Have you ever said to yourself "I've done everything I can... What now?"
So here is a list of things you can do to promote your music and get more fans (and hopefully sell some CDs, because I know you are pretty strapped for cash...)
Get your music to radio stations - Call up your local stations (all of them within your genre, especially college radio stations) and ask for the Music Director or Program Director. Try and get an appointment with them, and give them a copy of your CD. It should look professional and unique (including a jewel case so it doesn't get lost in their papers, and ideally your cover art) and ask yourself "how can I not piss these guys off?" because they sift through a lot of these types of requests. Be punctual, polite, and tell them why your songs will make people want to listen to their radio station.
Hand out tons of posters for your shows - It's easy to do, especially if you can just shrug it off when people get mad at you.
Get paid advertising - Myspace, Facebook, Stumbleupon, and Jango radio, and many other sites offer paid advertising that is targeted to people searching for a specific phrase, or in a specific area. Big artists are ALWAYS doing this - that's why you see their picture and an ad for their new album all over myspace.
Use social networks and create a website to sell your music from - Myspace, Facebook, Twitter, and your personal website can be used to sell your music. Just make sure it is clean and well organized, easy to use, and make it look professional. Having professional looking pictures and good grammar can go a long way - it's all about the first impression, especially online.
Get out there and talk about yourself! Don't be afraid to let people know you are an artist, and let them know where they can hear your music (a short, easy to remember domain name is best). It's free, and only costs you some adrenaline (if you are shy). Make sure you can describe your music - people won't care about your music if you say 'it's awesome'. They may take some time to listen if you describe what your music actually sounds like, what instruments, what genre, how the music makes you feel, etc. This information can help get their interest.
Meet other artists - They know things you don't, and it is always good to network. Keep a book where you can write their name, what they do, how you met them, and any other info that will be good to know next time you talk to them. Networking is easy if you stay organized, and remember people's names. Writing it down is a good way to do that.
So get out there and do something! Check back for more tips and lists!
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