19 Sure-Fire Ways to Create Awareness for Your Music

In the very first chapter of the Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook I write about “The 3 Simple Steps to Effective Music Marketing.” The first one is simply Create Awareness.

This is the age-old act of “getting your name out there.” Before any of the other two steps can kick in, this first crucial step must take place.

Before you can even think about people liking your music and feeling a bond with you as an artist … and certainly before you can generate income and enjoy the rewards of your music … an initial awareness must take place in the minds of certain music fans.

So, what are YOU doing to create awareness right now?

Here are 19 possible ways to do it:

Perform live at targeted venues as often as you can.
Pin up fliers and posters to promote your gigs.
Register a domain name and create an artist web site.
Post music video clips on YouTube.com.
Research and discover where your ideal fans congregate online and off.
Contact influential bloggers and podcasters and make them aware of your music.
Pursue media coverage online and off.
Set up shop on sites like GarageBand.com, SonicBids.com, Last.fm, and more.
Write and distribute press releases online.
Pursue radio airplay online and off.
Perform outdoors at or near events where there is a lot of foot traffic (check local permit requirements first).
Determine the words and phrases that potential fans use to search for new music like yours.
 
Optimize your web pages so they’re more likely to be found with those key words and phrases.
Determine what popular artists you sound like and tie into those artists’ existing fan bases.
Create a Facebook event for each of your public performances – and send an invite to friends in the area.
Send MySpace bulletins to your friends any time you have cool music news to share.
Grow a Twitter following and keep them posted on your musical activities.
Make good use of music widgets so your songs and events can be syndicated across many web sites.
Ask your existing fans for help in spreading the word.
This list is far from comprehensive. It only scratches the surface of proactive things you can do to create awareness.

But I ask you: How many of them are you currently doing?

Which ones could you work into your busy schedule? How many have you been meaning to get to for months … but never seem to have the time for? What other ways can you think of?

 Which ones will you move up the priority list and start acting on this week?

Creating awareness is the first important step in the marketing process. Don’t let it sit and stagnate on the backburner! Turn up the heat and get busy sharing your music with the people who need it the most!

Source: Guerilla Music Marketing Handbook