Selling Original CD online

My initial impression is that your site has lots of ways to leave it and very little content to keep people there. Are the spas you link to paying you a commission? If not, why the links?

Have you considered offering music samples so that people will stick around and find out what they could get? Maybe you could team up with local artists or photographers to pair the music samples with relaxing imagery.

(I see that CDBaby has music samples, but the link to it emphasizes the price, not the ability to learn more.)

Is your music available elsewhere, too? Have you considered partnering with another local artist (perhaps you could pair your music with a print from a visual artist!). I've found that people are interested in purchasing my book, but they are more likely to buy it from another source while purchasing other items, too (Amazon.com or a store that carries my title). I just can't compete with those venues unless people want a signed copy of my book (which some do!) and I don't have the ability to offer other products besides mine just yet.

CDBaby has been a VERY surprising outlet for my Circus. We write all our own music, and create CDs (both soundtracks to our theatrical shows, and all original CDs that are not related to our shows), and CDBaby has consistently put a lot of plus signs in the Income column of our spreadsheets!

They started with the concept, "If I were an indie musician, what would TOTALLY rock?" And they built the site from there.

Can't say enough good about them. Check it out.

Are you sure you're marketing to the right audience? You always want to do some research before you advertise. For example, maybe the gift-guide's readership was primarily males under the age of 18 (unrealistic, but just say), are you trying to market your product to male teenagers?

Check to see if you can find a good demographic to market to, people who would be interested in your product. Hits mean very little these days on the internet, and it can take thousands to produce a single sale. If all of those teenagers go to your site, then decide "Oh, I don't think I want that", they leave, but it tracks a hit.

Always make sure you do marketing research before you pay to put something up.

Good luck! Wes

Hi Jill, It helps sales to create a buzz about your music. Your website has too little info on you and your music. Start there. Make it easy for a visitor to sample your music at your website - don't send them off to another site to hear your samples. Do you have your CD for sale in the spas? Work out a deal with the spas to play and sell you discs - they get a $1 or or two for each sale. CD sales for the self produced are difficult, yet if you give prospects the opportunity to hear your music, they will be more inclined to buy.

Jill I'm an experienced online marketer and I also but about $250 worth of music online every single month.

Here are a few things I think you need to do.

1. The more you tell, the more you sell. You tell absolutely nothing. I would put reams of text on your site telling all about the music, how it was composed, what the songs are, what they mean to you. I'd include testimonials and reviews from people who have listened to your music. Nobody has a clue about what your music is about from your site. Zero, zip, nada. People who are interested will read and the more they read that perks their interest, the more likely it is that they'll pull out their credit cards.

2. Tell more about yourself. The music I buy (mostly jazz) I know a LOT about the artists from jazz forums, etc. We don't know you so you need to tell us. We don't even know what instrument you play. Keyboards, violin, tuba?

3. Professional picture. This picture on your site just doesn't do it. How about a picture or pictures of you playing or you in your studio. Professional pictures that draw you in.

4. Better site design. For one, the site is too wide for my browser and I have to scroll to see the reading on the right. You have a dark red background and a link in black that's very hard to read.

5. Music samples. It's ridiculously easy to take a 30 - 60 second mp3 sample of each of your songs and put them up for people to listen to. Going to another site to hear samples is a bother. Don't send people off the site.

You have a lot to do, Jill. If you do what I and the other people have recommended, you'll start to get some sales. Good luck.

There is some great advice here and instead of me repeating it I would defnitely follow and test many of the ideas above. One thing I will add try researching "increasing conversions" and "attracting the right audience". If you would, feel free to contact me if you would like any more information. I want to wish the best of luck this year.

Kevin | KidsDesk.net