Get Rid of Your Ineffective DJ Promotion for Good

Back when I started promoting my own music, I had a serious identity crisis.

When you me met in “real life,” I’d be super interested in what type of music you liked, what kind of places you like to go, where you’ve been and maybe who you’re sleeping with. I’d be a quirky, smart assy and even sometimes borderline obnoxious and just a ham in general.

I’d say funny things like, “my ma’s vagina” when people would ask me where I’m from. I’d usually be on the dance floor before or after a DJ set getting down to whom ever was playing at the time.

But back when I started promoting my own DJing or my own music, I showed NONE of this. I thought I would do what other people where doing when they shared people their music. I told myself, “Well, I can’t be the real me online cuz I’ll turn away so many people. I don’t want to miss any chance I have at a new fan!”

Sound familiar?

Especially when you’re first getting started.  I know this because I walked in those shoes.

Fast forward a few years and you will still see me posting things on Facebook or Twitter like:

“Listen to my latest mix”

Or

“Like my page”.

Why? Why the heck would I still say that online if I never say that in real life?

And in that moment, the light bulb went off in my head and I started getting real. I thought of ways that I communicate with people offline. Sometimes I joke, flirt and quite a large majority of the time I’m talking about other people.

And, if you are anything like me you love to talk about music. You love to talk about artists that inspire you. You love to talk about amazing producers and DJs that are just killin’ it right now.

So, I took my offline identity and really shoved that baby into the forefront of my music promotion with something I call the Shout-Out Strategy.

What is the Shout-Out Strategy?

It’s a simple post to your DJ website’s blog where you show some lovin’ to some awesome DJs or producers you admire.

Why does this work?

People love recognition, especially when it is a heartfelt place it came from.

How to do the Shout-Out Strategy?

Step 1. Come up with your title

You can make this list with any number 5, 10, 25 or 35 at the max. The post must have an awesome hook like 10 Seattle DJs You Must Know, 25 Kick Ass Female DJs You Can’t Miss, Don’t Miss These 25 Up-and-Comer Producers Doing It Proper.

Step 2. Write the post.

Include in full text the people, a small blurb about why they are awesome and embed their music. Add links for more lovin’ and then encourage people to share the post by saying something like: Know of other people who love these artists? Awesome! Share it on Facebook or Twitter.

Step 3. Post it. Send it out on all social media.

On Facebook use the @mentions, on Google+ add their tags and on Twitter post the link and add @mentions for everyone.

Step 4. Email everyone and ask for nothing.

You will most likely be emailing a manager or agent for larger name DJs and produces so keep it short and to the point. Thank them and send the link. It’s super important not to tell them anything about you. They don’t care; they just need to know what’s in it for them.

Step 5. Interacting

Make sure to respond to all comments and re-post.   The Shout-Out Strategy is so simple, yet effective and fun!

I’ve made a simple template where you can create your own Shout-Out post on your blog. Click here to download the Shout-Out Strategy Template

Now, I’ve done the Shout-Out Strategy on my own blog and aligned myself with some pretty dope DJs I truly admire.

They thanked me, followed me, liked my pages and shared my posts with their fans. Now why am I sharing this with you?

When you are looking at DJing as a career, to build your name, or grow as a DJ, you’re going to want to do it the way other people do. You’re going to want to blend in with everyone else because of your fear of being judged by other people.

And yes – even if you have that undisputed amount of high self-esteem – that fear is there. It was there for me, and I believe I fail at the ability to feeling like a dork (have you seen me running around in a leotard in the club?!).

But don’t do it.

Don’t the same thing everyone else does gets forgotten. What sticks out gets remembered.

And being remembered is what we all want when we think of our promotion.

Before I head off into the interwebs, I want to leave you with a question: Have you struggled with finding your voice and owning it? Would love to hear your personal experience in the comments below.

Casie Lane is on a mission: to make sure good deejays like you don’t screw up their promotion. Because when deejays like you screw up their promotion it can cost you thousands of dollars - possibly hundreds of thousands of dollars.