Marketing yourself can be a performing artist's most dreaded task. More often than not, singers don’t receive a ton of training in the business aspects of their careers. Add the extra cost for self-promotion, and it becomes even more unbearable. However, we must take the initiative to market ourselves as best as we can. Fortunately, being a Modern Singer means embracing positive changes and finding the useful and cost-effective tools currently at our disposal. Singers can now easily and effectively market themselves without spending a penny. Below, you’ll find four marketing methods that are guaranteed to bring more attention to your brand.
1. Website
Believe it or not, you can create a website for free! Website builders such as Wix not only offer free memberships but are also extremely user-friendly. Websites are vital for performing artists, because they are a one-stop shop. You can publish your biographical information, performance schedule, video and audio recordings, press kit materials (resume, headshot, etc.), links to social media profiles, and more! The main downside to utilizing a free membership is that you won’t be able to use a personalized domain name. Instead, you will have a domain assigned by the website builder, and your site may not be as optimal for search engines. You will also have less options available as far as website design goes. Eventually, you might want to purchase a domain and maybe even hire help for website design; however, there’s no reason to put off creating a professional website for free, now.
2. Social Media
Unsurprisingly, social media profiles are more and more essential for singing professionals. For singers, the “big four” are Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Each of these four platforms has their own unique strengths, so you will want to create custom content catered to each account. For example, Facebook is a great place to post review articles, share videos, and promote upcoming events. Instagram is excellent for capturing “real life” moments in addition to your latest performance and promotional photos. YouTube is the perfect for posting past performance videos of all lengths, and Twitter provides the ideal location for relaying concise posts and initiating conversations. If you’re unfamiliar with any of these four social media platforms, check out our Social Media Workbook!
3. Email List
Data continues to back up the effectiveness of email marketing. We don’t know how long the social media platforms discussed above will continue to be relevant (or even exist), but we do know that email will almost certainly stand the test of time. Email newsletters offer a more direct line of communication with your audience and allow for more creative freedom than social media. They also can be a great way to showcase your personality and keep your audience up to date on everything going on with your career. When creating your free website, be sure to feature a sign-up form for your newsletter. Email marketing companies such as MailChimp are completely free until you reach a certain number of subscribers and are incredibly easy to use. Aim for publishing a newsletter on a regular schedule, such as monthly or quarterly, to establish trust and a create sense of reliability between you and your audience.
4. Guest Appearances
Currently, everyone either has a podcast or knows someone who has a podcast, and for good reason! There have never been more podcast listeners than there are at this moment. Take advantage of your contacts, and ask your colleagues if you can make a guest appearance on their podcasts. If you have your own podcast, try offering a guest appearance swap. Likewise, if you know someone who writes a blog with a decent following, ask to write a guest post or even be a feature, if appropriate for the blog subject matter. Telling your story and expressing your unique personality to someone else’s community is an incredibly useful method for growing your own audience. After all, when we lift each other up, the art form thrives.
Perfecting these tools may take some time, but we promise you that it’s worth it. We’d love to know what techniques you’ve come across for self-promotion. What are some additional methods that you have used to market yourself as a singer?
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