The smartest way to schedule a years worth of content

Friday, May 19, 2023 by Gemma Wilkins | Digital Marketing

I am all about taking the easy way out. If you are you tired of spending hours every week struggling to plan and schedule your social media content then I have found the easiest tool to simplify your content marketing strategy AND do it quickly. 

Ahead we'll explore how Missinglettr can save you time in your music studio social media efforts by scheduling a year's worth of engaging social media content created entirely from content on your webpage. Say seeya to the stress of daily posting and g'dato a streamlined and efficient content planning process.

Streamline Your Workflow with Smart Automation: 

With just a few clicks, you can create a comprehensive content calendar for the entire year. The platform analyzes your blog posts and automatically generates captivating social media snippets, complete with eye-catching visuals and hashtags. 

No more wracking your brain for coming up with captions and searching for suitable images. This program does the heavy lifting for you, ensuring your content stands out in the crowded social media landscape.

Time-Saving Benefits of Bulk Scheduling

A key feature is its ability to schedule multiple social media posts in bulk. Rather than manually scheduling each post one by one, you can save an immense amount of time by setting up an entire year's worth of content with just a few simple steps using the pre-determined campaign durations. 

Spend less time on repetitive tasks and more time on what matters most—engaging with your audience and growing your music education business.

Tailored Content for Maximum Engagement: 

Missinglettr seems to understand the nuances between different platforms. For example if you are targeting Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn, there are tailored templates and suggestions to make your content shine. From hashtags to emojis and post lengths, the tools you needed to captivate your audience and drive meaningful interactions seem to be accommodated. 

With Missinglettr's user-friendly platform, scheduling a year's worth of social media content has never been easier. Say goodbye to the time-consuming process of daily content planning and embrace the efficiency and convenience of automated scheduling. Streamline your workflow, save valuable time, and focus on what you do best—teaching and inspiring through your music education business. 

If you want to read a more indepth review, I go into it more here.

The absolute first step to adding affiliate income to a music business

Monday, May 15, 2023 by Gemma Wilkins | Digital Marketing

Ah, the joys of being a music teacher. There's nothing quite like the satisfaction of watching your students learn and grow, and seeing the joy on their faces when they play their first song. But let's face it, sometimes the pay can be a little lackluster, and you might find yourself wanting to diversify your income streams. That's where affiliate marketing can come in!

But wait, what is affiliate marketing you ask?

Affiliate marketing is a type of performance-based marketing where a business rewards an affiliate (a person or company) for each customer brought in through their marketing efforts. Essentially, the affiliate promotes a product or service to their audience and earns a commission from the business for every sale or lead that is generated from their referral.

For example, let's say you are a music teacher and you join an affiliate program for a company that sells digital sheet music. You would then receive a unique link to their website that you could share with your students, followers or anyone else interested in purchasing sheet music. When those people click on your link and makes a purchase, you would earna commission from the sale.

Bonus dollars

Affiliate marketing can be a great way for music teachers to earn extra income by promoting products or services that align with their teaching style or the needs of their students. It allows you share resources you find helpful and earn a commission in the process.

Affiliate marketing can be a fantastic way to supplement your income as a music teacher. It's a way to promote products and services that you love, and earn a commission for each sale that comes through your unique affiliate link. 

But where do you start? Here are some tips for getting started with affiliate marketing as a music teacher.

Find a niche

The first step to becoming a successful affiliate marketer is to find your niche or specialty. As a music teacher, you might want to focus on promoting products and services that are related to music education, or you may have other passions and interests that woud want to pursue. 

In the music niche it could include online courses, sheet music, instruments, or even software that helps with music composition. By narrowing down your niche and passion, you'll be able to create content that speaks directly to your target audience and builds trust with your followers. 

Research your competitors and see what niches they are targeting. Look for gaps in the market that your competitors are not addressing, and consider targeting those.

Choose the right affiliate program

Not all affiliate programs are created equal. It's important to choose an affiliate program that aligns with your values and provides high-quality products or services. You should also look for programs that offer competitive commission rates and provide marketing materials to help you promote their products. Some popular affiliate programs for music teachers include Amazon Associates, Musician's Friend, and Sheet Music Plus.

You want to choose something that you trust and that you feel 100% okay with associating yourself with. Promoting someone elses product means that the customer support will be provided by their company, not you. So you want to make sure it is reliable and of value. 

One simple way to search for affiliate programs is to use affiliate program directories or networks. These websites allow you to search for affiliate programs by category or keyword and provide information about commission rates, payment options, and other program details. Some popular affiliate program directories and networks include:

ShareASale

ClickBank

Digistore24

Partnerstack

Another way to find affiliate programs is to search for them directly on the websites of companies or brands that you are interested in promoting. Look for a link in the website footer that says "Affiliates" or "Partner Program" to see if they have an affiliate program that you can join. You can even type into google "company name affiliate program" if you have a certain company in mind. 

It's also worth noting that some niche-specific affiliate programs may not be listed on directories or networks, so it can be helpful to do some online research to find out if there are any relevant programs in your industry or niche.

Free distribution method - Build a following

Once you've found your speciality and the right program, it's time to start building a following. You may already have a nice data base from your teaching experience and you want to look to build it with those interested in your specialty. This can be done through social media, email marketing, or your own website. 

Social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Tiktok can be great for building an audience, but it's important to remember that these platforms can be fickle. Algorithms can change, and your content might not always be seen by your followers. That's why it's important to also have an email list or your own website that you can use to communicate with your audience directly.

Create valuable content

This could be blog posts, social media posts, videos, or even podcasts. The key is to create content that provides value to your audience and establishes you as an authority in your niche. For example, you could create a video review of a new instrument or a blog post about the benefits of learning music theory. By providing valuable content, you'll be more likely to earn the trust of your audience and increase your chances of earning commissions. 

Take time to research how others are displaying their content and in the beginning consider mimicking that style, with your own touches until you gain confidence in your own strategy. 

Be transparent

As an affiliate marketer, it's important to be transparent with your audience about your affiliate relationships. This means disclosing that you will earn a commission if they make a purchase through your affiliate link. I disclose it here in my privacy policy and in every email that has an affiliate link. Being transparent builds trust with your audience and ensures that they don't feel misled.

In conclusion, affiliate marketing can be a fantastic way for music teachers to supplement their income. By finding your niche, building a following, creating valuable content, choosing the right affiliate program, and being transparent, you can start earning commissions and building a successful affiliate marketing business. So go forth and promote those music-related products and services with pride!

To learn more about implementing these steps, then I highly recommend downloading my free starte guide resource, available here.

Instagram Strategies to Market your Online Lessons

Friday, May 12, 2023 by Gemma Wilkins | Digital Marketing

Are you ready to take your online music lessons to the next level and reach more students? Then it's time to focus on your Instagram strategy. Instagram is a powerful tool for promoting your online music lessons and engaging with potential students. In this article, we'll explore some creative and effective ways to use Instagram to promote your online music lessons.

Define your audience and goals

Before you start posting on Instagram, it's important to define your audience and goals. Who are you targeting with your online music lessons? What are your goals for promoting your lessons on Instagram? Are you trying to increase your student base, build brand awareness, or establish yourself as an expert in your field?

Once you've defined your audience and goals, you can tailor your Instagram strategy accordingly. For example, if you're targeting parents of young children, you may want to focus on posting fun and engaging content that appeals to kids, such as music-themed games and activities. If you're targeting adult learners, you may want to post more in-depth content about music theory and technique.

Use high-quality visuals

Instagram is a visual platform, so it's important to use high-quality visuals in your posts. This means using clear, well-lit photos and videos that showcase your online music lessons in action. You may also want to use graphic design tools to create eye-catching graphics and promotional materials.

In addition to using high-quality visuals, it's also important to maintain a consistent visual style across your posts. This can help to establish your brand and make your Instagram page more visually appealing to potential students.

Post engaging content

To attract and retain followers on Instagram, you need to post engaging content that adds value to their lives. This can include music-themed memes, inspiring quotes, behind-the-scenes glimpses into your teaching process, and more.

You may also want to consider hosting Instagram Live sessions, where you can answer questions from potential students and showcase your teaching style in real-time. This can help to build trust with potential students and establish you as an authority in your field.

Use hashtags strategically

Hashtags are a powerful tool for increasing your reach on Instagram. By including relevant hashtags in your posts, you can make your content more discoverable to potential students who are searching for music-related content.

When using hashtags, it's important to use a mix of broad and specific hashtags. Broad hashtags like #music and #musicteacher can help to increase your reach to a wider audience, while more specific hashtags like #onlinepianolessons and #violinlessonsonline can help to target your content to potential students who are specifically looking for online music lessons. 

But... how do I actually find the related hashtags?

• Look at popular hashtags in your niche: Research hashtags that are commonly used by other music educators or music-related accounts. This will give you an idea of what people are searching for and what hashtags are trending in your industry.

• Use keyword research tools: Use tools like RiteTag or Hashtagify to research relevant hashtags for your niche. These tools will suggest relevant hashtags based on the keywords you enter.

• Check out your competitors: Look at the hashtags your competitors are using and consider using similar ones in your own posts. This can help you tap into their audience and reach new followers.

• Check out your followers' hashtags: Look at the hashtags your followers are using in their own posts. This can give you insight into what they're interested in and what hashtags they're searching for.

• Mix it up: Don't use the same hashtags for every post. Mix it up and experiment with different combinations of hashtags to see which ones perform the best.

Remember to use relevant hashtags that are specific to your content, and don't use too many. Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post, but using too many can make your posts look spammy. Aim for 5-10 hashtags per post, and make sure they are relevant and add value to your content.

Use ALL the functions available to you to engage

Instagram Reels is a short-form video feature that allows you to create engaging and shareable content. Reels can be up to 60 seconds long and can include music, text, and effects. They appear on the Reels tab on your profile and can also be shared to your feed or Stories.

Instagram's algorithm is touted to favour Reels, so they are more likely to appear in the Explore tab, where users can discover new content and accounts. This means that Reels can help you reach new audiences and gain new followers.

Reels are designed to be fun, creative, and shareable, so they have the potential to generate high levels of engagement. By creating Reels that resonate with your audience, you can increase likes, comments, and shares, which can help boost your overall reach.

Instagram Stories are a series of short, vertical photos or videos that disappear after 24 hours. They appear at the top of the Instagram app and can be used to share behind-the-scenes glimpses of your life, promote your content, and connect with your audience.

Stories allow you to share more personal and casual content that can help build deeper connections with your audience. By sharing your personality, your interests, and your daily life, you can create a more relatable and authentic brand that resonates with your followers.

Stories appear at the top of the Instagram app, so they are the first thing that users see when they open the app. This means that by posting regularly on Stories, you can increase your visibility and stay top-of-mind with your audience.

Stories also allow you to add clickable links, so you can use them to drive traffic to your website, blog, or online music lessons. By adding links (via stickers) or "see more" buttons, you can make it easy for your audience to take action and engage with your content.

Engage with your followers

Finally, it's important to engage with your followers on Instagram. This means responding to comments and direct messages in a timely manner, and showing appreciation for your followers by liking and commenting on their posts.

You may also want to consider running Instagram contests and giveaways to incentivize engagement and attract more followers. For example, you could offer a free online music lesson to one lucky follower who shares your post and tags a friend.

Instagram can be a powerful tool for promoting your online music lessons and engaging with potential students. By defining your audience and goals, using high-quality visuals, posting engaging content, using hashtags strategically, and engaging with your followers, you can create an effective Instagram strategy that helps you to reach more students and grow your online music lesson business.

How a Songwriting Course Boosted My Confidence in Teaching Songwriting to Students

Wednesday, May 10, 2023 by Gemma Wilkins | Resources

Identifying a gap in knowledge

As a piano teacher and someone who loves singing, I've always found songwriting to be a bit of a mystery. Whilst I have studied both piano and singing, songwriting was taught to me in one off workshops and youtube videos. While I enjoy listening to my favourite songs and analyzing their structures and lyrics, I've never felt confident enough to write my own. And when it came to teaching songwriting to my students, I struggled to explain the process in a way that was easy for them to understand.

That all changed when I came across the Superior Songwriting course. Initially, I was sceptical about whether a course could really help me become better at actually teaching songwriting, but I decided to give it a try, and I'm so glad I did.

To skip the description and jump to the product I am talking about, find it here

The course covers everything from the basics of songwriting to the more advanced techniques used by professional songwriters. It's presented in a step-by-step fashion, which made it easy to follow and apply in my own time. 

Below I have compiled the main pros and cons I identified by choosing this type of course over in person or just self-teaching via other online resources. It's important to note that these pros and cons can vary based on the specific course and individual circumstances. It's important to consider your own learning style, goals, and available resources when deciding which approach to take.

Pros and Cons	Self Guided Course (Superior Songwriting)	In person Course	Self Teaching
Pros
Convenience	Can be completed at your own pace and on your own schedule.	Set schedule with regular class times.	Complete control over the pace of learning.
Cost	More affordable than in-person courses.	Often more expensive than self-guided courses.	Free or low-cost.
Flexibility	Ability to skip over topics already mastered and focus on areas needing improvement.	Able to ask the instructor questions in real-time and receive immediate feedback.	Total flexibility to study what, where, and when you want.
Cons
Self motivation	May lack motivation without the structure of a traditional classroom.	Attendees are expected to keep pace with the instructor and the class.	Requires a high level of self-discipline and motivation.
Feedback	May not receive feedback until the end of the course, if at all.	Receive feedback in real-time, but may not be personalized or comprehensive.	No feedback from an instructor, other than self-assessment.
Interaction	Limited interaction with other students or an instructor.	Opportunity for interaction with other students and an instructor, but may not be as convenient as online options.	No interaction with other students or an instructor.
Accountability	No one to hold you accountable for completing the course.	Instructor and other students provide accountability.	No one to hold you accountable for completing the course.

Business minded approach 

What I found most valuable was the section on the business side of songwriting. The course goes into detail about how to market  songs and pitch them to industry insiders, which was something I had never really thought about before, and it gave me ideas on how to answer student questions about musician pathways. 

As I worked through the course, I began to feel more confident in my own songwriting abilities. I started incorporating songwriting exercises into my lessons with my students, and I was thrilled to see how excited they were about it. It has been amazing to see how quickly they picked up the concepts and started writing their own songs, with enthusiasm. 

Now, I feel much more comfortable teaching songwriting to my students. I have a better understanding of the process, and I can explain it in a way that makes sense to them. And I'm even starting to write my own songs with more confidence!

So Overall, if you're someone who's interested in songwriting but feels a bit intimidated by the process, I highly recommend checking out the Superior Songwriting course. It's helped me become a better songwriter and teacher, and I'm sure it can do the same for you.

To see the full details on this songwriting course, click here