Strategies For Selling Cds Online

By Author: Gabe Sullivan
Total Articles: 10
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Selling CDs is as hard as selling anything else. But we now live in the era of technology, and we're blessed with the Internet, as our best bet to move products. Here are some strategies for selling your CDs online.

1. Make a website for your band and start selling the CDs there. Or set up an online store, secure the payment, and ship the products. In this era, it's a step worth taking, since many people will naturally go to your website -and wonder if you have any when they heard about your band for the first time.

2. Work with online outlets or retailers. These days, indie bands are appreciated more than ever before, and there are some places which specializes in distributing product for independent artists. What they do is ship your CD directly from their warehouse to people who order from their site, and they'll pay you for what you sell on a weekly basis. As this is some kind of a joint operation, you won't make as much per CD as selling it yourself (although your part is still okay), but consider it another way to get additional exposure.

3. When your CDs are available online, use all your social ...
... networks to let people know where they can get the CDs. Spread the word, don't be afraid to promote. This is where your fans come in: ask them to spread the buzz about you on Facebook and Twitter. Don't forget to include links to purchase your CD anywhere you have an online presence.

Although the Internet can be a powerful way for selling your product, it can also create a dilemma. If you make your songs available for digital download (which most bands are doing these days), you may find a bit of a self-inflicted conflict, in that your products are competing with themselves. (You have to understand that people who buy downloads usually don't buy the CD.) Of course you'll make some money off the downloads, but if you want to sell your actual printed CDs online, you'll have to add perceived value to your CDs. It's actually meant to make the CD's appeal more to fans when compared with the downloads.

To accomplish this, you can offer bonus features with the CD purchase that unavailable in the download version. Some bands might include free band t-shirts or other merchandise, bonus tracks on the CD that aren't available for download, bonus downloads for purchasing the CD, or maybe a bonus DVD with simple band footage or interviews (nothing fancy, as long as it's exclusive, you'll be fine). The keyword here is: be creative!

The author works for Mixonic, a leading CD and DVD production service, which deals duplicate CDs and duplicate DVDs as well.