Do You Use a Marketing Match or a Flamethrower?

Does that sound like an odd question? It is - but there's a good reason I ask ...
When it comes to promoting music, most musicians lean toward the flamethrower approach. They think, "Let's hit the scene with all guns blazing" or "We'll set this town on fire" or simply "Let's launch a big marketing push for the new album (or event, website, etc)."

If this describes you, here's a word of warning!

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying this flamethrower-type tactic doesn't have it's place. In certain instances, it makes sense to do something extra to create excitement.

But relying only on the flamethrower to set your music career on fire is a weak long-term strategy.

What's far better and most effective is a consistent use of matches. Every week, month after month, year after year, you light a match to set a small fire in a specific place for a particular audience.

Imagine you have 10 candles in a room that you want to light. Using a flamethrower, you could definitely light all 10 candles. You'd also scorch the walls, the furniture, the drapes, and more. There would be a lot of wasted energy expended on the wrong things.

With a match, you target exactly the outcome you want in a more economical and fruitful way. You reach your objective without melting the candles or leaving a big mess behind.

So, how do you want to market you music? With a match ... or a flamethrower?

-Bob

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Featured Resource

Internet Music Marketing Crash Course

Are you confused about Internet promotion? Not sure where to start? You'll have a clear vision and a solid game plan once you digest this amazing collection of resources.

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The Million-Dollar Idea Challenge

Here's a quick but powerful thought that hit me yesterday. It's an idea that just might help you reach more people, make more of an impact, and make more money with your music.

Over the weekend I was considering making an investment in a program produced by a well-known marketing expert. And at close to $300, it wasn't exactly an inexpensive program.

I appreciate the value of education. No doubt. But I am also frugal when it comes to the way I spend money -- as I'm sure you are too. I had to justify the purchase.

So here's the thought process that went through my head ...

"OK, if I make this investment, I must make a commitment to finding at least one good idea in this program that will earn back the price of it, and hopefully a lot more."

I envisioned sitting down with the material for at least an hour a day, taking detailed notes, and seriously brainstorming on how I could implement the ideas. I thought how fun it would be to turn it into a personal challenge:

"Your mission is to find the one or two idea nuggets in this program that will help you make a difference in people's lives while also earning a profit you deserve. Don't hold back. Think big!"

Then it hit me ...

Why should I limit this mindset to this product alone? Why should I limit it to high-priced learning materials only?

Couldn't I apply that same opportunity-seeking mentality to everything I read, listen to, and watch?

Of course. And so can you!

Therefore, I issue the following challenge ...

Select a book, a DVD, a collection of blog posts or podcasts, or a workshop you plan to attend. Trick yourself into believing that you are starring in a reality TV show, and imagine the producers have hidden a million-dollar idea in the book, post, audio, video, or live event.

It's now your mission to discover the idea and put it to use!

(To add more mental leverage, imagine that you had to pay $10,000 to star in the TV show. And finding the million-dollar idea is the only way you'll earn back your investment.)

Have faith that the idea is there. Don't worry about how you will implement it. Just know that once you uncover this gem of an idea, it will lead to greater exposure, contribution and reward for you.

Are you up for the challenge?

Great. Go forth and find the hidden idea!

Then come back here and report your results in the comments below.

-Bob

New Facebook Music Promotion & Marketing Resource Page

I just created this big page of links to how-to articles, tips and advice on using Facebook to market your music, connect with fans, promote your live shows, and sell more music.

If you've been looking for Facebook music promotion resources, this is a great place to start.

Please hit the Like and Share buttons while you're there!

-Bob

Great Music Sales Lesson from the Raveonettes

A few weeks ago I was a guest blogger at Hypebot. If you missed my post there, here's the beginning and a link to the full article.

Giving Music Consumers These 3 Choices Leads to More Revenue

Are you pulling your hair out trying to figure out how to make money selling single digital downloads and albums, while also wondering where physical CDs fit into the mix these days?

Well, Scott Cohen may have an answer. He manages a band called the Raveonettes and is the co-founder and international VP of The Orchard. Cohen just wrote an op-ed piece that appears on the Billboard web site. In it he reveals some interesting numbers from music sales data he's been able to crunch.

Here are the figures I found most interesting:

When Raveonettes fans were given a choice between purchasing a full-length digital album for $7.99 and buying a single track for 99 cents, they chose the single track 75% of the time.

As Cohen points out, most of a band's music sales revenue comes from album sales, not single-track purchases. So that wasn't a percentage to celebrate.

So the Raveonettes decided to try something different ...

Read the entire post here.

-Bob

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Featured Resource

70 Ways to Promote & Sell Your Music on the Internet

Ideas, links, tips, tricks and resources you should be using to gain wider exposure for your music online.

Learn More ...

My Free Gift to YOU - And a Special Offer

2010 represents a couple of milestones for me -- and I want to celebrate by giving you a very useful gift.

Watch this video to learn more, or read below for more info:


This year marks 20 years since I started writing and speaking about music promotion and self-empowerment for artists.

And at the end of this month (June 29) I'll turn 50. (Where does the time go?) It's been a great ride -- and it's far from over.

I'm so grateful that I've been able to pursue this path, and that cool people like YOU have supported me on this journey.

To show my thanks, I want to give you a 15-minute audio training session on "How to Promote Your Music & Build a Buzz Online."

You can access it now on this page.

While you're there, I want to also make you aware of another cool thing I'm doing -- making 14 music resources available for five days only.

These are exclusive reports, interviews, videos, and audio training sessions that were previously available only to members of my Insiders Club.

I'm taking some of the best resources and offering them to my readers -- but only until the end of the day this Sunday, June 6.

After that, they'll go back in "The Vault."

So please take a minute to go here and claim your gift -- and check out the five-day-only music marketing collection.

Thanks!

Bob