How to promote your music: 8 ways to make an impact

Technology exists to make our lives easier, and social media platforms and the internet are no exception. Our favorite platforms and spaces on the web don’t just exist to keep us entertained and in the know. They’re important and effective marketing platforms that anyone can use to promote their image.

That’s what makes social media the perfect place to promote a song. Even if you’re an independent artist who doesn’t have a major record label backing you, you can take advantage of easy music marketing strategies to find fans, promote your work and make an impact. Keep reading if you want to learn how to market your music on a budget (that is, almost for free). “Free” sounds pretty good when you’re saving up for a new guitar and dropping a small fortune on high-quality recordings, right?

What is marketing for musicians?

Music marketing is anything that helps singers, songwriters, and bands reach and expand their audience. Whether you’re getting information on upcoming music drops and concerts out to new and current fans or pushing print and digital campaigns to get more plays and gigs and make more sales – that’s marketing. If you’re willing to put in the time, you’ll find the perfect music artist marketing strategy to help your career take off.

How to market your music independently in 8 steps

Ready to share the news of your work as a musician with the world? Follow these seven tips to learn how to market your music like a pro.

• Put a Linktree URL in your bio: Don’t underestimate the importance of your social media bio. Come up with a quippy or informative blurb about your band, and include a link that redirects to a music video, YouTube channel, podcast, Soundcloud page, or virtual event poster. A Linktree URL can link to all of these places at once.
• Make a website: A website can help you house everything anyone might want to know about your band in one place, including tour dates, news, press, and audiovisual content.
• Sell merch online: Merch helps you earn money and get more visibility. Anyone sporting a band T-shirt or linen tote is promoting you wherever they go. Selling merch also generates a bit of income. If you have a website, add an e-commerce integration, and host your band merch right next to important content on your future shows and new releases.
• Have your electronic press kit handy: Before getting a hit on the radio or performing at an event space, you’ll need a press kit to show interested parties what your music is all about. Your press kit should include music samples, links to social media, streaming platforms and websites, and information on your audience demographic.
• Release your music on streaming platforms: Team up with a distribution platform to get your music on popular streaming services like Apple Music or Spotify. When potential fans start seeing your band name pop up on tees and totes and want to see what all the buzz is about, they’ll have an easy time hunting down your tunes so they can check you out.
• Work on your social media channels: Social media is one of the most important marketing spaces for pretty much anyone, hard rockers included. Make accounts on all the most popular applications (like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok) and post images, press releases, videos and audio clips. These spaces allow you to show off your personality and tracks while connecting directly with fans. Plus, as we’ll highlight in the next point, they provide an opportunity for you to drive traffic to the rest of your web presence.
• Market to your email list: Try using an email marketing service like MailChimp to blast out news and promotions to your loyal fan base. These services work especially well when you have a website for collecting newsletter subscribers.
• Get your tracks on music blogs and playlists: Politely approach music bloggers and playlist curators about your tunes. A testimonial from someone in the industry can go a long way toward finding new fans and getting discovered.

FAQs

What is a music marketer?

If you’re trying to spread the word about your music, you’re a music marketer. This label applies to anyone who promotes music in print or digital formats.

Can you market your music for free?

Absolutely. Making and recording your music may cost some money, but you can market for free on social media, by approaching blogs and playlist curators, and by using bio links to direct traffic from social media to mentions and audio-visual content on the web.

How can I go viral?

Consider collaborating with a music-industry influencer on a marketing campaign. These people tend to have impressive reach, so they can help you get your content out to a wider range of potential fans.

What is a music marketing plan?

A marketing plan helps you delineate your approach to music promotion on different kinds of platforms. When you make a plan before promoting your image, you have a more coherent idea of the audience you’re targeting, the growth you want to achieve, and the strategy you’ll take to get your music out to fans. If you’re thinking of investing some cash in marketing, this plan can help you project costs as well.

How can I get my song on the radio?

Read our full guide to getting your jams on the radio here, but to start, approach local indie and college stations looking for new music. You never know, it could lead to your first big break!