like the slashing of EMI’s operation in New Zealand (and throughout the world) just recently is sad given EMI’s historical role in developing New Zealand talent, and that this does represent decreased opportunities for New Zealand artists, but on other hand once again, it represents increased opportunities in the market for people like me who are digital strategists and innovators.



Because . . . there’s a lot of Dinosaurs just waiting round for the next meteor.



I am going to have to stop being polite about Amplifier.


I know its Chris the lawyer, and Simon who I love and Richie from One Million Dollars and all but seriously!!!

STOP THIS WEB 1.0 NONSENSE IMMEDIATELY!

Only 50% for the artists? NO! (itunes offers 70%)

No share of advertising revenue for artists? NO! (sites like Reverb nation and Squidoo are already rolling out revenue sharing, while myspace has struck such a deal with the Majors)

No variable pricing determined by artists? NO!

Widgets only for P-money? NO!

Incredibly limited features? NO!

No access to fan data? NO!!

No social or any other discernable web 2.0 features? NO!

I may have to come out as an official critic of www. amplifier. co. nz

Amplifier, please!!!!! SORT IT!!!!!

Why if I wasn’t bigger and tougher I’d innovate their faces in!!!!

What is so ironic is that AMPLIFIER HAS A MYSPACE PAGE.


I was looking at the myspace of another popular traditional NZ Music media institution, not geographically that far from amplifier, thinking about 2006 when so many people capitulated and accepted that being on Myspace just had to be done.


How frustrating it must be to be part of the old media. Doing things like setting up a myspace page and probably thinking . . .


will this increase our readership or advertising revenue?

Not realising that the massive backlash against traditional advertising has already begun.


Television, Radio, Magazines – the authority of this old, centralized, gatekeeper style of media based on the disruptive power of advertising is just going to lose any relevance and quickly.


I’m not expecting to make a lot of money as a result of making silly videos, doing my blogs, and building my very own personalised media communication, specialized for my audience who trusts my authority.


But I will be very very surprised if I don’t.

Preparing artists for the future: The meat in the digital promotions sandwich

www.kurb.co.nz website still down! two days now!!!!


If there wasn't a line of business out the door I'd be freaking out.


That website is like my instrument, I cant really make a living without it!


Just a recap on the last few posts - I actually realised my latest description of what it is we actually do wasn't too shabby so I thought I'd take the chance to cut the fluff and go over that again.



Remember, we don't specialize in overnight success. We specialize in creating exposure and revenue around content and growing a long term career in the music and related creative industries.




Our digital services are based on the following concepts:

Automation: We are experienced using a wide variety of exclusive software, services and techniques so we can maximise your exposure through many common internet channels, Myspace, Youtube, Google Searches and much more. Our focus is on targeted, useful, fan friendly interaction and functional, efficient content distribution, not thoughtless spam.



Implementation and Support: Often artists have specialised needs, that's what unique about Kurb. Our experience using all the latest digital and online trends means we work with you to establish all the elements of your online platforms for distribution and sale of mp3's and other digital products, your website, blogging, advertising platforms, p2p – everything you need to develop online as a serious artist now and in the future. There are also practical areas of photoshop, web coding, copywriting, profile design and other areas of consulting which we can support you with depending on the specific needs of the artists.



Coaching Strategy: Building a strategy starts to happen at least a month or two into promotions. Initially I answer artists questions and offer tips specific to the artist in developing habits that will produce a momentum – for example blogging advice is a biggie.



But once platforms are established and automated promotion tools are ticking over its time to really focus and examine the use of these platforms and tools into strategies based around certain goals, where we want fans to go, what we want them to do, and building hooks and propositions around those outcomes.



Research: Being ahead of the pack isn't enough for us – our unique and forward looking service is continually developing. New promotion tools, strategies, techniques and offers are becoming available as the digital revolution rolls on and I truly believe one of the best reasons clients should get involved with kurb is not just what we're doing now, but because we are the promotions company preparing artists for the future.





Also I'd like to add cross promotion to that. Because as we become a fixture in the music industry it's giving us the opportunity to access and create projects that increase exposure for my whole stable of artists.



People who are passionate about music are coming to me offering help and opportunities. While I'm pursuing opportunities to innovate and create platforms more suited to the modern music industry.



I'm developing kurb music as an entertainment platform for my artists as well as exploring CD projects.



For example, I have more clients in Melbourne than anywhere else now. Which gives me the opportunity to create a project focused on raising the awareness of artists I'm working with within Melbourne.




Close to announcing our first 50/50 deal with a local band!!!! Watch this space.






Mailbox blogging bonus round!!!!

Join Twitter. Don't ask me why, just do it.



When there's heat online, don't muck around, stake your claim early!

I'm not going to pretend I know why twitter is so wonderful, but that I have joined, because I have learned to recognise that when there is heat on the internet around a site, you make yourself a part of it.



If you weren't on myspace in 2005, 2006, you'd be kicking yourself.



If you weren't on facebook in 2007, you'd be kicking yourself.



And if you're not on twitter in 2008 . . . could be ow ow ouchies.



Don't forget little reverbnation to is still getting heat.





also wanted to tip you off about www.stumbleupon.com

the whole social media/social bookmarking scene is something I want to get you into in the future - it kind of goes hand in hand with blogging, but just like myspace or anything else you cant just sit there and wait for it to happen.



If you start bookmarking sites that other people think are cool as well, your "stumbles" (web pages you like) will increase in authority and that will include stumbling your own pages, I willl be stumbling my artists pages, as well as building networks of stumblers who support each other.



See? I learn a lot of stuff from doing marketing on the computer.



If you can get this right, it becomes very powerful when 500 people turn up on your site out of nowhere. Again, the result of this could be nothing. But if you have advertising on your site the result is likely to be $US5 if nothing else.



There are tonnes of sites like these but stumbleupon is really the big boy, so start there.





If you missed it: Bob Baker interviews Derek Sivers!!!!

Mr. Guerilla Marketing Vs. Mr. CD Baby!!!

Derek, Bless 'im, has been using the same material for years but it doesn't really take away from the fact that you got the two big guns of DIY music nattering for over an hour.

I was following these two guys way before myspace and their knowledge and understanding of the independent music scene is unparalleled.

http://www.bob-baker.com/musicpromotionblog/2008/05/derek-sivers-of-cd-baby-audio-interview.html

Mailbox blogging 2: Music promotion standard response

OH SO YOU WANT ONLINE INTERNET ARTIST MUSICIAN BAND PROMOTION MARKETING MANAGEMENT DO YOU?

(it’s keyword time haha!)

Okay coming up is my new standard reply form letter. It helps people learn about EXACTLY what I offer so they dont ask me too many dumb questions. (which is inevitable, but I rather they pay for it first)


AND as I've said, you gotta keep updating your blog so I’m posting outta my gmail.

So yeah, too many artists, not enough Matt! It’s a problem right now!


This is the thing if I meet demand by raising my fees again or lowering the quality of my service, is that good for my business?

I’m getting tough on artists and fronting up. What I do, takes a long time to actually work and requires your involvement. I can’t really do that much for you in 3 months.

I’m sorry, I can’t! Providing value online is not about cashing in on overnight success. It's about growing something that provides true and lasting value slowly and winning peoples trust and respect enough to profit from that.


This post is also about another point. My website is never finished (in fact it's actually down right now but lets not get too worried) My standard response letter is never finished.

I am constantly revising, updating, tweaking, both my website and the standard letters and all elements of the marketing process for optimum communication efficiency and results. As in - results in my bank account.

First you gotta build a website.

THEN you gotta get people to come to it.

THEN you gotta get those people to engage with the content and respond with their minds and wallets.

Not so simple!!!! Thats going to take longer than 3 months. It is.

That is why you are constantly revaluating, revising all elements of the marketing process for optimisation, for results. A pretty website doesn't make people want to spend.

Connecting them with the message they want to hear and the feeling they want to have does.




Hi there person who has emailed me wanting to spend money, thanks for your email!

Yes, this is a standard response email from me, Matt @ Kurb for artists who have made their first enquiry about our online promotion and digital services for artists.

Currently there is high demand for the unique specialised services we offer to a limited group of artists so it’s important to me that potential clients understand the nature of what we provide to ensure the best service.

The digital promotion and revenue management service we provide is not a quick fix, it’s not a shot in the arm, it is not about creating hype. It is long term, it is accumulative, it is sustainable, it is highly specialised to the individual client. It is about building a presence and exposure online, engaging fans, and creating revenue in innovative new ways.



The service we offer is currently based on a strictly limited number of artists who pay a monthly fee of between $US100-300 p/month, 1 month in advance.

Commonly, we ask an act to commit to an initial campaign of 3 months at $US500, but because of recent demand and our reluctance to turn clients away in view of the need for long term sustained promotion, we have introduced a new low intensity entry level package of US$100 p/month so we can begin groundwork on long term strategies, and familiarising ourselves with what the artist and their target audience is “about”.


Our digital services are based on the following concepts:


Automation: We are experienced using a wide variety of exclusive software, services and techniques so we can maximise your exposure through many common internet channels, Myspace, Youtube, Google Searches and much more. Our focus is on targeted, useful, fan friendly interaction and functional, efficient content distribution, not thoughtless spam.

Implementation and Support: Often artists have specialised needs, that’s what unique about Kurb. Our experience using all the latest digital and online trends means we work with you to establish all the elements of your online platforms for distribution and sale of mp3’s and other digital products, your website, blogging, advertisng platforms – everything you need to develop online as a serious artist now and in the future. There are also practical areas of photoshop, web coding, copywriting, profile design and other areas of consulting which we can support you with depending on the specific needs of the artists.

Coaching Strategy: Building a strategy starts to happen at least a month or two into promotions. Initially I answer artists questions and offer tips specific to the artist in developing habits that will produce a momentum – for example blogging advice is a biggie.

But once platforms are established and automated promotion tools are ticking over its time to really focus and examine the use of these platforms and tools into strategies based around certain goals, where we want fans to go, what we want them to do, and building hooks and propositions around those outcomes.

Research: Being ahead of the pack isn’t enough for us – our unique and forward looking service is continually developing. New promotion tools, strategies, techniques and offers are becoming available as the digital revolution rolls on and I truly believe one of the best reasons clients should get involved with kurb is not just what we’re doing now, but because we are the promotions company preparing artists for the future




Needless to say please reply with any further questions, but I must remind you I can’t just quickly explain many elements of how online promotion works, it is multi layered and complex, I get a lot of enquiries and the reason I have introduced the new US$100 p/month entry level package is to introduce you to the concept without a big commitment.

You can pay by paypal to kurbpromo@gmail.com to ensure your place.

Often it will be a week after we receive first payment before promotion starts due to our schedule. Much of the first month or two can be necessary set up, groundwork, assessing what needs to be done.

I hope this isn’t too much information but we really strive to be working with the right artists for the best results.

Regards, Matt @ Kurb

Mailbox blog 1: working in music promotion

I often like to put a wee bit of effort into making my success a little bit inconspicuous.


But I have to announce in July I'm taking up a lucrative full time month long contract so business will be pretty much closed up except for all my current clients who will receive a free months promotion!

As guilty as I am of blogging away as artists beat a path to my door, research is as important as ever, and I must keep it up. Even if I lose clients. There'll be more.

When I realised recently that because my proposition was so unique it would inevitably be under great demand, I also realised I must continue to research, test and develop to keep moving forward in innovative new techniques.


Did I tell you I had to stop all marketing because I couldn't handle the amount of business coming through? Life is hard.

This is the result of groundwork laid and begun over a year ago.


Now you're providing music and not a business service like I am so you're going to have to be even more patient then me before you start getting offered 15k for a months work!

So all of my clients who are signed up for june will receive a free month of digital services in July, although I will be obviously fairly busy over that month!

As I said except when I'm using my blog to tell people why I know what I do works, or questioning government music industry funding, I like to play down my success. Otherwise I get people emailing me, and I don't mean just obnoxious hip hop MC's who think they're all that, but people who want jobs, or yknow they want to "work with me" or "work together".


Sometimes it's good. Mostly it's a waste of time.


But it really is an exciting time for digital innovation. I think in the next few years we're going to see the amount of freelancers, self employed, innovators, consultants etc. explode.


I been to busy to write a blog so you can read what I write people in my mail.



Well It's an exciting time for people working in digital industries
because the disruption caused by broadband and new technology is
creating so many new opportunities for people who are not stuck doing
things the old way.


Things have only just begun to change and already
the benefits are emerging clearly and yet internet marketing and
branding is yet to be embraced or even grasped by the mainstream.


I can't really offer you a job as I have learnt to manage the growth
of my business very closely.


A lot of the work I do is not that
glamourous or sophisticated so I'm usually on the look out for kids to
take care of that.


But I can assure you there is a lot of opportunity right now.


Myself I could be off to set up in melbourne or I could focus on business
clients instead and double my fee. I am also looking seriously at Children's entertainment.


You've got to remember the music industry is being severely disrupted
right now and there are massive challenges there, including the
misconceptions of artists and many inside the industry who's concept
of the business is still stuck in the 90's.


As a marketer I need to connect people with the unique inherent value
of a product, service or brand, and I want to be on the winning team
that gets a result.


Most musicians dont really understand how long and hard the game theyre playing is and they havent created unique value around a product, service or brand.


The things I do are pretty unique, and have made my business fairly
profitable but I dont have a magic wand or a recipe that makes people
famous, if I did Id be out spending my millions, not still working to
get there!


Regards, Matt @ Kurb


PS In school, school leaver? Keen on minimum wage but doing something half decent at least?

Like guillotines? Like glue? Like Photoshop? Like blogging? Like Myspace and Youtube?

Drop me a line. I'm a mellow boss, and the work isn't too much of a drag.

The pay IS crap though.