Advances in analytics and streaming technologies has opened a new wave of opportunities for independent creators to reach a similar level of success as creators on a label. While the opportunity is there for these independent creators to take advantage of, there will be certain bumps in the road along their journey to success. To overcome some of the biggest hurdles that independent creators may face, we put together a survival guide to help them overcome the biggest challenges.

Obstacle #1: Creating Content On A Budget

As an independent creator your biggest concern should be about creating quality content, not worrying about money. Implementing a budget or a strategy will relieve your financial stress and allow you to focus on your content. Here are some creative ways to stay under budget and rack up some extra cash:

  • Monetize Your Content on Multiple Networks: There’s a common misconception that creators should only post their content on one publishing network like YouTube. Don’t limit yourself! Look to monetize your content on mutiple networks (such as Facebook) to generate the most revenue and attract the most views.
  • Stream a Live Online Concert: A growing trend for creators is to perform a live online concert in which the fans can buy tickets to watch them perform solely online. One website to help you set this up is Gigee, you can learn more about what they offer here. Live concerts/performances are a great way to debut new content that your fans have never seen or heard before.
  • Find Odd Gigs That Pay: If you’re an independent creator, Craigslist is a great place to look for potential gigs. Even though it may not be your dream gig, you shouldn’t necessarily turn it down. Whether it’s weddings, bars, or birthday parties, you should capitalize on the opportunity to get in front of a new audience and make some cash.
  • Distribute Your Audio Content: Don’t just limit yourself to video distribution, you can also generate revenue through audio streaming platforms like SoundCloud and Spotify. Try to get your music on as many major audio distribution platforms as possible. Keep in mind that to distribute your music to these platforms, you’ll need to go through a third party, like Vydia!

Obstacle #2: Managing Your Digital Rights

Independent creators often manage each and every aspect of their careers, however, one area you don’t want to overlook is managing your most valuable asset: your digital rights. Before you start making money with your content, you want to make sure it’s protected as soon as possible. As an independent creator your digital rights are your most valuable asset, so you want to make sure you’re taking the proper steps to ensure no one can take them from you:

  • Split Sheets: Split sheets are necessary for every song you write and should be completed immediately after a song is written– before any income or royalties start flowing in. To avoid a legal headache in the future, make sure split sheets are written down and signed by every party who contributed to the project. To learn more about split sheets, check out our blog.
  • Proactively Set Protection Policies: Don’t leave your content vulnerable to online video piracy. Setting up proper protection policies right away will ensure any revenue generated is directed to the proper owner, you. Vydia gives creators the ability to proactively store and protect their content with our our proprietary technologies, Social and Rights Sync. To learn how to activate Social and Rights Sync, read here.
  • Trademark Your Brand: In addition to storing and protecting your content online, you’ll want to take further steps to protect your overall brand. Consider trademarking your stage name or if you’re in a band, your band name. This is especially important if you’re going to be selling merchandise.

Obstacle #3: Building Your Industry Network

Just the mention of “networking” can give certain people anxiety, but it is essential for growth within the music industry. As an independent creator, you don’t have the additional support system that a signed creator would, so networking becomes even more essential. Here are some tips about where you should be looking to make new industry connections:

  • Attend Music Festivals:  Music festivals such as SXSW, Music Biz, Midem, and Revolt are some of the best places to network as a creator. In fact, at last year’s SXSW festival, 67% of the participants said their main reason for attending was to find new business opportunities. Learn how to network at music festivals here.
  • Join A Networking Group: Take the time to find different music industry meetup groups in your community. There’s typically no cost to join, and they consist of people like you who are looking to build up their industry contacts. Make sure the group you join doesn’t just consist of musicians, you want a diverse group that contains different type of people like agents, promoters, club owners, etc.
  • Leverage LinkedIn: LinkedIn is a networker’s best friend. Where else can you search for people by their job title and see the experiences they’ve had? You want to make sure that you do research on every person you want to connect with beforehand.

Obstacle #4: Expanding Your Reach With Marketing & Promotion

As any independent creator knows marketing and promotion is extremely important for the success of your career. It doesn’t matter how good your music, if no one is hearing it, you can’t make money. Get your content in front of the right audiences at the right time by:

  • Determining Your Demographic: Knowing exactly who your demographic is is the first step for promoting yourself. Once you know who your music is for, you can create a clear and concise message to reach them. To help you determine your ideal demographic, make sure you’re always interacting with your fanbase on social media to see what they’re like. Social media platforms, like YouTube, often provide in-depth audience analytics, allowing you to easily see what audience is watching and interacting with your content.
  • Establishing a Consistent Brand: You don’t want to market yourself in too many different ways in the beginning of your career. There is a plethora of creators out there and you could potentially run the risk of getting lost in the surplus. Start with one strong image that will be associated with you and put it everywhere you drop content. For more tips about building your brand, check out our blog.

Trying to control every aspect of your career as an independent creator can seem like a daunting task, but know you are not alone. Here at Vydia we believe in empowering every independent creator by providing them with the resources they need to power and protect their content across the digital landscape. Let us help you overcome all of these obstacles by getting started with Vydia today.