What Do You Have to Promote?

Everyone puts in a lot of time and hard work trying to get noticed.  Whether it’s a record label, a potential endorsement opportunity, or a media outlet, so many brands are trying to get the attention of somebody.

But what about when they contact you?  Yes, it’s a borderline dream scenario.  Totally unsolicited, someone has contacted you because they’ve taken notice.  You have gotten on the radar of someone for some reason.  So now, what do you have to promote?

This afternoon I will be interviewed on a radio show that I’ve been on before (and even guest-hosted a couple times).  This time the host contacted me and asked if I wanted to come back on the show.  And, yes, his inquiry included, “Do you have something you want to promote?”

As the host of the weekly show, “Now Hear This Entertainment,” I find myself contacting potential guests to be interviewed.  Somehow, people end up on my radar that I determine are doing enough to substantiate an interview on NHTE.  They don’t necessarily have a new single, EP, or album that just came out.

However, they might talk about their “latest” release (which might have been five months ago).  Or they might be working on a new recording project.  In that case, they might even have a crowdfunding campaign going that they want to draw more attention to.  Some might be heading out on tour and wanting to get the word out about those dates.  Heck, the guest on the episode of NHTE that will be released the day after tomorrow (Tim Zach, NHTE 118) just launched a brand new website, so there is certainly a desire to get lots of eyeballs on it.  I’ve also had guests talk about a brand new video that just got released, so they’re still trying to get lots of views for that, say, on YouTube.  Of course, “American Idol” is now finished, but others might be talking about auditioning for “The Voice” or “America’s Got Talent.”

So when the question is posed to me, someone who is not a recording artist or a songwriter, do I have something to promote, I get creative.  Sure, I’m always happy to attract more listeners to NHTE.  And from there the logical segue is to Bruce’s Bonus Book (Volume 1 and/or Volume 2).  For that matter, I wouldn’t even shy away from talking about my weekly blog, to continue the quest to educate, to help, more people.  Of course, as you should as well with yours, I would always seize the opportunity to tell people to check out the various social media.  Plus, because of my heavy involvement with the show “Abbey Ridge Live,” I would even point people there.  Just like that show’s executive producer has been emphasizing, the idea is to be creative.  So just as I don’t conclude, “I have nothing to promote because I’m not a singer or songwriter,” so too should you not say, “I can’t accept an invitation for an interview – I’ve got nothing going on these days.”

Are the wheels turning?  Did you think that you would really have nothing to talk about but now a light has gone on in your head?  It conjures up images of George Costanza saying, “That’s a show,” on the episode of “Seinfeld” when they were talking about what could substantiate content, a storyline, for a sitcom episode.  You’ve got something.  Now go promote it.