Image by Anna Hanks via flickr.com; used under Creative Commons
As we inch ever closer to warmer temps, prime gigging and festival season feels that much closer. Get yourself ready with this assortment of tips geared towards selling your merch, getting your social media in order, and setting you up for gig-booking success.
1. "Following up with your contacts is crucial. If you need help finding the right places to send your songs, search online for similar bands or performers and see who they're promoting their music to." – Christopher DeArcangelis, musician and copywriter
From: The 5 Phases of a Recording's Life Cycle That You Need to Know
2. "Including a call to action [in your email signature] is important, and you'd be surprised how many people will actually follow through with it, especially if they're already corresponding with you. Ask them to watch your latest music video, stream your album on Spotify, or check out when you're coming to their town." – Hugh McIntyre, music journalist
From: 5 Things Every Musician Should Have in Their Email Signature
3. "You can use stickers, buttons, posters, and picks as a low-end merch option for fans who don’t have much money to spend. But you can also give them out as freebies to spread awareness, or even use them to beef up merch bundles that you either sell or give away to contest winners." – Dave Kusek, founder of the New Artist Model
From: The Musician's Essential Guide to Merch: What to Get, How Much to Charge, and Where to Buy
4. "Writers working on pre-show coverage have a massive pool of bands and artists to sort through. Make it easier for them to spot something that appeals to them by serving up the highlights in an obvious, efficient way." – Jhoni Jackson, venue owner and music journalist
From: Road to Austin: 8 Tips From Bands on How to Build Buzz and Stand Out at SXSW
5. "Take a quick look at your Facebook or Twitter analytics and see what has performed the best and what didn't do so well. You don't need to turn this into an exact science – and in fact, you can’t – but it shouldn’t take too long for you to get an idea about what your strengths and weaknesses are." – Hugh McIntyre, music journalist
From: 4 Ways to Get More Out of Your Band's Social Media Channels This Year
6. "Want your music to make an impact? Start locally, especially with kids who aspire to have a career in music. You don’t need to be nationally successful to be a role model to kids who are growing up in the same place you did." – Eric Bernsen, marketing/public relations professional and music journalist
From: 5 Ways to Gain Fans That Don't Involve Releasing New Music
7. "If you’re shy or just unsure of where to start when it comes to talking to fans at the merch table, asking questions is the best way to get a conversation going. Ask them how they liked the show, what song they think you should open with next time, where they’re from, what they do for a living, or what other music they like. Putting the attention on them shows that you appreciate them and value their opinions." – Dave Kusek, founder of the New Artist Model
From: How to Overcome the Awkwardness of Selling Your Own Band Merch
