Seven Steps to Getting What You Want
By Jeffrey P. Fisher

To promote your music business effectively and make more sales, ask and answer these seven questions:

1] What do you sell?
2] What gig do you want to land?
3] What does it take to get the sale?
4] Are there any obstacles or drawbacks?
5] Who is responsible for buying?
6] How do you make contact?
7] What will your pitch or offer be?

Run down these questions for every music product and service that you sell and for every individual market that you want to reach. Here's an example for a fictional band:

1] What do you sell? This band sells entertainment through playing modern and oldies covers.

2] What gig do you want to land? Carl's Cool Club in the next town.

3] What does it take to get the sale? The band researches Carl's and finds they prefer to hire only cover bands that play a lot of high-energy, dance tunes.

4] Are there any obstacles or drawbacks? They don't hire unknowns.

5] Who is responsible for buying? Carl, the owner, books acts.

6] How do you make contact? Call him at (phone number).

7] What will your pitch or offer be? Telephone an introduction and try to setup an appointment to drop off demo and promo material. Make offer at interview: The band will play for free on an off-night as a trial. If this performance goes well, ask to play again, with pay, on other nights.

After you've worked through these questions, keep using them for every music product and/or service that you sell. They force you to really plan your promotional strategy, work that plan, and ultimately be more successful

Jeffrey P. Fisher is the author of four best-selling music books: "Moneymaking Music," "Ruthless Self-Promotion in the Music Industry," "Profiting From Your Music and Sound Project Studio," and "How to Make Money Scoring Soundtracks and Jingles." Get more information from his "Moneymaking Music" Web site at http://www.jeffreypfisher.com