Record your music professionally. Take the appropriate measures to have your records mixed and mastered properly. Your music is a distinctive representation of you as an artist and an individual.
Take professional pictures. Listeners will need to associate your face with your music. The pictures can also be used for social networking and press purposes.
Develop a press kit, which is like a resume. It usually chronicles the full tenure of your career. A press kit may include pictures, your biography, your entertainment resume, managerial contact information, concert fliers, press releases, reviews, magazine articles and exclusive interviews.
Compile your professional pictures and press kit into a website. A detailed, informative website serves as a visual resume and business card for an artist. The site should be professionally designed with basic color schemes to draw close attention to the music, artist information, and other essentials.
Consider adding a blog to the website. The blog can be text journal entries or video diaries. Either way, a blog can open a door for the artist to communicate with fans.
Use the Internet as a marketing platform. The Internet is a way to connect with millions of people and establish a strong, reputable name as an artist.
Build a strong social network online. Social networking is one of the most important aspects of marketing for any artist in today's digital world. FaceBook, YouTube, Twitter, UStream and Ning are among the top social networking platforms around the world. Create an account with all of the top social networking links. Socialize, network and build relationships with listeners and industry professionals. Then, link all of the pages to each other to create your own network circle. The bigger your network, the better your chances are for circulating around the Web.
Post all types of external links to your music, press releases, videos, concerts, upcoming events, performances, tours, appearances and blog entries.
Keep the music coming. Consider releasing promotional records, and post links to them on your social networking profiles. Selling records is the way to make money, but no record can sell unless people know who you are, which is why social networking is important. You need to establish a name and reputation for quality music.
Update all social networking sites regularly. The best way to lose a fan base is lack of consistency. Your website and social networking profiles should be updated at least four days a week.
Consider filming streaming videos for YouTube. The videos don't necessarily have to be music related. YouTube videos can be funny, candid moments, or reality based. As long as the videos are interesting enough to hold the attention of viewers, they'll easily circulate around the Web.
Invest in your career. Web circulation isn't always cheap. Investments in marketing and public relations can make a big difference with establishing a name that will catch the attention of record labels.
Be patient. Record label consideration takes time. Labels are looking for artists who can usually stand independently before stepping into the major industry. So, as long as you're making some type of noise and attracting the attention of listeners, you will be heard. Just remember, overnight success is never the case. Although it may seem that way for some artists, the road to success generally is rough and rugged.