How to promote yourself as a DJ and stand out from the crowd

How to get known as a dj? How to be a professional dj and get booked? Learn how to become a DJ and successfully promote yourself to play in clubs?

Imagine how many DJs want the same thing as you right now? How many hardworking musicians are competing just to be recognized as such and be known both in their local market and on a global level?

There are a lot of them. In fact, there are more than you can imagine. So what'sets you apart? How are you able to make a name for yourself as a DJ?

Well, it takes more than just great talent to stand out and get noticed in the music world these days.

That's why, to be successful, it's important for you to know that, whatever your expertise, you need to be able to develop a solid and consistent marketing strategy to get your voice heard by as many people as possible. And especially your potential customers.

For the rest of this article we won't explain how to dj. We consider that you already have the necessary skills and that you don't need to learn how to mix to become a DJ. Here, we'll give you 4 techniques to help you promote yourself effectively as a DJ:

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Note that these days DJing doesn't just require excellent technical skills. It's not enough to have a mixing desk and to work alongside party organizers to break through and be a self-employed dj. No.

His success is mainly based on the way he promotes himself. Whether it's through social media, flyers or word of mouth.

And in case you're still self-employed and don't have the means to hire a team to take care of this for you, it's up to you to put everything in place to be recognized as a DJ gain visibility and manage your communication.

Create a brand image worthy of a good DJ

Establishing a brand is a must. It consists of a name and logo that will speak for you as a DJ. Every good business, whatever the market, has a brand that perfectly represents its business.

You want to be recognized as a DJ, make sure you stand out and to do that don't hesitate to take inspiration from the best.

If you're starting out as a disc jockey, it's important that you find the perfect brand to talk about you and your music. Something that's memorable, recognizable and can be easily associated with you.

This will give a whole new dimension to the image you project and the engagement of your community.

Take your time planning this step, as it's very important and, in most cases, difficult to take back.

Once your logo has been published and announced, it won't take long for your fans and subscribers to get used to it. They will then remember you every time they hear your name and see your logo.

Changing your brand over the long term can affect you. Not to the point of destroying what you've built, but it will stir up your career in some way.

It's important to understand that your brand name and logo will be printed on all your promotional items: music posters, business cards, T-shirts, etc.

With this in mind, a well-thought-out, well-designed logo will benefit your exposure and subsequent marketing efforts. It could actually contribute to your success as a DJ, while a poorly designed logo can potentially turn off your customers and fans.

When creating your brand, it's also crucial that you consider your personal style.

Don't forget that you're your own sponsor. Your personal preference for music should be reflected in your branding and clothing style.

Everything should go together, from your brand name, to your logo, to your style and the way you present yourself on social networks (more on this later). In general, the way you project yourself as an artist in the world.

Keep in mind that the brand you use to promote yourself as a DJ will forever personify you and your music. It will embody you as an artist and be your best agent. Even after you retire, your fans will remember your brand.

As Forbes explains: "Brands are psychology and science combined in the form of a promise brand, as opposed to a trademark. Products have a life cycle. Brands outlive products. Brands convey consistent quality, credibility and experience. Brands have value. Many companies put the value of their brand on their balance sheet.

Use the Internet and social networks to get known.

These days, it's easy to promote anything via the Internet. If you want to make a name for yourself as a DJ, it's imperative that you take advantage of this and always keep your subscribers and potential fans informed via your social networks.

Create a Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram accounts, Soundcloud, MixCloud, and use music apps and platforms like iTunes and Mixcrate to your advantage.

Also, do your best to constantly communicate with your fans. Comment from time to time, even if it's just to make them feel special.

Why? Because you're nothing without your fans. So you need to keep them loyal. Apart from you, your fans are the next people who can greatly help promote you.

The development of an Instagram account dedicated to your brand is, for example, a great way to engage your current community and find new fans.

You'll also be able to use the platform to target new prospects and customers. And if you don't have enough time, consider automating the management of your Instagram account to accelerate the development of your community and gain visibility.

It's important to understand that everything you publish and write on the Internet automatically becomes part of your brand, for life. Making blunders on social networks can be very costly.

Think before you post, especially if you're planning to publish on controversial topics that could alienate your fan base. To make sure you get started, here's an article featuring 27 tips for gaining Instagram followers.

Do some physical promotion.

The creativity and communication are your best weapons for survival in the music industry. Think of new ways to promote your music. Stand behind your brand like no other and always communicate.

You don't really need to talk to convey a message, you can communicate and reach people through posters, flyers and thoughtful posts on social networks.

Get the word out about your music and events in an eye-catching and remarkable way. The style of your communication is an integral part of your overall brand image and will help you become a recognized dj.

When using printed or digital flyers, be sure to coordinate the fonts and colors used throughout your brand. Use professional graphics and designs, and make sure that everything that represents your brand works well together.

Examine your print ads and ask yourself: "What message does my ad convey? Does it represent the type of music I sell? Does it embody me as an artist? Think about your target audience: what kind of attention would you like to attract? In order to make a name for yourself as a DJ, you first need to know your market!

There are many ways to successfully market your brand and make a name for yourself. It doesn't have to be difficult or expensive. Don't forget that all great things are born of the simplest ideas.

This doesn't mean, however, that you should neglect digital marketing, your website or your natural SEO on targeted keywords. These are all good ways of reaching your potential customers.

Develop your network to get known as a dj.

How can you become a DJ without developing your network?

Networking is essential, especially in such an industry where you face competition from countless other DJs who covet the same things you do. Building strong relationships with people in the industry will open up real opportunities for you.

If you don't know how to develop your network, we've found you a dedicated article.

Conclusion

You'll have understood that to make yourself known and be di on your own you'll need to make a good number of efforts that aren't necessarily related to music itself. But if you implement these recommendations you will more easily reach your goals.

Becoming a professional dj also means going through these promotional stages that later (we hope) other people will manage for you.

In the meantime, we're here to help you as much as we can with our Instagram automation tools.