Are you looking solutions on how to promote your internet radio?
Well, you've labored tirelessly to create captivating shows...
Curated great songs that evoke all sought of emotions —even polished your radio voice. But...
Where are the listeners? I've 19 answers for you.
Let's get this post rolling:
1. Create a radio website
Look:
A radio website is your friendly face on the web. It’s your salesperson, spokesperson, and your PR rep.
Make it outstanding, and visitors will fall in love with you.
What else can web pages do?
On the homepage:
You can embed an HTML 5 player. This will give visitors an easy way to tune-in:
You can also:
- Add live chat to communicate with fans in real-time.
- Display a copy of your weekly schedule.
- Sell advertisement banners to earn money.
- Embed a widget to display live data like the number of live listeners.
On the about page:
Tell visitors why you do what you do. Or feature short bios of your team members.
Don't forget to include your studio's location and contact details.
Don't have a website?
You can create a free site with wordpress.com or wix.com. It's also important to have widgets on your radio website.
2. Publish a blog and keep it busy
You know:
Static pages on the web don't cut it. You need a busy site that is regularly updated with content.
That's why every radio website needs a blog for sharing news, promoting shows & more! See some of the topics to write about on your radio blog.
Get everyone on your station to help create the content.
And if you don't like writing, you can hire a freelancer on Fiverr or Upwork.
Types of content for blogs include:
- Lists
- Interviews
- Infographics
- Audio
- Surveys
- Newsflash
- Guest posts
- Tutorials
- Videos
3. Stay active on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook
"Post your photos on social media. Tag us. Like our page! DM your song requests on my Instagram."\
I hear this all the time on my fave radio stations.
So, if you're not yet on social media, it's never too late to start. Here are things social sites can do for you:
As of the first quarter of 2018, the platform had more than two billion monthly users.
And it has a ton of cool features. For instance...
Some radios are selling their branded merchandise on Facebook. Also, you can link an existing e-commerce store.
Advertisements are very targeted.
You can create ads that segment people based on their age, gender, hobbies, location, relationship status and more.
You can create events and invite other users to attend. When you get verified, you can share live video or audio.
With 280 characters or less, you share your message, thoughts, opinions, jokes, and more.
You may also tweet photos, videos, and GIFs.
On your Twitter bio—which should be succinct—include your website's link.
We also found a great resource about Facebook and Twitter for audience interaction from Radio I Love It.
Looking to target young listeners...great
Instagram has about 1 billion users and 31% of the users according to Statista are between the ages of 18-24 and 30% from 24-34 years.
To find fans, search for industry-related hashtags. Use stunning photos and videos.
4. Submit your station to radio directories
Radio directories place your station in front of international listeners searching for online radio stations.
They categorize radio stations according to the genre of music or region to make it easy for the listener to find the right station.
Most directories are free. So, list your radio on as many directories as you can. Discover over 25 radio directories.
5. Host giveaways & contests
Consider this:
...today on the morning drive you decide to give out a million dollars and a brand-new car.
How will people react? Crazy, right?
The news will spread like wildfire. Your phone lines will flood with callers.
Everyone will know your name. You’ll become famous.
Hey, I know you can't give out a million bucks...yet.
Free tickets or a $30 gift card can get listeners equally excited!
Sometimes gifts are not necessary. You can even host fifteen seconds of fame and other radio contests.
6. Creating memorable radio imaging
Your radio imaging ( that includes intros, jingles, voice-overs, liners & promos)—identifies, engages, markets and furthers your radio station's brand.
They need to be unforgettable, memorable, and unique.
In fact, one station id has stuck with me for years, "It’s 88.9 FM the people's radio."
Depending on your budget, you can have freelancers to seasoned companies create your radio imaging.
Is there a sweeper or jingle you absolutely can’t forget? Put it in the comments below.
7. Try your luck at guerrilla marketing
Guerrilla marketing is done in public places like on the street, public beaches or subways.
It relies on the element of surprise to grab attention and promote services & products.
It's really low-cost making it ideal for small businesses.
Here is one of the most famous guerrilla marketing campaign by the Copenhagen Zoo:
8. Distribute flyers and posters
Flyers & posters are old-school but still effective and not to mention cheap.
You don't need glossy full-color flyers. Cut costs with photocopied leaflets.
And if you don't have mad design skills...
...with online tools like Canva and Spark, you can create pro-level designs!
About the issue of distribution...
You can pin your posters pretty much anywhere. But abide by your local rules to avoid hefty fines or jail.
For flyers, hand them out during events, in the middle of the street, or wherever your potential listener hangs out.
Don't delete the electronic copy. Instead, distribute it to your contact list.
9. Ask your listeners to promote your radio station
Recommendations are powerful:
—92% of consumers trust recommendations from friends and family members than all forms of advertising.
So don't fail to ask your listeners to spread the good news about your station.
Remember...active radio listeners tend to be loyal.
If they listen to you every day, engage in your station’s activities like calling-in, it's a given that they will promote your internet radio station.
Say please, and they won’t let you down.
10. Record shows and post them for people later
You can produce video content:
For instance, tape radio interviews and post them on your YouTube channel. You can also broadcast live on YouTube.
Presenting your content in more than one format broadens its reach. And if you don’t own a video camera?
Most smartphones have decent cameras. Creating a channel on YouTube is also free.
If your channel kicks off, you can monetize it and earn some money.
Distribute your audio content:
It's fairly simple to do...
And there several platforms you can upload your radio shows:
- YouTube
- Mixcloud
- SoundCloud
- See more.
11. Become an on-air talent people love
People love their presenters....as much as they love the music a station plays.
Fortunately—you can work on becoming a great presenter by:
- Developing strong social media skills.
- Connecting with your fans on air and off the air.
- Having a strong on-air presence with lots of energy.
- Becoming great at creating other forms of content like videos or blog posts.
- Working on your production skills including writing and voicing scripts.
- Knowing your audience tastes in and out.
- Improving your personal presentation during public appearances.
- Planning and preparing well for your shows.
- And more!
A lot of work goes into becoming a great host. Some of these skills take years to master.
12. Cross-promotion
Scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours:\
You promote another station or artist to your audience.
And in return, they promote you to their network. It's based on reputations.
So take note—of the reputation and credentials of the other party.
You must also prove your worth. For instance, showing that you have a respectable fan base.
Though it sounds like a free way to promote your internet radio station—sometimes the other party may ask for a fee.
Action plan:\
Find upcoming artists in your genre on platforms like SoundCloud, Facebook, NoiseTrade, FMA, (and other music sites) and connect with them. You can offer to play & promote their music. In exchange, have them post links to your radio on their social media and mention your radio's name to their fans.
13. Create a podcast series
Podcasting is hot and fresh! And there solid reasons to create a podcast-esque radio series:
First, everyone is doing it from regular folk, celebrities to big commercial radios!
Second, the numbers are great!
According to Nielsen Podcast Insights, 50% of homes in America are podcast fans.
In 2017, a survey in Canada revealed that 34% of adults—had listened to podcasts in the past year.
Thirdly, podcasts and radio shows aren't that different.
Instead of a live broadcast, you'll be allowing people to listen when they want.
14. Build an email list
Emails may help you retain your listeners.
And there are several things you can send out like news, upcoming events and top stories.
You require a website and an email service provider.
Then—you get subscribers. Okay, it's not automatic to get hundreds of new signups.
You need to offer an incentive (giving visitors a reason for signing up)
Consider creating an opt-in giveaway. And then promote it on social media.
Alternatively, offer web visitors something free like an exclusive guide to this and that or an e-book.
Did you know that: The majority of emails are opened on mobile devices.
15. Do something newsworthy and...
...write a press release about it.
...then send it to newspapers or publications in your field!
Press releases can effectively promote your radio station's activities.
Like upcoming shows, events, awards, charitable incentives or anything else people will find interesting.
Remember the five W's of journalism "who, what, when, where, and why."
16. Sponsor or host events, festivals & concerts
Radio stations co-sponsor events with the aim of increasing the reach of their client's ads.
Event coordinators also rely on radios to increase ticket sales.
So, participating in an event or hosting one could help promote your internet radio station.
17. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
SEO is the process of trying to rank your website higher on search engines such as Google or Bing.
Some SEO techniques include keyword optimization, link building, creating mobile-friendly pages among others.
Aim to be on the first page for a particular keyword because you're more likely to get clicks.
18. Traditional marketing
Does it make sense for radios to pay for advertising?
Conventionally, sponsors should be the ones buying radio spots. Well…
Psychologists say that people need to be exposed to messages repeatedly to break down their perpetual defenses.
This makes traditional marketing techniques like billboards and TV ads very useful.
So, yes radios can also benefit from ads. It’s a fast way to build brand awareness.
If you've additional revenue, and you can justify your ad spend, go for it.
19. Post on relevant forums
Find music forums on the web like Music Banter, sign up and start discussing your radio with other users.
But don't spam everywhere about your radio or pester people to listen.
Be friendly, show your peers how great your radio is, give them happy reasons to tune-in.
Share tips on how you promote your internet radio station
If you've some ideas on how to draw more listeners, drop us a comment and help your fellow broadcasters.
And before you dash off to some other part of the web or close this tab, I have a question for you.
Do you want a hassle free way to manage your online radio? Then start your internet radio with us—