NAMM U - Marketing

NAMM welcomed global business expert Marcus Sheridan for a special online education series on sales and marketing in the time of COVID-19. The second part, “Timeless Marketing,” was held April 17 and looked at how to build a marketing plan for your business that stands the test of time and helps you become the voice of trust among your customers and in the community. Sheridan is an internationally acclaimed business expert and named 1 of 20 “Speakers You Don’t Want to Miss” by Forbes magazine. He’s also the host of previous NAMM U Breakfast Sessions and, most recently, the NAMM Re

As the COVID-19 situation evolves, there’s still demand for musical instruments as people turn to music for entertainment, personal development and stress relief. And for music retailers that can safely access their inventories, there’s an opportunity to continue doing business on the internet. In this online session, Sebastian Fabal, Reverb’s senior director of operations and outreach, shares the biggest trends happening with internet retail during this unprecedented time. He also offers best practices for retailers selling online or through third-party platforms during the peri

NAMM welcomed global business expert Marcus Sheridan for a special online education series on sales and marketing in the time of COVID-19. The first part, “The Virtual Business,” was held April 10 and looked at how to use video and technology right now to not only continue doing business but to also find new opportunities. Sheridan is an internationally acclaimed business expert and named 1 of 20 “Speakers You Don’t Want to Miss” by Forbes magazine. He’s also the host of previous NAMM U Breakfast Sessions and, most recently, the NAMM Retail Innovation Summit. He became known for

At 2019 Summer NAMM, Madison Revell of Inbound AV shared five simple design principles for your website and e-commerce platform to achieve more sales and improve relationships with your customers. Here are highlights. (Watch the video to view the full session.) The Power of Design Revell stated that great design versus good design will give you a competitive edge in online sales. According to Revell, three things are essential to creating a positive online experience and gaining trust with your customers: Identity. It’s a direct reflection of who you are and how you do business.

At The 2020 NAMM Show, Digitopia CEO Frank Cowell kicked off the first session at the NAMM Idea Center with a fast-paced download on online marketing. Cowell related that many business owners feel they’re drowning in a sea of competition and marketplace saturation. He shared strategies to cut through the online chaos and counteract customer confusion, starting with an understanding of how not to approach online marketing. 7 Biggest Digital Marketing Mistakes 1. Most digital programs are broad and generic. You have multiple audiences who each need specific messaging. 2. Most digi

At 2019 Summer NAMM, Mallory Nees, social media manager for Reverb, shared how to perfect your Instagram game. Nees revealed social media is often trial and error and discovering what works best for your business. Check out the session video to get sure-fire tips and ideas to serve up hot content and create impact on Instagram. Here are highlights from Nees’ session. Tip 1: Learn About Your Audience Nees stated that it’s smart to confirm what you already know about your customers by reviewing the data. Instagram Insights is a good place to start. Make sure you have a business pr

At The 2019 NAMM Show, leading social media consultant Jenn Herman led a fast-paced session on Instagram for business. She covered how to use Instagram to increase sales, get new customers and connect with fans. She also discussed new Instagram updates for music businesses. Here are session highlights. (Watch the video for the full session.) Use the power of Instagram. Herman noted that Instagram has some of the highest engagement rates of all the social media platforms, averaging 3 percent. (Facebook is less than 1 percent, and Twitter is less than a quarter of a percent.)She dec

At The 2019 NAMM Show, digital marketing expert and CEO of Digitopia Frank Cowell shared how to transform strangers into raving fans in the digital age. According to Cowell, you’re ultimately trying to build a brand for your business in today’s crowded marketplace. Cowell remarked that there are no tricks, shortcuts or overnight results to make this happen. Once you build an online marketing strategy, it requires a long-term commitment and effort to get results and a brand that lasts. (Watch the session video to get the free one-page Digitopia Utopia Methodology download.) The Cha

At The 2019 NAMM Show, Chris Bates and Tyler Marolf of TeacherZone and Los Rios Rock School shared why and how to start a podcast. Bates and Marolf have produced 21 podcast episodes for their music lesson and performing arts business. The podcasts have been streamed more than 8,000 times and now have listeners all over the world. Here are highlights from their session. (Watch the video for the full session.) Why Podcast? Podcasting builds community. And for small retailers, it can do so in an increasingly global world. Podcasting also builds a tribe. Your business may be music re

At The 2019 NAMM Show, Madison Revell, lead designer for marketing firm Inbound AV, shared trade tips to help music businesses enhance their websites. Revell cited the five most common website design mistakes and offered easy solutions through simple design hacks. According to Revell, if your website looks good, then your business and brand looks good. (Watch the full video for real-life website redesigns.) PROBLEM #1: TOO MUCH CONTENT Too much content on a web page can be overwhelming to the eye. Plus, it can take too long to digest, and viewers will lose interest, as they’re us

Leading social media consultant Jenn Herman hosted a session on current Facebook success strategies at The 2019 NAMM Show. The presentation offered practical tips to help you make the most effective use of your time and business presence on the social media platform. Here are highlights. (Watch the video for the full session.) Every post should have a purpose. If your content doesn’t serve a purpose or isn’t of value, it won’t generate engagement. You need to know your “why.” What’s your end goal? Your content strategy should be to educate, entertain and provide value—not to sell

New changes to Facebook are and have been impacting your audience reach and engagement, yet there’s no instruction manual to help you navigate these waters. In this session for music retailers, brands and musicians, Dan Shinder, founder and CEO of Drum Talk TV, shows how to make the most of your Facebook presence. Shinder has grown Drum Talk TV’s Facebook page to more than 1 million active followers organically, with no paid or boosted ads. Here, he reveals his best tips to get maximum reach and engagement, even—and especially—in lieu of these changes. He also explores changes to