Promoting Your Music with Little Or No Money

One of the biggest challenges to musicians and singers is how to get their music to an audience and promote and market with little or no money at all. There are some very creative ways to get your material to the world out there but of course it will be a lot harder when funds are low or non-existent. Here are some tips and ways to get the ball rolling.

1. Establish an online presence:

Nothing is worse than having music, no money and then having no way for people to find out more about you, where you perform and where to purchase your music. You are setting yourself up for failure before you even start to promote if you don't have this baseline.

You should build a website and this can be as simple or elaborate as you would like it to be or can afford it to be. But people need to be able to go to a place that is about you. Have social media profiles like facebook, twitter, myspace (yes it might be coming back as a little more relevant soon), and instagram. There are so many more sites, but these are some of the more popular one's. You should be on the one(s) you like the most and that your fans or potential fans are on.

2. Put your content on your social profiles and website:

You know you have got to have content to promote and the main thing you want to promote is your music so make sure you have it readily available for anyone who wants to hear it. If they are on your site or your social profile, you've already got a foot in the door so give them the opportunity to hear your stuff

3. Don't Always Promote!

I know the point is to have people know that your music exists but you don't even want to hear your music 24/7 so don't make other people hear it. It's a turn off. Take some time to connect with your audience. Tell your people about your day and ask them about theirs. If you saw something interesting, share it. Act like the people you are promoting to are all your best friend. You wouldn't just share one part of your life with your friend so don't try it with an audience. Be authentically you.

4. Go old school:

Remember the days when you used to hear about things word of mouth? Those days don't have to be long gone. Start going to shows and talking to the bands, audience members, bartenders and the like and put a bug in their ear. Order some fliers to put in local venues that allow it, local eateries and shops that go along with your overall musical style and look. And make sure the fliers have links to your site and social profiles.

Once you have these things setup and remembered to do some of the old tried and true ways of promoting, you will be well on your way to progress and getting your music noticed by more and more people. The key thing to remember in all of these things is to be consistent. don't do these things all once a year and expect a great turnaround or a flood of people gravitating toward you and masses of money that you won't know what to do with. It's like developing a relationship but with your audience. You have to put in the time and work to reap the rewards. But the rewards will be well worth it!