As an independent artist, PR helps boost your career and aids in your journey to becoming a professional musician. But, press promotion can get expensive – it’s not always an option. Have no fear for the team at Indie Band Guru are going to break down some indie PR methods and the benefits they hold.
Getting Reviewed on Smaller Blogs
Getting reviewed is a desirable thing for any musician. While featuring on a website like Pitchfork would be a dream come true, it’s much more likely that a smaller blog will pick you up.
Don’t underestimate the benefits of working with a small blog! Chances are, the team is going to be much smaller so you’re going to get a much more personal experience. Also, followers of small blogs tend to be more dedicated to that creator. Being mentioned by a blog that has a small, yet passionate group of people’s trust is more likely to convert readers to listeners.
There may also be an opportunity for small blogs to mention you on their social media which brings us to point two.
Collaborations with Smaller Creators
Collaborations are what will elevate your music brand the fastest. There are many people and companies you can collaborate with to bring your music to a wider audience.
For example, if you have booked a gig, you can create social media posts that collaborate with the venue. This opens up your content, and in turn your music, to their audience without having to do much extra work.
You can collaborate with blogs, artists, marketers, industry professionals, other musicians, clothing designers, and many more. If you get creative, you’ll be able to find a way to link every type of business with your music.
Small Playlist Placements
Every musician wants to be on Spotify’s big playlists. This privilege, however, is reserved for the chart-dominating superstars.
No bother, being added to smaller playlists can work in your favour. For example, if you release a song and have multiple playlists ready to add, it will let the Spotify algorithm know that this is a song worth looking out for.
Being present on playlists also gives you credibility when pitching your music to be reviewed. If you’re trying to get published on a particular blog, mention in your initial outreach that you’ve already been added to playlists. It’s a great way to get the receiver on your side.
Be warned, there are many playlists that are fake. It’s much better to not be added to a playlist at all than to be added to a scam. If you want to know how to spot a fake playlist, check out this blog post from iMusician.
Local News
Back in the day, local news would be the best way to promote your music. Since the internet, local news has taken a back seat. But, it still has a place when bands are starting out.
Think about getting in touch with local venues, finding social media pages about your local town, and researching local events. This is a great opportunity to network with people in your town who can get you gigs. Local events may want a band to perform. That band could be you!
Networking
Each of these steps we’ve mentioned requires some sort of networking. If you find a blog that will review you, you can then enquire about other potential blogs that will do the same.
Be careful not to ask for too much too soon though. It’s important to build relationships over time and prove that you’re someone who is easy to work with and who will deliver.
Once the relationship is strong, you can explore ways in which to work together to produce more content to elevate your music.
Not sure how to network effectively? Check out this post from Ditto that break down top tips and tricks.
Conclusion
All in all, independent PR doesn’t have to be expensive. As long as you work to get the most out of each opportunity, you can create a strong body of work to aid in your aspirations. And, of course, as you grow, so will your PR!
*If you are at this level and ready to ramp up your PR and get some coverage to build on feel free to get in touch with us here at Indie Band Guru to see how we can help. Contact @ IndieBandguru.com
