Throw Your Album Release Party Professionally

As an indie artist, you've probably spent several months (heck, maybe even years) putting together a dope album. After putting in such a huge investment, part of your return is your release party. Just like any big event, you have to consider who will be there, why you want them there, and what it means for your career.

1. Plan your date and stick to it. Unless it's a family emergency, there's no reason for you not to follow through on your plan. Lack of funds? Throw a Kickstarter campaign and blast it on social media. No publicity? Start hitting up all your local alternative weeklies, and get your fans to promote your party on their social media profiles. Excuses don't make dollars.

2. Pick the right venue. For you, that is. This doesn't mean you have to rent out an expensive club or go so cheap that you're using your cousin's basement. Just do your research and figure out

• Where does your fan base hang out?
• Could you network your way into a better rate for a venue? Who do you know?
• What are the rules and requirements at the venue you want?
• Is the venue in a safe enough area?
• And any other relevant questions you can think to ask yourself.

3. Make that money. Try to sell your album as your ticket sales in advance. This does three things:

• It ensures you cover the cost of the venue.
• Your fans get something tangible for their cash. People love receiving gifts, so they'll be more likely to show.
• You can promote your entire album, not just the select songs you perform.

4. Get your "hype" team together. Enlist a few local bloggers, social media mavens, and a fan or two to help you put your show together. You'll need folks to help with the publicity, because you can't do it all on your own. Someone needs to man the tables when people line up to come into the party. You'll also need a hand (or several) when setting up the equipment, too. Preparation and manpower are key.

5. Put together a short list. It's a given that you want your existing fans there. But what about generating a new fan base? Or which media professionals would be willing to write up a piece about you? Write down the names/contacts of the people who you would like to attend and send out personal invites, especially to popular bloggers, radio personalities and music producers. You are throwing a show, but it's also the perfect opportunity to sell yourself.

Some other great resources you can check out are Hypebot (written by indie rapper @koshadillz) and Music Think Tank (it's a couple years old, but still very much relevant) for more tips.

Don't Buy Indie Music One Song at a Time

A cool piece on Hypebot (Why Musicians Make Little While Music Services and Distributors Make Billions) talks about how streaming services such as Spotify and Pandora are actually hurting music artists' revenue overall. One commenter made an interesting point about how music fans don't seem as loyal anymore.

"Find the bands you love and buy their album on their websites or directly from the band at shows. Support them by going to their shows and buying their music. If you really loved them you would buy the album and not one song at a time on some stupid streaming service. Collect art people."—Pedro

It's rare to find a music lover like Pedro nowadays in a generation where many people have bought few if any CDs in their lifetimes. People pull their music from YouTube or a playlist service such as Music Unlimited. And its clear that the music industry overall doesn't care if artists make bank or not. So the question is, how can you get more people to support you like Pedro?

Simple. Don't forget to sell yourself as more than just a hit song.

At shows, when you talk to the crowd, emphasize how much hard work and dedication you put into each track. Even better is to give them something they've never heard before to show your diversity as an artist.

Remember, times have changed but people largely have not. If you give your fan base something to rally around, they'll be willing to spend a few bucks more to support your dream versus $.99 (or nothing) for one track.

Google Dominates Online Music Marketing

Google is making everything all about Google+. Google drives the search engine results for many industries, including for how independent music recording artists are ranked. It’s not easy for many indie artists to reach the top spots on the first page of Google. And now, they’re pushing for Google+ to be at the center of it all. Pretty soon, you won’t even be able to leave YouTube comments without a Google+ account.

Read: Hypebot’s report

Although having many footprints on the web and social media will definitely help you move toward the rankings you want, Google is completely changing the game. Results will not be driven by what you think people are typing into the search box.

Read: Search Engine Journal’s report and Search Engine Watch’s report

So, why is this really important?

Well, Google wants to put users first and help them maximize their searches. For example, if people are searching for shows featuring indie artists in your area, it doesn't necessarily mean your name will pop up in the search now. Google will continue to shape the social footprint for rankings, and it’s best to get on board now instead of struggling to catch up later. There are a few ways you can start that process.

Use the tools you have

Many artists invest far too much into the “cooler” social media websites out there, such as Facebook and Twitter. Of course, these sites are sound investments, but Google will never let any of its products fail. In fact, Google+ is growing much faster than Twitter and has been for over a year now. The key to being successful on Google+ is by treating your page as a more professional profile—take it seriously like LinkedIn but have fun with it like Facebook. Post lots of pictures, make your updates, and join influential circles.

Start Learning SEO

There are so many reputable resources on how to create a SEO campaign that will really improve your rankings (we swear by The Moz Blog). Keep in mind that Google will judge you on the quality of your website content. So it’s important to frequently update your blog, bio, calendar for gigs, etc.

Invest a little cash

If you have some disposable income, then you can start a small campaign on Google Adwords and download the Adwords editor. The best way to maximize your Adwords results is by setting a realistic monthly budget upfront and monitoring your results weekly. Please keep in mind that it takes time to see results, and possibly longer since you’re going the DIY route and not using an agency. And Google’s customer service is actually pretty decent, so they’ll talk you through any concerns you have.

Last: If you’re not going to invest the time and research into Adwords, then don’t waste your money. There’s a reason some people get paid six figs to be a SEO expert.

If you’re already on Google+, leave your profile link in the comments so we can feature you in a later blog.

Paid Versus Free Indie Music Promotion Services

Keeping up with gigs and practices are already time consuming if you’re an indie artist. So doing the PR and other promotions for your band can seem impossible. But is it really? Learn the benefits and drawbacks of doing your own PR compared with paying a person or service.

Online businesses promise to do ALL the work

One example of an Internet music submission service is MusicSUBMIT.com. Folks here guarantee their people can get you

•       Instant radio airplay
•       Webzine reviews
•       Features on music blogs
•       Listings on music fan sites

Price points vary from $220 for 1,000 submissions to $9.95 for 25 submissions per month. Although it’s pretty much a given that some outlets will pick you up, you have to break down the actual cost and determine if it’s worth it to you. Let’s look at it this way: If 50 outlets out of those 1,000 submissions pick you up nationally, then you’ve paid roughly $209 total. So, the other 950 submissions technically don’t count. But depending on how high profile those 50 outlets are, you may have hit the jackpot. It’s a gamble, and you have to be willing to take the risk.

Local PR reps can be well connected

Recent college grads are always looking for ways to beef up a resume—and they often possess many of the same skills as seasoned professionals. You can find reputable PR grads at local colleges and through LinkedIn. Elance is often another great resource, as well. You can offer different price points for a press release, bio, etc.

Being your own PR professional

If you decide to sell your music to outlets on your own, keep in mind that a time commitment is mandatory. Writing a press release and getting it into the right hands can take several hours per week—not including the time it takes to write the release itself. Here are a few ways to make this easier:

1. Learn the basics of writing a good release. The Public Relations Society of America is the leader of PR; definitely follow their advice.
2. Know who the players are in your industry. If you can, try to meet with them or their assistants at some point—whether it’s virtually or in person.
3. Alternative weeklies, newer Internet radio shows/podcasts, and smaller websites tend to be more approachable. They are more likely to talk about your new mixtape or upcoming show.

Do you already use PR to promote your music? Tell us how you do it in the comments.

Attract Independent Record Labels by Promoting Your Show Online

Being an indie artist is not for the unambitious when trying to promote a show on the streets and through social media. But what you should keep in mind is that you need to sell your music during your performance, as well.

You can get the attention of top independent record labels while building a fan base beyond your local area. Streaming your show in real time is a no-brainer. But using new resources can help you build quality content and earn extra cash, too.

Recruit an intern, or two

Many people would love an opportunity to break into the music industry. If you have a website or Facebook profile, ask for volunteers to help with tasks such as live streaming your performance, or tweeting about your show in real time. Have them capture shots of you and the audience to put on Instagram. Interns can also interview fans after the show and write up a blog review. Now, you’ve got your bases covered before, during and after your performance.

In return for all their hard work, offer your interns some free gear and a solid recommendation.

Keep it professional

The worst media to stream is poor quality media. It makes you look amateurish to have terrible audio, pixelated video or dark photos. To avoid these issues, scope out the venue beforehand. Is the space big or small? Will the audience be sitting or standing? What is the color of the walls? Work with what you have by planning accordingly.

When in doubt, Stage It

Stageit.com has been around for a couple years now and has proven success for many indie artists. Although the concept is to raise online concert sales to help performers earn more cash, another plus is that sites like Stage It will help you gain new fans.

Concert Window is another newish website that hosts live concerts for indie artists. The cool thing about this site is that you can interact with fans during your performance. So those watching feel like they’re actually there with you.

Been there, done that

Have you already recorded, tweeted or Instagrammed your show? Send us the link in the comments and tell us about your experience.