Working at home and want to use social media? Instead of some hyped up affiliate product promising miracles, check out this true life story from the Wall Street Journal: Musician finds following online.
The problem with most people trying to “get rich” using social media is that they have nothing unique to offer. Online media – social media if you will – worked for this man because he had something unique to offer… his music.
He’s now playing sold out concerts across the US… and it started with the classical motivation of many artists – a broken heart. And then MySpace did it’s job.
Mr. Vernon’s rapid success shows how small, relatively unknown artists can gain fame via the Web without the large marketing budgets and backing of a major record label. The exposure on blogs, YouTube, social-networking, marketing and other sites can allow them to nurture a following quickly and cheaply.
And the recordings that made it all happen were mixed on a PC in a cabin!
So what if you ARE selling prepackaged products and opportunities (MLM)?
You have to find some way to set yourself apart from the masses and sell THAT uniqueness.
That’s what will go viral, not the “me too” pitch.
And if YOU’RE a musician too, there’s a bunch of tips on how to sell your music online without a huge marketing budget.
Monty's Mega Marketing on December 30th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
Awesome, awesome post. As someone who recently lost my day job, a former rock singer, and a current church musician, this just might be my “niche”…finally. Great post.
Alan on December 31st, 2008 at 9:03 am
Good for him if that story is true but you have to be careful.
99% of the time there is a story like “an unknown musician becomes famous by posting his music on the internet”, it’s a fake story.
Check for the definition of “astroturfing”.
Long before the internet, record labels have always invented some fairytale stories to attract attention to their new artists.
How many times have you heard the story “he was working as a [insert crappy job here], and he met there a guy from a record label to who he gave a tape with his songs, then it was so impressive that the guy signed him right away.”
Now, looking at the article, you see it looks more like some PR for CDBaby, sonicbids, or Slicethepie.
Don’t get me wrong, getting a following as a musician on the internet is doable, but avoid at all costs any website that promises anything (especially if they’re asking for money). Make your own website, because all the current music services websites are not here for the musicians, they’re clearly here to make money.