5 Creative Ways To Effectively Market Your Music Through Facebook

Premium
Dec 1, 2016
6 min read

The key word to pay attention to there is "Effectively". I see it all the time... talented aspiring musicians trying to get their name out to the public using Facebook by blasting their friends and followers by pitching their records in status posts with a heavy sales tone. I'm guilty myself of doing this in the past and if there's one thing I can tell you about Facebook marketing (or social media marketing in general), it's that there is a right and wrong way to do it. The method I just described...is completely WRONG, and will only make your audience (if you have one left) see you as annoying and a nuisance. The key to marketing your music and merchandise using a Facebook page is to "sell softly". To elaborate, don't come across in your posts as a used car salesman. Instead, be yourself, be sociable and interact with your audience through comments and private messages, while incorporating your website links here and there. Social media is not supposed to be a sales tool, that's why you have your website. Your social media pages should be used for driving traffic back to your website. For example, yesterday me and a fellow recording artist live streamed a video where we showcased some of the music from my mixtape about to be released and had the audience throw out random words for us to rhyme with in a freestyle. Instead of trying to sell my album or pitch anything, I simply left the link to my website and encouraged my audience to subscribe to my newsletter through it so I can keep them updated on new releases and send them special giveaways and so forth. Today when I checked my analytics, I had 32 new subscribers, 3 of which purchased my album. You can't pressure your fans into purchasing your CD or merchandise. I guarantee you that if you try, your fan base will dwindle down faster than you can blink. Your responsible for bringing them amazing content that they enjoy. If you are in fact publishing quality content on a regular basis, sales will come naturally once you get it in front of a sufficient number of people. However, you have to make sure you're maintaining and tending to the relationships you build online. Interaction is the #1 most important thing to consider when marketing online. So with that concept established, here are the top 5 ways that I've used Facebook to grow my community.

1) Facebook Groups:

So this one is a given I know, but hear me out. In the music community, many musicians use community groups to post their music and videos, ect.. But let's stop and think about this. An artist goes there to

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promote their content and is ONLY focused on doing that. Very few listeners congregate among these groups but there is still a way to capitalize on them. How you ask? It's simple actually...by appealing to the artists through your content. There's a good chance you found this article on a music marketing FB group. If this is the case, think about why you decided to click on it. Most likely because, I have offered valuable information through this article and others, that you can use to optimize your own success. Now consider this... I'd be willing to steak my wager on the assumption that the artist from "Hip-Hop Promotion Community" or whatever one it is, that you're a fan of Hip-Hop music yourself. Now although you came to my website for the blog articles and helpful information to your career, you're still at my website nonetheless and it's likely that you're curious about my music credentials, therefore you may feel the need to do some poking around on my website to listen to my music and watch my videos, ect... When you do this it's very possible that you'll find out you actually really like my music and start following me to stay up to date on my new releases, or maybe even purchase an album. So take away this, interaction with other musicians can be just as important if not more valuable than interactions with potential fans and music marketing Facebook groups are a great way to establish them.

2) Live Streaming a Video Series:

Okay so full disclosure, I haven't fully tried this one out yet but I have put a plan together to launch a mini-series through Facebook live where I host weekly episodes at a specified time. It's very similar to video podcasting. The subject behind your series could be something as simple as showcasing the process that goes on behind the scenes like mixing, producing and so forth. Or simply having your fans ask you questions. Sit down and get creative when coming up with an idea to make your series about. Really take some time to brainstorm something original and unique. It may be a good idea to involve your fans in the creative process and get their ideas and suggestions.

3) Free Ad Campaigns:

Whether or not I was the one to originally come up with this idea or not I don't know but I'm pretty damn proud to be able to say that I did think of it on my own ;B-) I plan to write an article of its own

about this method but for now i'll give you the short version. Basically the idea behind this one is to create a video or banner ad and send a group message to all of your followers offering an incentive to anyone who will share your ad on their timeline. This could be a free mixtape, a bonus track, a wall poster to be mailed to them, free concert tickets, ect.. The ad should specifically focus on driving traffic back to your website. You'd be surprised at the amount of people who are not only more than willing but actually want to help you get the word out. In my experience this has actually worked better than actual paid campaigns in some instances.

4) Create a Group Page To Attract Multiple Audiences:

This is a great way to attract and build a community and give them a place to share ideas, feedback, and suggestions. Your group could be centered towards fans of Underground Hip-Hop music if you're a Rap artist, or fans of Grunge if you're Alternative, Punk, Grunge, ect... The formula works with any genre really. Then share other artists music that have a similar sound to you on a regular basis

occasionally throwing in your music from time to time. You don't necessarily want to make this page about your music because the point is to attract fans of other artists to your music. I prefer to share underground and relatively unknown names as doing so seems to produce more regular page visits and boost interest in the group. People like discovering new artists and music and when they can count on your page to consistently deliver that to them it definitely helps them to pledge their loyalty.

Create a group to reward your customers & make them feel special. For example, a group exclusively for people who have purchased your album or subscribed to your newsletter. Include a link on your sales page or send emails inviting customers to join. Use the group to follow up with fans or help them if they have questions or suggestions.

5) Increase fan interaction with Facebook Questions:

You may have noticed the Question option in Facebook. It lives just above your status update form. If you click it, you can quickly create a questionnaire for your fans with multiple choice answers. This is a great tool for engagement and for getting to know your fans’ likes and dislikes. Fans love to feel like they’re playing a part in the creative process or career-planning of a band. Here are some examples of things to ask your Facebook fans when you’re looking for feedback: • What should we call our next album? • What track should be our first single? • What venue should we play in San Francisco? • Which is your favorite logo design? • Where’s the best place to get a burrito in Modesto? • Who is your favorite Beatle?

Feel like getting silly and asking your fans who “the cute one” is in your band? Use Facebook’s Questions feature and let your fans’ voices be heard. At the same time as you’re enlisting feedback, you’re also promoting yourself. Any Facebook user who votes will have that interaction/activity displayed on their wall along with a link to your Facebook page. Plus, if you really want to leave things open-ended, you can click a checkbox to allow fans to offer their own suggestions and add new options to the poll.

To ask your fans a question: 1. Go to the SHARE box where you would normally go to post something to your wall. 2. Click “Question” 3. Type your question below where it says “Learn from your fans and others.” 4. If you want to poll your fans, do NOT click the “ask question” button quite yet. 5. First, click the “add poll options” link.