Free Music Marketing

Even if you're sleeping on your buddy's couch, you CAN promote your band with little or no money. (You will need a computer and internet access)

#1. Get an Email Account. Free email accounts are available from Gmail, Hotmail or a lot of other web-based email companies. Simply go to their homepage and sign up for an account, and you'll be up and going in minutes.

#2. Get a MySpace Page. You can get the band a MySpace site for free. There you can also load up some of your songs, photos, etc. Once you have your site up email all your friends and fans to come check it out and add them to your friend list. You can then contact them all at once to announce future gigs, song releases, etc.

#3. Get Something to Sell. You can't make any money if you don't have anything to sell. When you're playing gigs, even free ones can make you money by selling stuff to the audience. Make sure you have copies of your music on CD or a flash drive to sell. You can also sell merchandise with your band's name and logo on it. You can do this online for free by setting up a virtual storefront at CafPress.com. They'll give you a little store front site and shore how your logo looks on multiple items you select. Once someone buys the stuff, they handle all the billing and shipping and send you a check.

#4. Get a Sponsor. No, not an AA sponsor! I mean a corporate sponsor who will give your band money to promote their company. Start off by looking for "Angel" sponsors. These could be parents, grandparents or friends of the family who have a little extra money to invest in your career. Then look to companies who would benefit from advertising to the audience you will be playing to. Auto dealers, clothing stores, soft drink or beer distributors, are also a good prospects. Show them that their money will be going directly into the creation of the marketing materials, and not the band beer fund! For example, you put their logo with yours on T-shirts, flyers, posters, banners, etc., in exchange for them paying for the cost of creating those pieces.

#5. Alert The Media. Contact local radio and TV station and offer to play any on or off air events or parties they are having. You may or may not get paid this time, but having your name on the minds and lips of the local movers and shakers can only help your career.

Get FREE music marketing tips, tricks and techniques like the pros use.

A hack guitarist himself, Brian Woeller now prefers to work behind the scenes, helping to promote musicians with "real" talent. His eBook, "How To Promote Your Band To Rock Star Status" (http://www.HowToPromoteYourBand.com) will jumpstart Your music and get you in the spotlight, fast.

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