Included in this article is a four-step to do list for a successful music video release strategy. It also includes a list of actions to take to best promote your music video. These steps for the promotion are to be used within the time that you can allot for that..
Making an album and creating derivative works like music videos consume a great deal of time money and resource. This list is intended to help a newcomer asses what goes into making these releases run as affectively as possible.
STEP ONE: Choose The Song
If you have already released an album you will have an advantage in knowing what songs are listened to more than others. In this instance coming to a decision about which song to make a video for next may be more apparent. Anything that is super interesting could go viral. But how do you know where to invest your time and money. One good idea would be to look and see what people stream the most. That may be just the information that you should want to consider.
If you are releasing singles one at a time perhaps you can organize a private listening party early on. This would be best done before you have gotten into releasing any of the songs in this batch. At your listening party ask your guests to score the songs in the order that they find them most captivating. You could widen this process to your online fan club or Patreon subscribers. What you have done is organized a focus group. A focus group is a great way to get some outside feedback. That feedback can help you to determine how the new songs resonate with people.
You may be partial to one of the new songs. That may prompt you to lobby for it to be the next single and music video. But what makes that song resonate with you may not necessarily particular translate to with your listeners. Everything you’re doing is about building and maintaining an audience. That being said it may be a good idea to consider the songs your audience likes. At least way it into the equation when you’re planning all your strategies.
So step one of your music video release strategy is designating which single you are going to create the Music Video For. But before go on to that, you may need help to answering the question of whether its better to release the single, or the music video first. Here is a link to an informative article where we discuss that at length. Read it later!
STEP TWO: Conceptualize and Shoot Music Video
In this step the first thing you are going to do is a come up with a great idea. After that you’ll find some place to shoot your video. Now you can gather your gear, put together a crew and talent and go. In this step you. If you need some free advice on how to design your set on a budget; we have an informative guide to share: Here is the link!
In addition to the video you’ll need to decide what content you are going to need to help you promote the release of the single. Some of that content will also need designated to promote[your MUSIC VIDEO RELEASE. At this point you’ll need to produce the music video and perhaps a lyric video. Here is a link to a helpful article about both types that includes a detailed explanation about how, why, when and which one should be used. Check it out!
As making a video may not precisely fall into the “release strategy”. Safe it to say, it needs to be done. Thats true if you want a Music Video to Release. That said, there are some important considerations to be made. Those have to do with determining how and where you shoot your video. They also include how the imagery may tie in to upcoming promotional material for the release.
There are also considerations to be made for budget and the need to contract help or not. Additionally there are conversations about how the music video making budget effects the music video promotional budget. We’ll leave this thread of thought and all of its components for another article. But chronologically this is when you would get to having all of your content produced.
When you’ve finished your edits be sure your video has been optimized for all of platforms it will be released. Allow your self plenty of time for any unforeseen edits and revisions.
If you are looking for advice, on concepts and music video treatments. We’ve published an article all about that. It will help. Good Luck!
STEP THREE: Plan Your Release Strategy
With your major content prepared it is time to sit down and pencil out a release strategy. You can feel free to use these steps as a guide or template. Modify them as necessisary, but keep in mind the value of writing out your plan. It provides you with tangible organization.
It isn’t advised to shoot from the hip. You should have a list of actions you are going to take and in the order you want them taken. You should be aware of what actions trigger the next. Once all of your plans are flushed out and on paper your set. Those plans will function as your to-do-list.
The three major components of a Music Video Release Strategy
- The Single
- The Lyric Video
- The Music Video
With these three major components identified you can plot them on your release schedule accordingly. These days a lot of artists attempt to maintain a monthly schedule with new releases. It is a recommended strategy as it helps to build a regularity of expectation with your listeners. That consistency has proven helpful for many artists to build and maintain their audience.
New Music Release Defined
We’ve defined “new music release” as something that takes place monthly. That means we are ready to schedule. It will be up to you to creatively determine how to unveil the three major components across your calendar month. For more information on where to squeeze the lyric video into the release schedule; You should read this, it’s an informative guide on when to release lyric videos. Bookmark and save!
Finally, After you’ve released your music video allow a few days before releasing a new single. That way you can continue to promote the Music Video after its release. You can promote it with updates on its progress, reminders to watch and gratitude for watching. Then you can begin the transition towards the promotion of the next upcoming single release.
Roughly speaking these three components could be released once a week for three weeks. This would allow one more week for promotion, resolution and transition into the next song. If this timetable is unrealistic for you, it is certainly fine to adjust it as you must. Our recommendation is an informed starting point.
For more about regular releases, and the why’s and why nots of making a video for every new song; Read this!
STEP FOUR: Devise Actions To Promote Video
At the center of the entire strategy will be promoting the music video release date. That goes without saying I suppose, but none the less it is true. This guide provides a lot of creative ideas to get you started. But, it is very important for you to lean into your own creativity. It is your ingenuity that will make these standard releases feel original and fresh.
Here is a brief list of actions to take to promote your music video prior to its release:
- Plan social media content for the video
- Get influencers to promote your music video
- Get fans and influencers to make dance videos too
- Promote the video on music blogs
- Post behind the scenes content
- Edit and Release a teaser trailer from the music video
- Run a giveaway in relation to the new music video
- Host an online viewing party to stream the video In corresponding with it’s release
- Email the video link to your subscribers
After the release don’t forget encourage your fans and supporters to like and share the new video with others. If your viewing numbers are significant you can inform your viewers about the videos progress. They will likely enjoy hearing about the success. Thank them for all of their help and remind them how grateful you are for their continued support.
Paid Social Media Adds
You’ll also want to run paid adds across your social media. These adds will help to drive new viewers toward your video. Do your best to make music video releases big events. Link them with the iconography in your video. Make each promotion unique to itself while using some of the same techniques for promotion regularly .
With all of these ideas you’d better start putting them down in chronological order. That order should be informed by how you anticipate these steps will build a gradual sense of enthusiasm or buzz. After you have them ordered you can then begin to work them into the calendar.
Once that is all arranged the planning stage is complete and all you need to do is follow the plan. For more help on promotion; and a compilation of budget friendly actionable steps to promote your release. Click here!
Conclusion
In no time, you’ll have a collection of music videos to your name. Remember, it’s a good idea to keep a journal of what works and what doesn’t. Use these lessons as building blocks to fine-tune your video release approach. Embrace the process, lean into your creativity, and never forget that each video marks another milestone. Now, go get to it!