The rise of social media on the Internet offers an unprecedented boost to your band's potential exposure. For the first time, anyone can attract the attention of thousands of people with no expense beyond the cost of an Internet connection. Set up pages for your band on every major social networking platform you can find, and update your pages regularly with useful, relevant and entertaining content. When possible, use keywords related to your musical genre or location to help fans find you more easily.
Putting up printed flyers in an area where your band will be appearing is a tried-and-true method for drawing in new fans. Don't underestimate the power of newspaper and magazine advertising, either. The cost of print advertising varies widely based on circulation and the size of the ad. Consider targeting small publications targeted to your audience, such as local newsletters and university student-run newspapers. Many communities also offer free classified advertising publications with inexpensive ad rates.
Television and radio ads are generally more expensive than local print advertising, but it may be possible to get good deals on late-night time slots in small markets. With the advent of podcasts and Internet-based video, there are new outlets for video and audio ads at lower prices. Websites often sell banner advertising, either directly, or through large online advertising services that charge on a per-view basis to match ads with relevant Web searches or sites.
Modern technology makes it possible for anyone with a bit of tech-savvy to offer free or inexpensive music downloads via a website. Allowing people to listen to your band's music for little or no money makes them more inclined to attend concerts or buy future releases if they like what they hear. Offering music may be as simple as putting it up on a video-sharing site or as complex as making your own dedicated website where people can pay online to download the music to their computers.