When you're trying to promote your music, it can be challenging to know where to start. There are so many platforms and promotional avenues available today that it can even seem overwhelming. As a result, you might spend money on ads or promotions that get little response, leaving you feeling like your investment didn't pay off.
The biggest mistake you can make when you are trying to market your music is taking shortcuts as far as the quality of your music is concerned.
Quality content is the most critical part of any marketing campaign.
If you aren't producing high-quality content, don't expect anyone to care about what you have to say either.
Marketing itself is not a complicated process, but it requires daily dedication and persistence.
A big mistake people make when trying to market their music is thinking they can do it independently. They think: "I'm a good musician, and I'm a good writer, so why should I spend my time learning about marketing?" This attitude is dangerous because it puts the focus on the WRONG person – YOU! The minute you start putting yourself front and center of your brand, you're limiting its growth potential.
Let's get further trying to answer the question what is the biggest mistake when you try to market your music yourself?
You are not an expert.
You want people to listen to your music. It should be because they understand what you're about and want what you have to offer. Your job is not to make them buy something; it's to make them want more of what you give them for free.
You should do your research and make sure you understand where your audience is, how to reach them and what they want.
Nevertheless, marketing can be tricky, especially when you're in the early stage of starting your business. You have so many things to do, but you don't know where to start. That's why it helps to find the right marketing partner who will help you get results faster and save money.
Realize that If you are a musician, you have to surround yourself with people who understand the industry. You will need engineers or producers who can help produce your music. You will need marketing professionals, graphic designers, and social media experts to promote your work.
Your product is not your marketing.
You can't just release music and expect it to be successful. So you have to think about marketing from the beginning, not as an afterthought.
The first step in doing this is choosing a good title for your singles/albums. The title should create curiosity and intrigue, so people want to listen to it. A great example of a unique name is Rihanna's 2016 album, Anti. After this, you need a cover that attracts attention from the crowd. Last but not least, you need a description that isn't too long or boring – try using some humor here!
The most common mistake musicians make when they try to market themselves is that they think like musicians.
Musicians tend to make the mistake of thinking like musicians instead of marketers. They spend all their time worrying about how to play better music and perform for audiences. But they forget that no one will know about them without marketing.
Start marketing your band early by creating a website and social media accounts to post updates about your progress as an artist. You can send out email campaigns to announce new releases or upcoming shows as you gain more fans. Make sure people know what's happening with your work so they can support it!
Marketing is a conversation, not a one-way street!
Marketing is all about connecting with your audience. The more you engage with each person on an individual level, the more likely they will respond positively to your campaign.
Readers expect to be spoken to with a human voice, not just in the way that companies talk about their products and services. People want to know how they can fit into your brand story. When you use social media, you're creating a conversation, and if you treat it like a one-way street, your audience will lose interest fast.
Don't forget the #1 way to get fans (and keep them) for life!
If you want to have a prosperous business or brand in the online world, you need to master one skill above all others: building up your fan base.
But what are the best ways to do it? Here are the top 3 ways you can get more fans for your music.
Talk about your fans, and don't be greedy. If you see that someone else likes your content, talk with them and create a fan base together. Don't be greedy and only think about yourself, because when other people like what you do, they will spread the word about it, too!
Many musicians don't fully understand the power of social media. Instead, they think that they are doing something right because they have a few hundred Facebook fans, Twitter followers, and subscribers on YouTube.
The truth is that these numbers are not enough to get your music heard by many people. You need to engage with your fans more often to get them talking about you on social media.
Share content relevant to your target audience regularly. Involve other musicians in the community where they'll be most helpful
To wrap things up
The biggest marketing mistakes artists make when trying to market their music is undoubtedly giving it not enough attention. Music doesn't sell itself. At least, when you are just starting and haven't built a name for yourself.
Give marketing the attention it deserves. And remember success always comes down to doing the right things and doing them right.