Picture this: You get your music onto iTunes. Your album is out there for the world to see. A five-star review comes in. Then another. Your hopes start to soar. And then… nothing. Days pass. You check iTunes once or twice an hour, waiting for some kind of response. You’re sweating. Maybe you’re sweating a lot.

From Projecty.com

This isn’t the scenario you dreamed about, is it? But it can happen, even to the most talented musicians. So once you get your music on iTunes and it’s available to the general public, how do you start to promote it?

You start playing shows (or festivals, if you’re lucky). Events like these are where music enthusiasts gather, and they’re the ideal place for you to network with fans and professionals alike. And hey, why not aim for the top, right? We know, we know – festival season is just beginning and most lineups are already set. But planning ahead is essential to making it on the set list. Seriously: the time is now.

So how can you marry your online and offline promotion efforts? It’s all about distinguishing your product. Take these tips to heart:

1. Open your bio with a ‘hook’

Please, for the love of Keith Richards, do not open your bio with a series of basic facts about your hometown. Do not list the names of each individual member of your band. Promoters simply don’t care about that kind of thing. They’re looking for a ‘hook’—some key quality that makes your band unique. Think about what that quality is, and then explain very clearly in a first sentence that’s no more than ten words long. Seriously.

 2. Stay active on social media

From Twitter

Links to your social media accounts appear on your EPK even before your bio does. It’s important that you post new content frequently, and have active engagement from fans. It should also be obvious from your profile that you’re playing frequent gigs, and that people are attending them. Promoters want to know that you can draw an audience.

3. Use testimonials that actually make specific points

Lots of bands include testimonials, but they’re often a waste of space. Why bother including a quote from a blogger who simply says your band is “talented”? That kind of quote doesn’t prove he even listened to your music. You want to select relevant excerpts from the reviews you’ve received—excerpts that highlight your uniqueness in some tangible way. Avoid quotes that only make general comments, like that you’re “good.”

4. Put up photos/video from live shows

You want to get more exposure so that you can get booked, right? Give promoters ample evidence that you can put on a great live show. Live videos are far more important than polished music videos. Show off your ability to work a crowd.