faxcain
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[h=2]Getting started with online beat selling[/h]So you got mad beats and you want to sell them to artist but you don't know any, well where should you start? Well there are a few ways to get started with beat selling online and promoting your brand. You are going to have to put in some work . Lots of sites claim they have the solution to sell 1000's a beats today, but that's simple BS . It's going to take a little more than "Hey I Got Hot Beats ! Get 4 Beats for $5 " tweet on twitter. But you are just starting and before you get to uploading your beats and promoting them there's a few things to consider doing .
[h=4]Make sure your product is ready.[/h]You want to make sure people hear your beats in the best way possible. Make sure all versions of your beats are in their "completed" stages - (I know beats are never finished in our mind.) But make sure your beats are mixed fully to the best of your capabilities. It's important to a lot of potential buyers that they can download your beats that are already mixed well enough for radio. Clients are more likely to return cause you have a high quality control on your site.
[h=4]Original Content[/h]Do you use samples? I'm no lawyer , but I'm sure there are laws against making money from samples you don't have the clearance for. Using samples you do not have the rights to could get you into some sort of copyright infringement lawsuit . Not saying it will happen , not saying it won't - I am saying though original music without samples will not have the same problem. If you play all your music then you are going to be easier to deal with all together. Especially when it comes down to licensing music commercially to TV, Radio, Video Games ect. , they won't even accept sampled beats.
[h=4]Uploading Your Beats[/h]Now where you going to sell your beats? There are many options for where to upload your beats and sell them . There are websites that allow you to sign up for an account and setup a profile that allows you to upload beats , add price and buy links.
And/Or
You can purchase a domain name and hosting from a hosting company like www.godaddy.com or www.hostgator.com . and create your own website with ecommerce capabilities. (for the more advanced folk.) If you have the money you can always look to pay someone to set up your personal website . (which is important to have anyway!)
Here' is a quality beat template for your own beat selling site.
http://hiphopmakers.com/website-launch-guide
[h=4]What is your Brand?[/h]When it comes to marketing your beat site and beats branding is super important. "The American Marketing Association (AMA) defines a brand as a "name, term, sign, symbol or design, or a combination of them intended to identify the goods and services of one seller or group of sellers and to differentiate them from those of other sellers ."
So when you setup your site or beat profile there are things you should consider. Do you have a LOGO? A logo would help people identify your brand much quicker. It' also give you a more official look.
Do you have a slogan? Although not really as important when you selling beats , but a catchy slogan can always stick in peoples mind.
You should make sure there is continuity to all your sites and profiles. Try to use the same styles and fonts in your graphics and themes should look like they are related . Do not constantly change your brand.
Tagging your beats isn't only important to keep people from pirating your beats without knowing, but it also a good way to brand your sound. m-m-m-m-m- Maybach Music , how many times have you heard that or "mustard on the beat ho!" - It almost makes your expect quality because they have giving you hits before so when you hear that you almost give it a pass right away . It's sad but true.
(Don't have tags or make them ... ) Lots of people provide this service. Here's someone I found on twitter @chelseacreation (http://www.chelseavoicetags.com/)
Biography is a great way to let people know a little more about the person they are buying from . It doesn't matter if you don't have an impressive track list of huge placements , you should still give them a little bit about yourself , your music history and your intentions .
[h=3][/h][h=4]Be Easy To Contact[/h]You probably already have email address but if you don't have an email address dedicated to youo beats site or beats inquiries? You don't want your beat inquiries getting lost in your onslaught of emails coming in on your main or personal account. Make a new email dedicated to your beats , like megadudebeats@gmail.com
or something like that . If you have a website then make sure there is a contact form or your email available for people to get at you.
Once you have got everything setup and in place. IT'S TIME TO START THE GRIND ! IT'S PROMO TIME!!!
(stay tuned for more articles on beat selling)
http://www.isellbeats.com/index.php/blog/item/28-5-things-before-selling-beats-online
http://www.isellbeats.com
[h=4]Make sure your product is ready.[/h]You want to make sure people hear your beats in the best way possible. Make sure all versions of your beats are in their "completed" stages - (I know beats are never finished in our mind.) But make sure your beats are mixed fully to the best of your capabilities. It's important to a lot of potential buyers that they can download your beats that are already mixed well enough for radio. Clients are more likely to return cause you have a high quality control on your site.
[h=4]Original Content[/h]Do you use samples? I'm no lawyer , but I'm sure there are laws against making money from samples you don't have the clearance for. Using samples you do not have the rights to could get you into some sort of copyright infringement lawsuit . Not saying it will happen , not saying it won't - I am saying though original music without samples will not have the same problem. If you play all your music then you are going to be easier to deal with all together. Especially when it comes down to licensing music commercially to TV, Radio, Video Games ect. , they won't even accept sampled beats.
[h=4]Uploading Your Beats[/h]Now where you going to sell your beats? There are many options for where to upload your beats and sell them . There are websites that allow you to sign up for an account and setup a profile that allows you to upload beats , add price and buy links.
- SoundClick - Free MP3 music download and much, much more.
- http://www.rocbattles.com
- http://www.myflashstore.net/
- http://tuneport.com/
- http://www.soundcloud.com (add buy link connect to paypal link.)
- http://www.isellbeats.com (coming soon)
And/Or
You can purchase a domain name and hosting from a hosting company like www.godaddy.com or www.hostgator.com . and create your own website with ecommerce capabilities. (for the more advanced folk.) If you have the money you can always look to pay someone to set up your personal website . (which is important to have anyway!)
Here' is a quality beat template for your own beat selling site.
http://hiphopmakers.com/website-launch-guide
[h=4]What is your Brand?[/h]When it comes to marketing your beat site and beats branding is super important. "The American Marketing Association (AMA) defines a brand as a "name, term, sign, symbol or design, or a combination of them intended to identify the goods and services of one seller or group of sellers and to differentiate them from those of other sellers ."
So when you setup your site or beat profile there are things you should consider. Do you have a LOGO? A logo would help people identify your brand much quicker. It' also give you a more official look.
Do you have a slogan? Although not really as important when you selling beats , but a catchy slogan can always stick in peoples mind.You should make sure there is continuity to all your sites and profiles. Try to use the same styles and fonts in your graphics and themes should look like they are related . Do not constantly change your brand.
Tagging your beats isn't only important to keep people from pirating your beats without knowing, but it also a good way to brand your sound. m-m-m-m-m- Maybach Music , how many times have you heard that or "mustard on the beat ho!" - It almost makes your expect quality because they have giving you hits before so when you hear that you almost give it a pass right away . It's sad but true.
(Don't have tags or make them ... ) Lots of people provide this service. Here's someone I found on twitter @chelseacreation (http://www.chelseavoicetags.com/)
Biography is a great way to let people know a little more about the person they are buying from . It doesn't matter if you don't have an impressive track list of huge placements , you should still give them a little bit about yourself , your music history and your intentions .
[h=3][/h][h=4]Be Easy To Contact[/h]You probably already have email address but if you don't have an email address dedicated to youo beats site or beats inquiries? You don't want your beat inquiries getting lost in your onslaught of emails coming in on your main or personal account. Make a new email dedicated to your beats , like megadudebeats@gmail.com
or something like that . If you have a website then make sure there is a contact form or your email available for people to get at you.
Once you have got everything setup and in place. IT'S TIME TO START THE GRIND ! IT'S PROMO TIME!!!
(stay tuned for more articles on beat selling)
http://www.isellbeats.com/index.php/blog/item/28-5-things-before-selling-beats-online
http://www.isellbeats.com