What happens when you’ve spent so much time preparing for the release of a new album that you have every idea of what to do pre-launch while having absolutely NO idea what to do post-launch?

Believe it or not, this is something I see a lot. And yes, it’s a blessing that you should have the good fortune of getting press you weren’t expecting or gaining traction that you couldn’t predict—and you should celebrate!

But it can also be easy to become kind of complacent in it. To appreciate the press sure but, not really know how to properly share or promote it without sounding like you’re bragging, or how to really keep the momentum going after you’ve had a couple releases. 

Not knowing how to make the most of the press coverage you do receive can mean not only losing opportunities in the moment, but burning bridges for future ones too—and I don’t want that for you!

So whether this is your first press run or your 20th, we’ve put together five ways to make the most of press, and be sure you’re setting yourself up for future opportunities to come. 

When you’re reaching out to the media, having a one sheet is key. The one sheet shows not only your professionalism, but it’s also a great way to preview your profile in one page. A one sheet is often used in music publicity, for purposes such as media outreach, concert bookings, and business partnerships. It is also used by PR agents, distributors, and other industry professionals. 

Next to your music, a one sheet is one of your most effective ways to create a first impression of your band. In this blog post, I will outline the seven major components of the perfect one sheet for you:

A typical independent musician today will spend considerable time posting on social media, writing emails, and reaching out to fans. While our minds are constantly on social media, it is important that we do not forget about the offline world. Ultimately, our success depends on the people who listen to our music, come to our concerts, and support our art. So it is very important that we have real connections with them. In this blog post, I will show you five ways that you can use offline promotion to promote your music.

Running a DIY PR campaign can be exhilarating (because you’re in control of your own destiny) or it can be exhausting (because you have no idea what you’re doing.) Or, very often, it can be both. After all, it is exciting to know that you have at your fingertips the power to pitch and get in front of whoever you want. That if you can just nail the perfect pitch, and find the perfect place to pitch it, that your entire career could change with just the click of the “send” button.

Pretty cool, right?

For this article, we’re working with the assumption that you’ve already done the work of perfecting your pitch and creating a stellar EPK, filled with all the assets. If so, you might be wondering—ok I’ve done that…now…where do I even begin to pitch?!

While there are a ton of ways to pitch your music to music blogs, and I’ll go into them quickly below, we’re focusing mainly on some of those outside the box placements today. These ones are going to be just as fun as they are practical, and they’re bound to get you in front of a totally new audience. 

When you’ve been working behind the scenes on your album for the last couple of months or maybe even years, getting it out into the world can seem like a huge relief. But let’s not forget to celebrate this for what it is—a huge accomplishment! I mean you took this one idea and you made it into a full-blown reality, and that is HUGE! 

So take a second to celebrate your success and how far you’ve come, because although it can be easy to just move right on to the next thing, I think it’s important to remember that what you’ve just accomplished is a big deal, and if we don’t take the time to really appreciate our accomplishments, what’s the point?

Ok, now that you’ve celebrated, if your album has been out for a little bit and organic interest has died down, you might start to wonder, “Is this it?” All that prep and after a couple weeks the buzz is gone?” 

Don’t get discouraged! There’s a way to revive interest and we’re going to talk about it today.

For the uninitiated, touring often appears like a glamorous affair filled with big, rewarding shows capped off with fun nights that play out in exciting different cities. Touring certainly can be fun and rewarding, but there’s an immense amount of work and sacrifice involved, and, depending on what’s going on with your project, it’s often not worth it. But setting inaccurate reputations aside, many bands set out to tour knowing full well they won’t likely earn money, fans, or acclaim by doing so when there are much better ways to build their careers. Here are a few things unestablished bands should focus on early in their careers instead of touring:

It is no secret that merchandise sales are important revenue sources for artists. Concerts and tours are an especially great way to sell merchandise after the shows while you meet and greet your fans. 

Fans love buying merch for multiple reasons. Primarily, they would like to support the artist. Secondly, they liked the music and had a good time at the concert. They also would like to take a souvenir home to remind them of this great experience. Maybe they would like to buy a gift for a friend. Perhaps they would like to listen to your CD in their car, or keep your memorabilia on their desk, refrigerator, or cubicle. 

While fans are motivated to buy merchandise, how much merchandise you are going to sell in the end is dependent on your product variety, your timing, and your interaction with your fans. These factors can make all the difference in terms of how much merchandise you are going to sell in the end. To bring some light to the process of selling more merchandise in concerts, I’ve compiled a list of four ways you can increase your sales: