Journey to $100 / DAY (selling beats)

DSIMP54 · Nov 14, 2014

Hello everyone,

I've been on Blackhat World for awhile as a "sponge" soaking up as much information as possible, but now it's time for me to get to posting.

Background:
I'm a beat maker (producer) and I specialize in Hip Hop Beats. My favorite style is more old school sampled beats, but I'm starting to get more into trap and mainstream type beats because, well, I wanna make money doing something that I love!

GOALS:
I'm huge on benchmarking, but I'm going to post my overall goal for the next 6 months: $1,000 / Month from Beat Sales and Production with a final goal of $100 a day.

CURRENT PHASE:
Building hype, primarily through soundcloud, but using other back up platforms such as youtube and twitter. FOCUS on soundcloud to drive traffic to my site. I haven't even started Ad words yet.

Daily Task List:

Soundcloud (Targeted Actions):
Comments 50/50
Likes 100/100
Follows 60/60
Group Posts 10/10

Youtube:
Post a beat video [x]

Twitter:
Schedule tweets for beats [x]

JustUnfollow:
Follow targeted users on twitter (up to limit) [x]

DAYS COMPLETED 3.

CURRENT PROFIT: $0.00

Notes: I got blocked from leaving comments on soundcloud for two days, so I think I'm going to start commenting only around 30 times daily to avoid this in the future.

ANY COMMENTS OR IDEAS, FEEL FREE TO ADD

Cheers,
HomageBeats (Derek)

affarmy · Nov 14, 2014

Relevant to my interests.

My son (15 yo) is also into soundcloud and wants to build beats (not profit but fun etc etc)> He currently samples UV boi, yunng lean, flume etc.

Any suggestions for the best apps/software to start with?

TIA,
Brian

DSIMP54 · Nov 14, 2014

That's awesome!

Get him started with a torrent... *am allowed to suggest that? -_-

I use ableton live, but really any DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) works.

I literally taught myself how to use ableton from youtube videos, listened to other producers, then eventually developed my own style.

So i'd say get a torrent of a DAW - Logic or Ableton, then get a MPK Mini (to program sounds).

Hope it works out for him!

davain · Nov 14, 2014

Definitely, definitely get into youtube.

Soundcloud is nice and all, so targeted, but still pretty saturated.

Find out how to make nice little videos/pictures for your youtube uploads and that's half the journey. Add some good beats to the mix and you got yourself a winner.

Also, I can check out your stuff if you want.

himanuzo · Nov 14, 2014

Keep updating this thread until you meet your goal - $100/day. Good luck!

DSIMP54 · Nov 14, 2014

davain said:
Definitely, definitely get into youtube.

Soundcloud is nice and all, so targeted, but still pretty saturated.

Find out how to make nice little videos/pictures for your youtube uploads and that's half the journey. Add some good beats to the mix and you got yourself a winner.

Also, I can check out your stuff if you want.

I can't add links yet...

My goal is to add one beat or beat making video every day for 30 days in a row. I don't know much about youtube marketing, plus there's higher potential for RIPPED beats. It's much easier to download youtube beats than soundcloud.

I'm keeping my options open, so thanks for your input!

migleezy · Nov 14, 2014

You should send your beats to youtube copyright free music channels , your music will be everywhere on youtube , and your name will be in most of those videos.
Good luck

zohar · Nov 14, 2014

affarmy said:
Relevant to my interests.

My son (15 yo) is also into soundcloud and wants to build beats (not profit but fun etc etc)> He currently samples UV boi, yunng lean, flume etc.

Any suggestions for the best apps/software to start with?

TIA,
Brian

Definitely Fruity Loops, I use it for 12 years straight now. it's so much fun and easy to use, I think it's the king of intuitive software. Check http://www.imagineline.com

Anyway, sorry for being offtopic, good luck with your journey op.

davids355 · Nov 14, 2014

Good luck on your journey mate, don't give up until you make it.

DSIMP54 · Nov 14, 2014

DAY 4:

SOUNDCLOUD TASKS:
Comments: Blocked for 1 more Day
Likes: 100/100
Rappers Followed: 60/60
Groups posted to: 10/10

YOUTUBE TASKS:
Beat Video Uploaded [x]

OTHER:
Email Marketing Task [x]

Notes:
Found a nice way to target rappers specifically on soundcloud, and easily direct them to my website so they sign up for my emails.

PROFIT: $0.00

DSIMP54 · Nov 14, 2014

migleezy said:
You should send your beats to youtube copyright free music channels , your music will be everywhere on youtube , and your name will be in most of those videos.
Good luck

I think I get what you're saying, but do you have any examples of those channels?

funkybunker · Nov 14, 2014

If you're uploading full beats or samples to Youtube, be sure to add your vocal watermark repeatedly to deter thieves.
If you're in this longterm consider SEO ontop of Social Media, 'Rap Beats' alone gets 9k-15k monthly searches. Sinima Beats is a good producer to research.
Do all you can (strategically) to get your name out there. It will sell itself in time.

DSIMP54 · Nov 14, 2014

funkybunker said:
If you're uploading full beats or samples to Youtube, be sure to add your vocal watermark repeatedly to deter thieves.
If you're in this longterm consider SEO ontop of Social Media, 'Rap Beats' alone gets 9k-15k monthly searches. Sinima Beats is a good producer to research.
Do all you can (strategically) to get your name out there. It will sell itself in time.

Wow, that is great inspiration. Thank you!

I'm definitely in this longterm.

I've decided before I pay for Adwords, etc. I need to
1) make my website 100% professional
2) have a catalogue of over 100 beats
3) have already made money from beats that I am willing to reinvest

However, I might do smaller scale SEO, I haven't decided yet, and I'm not necessarily the most knowledgeable on the topic.

Time to do some research.

Thanks for your input.

Charn · Nov 15, 2014

If you're not sampling anymore, and are actually mixing/mastering your beats, you should look into selling them as royalty free sounds. You could start on audiojungle.

giddings · Nov 15, 2014

Talented people will always be the most successful. Glad to see people making real content

DSIMP54 · Nov 17, 2014

DAY 5:

SOUNDCLOUD TASKS:
Comments: 30/30
Likes: 100/100
Rappers Followed: 60/60
Groups posted to: 10/10

YOUTUBE TASKS:
Beat Video Uploaded [x]

OTHER:
Email Marketing Task [x]

Notes:
I DJ'd a party Saturday and had a big day on campus, so I picked it back up again Sunday. Email list is growing! Still haven't sold a beat.

PROFIT: $0.00

DSIMP54 · Nov 17, 2014

DAY 6:

SOUNDCLOUD TASKS:
Comments: 30/30
Likes: 100/100
Rappers Followed: 60/60
Groups posted to: 10/10

YOUTUBE TASKS:
Beat Video Uploaded []

OTHER:
Email Marketing Task []

Notes:
I will edit late today when I finish all tasks

PROFIT: $0.00

affarmy · Nov 18, 2014

Thanks for the input!
I will get this over to my son and get him set up.

One thing I've noticed is many rappers seem to seek out fresh beats/sound/production etc. A guy named UV boi from South Africa makes beats for himself as well as other up and comers and seems to have a pretty good foothold for ramping up using this method. If you sent out samples to newer talent you might strike up some business. Same goes for hitting up producers.

Keep us updated on your progress!

Brian

DSIMP54 · Nov 18, 2014

DAY 7:

SOUNDCLOUD TASKS:
Comments: 20/30
Likes: 100/100
Rappers Followed: 100/100
Groups posted to: 10/10

YOUTUBE TASKS:
Beat Video Uploaded []

OTHER:
Email Marketing Task []

Notes:
I got blocked commenting again, this time for 6 days. It sucks, because most of the rappers that hit my page mention "thank you for commenting"... But, I sold my first beat today, and that's all that matters. Today is a WIN.

PROFIT: $10.00

DSIMP54 · Nov 19, 2014

DAY 8:

SOUNDCLOUD TASKS:
Comments: BLOCKED
Likes: 50/100
Rappers Followed: 120/120
Groups posted to: 10/10

YOUTUBE TASKS:
Beat Video Uploaded []

OTHER:
Email Marketing Task [x]
Need to make HOMAGEBEATS Tag []
Notes:
I started a very simplistic Google Adwords Campaign. I honestly am still learning about ad words, but it should get me around 40 clicks a day. My current analytics show 17 - 20 clicks a day from Soundcloud traffic.

Will edit more tomorrow morning when I actually work on this

DAILY PROFIT: 0

Total Profit: $10

Journey to $100 / DAY (selling beats)

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