Generation DIY: Promotions … Outside the Internet
posted in: Features
How about we get you away from the computer screen for a little while. Get up and go outside where the sun is shining and the grass is green (at least in the south) so you can interact with your fans! This hands-on post will bring to light to all the different avenues bands and artists alike can go down when branding their name and music into the minds of music consumers everywhere. First, let’s define street marketing or guerrilla marketing.
Street Marketing: A system of promotions usually lead through unusual tactics of reaching the consumer through efforts focused around imagination and drive rather than a large budget.
Continue reading Generation DIY: Promotions … Outside the Internet
Street Marketing has also been given a new name: Guerrilla Marketing. This term was coined and defined by Jay Conrad Levinson who wrote the 1984 book about unusual approaches to promoting your product/company to the masses. Many bands have adopted this system of promotion through CD samplers, post cards, snipe posters, stickers, whatever it is you want your potential fans to remember you by. The point is to be creative! I bet many of you can recall something crazy someone has done, like that time Nick went streaking through the quad screaming obscenities (we all had a Nick-like memory at some point). Now, I’m not saying that you should go streaking with a megaphone promoting your Web site * cough cough * but you should try and push past thinking inside the box.
Before you become overwhelmed thinking that you’ll never figure out a creative way to promote yourself … stop! We are not about self-defeat here in Generation DIY. Start small; hand out demo CDs outside venues, sticker your local music store or favorite hang out, hang up posters about an upcoming gig around town, even design a promotional poster about your band’s Web site (we will discuss design very soon) to grab shifting eyes. Remember, being in an unknown band means you have to plaster your image everywhere you can. Get people to put a name to a face. You’ll see how it works when you begin attending shows and people recognize you. Trust me, it’s a great self-esteem booster.
Many bands do work with promotion and marketing companies and that’s great and all, but who really has the money to put behind all that buzz work. I know I don’t. Give yourself time and room to grow. Having control at the beginning rather than giving away all responsibilities will help you go a long way.
Send us any questions or concerns, we’re always here to lend a helping hand. Many times you’ll find that a question you might have, others have as well, so speak up and speak your mind. Also, send in your suggestions for promotion tools that have helped your band that may, in fact, help others as well. Until next time!
To view Jay Conrad Levinson’s Web site click below to visit his store:
http://www.gmarketing.com/store/