The Guitar Player's Resource
A very valid question to ask any artist or musician who is serious about their
music. Every artist wants to get more people on their mailing list. Ironically, most
artists wouldn't be able to tell you anything about the individual people on their
mailing list except that most of them have come to at least one show. By not knowing
who is on your mailing list you are losing thousands of dollars a year in product
sales. Let me give you two examples.
First, an artist many of you know from the Music Strategies Seminars and an artist I have been working with for the last year, Tomas Michaud. Tomas was familiar with a fan of his that bought all of his CDs for herself and for her friends and co-workers. This fan is in the management section of Small Business Accounts at Bank Of America. Through conversations with her about his music and how his CDs can be a valuable gift to their customers instead of some cheap promotional item at Christmas, Bank of America just ordered 30,000 CDs of his to give away.
Second, another artist many of you know from the Music Strategies Seminars and an artist I have been working with for the last few years, Melissa Worthington. Recently, Melissa decided to release her own audio book which focuses on the different obstacles in life that a lot of people who are her fans deal with. She has found out that by communicating her thoughts about how her fans can get through some of the problems in her life, she is selling 6 times more of her audio books to her fans that are already familiar with her music. By knowing the people on her mailing list she has developed a new product that they want and it communicates to them the messages in her songs.
Your fans want to be connected to you because of the messages in your songs, not the music. Sure they like your music but they are bonding to you because of the lyrics,
your insights and the common experiences you both share. By getting to know the
people on your mailing list and making notes of the conversations you have with them
at your shows and when you are out promoting, you are creating a relationship with
them where they want to come to your shows and buy your CDs to support you.
If you aren't selling thousands of CDs a year at your live shows and through your
website and mailing list, it's a sign that you haven't spent the time you need to
get to know the people on your mailing list! Once you do, you will see more sales
and the true impact your music has on people.
Getting to know everyone on your mailing list is a critical part of your marketing
plan. If your marketing plan isn't helping you generate thousands of CD sales a
year, than join me at my new seminar where I can teach you to write one that will
help you meet your daily, weekly and monthly goals. You can find all the information
at Music Strategies.
If you are looking for some new strategies right now that can kick start your sales,
get more people on your mailing list and your upcoming shows, than order a copy of
Part 2 of Tim Sweeney's Guide To Releasing Independent Records".
Author Tim Sweeney is head of Tim Sweeney & Associates, who are entering their 18th year of being, "the only true artist development company in the world."
Tim is one of the music industry's most sought after experts and consultants, and has written several influential books including "Tim Sweeney's Guide To Releasing Independent Records".
