SIMPLE TIPS FOR SELF-PROMOTION

As an upcoming artiste, the ability to promote and push yourself to get heard is the most important skill you can have. If you don't have money to hire PR people to run media campaigns for you, it is up to you to make sure people know about your music. There are some basic things you can take care of yourself if you are need promotion and you cannot afford a PR company. However, let me sound a note of warning here: YOU STILL NEED TO SET ASIDE A BUDGET! Because you will eventually get to that place where you need to pay for some essential services. Be that as it may, check out the following tips:

·         KNOW YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE: everyone cannot possibly be your fan. When you know and understand the kind of music you do, then you will channel your promo efforts to the right direction. You cannot be a soul artiste and be looking for club DJS to play your song. You will be wasting your time and resources. If you are a reggae artiste, channel your promo towards reggae presenters on radio, get on the internet and join a community of reggae fans..if your genre is hip hop dance-hall, get on the club circuit! Go after club DJs,  etc. bottom line is, you must identify your target audience, find out where they are, look for the best channel to reach them, and use it.

·         PREPARE YOUR PRESS KIT: to self promote your music; you need a good promo package. Your package should contain:

1.       YOUR DEMO CD/SINGLE

2.       A SHORT ONE PAGE BIOS

3.       PROFESSIONALLY BRANDED PHOTOGRAPH

4.       CONTACT INFORMATION( including e-mail addresses, facebook page, twitter handle)

5.       INFORMATION ABOUT PREVIOUS PRESS COVERAGE(e.g  links to online magazine or blog mentions)

·         USE THE SOCIAL MEDIA: sadly young people these days use the social media for the most mundane purposes. Make relevant contact via social media and build a good relationship to the point where you can email your press kit to industry people. Every day you log in to any social network, your primary goal should be to promote your music in any way you can.

·         KEEP TRACK OF YOUR CONTACTS: As you go through all of these steps, chances are that you are going to pick up a lot of new contacts along the way. Some of these contacts will be industry people and some will be fans. Don't write anyone off, even if you don't get much feedback from them. You never know who is going to give you the break you need. Like I always say, be careful the way you treat people you meet on your way up, because (God Forbid) on your way down, you might meet them again!