Blogs and other forms of social media are driven by users generating content and drawing other users who find it and put value in it toward that content. This is called “pull” marketing and it mainly applies to the internets ability to draw other people toward you who are interested in what you have to say and perhaps, what you have to sell also - as long as they know that much!
But executing sophisticated online promotion is not treating people as if they’re stupid and trying to hard sell them on some product or service - it’s giving them a story, giving them a taste and putting something out there for them, then leveraging the attention created by your free content to be able to make them aware of the next proposition - the next event in the chain which leads to you as the artist getting paid.
This is why using a signature that you attach to your blogs, forum posts, messages, emails, comments etc. wherever appropriate can be an effective way of introducing your proposition to an audience without being seen to be using blunt traditional hard sell marketing.
I can blog about what ever I please, but that’s not going to stop me slipping in the fact that I do the cheapest DVD duplication in Auckland and New Zealand.
Of course you know I do heaps of stuff other than dvd duplication but you see I’m really focusing in on the dvd printing and dvd duplication because that’s where I create the most value, and the value is passed on to my clients in savings and to me in increased profitability.
Similarly, you might decide to follow my advice and just focus strongly on building up your email contact list as the first step of your online promotion efforts. So rather than being all like “We’re a band from blah blah and we make music that sounds like blah blah blah . . .”
You go straight for the throat all
DON’T MISS OUT! EXCLUSIVE FREE MP3 GIVEAWAY LIMITED TIME LIMITED EDITION – ENTER YOUR EMAIL NOW TO RECEIVE YOUR FREE GIFT!
DISCOVER NOW WHY THEY CALL THIS MAN MADAGASCAR’S MOST EXPLOSIVE NEW NOSE FLUTE TALENT. PLEASE ACCEPT THIS SONG AS AN OFFERING IN SOLIDARITY WITH THOSE WHO SUPPORT THE ENDANGERED MADAGASCAN POLAR BEAR
Or something like that.
Maybe you'd be a little more subtle but the point is you they're not going to know about this whole free mp3 when you join the mailing list thing if you don't take ample opportunity to mention it.
So I stopped including my footer/signature/"link family" ad thing at the beginning and end of each blog – mainly for my own sanity because I was actually trying to tone down my marketing to take the opportunity to improve the efficiency of my operation here at kurb – the result of that of course being a new artist community I am launching soon at
http://www.newmusicmarketing.com/
Also don’t forget this blog is also getting settled into it’s new home at
http://www.musicmarketingblog.info/
Now I'd like to point out that a really professional footer ad or signature thing would probably have a little graphic going on, the links are the most important as always, but ultimately I'd like to be using a lot more panels and banners that give off a snazzy visual vibe.
Okay so lets look at what I WAS working with:
Kurb is a media promotions company providing a regular blog on digital music promotion, marketing digital content and creating revenue from new media online.
Kurb also provides online promotion and revenue management services for musicians and artists internationally And the best value fast turnover physical media services in New Zealand including CD / DVD printing and duplication and poster services.
Our physical media services come with free graphic set up and support, free delivery, and free promotions advice and support for musicians.
http://www.kurb.co.nz
http://www.myspace.com/kurbpromo
http://www.youtube.com/user/kurbpromo -
http://kurbpromotion.wordpress.com
http://kurbpromotion.blogspot.com
http://www.squidoo.com/kurb
All the best with your project, from Kurb
For direct enquiries get us on gmail as kurbpromo
DIGITAL COACHING AND ONLINE MANAGEMENT STARTS @ $NZ250 P/MONTH P/ACT
Oh no no.
Okay there's quite a bit wrong with that. First, obviously it's way too long, it just drags!!! And it's mainly too long because it's stuffed with stupidly useless anchor text especially this:
blog on digital music promotion, marketing digital content and creating revenue from new media online.
stupid. Pick a few keywords - sensible keywords - and stick with them!
As a musician that’s going to be your genre affiliations, your region, any appropriate subcultural or genre based reference points and maybe a handful of key acts that represent the concept of your sound. Narrow at down to the most important niche terms, defining your target, defining your niche.
And this is on the terms of your audience! Do you know anyone other than me who talks about free mp3's as “digital content” in everyday conversation? No. So say "free mp3's".
And all those links are just too much. Sure have links but remember its always about attempting to create value so provide links that create value – provide links to the good stuff, not just everything that could possibly matter.
Let’s have another go
Kurb is an online promotion company specializing in digital music marketing and artist management.
Follow our blog at http://musicmarketingblog.info/ for cutting edge web promotion as we launch http://newmusicmarketing.com/ - the exclusive artist community putting artists in control of their online promotion and revenue management.
Within New Zealand we also provide low cost and hassle free CD DVD duplication and printing as well as poster design print and placement in Auckland.
kurbpromo@gmail.com
Okay now that's better.
