11-28-14
Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
You know, most wait until New Years to reflect on the past year and make goals for the future. I’ve realized I naturally begin this process as soon as the sun slants into what I learned growing up to call Indian Summer. If I have the opportunity to have a peaceful Thanksgiving, my reflective state reaches it height.
As I sat out in the sun under a Colorado blue sky yesterday, not only was I counting my blessings, I was refocusing on what’s most important in my life. Simple is high on that list.
I realized I need to just focus on creating music and finding sponsors to enable me to do that.
Yes, I’ve chosen to create this unique entertainment streaming site to exclusively deliver my music as sponsored content, and yes, I believe it is a solution to what ails the music industry – but, even in spite of what is happening in music news, I’ve decided I’m not going to talk about it and join in the fray — I’m just going to do it. It is first a solution for MY music. Once I succeed, then we’ll see.
In line with “Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can,” (Arthur Ashe), I also decided my pilot site doesn’t need to be completely overhauled – it works. I decided it too just needed simplified. Do I still have my “home theater on a computer” dream – yes, but even this dream may not require a complete overhaul. Only a expert web developer can tell. One step at a time.
So, what does this mean for my sponsorship plan? It just means we focus on the music as sponsored content, which is all you would be doing anyway with your music. We won’t cloud the issue. We put any Ever Entertainment elements aside. Ever Entertainment, for all intents and purposes, is simply the internet property where our music as sponsored content is delivered.
After today, I’m also going to begin implementing my plan and just making occasional updates here. My grandma always said “the proof is in the pudding.” My success will be visible at Ever Entertainment.
On that note, we are to the Online section of Sere’s Marketing Plan Schedule. There are so many resources at your fingertips and the internet is such a fluid environment, any specific recommendations I could make to you would likely be obsolete quite quickly. I refer you to your favorite resources, but can at least share my philosophy with confidence: It’s business.
Seem too simple? Well everyone trying to sell you something on the internet or trying to sell their expertise on the internet is making it seem too complicated.
When I first looked at creating my first website, I looked at EVERYTHING!!!! I was not only looking at websites, hosting, tools – but I was for the first time looking at doing business on the internet.
Once I sorted through all of the get-rich-quick, and it’s-too-complicated-for-you-but-I’m-an-expert, I stood back and came full circle back to the simple “It’s Business.” It’s business, just like in the brick and mortar world, so just like in the terrestrial world, I look for straight talk and verifiable results. Don’t let anyone or anything online intimidate you. If it helps you to imagine you’re in your car driving and each website is a store and each ad is a billboard on the highway, than do that. You’ll find the gamut of options from DIY to pay to have it all done for you.
In whatever you choose to do, make sure everything reflects your brand. If you choose to let someone mold your brand for you, that’s fine – as long as it is something you can live with, feel good about and maintain ongoing.
If you’re like me, then you’re sifting through all of it looking for how to just be authentically you and keep the focus on the music and the message. I’m striving to keep the tail from wagging the dog.
For instance, I’m not interested in saying something I wouldn’t say in real life just to post something on social media. Who am I in real life – that’s who I want to be online. I’m also realistic that the internet equals the stage, so I’m very aware of only speaking and behaving on the internet the way I would on stage – because I am on stage!
So go forward in your online marketing to create your stage, seeking out the resources that make business sense and convey your brand in the best light.
It’s now time for me to get on the phone with sponsors… Hope this all helps! I wish you the best with your music!
DIY Music Sponsorship Journal – 11-28-14. Eliyora Entertainment LLC. Ever Entertainment® © Paradunai™LLC. All international rights reserved. All trademarks property of Paradunai™LLC. All personas, concepts and original songs created and performed by Sherese Chrétien.
