A checklist of marketing and PR essentials for bands and musicians.

1. Marketing & PR Checklist
for Musicians
Presented by Laura B. Whitmore

2. Place
Price
The Four P’s of Marketing
Product
Promotion

3. PR
News Releases
Interviews
Guest writing
Product/song reviews
Events and Show reviews
Charitable participation
Participation in unrelated
activities
Buzz!!

4. PR Distribution
Fit your pitch to the recipient
Free wire services
Build your own list – reviewers,
local press, national reviewers, etc.
Sites that have news submission
forms – Blabbermouth, Mi2N.com, more
Hire a publicist – make sure they are the right fit.
And be a squeaky wheel.

5. Social Media
Facebook, Twitter, MySpace
Update your posts and profile regularly
Include contact info
Interact – make it a dialog
Respond – your fans want to
know you listen
Numbers count – build that fan
base
Get your fans to invest in you
emotionally
Be careful with tagging
Don’t completely disregard your
MySpace base

6. YouTube
Make a YouTube channel that you control
Use the skin to support your projects
Link from your website
Keep the best videos at
the top
Put key words in your
descriptions
Include URL or contact
info in video descriptions
Do cover songs of new
/popular material
Respond to comments
Post your videos on other social media
Include links and embeds on your website

7. Foursquare, Linked
In, Pinterest, Instagram, more!
Use social media for its strengths
FourSquare: Reward fans for coming to shows
Linked In: Network, network, network
Pinterest: Share photos of you, your band, your favorite cup
of coffee, and more
Instagram: Photos of you
on the road, on stage,
back stage, your gear,
your clothes, etc.
Give people a reason to
come back
Be visible in a variety of places

8. Your eMail List
Opt in email lists are extremely valuable
Use an email service that starts off for free like MailChimp or
Constant Contact
Do not abuse your list – mail only relevant, timely info
Keep a record of how you acquired your list
Touch base with
your list at least
once a month

9. How to Build Your List
Include a sign up field on every page of your website at the top of
the frame
Encourage people to sign up to receive specials
Do a contest on Facebook that requires someone to both like you
and give you email info
Have sign up sheets at your
shows. Give away a t-shirt to
encourage sign up.
Put other info in your list besides
email: where they live, age, source
Offer a free song for signing up,
or a first crack at your tour dates
If you have a store on your site,
encourage opt-in for your list
during checkout

10. Advertising
Try free event listings
If it’s time to pay, shop around so you know
you are getting a good deal
Don’t be afraid to negotiate, but be fair
Make sure your target audience matches
theirs
Can you share costs?
See if you can barter – a banner on your site
for one on theirs

11. More Exposure
Forums: Share your music, comment, participate. Include
your web link.
Blogs: Comment on posts. Include your web link.
Groups: Yahoo, Linked In,
more. Comment on
discussions. Include
your web link.
Media outlets: Share
articles, comment,
vote. Include your
web link 

12. Endorsements
Show your value to the endorsing company
Provide what they need without being
asked – audio clips, video demos, a quote,
pix, more!
It’s not just about free gear – it’s about exposure
This should be a win-win relationship
Be the most responsive, helpful partner ever
Don’t be a nudge
Get their attention through social media –
posts, tags, pix

13. Contests
A way to get names and email addresses on your list
Get your face and name out there and associated with other
companies
Have news to talk about
Share the winners with
your audience, give
your fans a reason
to repost
Good will!

14. Website Checklist
Photos – rights cleared with photo credit in low and high res
Bio – long and short version
eNewsletter sign up
Social media icons with links,
and news feeds
Video embeds
Audio files and a
way to buy songs
Tour info
Merch store
Contact info
Something fun

15. Contact
Laura B. Whitmore
Mad Sun Marketing
www.mad-sun.com
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