Spreading the word about your music is a big task, especially when you also need to dedicate your time to your music and maybe even a day job. However, you actually have a huge team of marketers out there just waiting to promote your music – your fans. In fact, your fans are probably already out there sharing your music with the world.
Fan-driven marketing isn’t something you can directly control, but there are certain things you can do to incentivize sharing, and we’re going to run through 5 of them in this article. If you want to learn more, Jake Challenor, CEO of digital marketing agency Jaden Social, will be joining me for a free webinar Thursday, February 12 at 4PM EST. He’ll be sharing some fan-driven marketing strategies that he’s used with his own clients. You can join the webinar live or signup to watch the replay – all free.
1. Cover Song Requests
One of the best ways to incentivize fans to share is to get them involved. A fan is much more likely to share if they feel they played an active role in the creation of the content, and there’s plenty of content you’re already creating that you can get your fans involved in.
Try polling your fans on social media to find out what songs they’d like to see you cover. From that poll, make a list of all the songs and the fans that requested them and start working your way through. In the video and in your social media promotion for the video make sure you thank the fan by name so they feel they had a part.
2. Create a Set list
This strategy doesn’t have to be limited to the internet. You can get your fans involved offline at your live shows too. Just like the previous strategy, ask your fans to submit set lists for an upcoming show. Then, choose your favorite and make it happen at your next gig. Be sure to announce the winning set list on social media and at the show itself. If you really want to make an impact, you could even bring the fan that suggested it up on stage. Fans are much more likely to share experiences so give them something to remember!
3. Photo Booth
The powerful cameras on smartphones means that we do most of our communication and sharing through pictures. Use this to your advantage! Before or after your show, go out in the audience and take selfies with your fans. You could even take it a step further and set up a fun photo booth with branded props and backdrops. Share these photos on social media and be sure to tag your fans!
4. Fan Submitted Art in Music Video
No doubt a lot of your fans are artistically talented, and it has become a trend for fans to draw their favorite musicians and send the pictures over on Instagram or Twitter. You can take this to the next level and actually use that art. Feature it in your music videos, even if it’s just in the background. Many of your fans will share with their friends.
5. Contests
You can amplify every single one of the strategies we just talked about with contests. People are driven by a competition, and having an added benefit beyond just simply being involved will get more fans participating. The prizes you give away don’t have to be big or expensive. Simply getting on a Skype call with a fan or including their name in a song you’re writing could be enough to incentivize participation.
As you can see, there are some incredible (and easy) strategies you can use to get your fans out there marketing for you, but we really just scratched the surface in this article. We will lay even more great strategies in a FREE webinar with Jake Challenor from digital marketing agency, Jaden Social. He’ll be sharing some of the strategies he uses with his clients (strategies he’s seen work time and time again). I hope you’ll join us in the free webinar, but if you can’t make it, sign up to watch the replay.
If you are interested in learning more about how you can create a plan for success for your band or career, check out the New Artist Model, the alternative online business school for independent musicians, songwriters, producers, managers and new businesses.
5 strategies to get your fans sharing your music DIY Musician Blog.