Independent artists – or indie – enjoy their creative freedom. The opportunity to work on their own without any outside pressure is one of the best perks of the field. They can take their time to complete their projects and promote them the way they want.
However, independent artists do not receive financial help from any outside source. For musicians, there is no major label; independent authors cannot rely on a publishing house. As a result, promotion, marketing and branding are also their responsibility.
Success in the independent world boils down to a few but essential things. If you are an independent artist looking for ways to promote yourself better, this article is for you. Below are three useful tips.
Valuing your work
Independent artists are very creative. The quality of their creations is a direct result of their passion and hard work. However, their success also depends on how they value their products.
For instance, if you are a musician and plan on giving away your album, label it as "demo." That way, your CD will be considered as a work in progress by listeners. You will have a better chance to actually sell it when it is officially released. You can also choose to share a couple of tracks instead. It is up to you.
If you are an author, share extracts from your book(s). Before sending anything, make sure that both parties agree in writing on certain terms. E-mails work too.
Envision the big picture. Family members and friends are also customers. Do not give away at all times. It will defeat the purpose of your work. And also resist the urge of lowering your prices. Mainstream artists do not offer discounts. So, it should be the same in the independent industry.
Networking with other independent artists
Connecting with other indie is important. Why? Because working on your own can keep you out of the loop. You need to interact with people in your industry to understand how the entire community works.
Those relationships also bring artists together. When people seem to speak the same language in an industry, they present a united front. As a result, customers take them seriously and their products are judged in a much more respectful way, hence resulting in more sales.
Choosing the right medium for exposure
Not every opportunity for exposure is a good one. There are many services and Websites that offer help, sometimes for free. However, it takes some research and trial and errors to figure out which ones will best benefit you.
Below is a list of useful services:
- Internet Radio
Internet Radio is definitely a great tool for independent artists. Blog Talk Radio and WAGTi Radio are two of the best services. Every month, thousands of visitors tune in to hear interviews, music and spoken word from up and coming independent artists. A lot of authors use Blog Talk Radio in particular to promote their books. Some shows have literally hundreds of listeners at a time. And the good thing is that once shows are over, they are archived and available to anybody.
- Reverbnation
Reverbnation is a treasure for musicians and spoken word artists. Most of its services are free. Members can send pre-formatted newsletters to their fan base, build a street team and launch missions with the click of a button, and promote their albums and tracks through easy-to-share widgets. Fans can also use those widgets.
- Livestream, Ustream
Broadcasting videos is a great promotional tool. Livestream and Ustream are free and let audiences see who is behind their creations. The only things the artists need are a webcam and an Internet connection. Videos can be recorded and archived for viewers to see at any time.
If you are an author, you can organize a reading session and answer questions from people in the chat room. A musician may want to play a few of his or her tracks.
- Facebook, Twitter, Myspace
Social networking is a must for independent artists. However, they are public forums, and professionalism should not be an option but a pre-requisite. With Facebook, artists are better off with a Fan Page to promote their products in a heavy fashion. With a profile, there is always the danger of alienating others.
- Website
To attract more followers, an indie must have a Website. And there is no need to be computer-savvy. Yola, Wix and Weebly are three of the best free resources on the Internet. Yola, in particular, lets you build up to five Websites with one account. So, take advantage of it!
Conclusion
Being an independent artist is about passion, value, choice and networking. Promoting yourself well takes work, patience and dedication. But it is worth it because the results usually exceed expectations.
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Cendrine Marrouat is a writer, published author and translator living in Canada. Official Website: http://www.cendrinemarrouat.com
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