SMART LINKS AND OTHER TOols TO Help You Promote Your Music
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Every artist wants to get out there and reach their audience in whatever way possible. Promoting your music can be difficult and time-consuming, but with the right tools, it can be a breeze. Here are 5 must-have tools for artists that will help you get your music heard.
1. A Good Website
A good website is essential for artists who want to promote their music online. If you have a website, you eliminate any middlemen between you and your fans.
You can post your music, videos, and tour dates all in one place, making it easy for fans to find everything they need to know about you. You'll be able to command control and ownership over your music, your content, and the connection with your fans rather than relying on changing algorithms.
But to have a good website, you need to work with a professional web designer who understands the music industry and can create a website that meets your specific needs. Standout Agency offers music web development services that will help you create a professional website that promotes your music and grows your fanbase.
2. Bio Links
A bio link is a clickable link that can easily be placed anywhere you have a presence on the internet. Bio Links allow fans to easily find your music, and connect with you on social media. They often have quicker load times than full website builds, and rather than bog fans down with images or information they don’t need, they simply point them where to go.
Some bio links allow you to connect a custom domain, so your bio link can essentially serve as your website.
If you’re working on a budget and don’t have the means to build out a full website or webstore, a bio link is a great, cheaper alternative to serve as the main hub of everything you do online. Plus, you can use bio links to promote your music on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
There’s no shortage of bio link companies out there. We are big fans of Koji, for the almost endless possibilities it offers creatives when it comes to designing their links.
3. MUSIC Smart Links
Music smart links are similar to bio links, but are coded specifically for sharing music. When your next single drops, instead of posting 50 different links for every platform, you can post one music smart link that takes your fans to a landing page where they can choose which platform they want to listen on.
Another great use for music smart links is for Spotify Pre-Saves, or Apple Music Pre-Adds where you can collect the email addresses of interested listeners and make sure they listen to your new song on release day.
Need help with growing on Spotify? Check out our FREE Spotify Success Ebook.
There are plenty of great options out there for music smart links, but our favorite is Feature.fm. With three plans ranging from FREE to $35/month, Feature.fm offers unlimited smart links, in-depth metrics, and the ability to collect and manage data from anyone who interacts with your music. The more advanced plans can also integrate with your email service (see below), and even offer additional action-based and contest smart links. Sign up for an Artist or Pro Artist plan via our link and get 30% off!
4. Email Service
It’s easy to get caught up in metrics; streams, followers, pre-saves, streams, etc - but the real number artists need to focus on is their email list. It's one of the most essential tools for any musician (any business, really) as it allows you to keep in touch with your fans and promote your music directly. There are many great email services out there, but one of our favorites is MailerLite.
MailerLite is a great choice for musicians because it's affordable and easy to use. Plus, it has some great features that will help you promote your music and grow your fanbase, from integrations with social networks, smart link platforms, and even directly syncing up with e-commerce platforms like Shopify.
5. File Storage
Think about all the different files you deal with every day as an artist; lyrics, spreadsheets for finances, spreadsheets for booking tours, promos, live photos, song demos, masters, album art, merch designs, music videos, social content… it’s A LOT. You need reliable file storage to store and organize all your files and media in one place.
You probably already know about (and hopefully already use) the two most well-known cloud-based storage options: Dropbox and Google Drive. But if not, you should definitely take the time to look into both options and see which one works best for your needs. Google Drive offers the ability to sync with Gmail, and has the entire suite of Google Apps (Google Docs, Sheets, and more). Dropbox offers more storage for less cost.
Get Started Today!
It's easy to get out there and start promoting your music. With the right tools, you can start reaching new fans and growing your career.
If you're eager to see results, Standout Agency can help you take your career to the next level. We offer a range of services to help you get more exposure, grow your fan base, and make more money from your music. Contact us to learn how we can help you promote your next release.