Musicians are naive today when they think they have created a long term business plan by selling CD’s and playing some local shows. This is like backwards running. Major record labels have exploited this model over the last hundred years and it is very difficult to get them to change. This system created household artists like Elvis and Michael Jackson. This has worked for new school artists like Jay-Z and Linkin Park.
Musicians need a real business as that disc does not provide any long term value. We want musicians to have a full bankend of products to have fans continuing to buy from them. This creates a strong business and allows for elements of lifestyle design.
Smaller and indie bands can not do this. They do not have a back catalog and have a hard time funding the recording of a few solid tracks to burn on a disc. Why should indie musicians have to stockpile thousands of CD’s and house large inventory of teeshirts.
With this objection from most musicians, there is another option to creating new streams of income without breaking the bank and the hassle of putting in countless hours to create new products. Enter affiliate marketing.
In lamen’s term, affiliate marketing is telling a person about a product and getting some form of compensation if someone decided to purchase the product. The online pioneer of affiliate marketing was Amazon, who took their stock through the roof by letting their customers recommend great book and other items. Affilaites helped them grow to be the largest online retailer.
Musicians have an opportunity to recommend products to their fans based on their likes and needs. Bands have a high influence over their fans, the people that come to their shows and believe in their words and actions. Bands can start small, joining a program like Amazon Associates and selling music from bands and groups they like. Who wouldn’t like it if Elvis send you an email saying he was in love with the new Miley record and he is a link to get it.
The next step is so suggest music instruments, concert tickets, clothes and sell the coolness of being a musician. By doing so you are creating a bonded relationship with your fans. You are giving them value to which they can appreciate.
The next time you are getting ready to launch a campaign, think about using affiliate marketing to bolster your online music marketing and your overall sales. Affilaite marketing is very easy to setup, promote, track and manage. The result is the ability to put some cash in the band’s bank account and give your clients more value. With this situation, everyone comes out a winner.