FVMusicBlog

When marketing your music, one element can be the make-or-break factor of getting people to pay attention and take action to listen to it. 

Testimonials.

Testimonials are simple things, but they all too often get overlooked.

They are super important for your music marketing tool kit and can increase your conversion rates of people who actively click the link to hear your tunes by a whooping 10x.

What Exactly Is A Testimonial?

Testimonials are statements that praise or endorse a brand, product, or service.

In this case, your music.

They are a trustworthy way to show potential fans how worthwhile your music is.

It’s all well and good you telling someone how amazing your tunes are, but it’s an entirely different matter when it comes from an unbiased source. 

Testimonials come in a few different forms. They can be either written or filmed on video.

But there’s no getting around the fact they are VITAL to your music release campaign.

Why? 

Because testimonials can help to build trust, credibility and enhance your reputation all at once. 

Human nature is such that we want to save time and invest in things other people have liked.

As a fan, if you were looking for new music to listen to, would you be more inclined to waste time trawling through the 60,000 tracks uploaded to Spotify daily, or would you be more inclined to check out a band or artist recommended to you?

So make sure you include multiple testimonials in your music marketing materials to support your releases and get new ears on your music.

Where To Get Testimonials

There are many super effective ways to gather testimonials about your music. These include…

1. Fans and Audience Members: Encourage fans and audience members to provide testimonials about their experiences attending your performances or listening to your music. This can be through social media platforms, your website, or email newsletters.
2. Fellow Musicians and Industry Professionals: Seek testimonials from other musicians, producers, music journalists, or industry professionals who have worked with you or have seen your performances. These testimonials can carry weight within the music community.
3. Music Blogs and Online Magazines: Be active and reach out to music bloggers and online magazines that have featured your music or reviewed your performances. Ask if they would be willing to provide a testimonial based on their experiences with your work.
4. Music Schools and Workshops: If you’ve conducted workshops, taught music lessons, or collaborated with music schools, ask students or colleagues to provide testimonials about your teaching style, expertise, and professionalism.
5. Online Review Platforms: Encourage satisfied clients, fans, or collaborators to leave reviews and testimonials on online platforms such as Google My Business, Yelp, or specific music review sites.
6. Social Media Platforms: Utilize valid social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn to request testimonials from followers, friends, and connections who have interacted with your music or attended your performances.
7. Email Requests: Send personalized emails to individuals who have expressed positive feedback about your music or performances, asking if they would be willing to provide a testimonial for promotional purposes.

Where Should You Put Testimonials?

Musicians should strategically place testimonials in various locations to maximize their impact and reach. 

Here are some key places where musicians can showcase testimonials:

1. Website Homepage: Displaying testimonials prominently on the homepage of your website can immediately establish credibility with visitors and encourage them to explore further.
2. About Page: Include testimonials on your website’s About page to provide social proof and reinforce your credentials, experience, and expertise as a musician.
3. Press Kit: Incorporate testimonials into your electronic press kit (EPK) to provide journalists, promoters, and industry professionals with endorsements from satisfied fans, collaborators, and industry insiders.
4. Booking and Contact Pages: Including testimonials on booking and contact pages can reassure potential clients, venues, and event organizers about your professionalism, reliability, and the quality of your performances.
5. Social Media Profiles: Share testimonials on your social media profiles, especially on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X, to engage with your audience and build trust among your followers.
6. Email Newsletters: Feature testimonials in your email newsletters to keep subscribers engaged, showcase positive feedback, and encourage them to attend upcoming performances or purchase your music.
7. Promotional Materials: Incorporate testimonials into physical promotional materials such as flyers, posters, and brochures distributed at concerts, events, and music festivals.
8. Music Streaming Platforms: Utilize artist profiles on music streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and SoundCloud to showcase testimonials in your bio section or artist description.
9. Merchandise and Packaging: Include testimonials on merchandise, album covers, or packaging to provide additional value to fans and encourage them to make purchases.
10. Press Releases and Media Kits: Incorporate testimonials into press releases and media kits distributed to journalists, bloggers, and media outlets to strengthen your narrative and generate positive media coverage.

BigCommerce says, “72% of consumers say positive reviews and testimonials make them trust a business more, and 88% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.” That’s huge.

By strategically placing testimonials across various platforms and promotional materials, you can effectively leverage social proof to enhance your reputation, attract new fans, and secure valuable opportunities within the music industry.

5 Top Tips For Music Testimonials

Use visual content – A screenshot or a photo of the actual testimonial will work much better than simply typing so and so said this about me. Visual proof is truthful, professional and much more likely to make an impact. 

Focus on a tangible impact – Choose testimonials from your work that aren’t vague. For example, choose a testimonial specific to a previous music release or live performance showcasing your work. 

Trustworthy – Be genuine. Never makeup testimonials; it’s not worth it. Instead, use honest and transparent ones that promote your music and represent your sound well.

Keep them short: No one wants to read an essay. So keep testimonials short, 1-2 sentences, and allow the plus points to shine!

Grammar – Make sure the grammar is correct, and there are no spelling mistakes – Testimonials should look as professional as the rest of your brand.

So, if you only make one change to your music marketing toolkit this month, make sure you add testimonials to your marketing materials. They can single-handedly gain you credibility and make your music stand out in a sea of new releases.

FVMusicBlog 2024