In this week’s Production Expert Podcast Mike Thornton is joined by Russ Hughes and PJ Gibbs both of whom have considerable experience of specialist marketing in the Pro Audio sector. They shed some light on how effective marketing can be achieved by single-person freelance creative businesses by following some simple principles and avoiding some common pitfalls.
Arturia
Arturia has a wide selection of software effects, including 3 Compressors, 3 Filters, 3 Preamps, and 3 Delays You'll Actually Use. The latest release, 3 Delays You'll Actually Use, includes Delay TAPE-201, Delay MEMORY BRIGADE, and the unique and experimental Delay ETERNITY. A bundle of selected effects, called the AudioFuse Creative Suite, is included with all AudioFuse audio interfaces. Visit arturia dot com to find out more on the Effects You'll Actually Use.
Talking Point
For most creatives marketing doesn’t come naturally. In addition, we often find it hard to big ourselves up. Having had conversations with a number of individuals, we wanted to find a way to support people, especially freelancers, working in audio post-production with marketing and PR. So far Russ and PJ have run 2 free Zoom Q&A sessions on effective marketing, one for music producers and a second for the audio post community. To help bring the area of marketing to a wider audience, we have asked Russ and PJ to share their knowledge and experience to help creatives learn to market themselves better.
Russ Hughes needs no introduction, as the founded the Experts websites over a decade ago, after seeing many audio professionals did not have free access to high-quality content, the rest they say is history.
What you might not be aware of is that Russ founded Sociatech, a global marketing agency for the music technology sector, helping both established brands and new start-ups grow from strength to strength, including working with Amazon, developing effective blogging strategies to help create passionate brand advocates.
PJ Gibbs is a skilled marketing consultant with over a decade of experience working for corporations in financial services, technology and creative industries, translating brand messages into marketing initiatives that bring qualified traffic, valuable leads, and loyal customers.
He has a degree in Music Technology, has toured on the UK underground DJ circuit and performed with several live electronic bands in South Wales.
In your Zoom sessions, you talk a lot about marketing empathy. What is so important about empathy?
Do you think it is important for creatives to consider themselves as a brand?
What’s the number one mistake businesses and especially freelancers, make?
Whats an easy way to manage your brand online and on social media?
Is a personal website or social network presence still relevant in the job market when competence and chemistry are surely our greatest selling points?
What is better as far as getting clients to know you and your studio? Building an organic social network or good old fashion e-mailing and calling prospective clients?
Source Elements
The Production Expert Podcast is made possible using ‘Source-Connect Now' from Source Elements, the free way to record high quality audio over the internet. Need to record an interview, or a podcast like this one, remotely? With 'Source-Connect Now', you can. Using a Chrome browser, you'll get ISDN equivalent quality audio, without the need to install any additional software. Register for your free account at the special page on the Source Elements website
Find Of The Week
Russ - The Fundamentals of Caring
PJ - Shift - A tool to help switching between multiple Google accounts
Mike - The Dig
RSPE Audio Solutions
RSPE Audio Solutions design, sell and install professional audio and video equipment. Their team are available by phone, live chat, or email to receive and process orders. They have everything you need to build or upgrade your home studio to ensure you can continue to work from home. If there is anything they can do to help, reach out or shop online at RSPEaudio.com