By Mark Stoddard
*Mark Stoddard will present the Marketing Workshop in New York City on Friday, January 22. Register at www.classicalsinger.com/workshop with the discount code CSWORKSHOP.
Now, more than ever, your future really is in your control. That is because the tools for reaching your future fan base are at your fingertips in social media. This ever-advancing means of reaching people is something you ought to be quite familiar with right now and be using it so you can stay on the technology improvements.
A combination of today’s social media platforms needs to be used. Let me give you a recent example of how I’ve been reaching a much larger audience for one of my projects.
I write a column for an international magazine called Meridian. Normally an article gets a rating of 200 or so. That is an indication of the number of hits on the actual magazine site, those who click on their Facebook page, those who share to their Facebook page and how it goes viral to others and their friends and then the further sharing.
As soon as the magazine posted my column (article), I immediately Tweeted “Here’s my latest article on Meridian about (gave them the headline of the article). Hope you’ll enjoy it and share it with others.” That stimulated a number of reTweets.
I then posted a similar statement on Facebook and Instagram. I asked my wife and each of our children to do the same.
Within one day, we surpassed the normal rating of 200 and hit 1,000. Within a week we hit 15,000, one of their highest ratings ever. I got lots of emails asking me for the free photograph I said I’d send to them. All of those people are now on my “House List” / email prospect list. On Facebook we were soon over 900 shares and the Likes were much higher.
This practice is perfect for singers. It can be an article written about you performing. Or can be a YouTube video of you performing. Whatever. Use it.
In doing so you develop a fan base or House List with the email or Followers or Friends or whatever that media calls people who you are now linked into.
When you have a concert or some other performance you’re in or wish to promote a CD, this provides a marketing foundation that will attract attention and attendees.
Many of your older patrons will be on Facebook, but probably not on Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram. Build your lists for each and utilize them all. Of course a few key people might only be reached by snail mail, so keep that list and use the U.S. Postal Service. It’s all for your benefit.
All of this performing and marketing action gives you a chance to improve your stage presence and ability to be hired with a contract rather than single gigs. But it starts here.
There’s so much more to discuss on this, but, that’s for another blog or workshop. Join in the action.
Mark Stoddard, author of Marketings Singers, is a business leader, professor, marketer and consultant who has been helping singers get jobs for more than 20 years. On the singing front he staged more than 100 professional shows aboard cruise ships that employed classical singers, pianists and strings. He’s also coached singers on how to sell their CDs and other products, use the social media and how to negotiate contracts. Email Mark at mark@mjstoddard.com.
