The Ultimate Music Submission Guide

Laurel Daggers - June 12, 2019

Whether you’re brand new to the music scene or have been collecting a serious following for some time, getting your music out there to be heard by your fans is your number one priority as an entertainer. From releasing singles to submitting your music to festivals and everything in between there are a million moving parts to look at. Once you’re in, you need to make sure you’re able to get the most of the experience as well.

AMW has created our very own Ultimate Music Submission Guide. In it, we detail the best ways to enter that contest you’ve always wanted to or submit to your favorite music festival. We’ll also make sure you’re organized enough to reap the full benefit of your labor. If you want to ensure that you’re putting your best foot forward, keep reading to find out how the Ultimate Music Submission Guide can help you.

Checklist of Materials

Even though most forms of submission are digital these days, there is still a list of materials that you should always have ready to go. AMW will help you to create a useful list of items and give you some tips and tricks on how to prepare them. Learn how to create the perfect biography and some simple tips on making a reel as part of your checklist preparation.

Templates

Are you wondering how to put together a letter to submit with your materials? Or how to apply for a fellowship or a grant? AMW will show you how to put together a useful template so that you can introduce yourself in an effective way. Having a submission template ready to go that you can easily personalize will help you to appear more professional, even on short notice. It will also entail that you get out all of your pertinent information without forgetting anything.

Social Media Evaluation

It’s important to learn how to assess your own social media pages. Making sure that your social media profiles are updated with useful information regularly is crucial when you’re trying to engage with your fans.

The List

Once you’ve learned what an EPK is and how to build the perfect resume, we have included a list of opportunities for you to take your new skills out for a spin. Find the events on this list that are a good fit for you so you can start performing in front of the crowds’ you deserve. You should always be on the lookout for more opportunities to get to do what you love. With the list that accompanies our Ultimate Music Submission Guide, AMW gives you a leg up.

Conferences, Fellowships, and Awards

Making music costs money, so figuring out how to apply for grants and fellowships is in your favor. There are plenty of other musicians who have figured this out as well, which makes setting yourself apart critical.

There are so many different types of events that require an application to participate in. AMW will help you to get organized so that you never miss an opportunity to shine.

The Guide is available for instant download for $99 in our products store.

How to Create a Killer Sponsorship Proposal

Kendra Blalock - June 4, 2019

The goal of business is to keep growing. Gaining sponsors is a great way to take your business or event to the next level. One of the most difficult things about this is creating a proposal that will get your sponsors on board. We have some surefire tips that will help write a killer proposal so you can lock in your next sponsor.

Include Your Skills

One of the hardest things about writing a proposal is deciding on the type of copy you want to include. But it should be simple. Just talk about yourself. Talk about your skills, business model, what inspires you and your business/event. Of course, you’ll have to get into specifics about the sponsorship but a good way to get the creative juices flowing is to just write about the one thing you know most about and that’s YOU.

Know Your Audience

When you’re creating a proposal, it’s important to know who your target audience is and what exactly they like. This is key because you want to be able to include the things your audiences like in the proposal. Take the time to get to know your audience and so you can express to your sponsors exactly how your audience appeals to them.

Build A Relationship

Once you’ve done your research, reach out to your potential sponsors and build a relationship. If you know people in common, have someone facilitate the introduction. If you’re going into it cold, try to set up a meeting or at least a phone call to discuss any concerns they may have in investing and show them the benefits of working together.

Show Value

You have to let potential sponsors know “What’s in it for them?” Will they see increased revenue, sales, social media following, etc.? Let them know just how you expect their business to be enhanced with this partnership.

Have a Template

Don’t try to reinvent the wheel. Once you have a template that works for you, don’t change it up too much. Of course, make adjustments that make sense for each sponsor but there are things that you can keep the same so take advantage of that as it will save you time with this process.

Use Testimonials

There’s a good chance you have worked with someone who has good things to say about your work. If you haven’t done so already, reach out to them for a quote that you can include in your sponsorship proposal. This will help give your proposal some credibility and proof to your potential sponsors that you can produce quality results.

How Branding Can Help You Avoid Being a One Hit Wonder

Kendra Blalock - June 3, 2019

We all know those bands that create that one great song and then we never hear from them again. All of the success and fame for a quick 15 minutes and the spotlight dims faster than it appeared. These artists are genuinely talented but one thing usually gets in the way and that’s branding. Branding is the key to longevity in the music industry. We’re rounding up some key tips for you so you can avoid becoming a one-hit wonder.

Know Who You Are

Branding is key to helping both you and your fans understand who you are as an artist. If you know who you are, it will be easier for your fans to connect with you and want to continue following your follow. People don’t follow what they are connected to. Make sure you’re clear about your values so you can attract a good, quality audience.

Consistency

One thing branding demands is consistency. Even if you don’t have a new song ready at the moment, keep fans engaged with genuine content on your social media. Hire an agent or manager that can help you book appearances between the releases of new material. But you should always be writing or trying to create the next content you want to release. Consistency with your release dates will let people know that you are more than a one-hit wonder. You’re serious about your craft and have the music catalog to back it up.

Be Real

A quick way to become a one-hit wonder is to pretend you’re something that you’re not. Give fans a true sense of who you are by utilizing free tools like social media. Let them know that you’re human just like them. That despite fan, you’re a regular person just trying to make it big. Give your audience sneak peeks into your daily life using Instagram stories and post engaging content that reflects your core beliefs.  

Humility/Give Back

As an artist, it’s important to remember where you come from. Sometimes you have to get out of the limelight and try the do something that truly matters. A lot of artists become one-hit wonders after they taste success and then think it’s okay to become rude, obnoxious and forget where they come from. A good way to combat this is to remain humble by volunteering in your community and showing some humility. Remember to be kind to everyone on your way up because you will most likely see them again on your way down.

Keep Up With Trends

There is a way to be yourself but still utilize trends to enhance your brand. Jump on hashtags that are trending, try a dance challenge, etc. But always remember to put your own spin on it so that you stand out. Your willingness to stand relevant should never compromise your morals or values though so only contribute to these trends if you truly believe they are on brand for you.

Think in Terms of the Future

Hit songs come every once in a while. It’s important to remember this on your journey. You can’t control how your next song will be perceived so keep going because you never know what will come of your next song.

What You Need to Know About Using Spotify Playlists for Song Promotion

Kendra Blalock - May 31, 2019

Distribution is one of the most important things to consider when you’re a musician. With Spotify users growing daily, there is no doubt that Spotify playlists should be on your list of curators to reach out to for placement. The task can seem daunting at first glance. There are so many playlists curators and so many artists trying to get onto these playlists. But Spotify doesn’t have to be difficult. We’re helping you navigate the music streaming platform below with some things you need to know about using Spotify playlists to promote your song.

It’s Not All About Large Playlists

Many artists are laser-focused on getting on major playlists curated by Spotify. Those playlists are nearly impossible to land on because Spotify is owned by major labels and their artists dominate those playlists. Go after small playlists. If your songs peaks/top the charts on those lists, Spotify will take notice and start adding your songs to people’s Weekly Suggestions and you will experience organic growth from there. In other words, it’s okay to start small.

Spotify is Long Game

To expand upon the point above, Spotify is a long game. You may not start off on playlists curated by Spotify but you can easily secure a spot on a smaller playlist and your song can peak there. But this can take time. You want to be patient as your song takes time to climb the charts.

Using Spotify for Artists Gives You a Better Opportunity

By using Spotify for Artists, you can verify your artist page. You can manage your profile picture, your header, your bio, your Artist’s Pick, and everything else on your page. You can also submit your music for playlists directly through Spotify for Artists. Since Spotify is likely to reward its most dedicated users, you will have a leg up in getting approved for Spotify playlists if you establish yourself.

Curators Have Their Own Motivations

Many playlist curators are looking to become music influencers or they already are well-established music influencers. It is Those looking to become influencers want to work with artists who will bring something valuable to them — and the most valuable asset is followers. So, it’s important for you to do as much as you can to increase your social media following before starting a playlist promotion campaign. Once you’re on the playlist, you should stay connected and encourage your fanbase to listen to the playlist in order to keep your song on there. If the curator is already an established influencer, it would be helpful to research their audience so that you really know what kind of music and artist the curator is looking for.

Use PR to Get Ahead

One final thing you must understand about Spotify playlists is that a lot of these smaller lists are run by music blogs. By landing on these blogs, you’ll have a better shot at getting on these playlists organically. Hire a PR team to take care of this for you. It’s important that you don’t skip any necessary steps in this process. You want your growth to be organic and shared by people who genuinely appreciate your craft.

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Building A Brand To Grow Your Business

Laurel Daggers - May 28, 2019

Building a brand for yourself and your business is not a one-step process. You don’t just decide one day you’re going to be a super positive fitness guru and then the next day you have a fitness empire. You build that brand and that empire brick by brick. Whether it’s a personal brand or a brand for your business, branding goes beyond your resume to show a more complete picture of who you are professionally.

Every business needs a plan, building a brand is no different. With the correct attack, customers and employers alike will view you as an authority in your field. No matter what type of business you’re in, your reputation is your most valuable asset.

Know Your Audience

Think about what type of person is the most interested in your service or product. Learn more about them by finding out where they shop, eat, and types of areas they live in. Find out what they value most and what they do in their free time. Get to know them so that you know the best way to promote your business to them.

Be Present

Once you know who your audience is, you will be able to create marketing more effectively for them. Different social media platforms are more effective for reaching different types of audiences. Social media is not only a great way to keep your audience updated, but a great way to connect with them so they can get to know your brand.

Make A Statement

You need an elevator pitch to quickly show the value you could potentially bring to a company. Start out by thinking about what you want to accomplish with this pitch. Are you trying to get someone to invest in your business, or to get a new customer to try it out for the first time? Explain what you do by saying what problems your business solves. All of this should take about 30 seconds. Creating an elevator pitch will not only help you to narrow down what is important to you about your own brand, but will help when introducing others it as well.

Be A Guest

Affiliating yourself with respected, established professionals in your field will always be beneficial to your career. Write a guest post on an industry-specific blog or get a guest spot on a podcast. Show the audience of your field that you are an expert. Building relationships with other successful people in your field will help give your brand credibility.

Get Educated

It’s important to be continuously learning more about your field of business. Find out how your peers are tackling similar tasks. Speak directly to consumers to see what they appreciate about your brand (and what they don’t). Continuously learning will continuously give you options.

Build A Great Website

A website gives you a home base where your audience can go to learn more about you. You can connect all of your social accounts to it, put it on business cards if you have them and any other promotional material you may have. It’s a great way to make your brand look more professional.

AMW Launches New Personal Branding Course AMW Pro

AMW - May 23, 2019

AMW Pro Course Teaches Members How to Effectively Build & Maintain their Personal Brand

Los Angeles, CA – May 23, 2019 — Building a personal brand is a daunting experience, requiring a lot of time and effort with little to no guarantee of success. For professionals, entrepreneurs, and entertainers, great ideas often never see the light of day because of the difficulties of turning them into profit. For those with promising ideas and talents, it is ideal to get consulting and campaign help from experts; however, it is not always realistic.

On May 24th, AMW launches a product designed for those who are just starting out in the brand building process. AMW Pro is a course with a set of lessons suitable for entertainers and professionals looking to expand their knowledge on how to build a brand. The first batch of lessons – The Essentials Track – is applicable to any type of brand. After completing those, AMW Pro members can advance to either the Entertainer’s Track or Professionals Track and unlock more industry-specific topics.

The content of the course includes how-to guides such as how to attract a social media following, how to write a mission statement or social bio, how to grow your brand organically and how to use visual branding to stand out from others.

When you’re building a personal brand, your online presence is your own digital fingerprint. It’s how people define your business and your products. Content truly is king these days and it’s so important for brands to remain relevant and interesting on the digital landscape. While there’s no one way to present a brand to the public, there are several ways to create fresh and engaging content, profiles and presentations that will get peoples attention. No matter where your dreams are taking you, AMW Pro will help clients pave their way to success with useful tips and lessons.

AMW Pro is compatible with all popular browsers and mobile devices. Members get instant updates to the course material and receive special offers on AMW Group’s services, including professional copywriting, pr campaigns, press releases, and social growth services.

About AMW Pro

AMW Pro is the eLearning portal for professionals, entertainers, and entrepreneurs designed to help build powerful personal brands. Learn at your own pace and access proven strategies developed by industry veterans. To subscribe visit www.amwpro.com

About AMW Group

AMW Group is the marketing and entertainment group that provides a wide array of services and results-based solutions for top brands. Founded in 1997, AMW prides itself on providing effective marketing, communications and event platforms. The company has built a large network of partners and close business relationships with entities all over the world. For more information about AMW Group, go to www.amworldgroup.com

Jane Zhang releases artistic new video for “Body First”

AMW - May 21, 2019

Artists new single is released from first English album “Past Progressive”

Los Angeles, CA – May, 21 2019 — Following the release of her first English album, Jane Zhang has released her video for her single “Body First” from her newest project “Past Progressive”. 

“Body First” is a deeply seductive song about finding a meaningful connection with another person. Passionate lyrics are set against a soulful backdrop of music to create Zhang’s mature sound. 

A wide range of optical illusions were used to set the scene, some of which can only be seen when standing farther away from the screen. With this video, the artist has created a world of art in black and white that renders the music video almost invisible if the audience is too close. The artistic portrayal of this video is meant to detail that you can’t always see the clear picture of a relationship when you’re too close to it. 

This music video depicts a couple showing their deep affection for one another. They explore their love, holding each other tightly. At the moment they kiss, everything changes. The black and white fades away into a world of color, returning them to their true selves. At the end of the video, the black and white stripes of the world begin to collapse, as a nod from the artist to the movie “Fight Club”. 

“Past Progressive” is Jane Zhang’s first English album. As arguably one of the most famous people in China, she is expanding her audience and is ready to take the U.S. by storm. Zhang readily took on this challenge to escape her comfort zone and test her limits. This album shows her fearlessness, creativity, and growth throughout her career. 

About Jane Zhang

Jane Zhang is a well known pop singer and public figure in China. Born in Chengdu, Sichuan, China Zhang has become a beloved personality, appealing to fans of all ages throughout the country. Her unique talent has begun to make her equally popular here in the U.S. Jane’s singing career debuted when she won third place at the Chinese singing contest “Super Girl” in 2005. The very next year her debut album “The One” selling more than a million copies in China. After Jane’s first english single “Dust My Shoulders Off” was released in 2016, HULU picked the song up to use as their background music in the U.S. Over the years, Jane Zhang has won many awards including eight Beijing Pop Music Awards for best female singer, two China Gold Record Awards, and an MTV Europe Music Award. Listen to Jane’s new english album “Past Progressive” on iTunes and Spotify, out now worldwide. You can also follow her on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for news and updates. 

Every Publicity Campaign Should Have These 5 Things

Kendra Blalock - May 20, 2019

Publicity is a powerful tool. When used correctly, a publicist can earn you spots in outlets that are genuinely interested in your project. But publicity is a field that requires dedication and hard work, both, at the hands of the publicist and the client. If you’re in it for the long haul, you can expect some great results when your publicity campaign includes the following items.

Dedicated Publicist

It’s great to have a team of professional publicists working on your account. What’s better is having one specific person that you know is working on your project every single day. This could be your point person. The one you contact with any questions or concerns. A dedicated publicist will review your project, create a curated list of media, a strategy for the campaign and execute pitching and follow ups to make sure you land in print media, radio, magazines, online blogs, etc. This will be the person you can reach out to with any questions. They will provide you with updates on a weekly, daily or monthly basis, depending on what the agreement is, so you will know exactly how the campaign is going.

Consistency

It’s important for a campaign to have a consistent schedule for pitching and follow-ups. It really aids in the success of a campaign. Your publicist will have this schedule available to you in the beginning stages when the campaign timeline is mapped out. It can also be helpful for publicity clients to have consistent newsworthy events, showcases, etc. This will aid the publicist with content to pitch the media.

Patience

Publicity takes time. You will not see drastic results overnight. It’s important to give your publicist time to secure placements. Larger publications can have longer lead times and this is key to remember as you begin the publicity process. If you are in it for the long haul, you will see some great results that will only help your brand grow.

Goals

Every campaign should have goals that are SMART.

  • Specific – get specific with what you want from the campaign.
  • Measurable – how will you measure success?
  • Achievable – Does your budget allow for this goal?
  • Realistic – Does this goal make sense with where you are at now?
  • Timeframe – What’s the timeframe?

Focus the Campaign Towards Your Audience

One thing a publicist will do is make sure the campaign is being targeted towards the correct audience. They will make sure that they are reaching out to writers in their Rolodex that might be genuinely interested in your story. This is a genuine skill. To have and understand multiple journalists and each specific sector they work in and then knowing who to pitch and when to follow up. Your publicist will take care of all of this leg work for you.

How to Promote Your Music Without Breaking the Bank

Kendra Blalock - May 17, 2019

If you want to get your music heard by the masses, it’s not as simple as just making great music. While it’s true that the quality of your music is vital to your success, listeners today have access to a lot of music online. To be successful as an artist, you will have to give a strong effort to publicize your music once it is released. Fortunately, the Internet has also provided many opportunities for artists to be able to promote their music without paying big bucks. Below are some ways you can promote your music without breaking the bank:

Social Media Giveaways

A great way to promote music without breaking the bank is to host giveaways on social media. Find out what your audience likes and give it away. For example, if you know your audience likes Target, host a target gift card giveaway. You can make the rules simple enough for people to follow along but beneficial for your brand. Have entrants tag friends in the comment section to help spread the word about the giveaway. This will easily attract potential and hopefully like-minded people to your account that will be interested in your music as well. You can also have entrants share the post or share to their Instagram story for more visibility.

In choosing your giveaway, it’s important to find something you know will get some traction. Try partnering with local businesses. This method brings twice the traffic to your giveaway since the business will be promoting the giveaway as well.

Utilize Email Marketing

Email marketing may seem daunting at first thought. You might feel overwhelmed thinking of having to collect emails and create content but it doesn’t have to be complicated. Similar to social media, once you pinpoint a schedule and a good, solid template that works for you, the rest will fall into place.

You can share new music things that you have in the works. And your emails don’t always have to be music related. Have fun with your audience by wishing them well on holidays. This will help build a more personal connection.

If you’re looking for new subscribers to your mailing list, consider tying in the giveaways with this tactic. Make it a requirement that entrants to the giveaway subscribe to your mailing list. Make a “Join Our Mailing List” option that is prominent on your site so that people don’t have to search too long for it.

Work With Others in the Music Industry

One of the most effective means of promoting your music is to work with artists in the same boat as you. If you find someone of a similar style and genre to you and with a similar-sized fanbase, ask them to collaborate with you, whether it’s a cover song on YouTube or an original recording. You can mutually benefit each other by sharing each other’s content on your social media and gaining new reach into each other’s fanbases. Even while you are not working with another artist on a specific project, you can still shout out other artists’ releases that you want to support. By helping to promote others’ music for free, you can build relationships so that they will want to help promote your music as well.

Musicians and artists are not the only people in the music industry you need to connect with. If you want to have success in the music industry, you will need to build relationships with people of high influence in your genre. The best way to start is by contacting music bloggers within your genre and asking them to review your music. Since there are a lot of bloggers out there, this will take a lot of time and patience; not everyone will respond to your request. However, if you can get a few bloggers to write about your music, you will be able to continue to grow your fanbase by tapping into theirs.

Playlist Curation

Additionally, you can submit your music to playlist curators who can help you get your music onto Spotify playlists. Again, this can take some time and patience. Many playlist curators receive hundreds of submissions every day. Your best bet is to submit to playlists suited to your genre and your current level of publicity. If you can get your single onto a Spotify playlist, you will have the chance to showcase your music in front of hundreds to thousands of new listeners.

6 Ways to Save Money When Hosting An Event

Kendra Blalock - May 14, 2019

The costs of hosting an event can add up quickly. From choosing a venue to finding decor and securing advertising, it can become a challenge to stay within your budget. We’ve got some helpful tips that will help you pinch your pennies for your next event.

Be Selective With Your Venue

Venues can vary in cost depending on location, services offered and a multitude of other factors. For example, a venue downtown will probably cost more than a venue just outside downtown. Take this into account when choosing. Some venues require you use their food and when this happens can add thousands of dollars to your bill. Which leads us to the next point.

Catering

There are so many options when choosing a caterer. If your venue allows it, catering can be the best option to save some coins. Find local businesses that are willing to cut a deal or that are not as expensive as large chains.

Recruit volunteers

No doubt you will need people to help you run the event smoothly. If you don’t have a large staff already lined up, it could be helpful to ask friends and family to assist in your endeavors. Assign each person a specific task and your event will run more smoothly as a result.

Cut Down on Printing

The age of printing is dying. With digital marketing, you’ll be able to reach more people in less time. So make a conscious effort to invest in your digital efforts because they will be the bread and butter for your next event. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t print anything but printing is very expensive so you should think about cutting back.

Get Involved With Local Organizations and Schools

There’s no better way to save money and help your community than by partnering with a local university or organization. You’ll need advertising for your event which get costly. You may have luck asking a local college or organization like the YMCA to help you promote the event. Most likely they will have a program for this like this. They may include your event in a calendar of events or have an option for you to promote your event on campus.

In-Kind Sponsorships

These types of sponsorships can come in handy when trying to cut back on costs. You may be able to work out a deal with sponsors for them to provide a service for free or at a discounted rate in exchange for exposure at your event. Creating a mutually beneficial relationship can be a great way to get more bang for your buck.

Saving money on your next event is possible. All you have to do is get a little creative and think outside the box!

Jane Zhang Releases “Past Progressive” Out Now

AMW - May 10, 2019

Artist releases her first english album detailing her musical biography

Los Angeles, CA – May, 10 2019 — Jane Zhang has been steadily becoming one of the most famous pop singers in China over the last several years. In 2011, her album “Change” became the first double-plated gold record to be IFPI certified in mainland China.  Zhang’s english single “Dust My Shoulders Off” won the American, German, and British Pop Art awards in 2016. Victoria’s Secret even gave her the opportunity to become the first Asian singer to perform at their fashion show in 2017. 

“Past Progressive” represents Jane’s music experience over the last 5 years. Combining her past challenges and hopes for the future, she has put together 16 entertaining songs that are sure to expand her fan base just as quickly here in the U.S. Jane is holding nothing back as she explodes onto the scene. She has truly used this opportunity to reflect on her life and career and to show the world her ambition and dreams. 

Bringing her signature whistle register with her to her new project (Jane has been dubbed “the dolphin princess”), she embarks on a new creative journey with “Past Progressive”. With her buoyant beats and catchy lyrics paired with her intoxicating voice, audiences will be playing Zhang’s new album on repeat. 

Jane Zhang said that while the process of making an english album was difficult at times, it only grew her enthusiasm, motivation and goals for her art. She chose to pursue this challenge out of a desire for growth and to escape her comfort zone. Jane stated that the process made her bring together her two selves, her every day self that lives a normal life and the part of her that tries new experiences without limitations. 

About Jane Zhang

Jane Zhang is a well known pop singer and public figure in China. Born in Chengdu, Sichuan, China Zhang has become a beloved personality, appealing to fans of all ages throughout the country. Her unique talent has begun to make her equally popular here in the U.S. Jane’s singing career debuted when she won third place at the Chinese singing contest “Super Girl” in 2005. The very next year she signed with Huayi music, her debut album “The One” selling more than a million copies in China. After Jane’s first english single “Dust My Shoulders Off” was released in 2016, HULU picked the song up to use as their background music in the U.S. Her song “Fighting Shadows” was also featured in the Hollywood movie “Terminator Genisys”. In 2018 Huawei chose Jane’s song “Dream It Possible” for their global mobile phone ads campaign. Over the years, Jane Zhang has won many awards including eight Beijing Pop Music Awards for best female singer, two China Gold Record Awards, and an MTV Europe Music Award. Listen to Jane’s new english album “Past Progressive” on iTunes and Spotify, out now worldwide. 

Is Blogging Worth It? 6 Ways Blogging Can Grow your Business

Naomi Grandison - May 9, 2019

You may be wondering if starting a company blog is worth the time and effort. And you’re right to consider this because blogging is certainly a time-consuming task to take on that requires a lot of thought and commitment. The startup of a blog is often the most difficult and least rewarding; you have little to no following, you are not yet seeing the SEO results you want, and you’re spending a lot of time on something that’s not showing results when you could be using your time for something more productive. So what’s so great about blogging? Is it really worth the time and effort? To help you nail down the benefits of blogging, here are five ways that blogging can grow your business.

1. You can build customer loyalty.

People will trust you if they can see that you are not just out selling your product or service all the time. If you can write blog posts that benefit your customers without requiring that they buy something from you, they are more likely to be loyal to your business. If they can find value in your contributions through blogging, they are not just loyal to a product or service that you offer — they are loyal to you and your ideas. Loyal customers are people you will not have to work hard to convince to buy your product or service; they are also people who will do some of your marketing for you by word-of-mouth. Your best bet in growing your business is to create a large group of loyal customers who advocate for your business and continue to return to your product or service.

2. You can create more online attention.

By having a stronger Internet presence with your blog, you can gain much more attention. Your potential customers are likely Google searching questions related to your business. If you can provide relevant information that genuinely helps people in your target market, you can build a strong awareness of your business that may turn them into a future customer. Not only that, people will respect you for being honest and genuine rather than just being out for the money. This helps to create a high-quality reputation for your business that will speak for itself.

3. You can work with other bloggers to increase your following.

Once you have gained a solid following, you can continue to grow by collaborating with other bloggers and introducing yourself to their followers. For example, one way to do this is to write a guest post for another blogger. This is mutually beneficial because you are providing your fellow blogger with good content while also reaching out to a new group of people. If you build great relationships with other bloggers and other businesses related to your product or service, you will be able to work together in multiple ways to bring more benefits to each other.

4. You can drive more traffic to your website.

Blogging can help you improve your SEO (search engine optimization). If you are providing helpful answers to questions that searchers have, you will be able to increase traffic on your website by getting your blog articles to the top of the search page. Through techniques such as link building, keyword research, and backlinking, you can get SEO results through your blog that are much more difficult to achieve with just your company website.

5. You can continue to gain knowledge and increase innovation.

Blogging is a chance to think critically, to research and gain knowledge, and to enhance your industry. By making the effort to stay engaged within the industry, you give yourself the chance to continue being innovative and to avoid becoming stagnant. Industries are always changing and moving; consistent blogging will challenge you to keep up with and to acknowledge those changes. As a result, you will have the opportunity to be a thought leader in the industry and to stay ahead of your competitors.

Only you can make the call of whether or not it’s the right time for you to start a company blog. It does take plenty of time and thought. However, we believe the results will be worth the time and the additional workload because you will be able to promote a lasting brand that does much more than just sell your product to a few more customers. Your blog will allow you to create high customer engagement that will benefit your company in the long run. If you are ready and willing to start a blog but are still concerned about the time commitment, AMW Group offers business promotion services that can include professionally written blog content.

You’ve Created the Best Song Ever Made . . . Now What?

Kendra Blalock - May 8, 2019

Creating great music is only half the battle these days. With shrinking attention spans, artists’ must also find a way to grab the attention of people, create branding and invest in social media. Yes, the quality of music is highly important but if you have great music and no plan to get the right ears listening then you will, more than likely, be unsuccessful. Music is being released every day by people all around the world. Make sure yours doesn’t get lost in the crowd by following these easy steps.

Music Distribution

Your song is complete… now what? It’s important to get your music heard by an audience. The best way to do that is to utilize streaming services. While CDs are still a relevant technology in some genres, streaming services like Spotify allow your music the potential to be seen by millions from the comfort of their handheld device. You can use services like CD Baby and Tune Core to get your music on all major music streaming services.

Eye-Catching Artwork

They say never judge a book by its cover but we all know eye-catching artwork is one of the first things that draws us to any work of art. Hire a professional photographer or graphic designer to help with this task. It’s an important step that should not be skipped. If you are low on budget, you can use free services like Canva or Adobe Spark to create your own artwork.

Promote on Social Media

This goes without saying, it’s key to reach your target audience when promoting your music. There’s no better way to reach your audience than catering to your current following. Let them know that you have new music and where they can find it and add a link to the music in your bio. Find creative ways to announce and promote upcoming projects. Using methods such as giveaways will help give people engage with the new material.

Use the Right Hashtags

Hashtags are a great tool to take advantage of social networking sites. Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are cluttered with tags that will do absolutely nothing for you. But if you use the art of hashtags correctly, new people will be able to find your music and it will increase your engagement. For example, using “#music” is not likely to garner any new attention because it has 258 million posts. You want to use hashtags like “#newhiphopartist” that have less than 25k posts as it will have much more visibility. Get specific with the hashtags you use. The more specific you get, the more likely your target audience will be able to find you.

Don’t Stop Making Music

So you’ve made the best song ever. What’s next? Even if this is your best work to date, you can’t stop creating. The music industry is fast moving and fans are always waiting for the next release. Keep your music library updated with new tracks on a consistent basis. You can also try collaborating with other artists to help diversify your catalog. Your fans are the bread and butter for your music career. Make sure to keep them happy with new music for them to enjoy.

Headshots and Resumes for Performers

Laurel Daggers - May 2, 2019

A performer’s resume allows casting directors to see their successes, where they’ve come from, and who they’ve worked with. Your working and learning history are all right there for potential employers to see. A good resume allows people to find a connection to you and your work. Knowing what to add to your resume and what to leave off can be a challenge when you’re trying to include as much information as possible, yet still, be concise and to the point.

A headshot is exactly what it sounds like, a close-up shot of your face. A good headshot should be as equally straightforward as your resume. Casting directors and booking agents need to be able to see who you are without any gimmicks. If you want to be treated as a professional, you have to present yourself as a professional. A well-executed headshot is your chance to make an instantaneous positive impression. Here are some tips on presenting your best self when it comes to headshots and resumes.

Get Professional Help

While getting a friend to take a photo with their phone may seem like a good idea (it’s certainly cheaper than using a professional) amateur headshots are very easy to spot, especially to people who look at headshots all day long. There are many things the professionals take into consideration when planning a shoot including lighting, angles, and backdrop. A professional photographer will also be able to give you tips on how to pose and how to set the scene to make sure you get excellent headshots. Then they edit the best shots for you so that you can put your best foot forward.

Wardrobe

When choosing an outfit for a headshot photo session or an audition, you need to choose clothes that are flattering but not distracting. Solid colors with no labels or logos on them, that compliment your skin tone are what you should be looking for. You want people to focus specifically on your face and nothing else.

Including Your Resume

Resumes are always attached to the back of your headshot. This gives casting directors a one stop shop to all things “you”. You can staple or print it to the back of your headshot, just make sure it’s there. Only film, stage, or tv credits mean anything. Do not include high school plays unless you are, in fact, in high school and those are your only credits.

Formatting Your Resume

Other than listing the parts you have played, there are a few other items that should always be included on your resume. Truly the most important thing you can put on your resume is up to date contact information. You’ll never get hired if no one can get in touch with you after your audition. Another thing you need to include are your physical attributes (height, weight, hair color, eye color). Lastly, any memberships you are affiliated with should also be added to your professional resume. This means any union affiliations or organizations that could link you professionally to prospective employers.

Spruce Up Your Social Media With These Easy Steps

Kendra Blalock - April 26, 2019

Your social media is one of the first things that potential customers see when searching for your brand.  Make sure you are following these key steps to make sure you aren’t missing out on potential earnings. These steps are additional offerings to the points we added in our post back in January: How To Step Up Your Social Media In 2019. Keep reading, we’re dropping gems in this post.

Keep Your Bio Updated

In regards to Instagram, you want to make sure you create a captive bio section. Try to wrap up what you want people to know about your brand in the allotted character limit. It’s also important to keep your bio updated. If you have dates for a release or an event, make sure to change your bio after the event is over. You want to make sure your bio is relevant so if you have a past date, it will seem as though you aren’t active/consistent on your page. No one wants to buy from non-consistent brands.

Links

Social media platforms generally give users the option to post a link in their bio section or somewhere towards the top of the profile. Make sure you utilize this option. If you want your social media traffic to turn into sales/streams provide a link to a page where potential customers can get more information about your product or service. If you have multiple links that you feel are important to your brand, feel free to use tools like linktree or create a landing page on your own website that provides all of the necessary links.

Top Nine

As we all know, in this age of social media, people have short attention spans. Specifically, on Instagram, it’s important to grab people’s attention as soon as they click on your page because if they don’t see anything interesting at first glance, they will exit your page as soon as they arrived. One way to do this is by making sure that the last nine posts you made are relevant and create a cohesive look for your page. Since people don’t usually spend too much time scrolling, your top nine photos will say a lot about what you are currently doing and will let your potential customer know if you’re relatable or someone they’d like to purchase from.

Public Pages

Make sure your business profiles are set to public. Of course, this does not apply to personal pages, people have reasons for keeping their personal pages private but for business, you need to have your pages available for the world to see. If your business profile is private, you could be losing money.

Hope you all find these social media gems helpful and you’re able to spruce up your profiles.