So far in this blog series the articles have focused on laying the groundwork around branding, goal setting and networking. These aspects all require time and energy as careful consideration is needed due to the impact this can have on other promotional activities. An overwhelming workload is a concern for many smaller, independent, and underground musicians. For many, this workload can feel like a distraction taking them away from songwriting, production and live performances. Finding ways to improve the efficiency and manageability of these promotional tasks is crucial to reduce feelings of overwhelm and avoid taking away from the most important part of being in a band – your music.
If you haven’t read the previous articles in this series, or require a refresher, find the links below:
- “Taking Your Music To The Next Level“
- “Putting Your Best Foot Forward“
- “Making Connections: Part I“
- “Making Connections: Part II“
The aim, for many, is to reach the point at which you can afford to hire additional assistance to cover aspects of promotion, social media or tour organization. There is, however, much you can do as an artist or band by yourselves prior to hiring external help. This is recommended as not only will it save you money in the early stages of your career, it can build a clear understanding of what is needed to reach the next level. Furthermore, proof of your passion and ability to take initiative increases the possibility of being able to work with industry professionals at a higher level.
Ensuring that all goals, both short and long term, are aligned among all band members, and any other team members you may have, must come first. Whether you are planning a tour, writing a new album or preparing to begin the press cycle for a new release check that everyone is on the same page.
“Comparison is the thief of joy” – it can be easy to compare your position to the success of others, especially with most of us spending a significant amount of time on social media in some form or other. Focus on your own journey and your own goals. Success takes time, investment and consistency. Do keep an eye on what other bands are doing as this can be a great source of inspiration for your own promotional strategies, but try not to compare your efforts to what is curated and presented online.
Organizational Strategies
Goal Setting
Establish clearly defined goals with their own deadlines. Take into account what is ‘realistic’. If all band members work full time jobs, realistically, it may take longer to implement certain strategies, for example. Setting unachievable goals can be detrimental due to the feelings of disappointment that can arise. Bear in mind that life happens. It is possible to take all of the right steps and not meet a goal, for any number of reasons. So, be kind to yourselves and focus on what can be learnt for the future rather than dwelling on the result. Working out what is ‘realistic’ for you, may in itself require some trial and error.
Adaptability
Don’t be afraid of change. Perhaps you have found that for the past few weeks a certain video format on TikTok has gained high levels of engagement but all of a sudden the formula is no longer as successful. Social media moves quickly from trend to trend with different formats gaining popularity for short periods of time. It can be off-putting needing to revisit your strategy, however, take this as an opportunity to try something new. Being open to change can make these times easier to encounter in order to reframe your gameplan for success.
Division of Labor
Dividing up the labor, around social media in particular, can greatly improve the management of your workload. Have each member take the lead on a different social media platform. Of course, make sure access is available to others if needed, and consider organizing a shared folder on the Cloud containing all of your promotional materials to make posting easier. For increasing efficiency, make use of any cross posting features (when appropriate for the post type), and any scheduling tools – whether within the apps or through a third party. Creating a social media schedule will also help to save time and mental energy.
Release Planning
Always plan ahead and allow additional time (where possible) for any delays that may arise. The excitement and anticipation of wanting to release your new music into the world can lead to feelings of impatience, but taking your time will yield the best results for that release. This involves being organized with your assets so that a PR campaign or digital distribution upload is not delayed. For a more detailed breakdown of how best to plan a release, check out the previous article: “Don’t Rush Your Release“.
The points discussed above are not necessarily groundbreaking strategies, but it can be easy to overlook the importance of these small organizational elements that can combine to make a notable impact in saving you time and energy. Take the time to carry out the groundwork in the short term, and in conjunction with small time saving measures, the workload around promoting your music and operating social media channels can become more manageable.
If you are interested in our hybrid marketing and PR services, find more information available HERE. For any C Squared inquiries please get in touch with Cori (corinne@csquared.info) or Curtis (curtis@csquared.info) to discuss how we can help.