Improve the Profitability of Your Music Site

The Internet has transformed the business model of music makers and distributors worldwide. Just a few years ago, only major record labels had the resources to promote new artists. Today, new recording artists debut every hour on the hour, and they’re hawking their wares online. If you want to cash in on the digital music revolution, Conduit community toolbars can put a song in your heart, and a jingle in your pocket.

Independent websites allow local musicians to become international players, as they deliver their music directly to fans. But with so many independent musicians and music-promotion sites out there, website publishers need a smart marketing plan if they want to break through the noise. At the same time, they need to break through the music-should-be-for-free mindset, and inspire their newly found fans to actually put some money down – whether it’s for a CD, a digital song download, or souvenir merchandise.

A Constant Connection
Conduit community toolbars give music fans a constant connection to the bands they love. By creating a customized toolbar and offering it as a free download, you’ll be setting the stage for a mini-advertising campaign – one that sits right at the top of the browser window, reminding fans about your most important marketing message whenever they’re online.

Here’s how it works: one of your school-age listeners is online, looking for material for a five-page essay on the War of 1812. Suddenly, the scrolling marquee on your toolbar announces that you’ve just uploaded new concert video. With apologies to Mr. Marks the history teacher, it’s no contest – within seconds, your fan is back at your site, where sales are made.

Toolbars can also appeal directly to the pocketbook. You can offer special promotions exclusively for toolbar subscribers – an early-bird discount on your soon-to-be-released CD, for example, or a sell-off of last year’s promotional tour poster from Japan. And did your big show in Buffalo fall through? Post it on your toolbar, and see if any Buffalo-area fans can find you a replacement gig!

Win More Fans – With Fun!
Conduit toolbars can be customized with a nearly endless selection of gadgets that build your fan base and increase your sales. You can offer a customized radio station that plays only your songs, or record a video blog that documents your adventures on the road. You can also add “bells and whistles” that appeal to everyone, including games, newsfeeds, applications and weather reports. Designed by you to fit your target audience, your toolbar reminds fans about your music 24/7. What’s more important in terms of profit, however, all of these “add ons” serve as always-on, click-through points to your sales site.

Share Toolbars, Share Music Content, Make Money
Conduit toolbars – as well as all their individual features – are designed for easy sharing via social networking hubs like Facebook and MySpace. Not only does this help you raise your profile and win new fans, it can also make you money. By joining the Conduit Rewards Program you can earn performance-based revenue based on the sharing of syndicated content, and toolbar installs. Music site publishers who join the Rewards program can track their daily revenue using Conduit’s reporting system – so they can cash out and rock out at the same time!