D.I.Y.

Daily D.I.Y. – Take Your Promo Old School

DailyDIY
As they should, every artist and label has an email list, blog and social networking pages.  But the assault of online information is overwhelming and it's harder and harder to get your message heard above the chatter.

Old school
In addition to your online activities, why not also use some old school methods to reach your fans.

For example, do you collect your fans' mailing addresses?  Maybe you should and then a couple of times a year send a postcard announcing a new album release or special show.  The few bands that still mail physical newsletters always grab my attention. Why? Because getting a good mailer is different from the 200 bands that email me. (Please don't make your band #201.)

Remember faxes?  Most larger companies have formal or informal systems to inform employees of local events – particularly if a special discount is offered.  Smaller business post on bulletin boards.

To stay within the law, you must call or email to ask permission first, but why not start a "Green Promo" campaign and you call appropriate outlets and say, "Instead of driving all over town wasting gas; if I faxed you one of my band's flyers, would you put it up in your shop and I'll have a tree planted in your honor?" Faxes can also be an effective alternative to emailing press releases. (Though I admit I prefer getting them via email.)

Using new media and new technologies is the best way to help grow, but it's not the only way.

Tomorrow: More old school promo ideas. Read the Daily D.I.Y. archives here.

What other old school methods does your band or label use?

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2 Comments

  1. I agree. Marketing is all about making a human connection. Snail mail will catch people off guard and help them remember you the next time around.

  2. I agree -nicely stated!
    I like a mix of both Web 2.0 AND some old school marketing methods. Easier to stand out when using direct mail, for example, because less people use it. (Of course, it still has to look good -mediocre design & copy will still get you mediocre results…)
    Ditto with fax-by-permission (even though I personally dislike the technology) …many peeps still use it.
    Remember -not ALL old dogs learning new tricks. You still have to “do it their way” to reach the hold-outs when you market. Don’t assume that even if you’re almost too hip for the room, not everyone you’re trying to reach is at your level of hiptitude. 😉

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