Digital Marketing: Tips That Will Result in New Growth

Alright, let’s get real for a second. As a musician in today’s digital age, you can’t afford to sleep on digital marketing. Gone are the days when you could just play a few gigs, hand out some flyers, and call it a day. If you want to build a sustainable career in music, you need to have a strong online presence and a solid digital marketing strategy.

But here’s the thing – for a lot of musicians, the world of digital marketing can feel like a fucking mystery. You’ve got social media, email newsletters, paid advertising, SEO – it’s enough to make your head spin. And let’s be real, you got into this business to make music, not to be a marketing guru.

But fear not. I’m here to demystify the world of digital marketing and give you some actionable tips that will help you grow your fanbase and customer base like never before. So grab a drink, sit back, and let’s dive in.

Digital Marketing Key Takeaways:

• Digital marketing is essential for building a sustainable music career in the modern era
• Social media, email marketing, and paid advertising are key components of a successful digital marketing strategy
• Consistency and authenticity are crucial for building trust and engagement with your audience
• Metrics and analytics can help you refine your strategy and make data-driven decisions
• Digital marketing is an ongoing process that requires continuous learning and adaptation

What the Hell is Digital Marketing, Anyway?

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of digital marketing strategies, let’s take a step back and define what the hell we’re talking about. At its core, digital marketing is just using digital channels (like the internet and mobile devices) to promote your brand, products, or services. For musicians, this can include things like:

• Social media marketing (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, etc.)
• Email marketing (newsletters, promotional emails, etc.)
• Content marketing (blog posts, videos, podcasts, etc.)
• Paid advertising (Facebook ads, Google AdWords, sponsored posts, etc.)
• Search engine optimization (SEO)

The goal of digital marketing is to reach and engage with your target audience (i.e. your fans and potential customers) where they’re already spending their time – which, let’s face it, is mostly online these days.

Social Media: Your New Best Friend

When it comes to digital marketing for musicians, social media is king. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok offer a direct line of communication between you and your fans, and a way to showcase your personality, your music, and your brand.

But here’s the thing – you can’t just post a few half-assed updates and expect the followers to roll in. To really crush it on social media, you need to:

1. Be consistent. Post regularly (at least a few times a week) and keep your content fresh and engaging.
2. Be authentic. Don’t try to be something you’re not – your fans can smell bullshit from a mile away. Be true to yourself and your music.
3. Engage with your audience. Respond to comments, ask for feedback, and make your fans feel like they’re part of your journey.
4. Mix it up. Don’t just post links to your music – share behind-the-scenes photos, live videos, and other content that gives your fans a deeper look into your world.

And don’t be afraid to experiment with new platforms and features – you never know what might take off and help you reach a whole new audience.

Email Marketing: The OG of Digital Marketing

Social media may be the shiny new toy, but email marketing is still one of the most effective ways to connect with your fans and drive sales. In fact, studies have shown that email marketing has an ROI of $44 for every $1 spent – that’s a pretty damn good return on investment.

But just like with social media, you can’t just blast out a generic newsletter and expect people to give a shit. To make email marketing work for you, you need to:

1. Build your list. Offer personal stories, exclusive content, or some other incentive to get people to sign up for your email list.
2. Segment your list. Not all of your fans are going to be interested in the same things – segment your list based on interests, location, or other factors so you can send targeted, relevant content.
3. Provide value. Don’t just use your emails to promote your music – share exclusive content, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and other stuff that your fans will actually care about.
4. Test and optimize. Try different subject lines, calls-to-action, and content formats to see what resonates with your audience. Use metrics like open rates and click-through rates to refine your strategy over time.

Paid Advertising: Putting Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

Organic reach on social media ain’t what it used to be – thanks, Zuckerberg. That’s where paid advertising comes in. By investing a little cash in targeted ads on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Google, you can reach a whole new audience and drive traffic to your website, your music, and your merch store.

But paid advertising can be a tricky beast – it’s easy to blow through your budget without seeing any real results. To make the most of your ad spend, you need to:

1. Define your goals. What do you want to achieve with your ads – more streams, more merch sales, more email signups? Make sure your ads are aligned with your overall marketing goals.
2. Target the right audience. Use the targeting options on each platform to reach the people who are most likely to be interested in your music – whether that’s based on age, location, interests, or other factors.
3. Test and refine. Try different ad formats, images, and copy to see what works best. Use A/B testing to optimize your ads over time and get the most bang for your buck.
4. Track your results. Use the analytics tools provided by each platform to track your ad performance and see what’s working (and what’s not). Don’t be afraid to pivot your strategy based on the data.

Metrics, Analytics, and Other Boring Shit That Actually Matters

I know, I know – the words “metrics” and “analytics” are enough to make any musician’s eyes glaze over. But here’s the thing – if you want to succeed with digital marketing, you need to be tracking your results and making data-driven decisions.

Some key metrics to keep an eye on:

• Website traffic
• Social media followers and engagement
• Email open and click-through rates
• Conversion rates (how many people are actually buying your music, merch, etc.)
• Return on investment (ROI) for paid advertising

By regularly checking in on these metrics, you can see what’s working, what’s not, and where you need to focus your efforts. And don’t be afraid to experiment – try new things, test different approaches, and see what moves the needle.

Digital Marketing FAQs:

1. Do I need to be on every social media platform? Hell no. Focus on the platforms where your target audience is most active and engaged.
2. How often should I be sending emails to my list? It depends on your audience and your goals, but aim for at least once a month to keep your brand top-of-mind. Just don’t overdo it – no one likes a spammer.
3. How much should I be spending on paid advertising? Start small and scale up as you see results. A good rule of thumb is to allocate 10-20% of your overall marketing budget to paid advertising.

Look, I know digital marketing can feel overwhelming – especially when you’re trying to juggle it with all the other demands of being a musician. But the truth is, if you want to build a sustainable career in music, you can’t afford to ignore it.

By focusing on key channels like social media, email marketing, and paid advertising, and by consistently providing value and engaging with your audience, you can grow your fanbase and your business in ways you never thought possible.

At the end of the day, the musicians who succeed in the digital age are the ones who are willing to put in the work and stay focused on their goals. So get out there and start demystifying digital marketing – your future fans (and your bank account) will thank you.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some tweets to schedule and some Facebook ads to optimize. See you on the other side of the algorithm, my friends.

Source Links:

• https://www.artistgrowth.com/growth-hacks/digital-marketing-musicians/
• https://www.omniamusic.com/digital-marketing-for-musicians/
• https://www.dittomusic.com/blog/the-complete-guide-to-digital-marketing-for-musicians

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Rachel Hurley

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