Marketing & PR Checklist for Musicians

Presented by Laura B. Whitmore

Place

Price

The Four P’s of Marketing

Product

Promotion

PR

News ReleasesInterviewsGuest writingProduct/song reviewsEvents and Show reviewsCharitable participationParticipation in unrelated

activitiesBuzz!!

PR Distribution

Fit your pitch to the recipientFree wire servicesBuild your own list – reviewers,

local press, national reviewers, etc.Sites that have news submission

forms – Blabbermouth, Mi2N.com, moreHire a publicist – make sure they are the right fit.

And be a squeaky wheel.

Social MediaFacebook, Twitter, MySpace

Update your posts and profile regularlyInclude contact infoInteract – make it a dialogRespond – your fans want to

know you listenNumbers count – build that fan

baseGet your fans to invest in you

emotionallyBe careful with taggingDon’t completely disregard your

MySpace base

YouTubeMake a YouTube channel that you control Use the skin to support your projectsLink from your websiteKeep the best videos at

the topPut key words in your

descriptionsInclude URL or contact

info in video descriptionsDo cover songs of new

/popular materialRespond to commentsPost your videos on other social mediaInclude links and embeds on your website

Foursquare, Linked In, Pinterest, Instagram, more!

Use social media for its strengthsFourSquare: Reward fans for coming to showsLinked In: Network, network, networkPinterest: Share photos of you, your band, your favorite cup

of coffee, and moreInstagram: Photos of you

on the road, on stage, back stage, your gear, your clothes, etc.

Give people a reason to come back

Be visible in a variety of places

Your eMail List

Opt in email lists are extremely valuableUse an email service that starts off for free like MailChimp or

Constant ContactDo not abuse your list – mail only relevant, timely infoKeep a record of how you acquired your listTouch base with

your list at least once a month

How to Build Your ListInclude a sign up field on every page of your website at the top of

the frameEncourage people to sign up to receive specialsDo a contest on Facebook that requires someone to both like you

and give you email infoHave sign up sheets at your

shows. Give away a t-shirt to encourage sign up.

Put other info in your list besides email: where they live, age, source

Offer a free song for signing up, or a first crack at your tour dates

If you have a store on your site, encourage opt-in for your list during checkout

AdvertisingTry free event listingsIf it’s time to pay, shop around so you know

you are getting a good dealDon’t be afraid to negotiate, but be fairMake sure your target audience matches

theirsCan you share costs?See if you can barter – a banner on your site

for one on theirs

More Exposure

Forums: Share your music, comment, participate. Include your web link.

Blogs: Comment on posts. Include your web link.Groups: Yahoo, Linked In,

more. Comment on discussions. Include your web link.

Media outlets: Sharearticles, comment, vote. Include your web link

EndorsementsShow your value to the endorsing companyProvide what they need without being

asked – audio clips, video demos, a quote, pix, more!

It’s not just about free gear – it’s about exposureThis should be a win-win relationshipBe the most responsive, helpful partner everDon’t be a nudgeGet their attention through social media –

posts, tags, pix

Contests

A way to get names and email addresses on your listGet your face and name out there and associated with other

companiesHave news to talk aboutShare the winners with

your audience, give your fans a reason to repost

Good will!

Website Checklist

Photos – rights cleared with photo credit in low and high resBio – long and short versioneNewsletter sign upSocial media icons with links,

and news feedsVideo embedsAudio files and a

way to buy songsTour infoMerch storeContact infoSomething fun

ContactLaura B. Whitmore

Mad Sun Marketing

www.mad-sun.com

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