Insound is the premier independent music retail site on the Internet. Far more than just a store, Insound attracts + 500,000 unique visitors monthly who come to the site not only to purchase current releases and hard to find items, but also to learn what’s new and best in independent music. In this sense, Insound serves as an important tastemaker for some of the most avid and selective music consumers. With its finger firmly on the pulse of the cutting edge since 1998, Insound has developed a loyal brand following that confers tangible benefits on affiliated record labels and partners.
In order to run retail marketing on Insound.com the title(s) must be available for sale on Insound. To inquire about having your record(s) approved for submission, contact our buyer patrick @ insound.com. Below you will find our Retail Marketing options, including a very basic banner campaign. The packages can be altered according to your budget and preferences (i.e. if you would like to just pick and choose services). According to our discretion, Insound reserves the right to limit the packages.
*All packages include a featured MP3 download and a 15% off coupon code for use on Insound.com*
A+ Package
- PRE-ORDER service (& “featured pre-order” placement)
- Homepage Feature (5-7 days)
- THREE Email Newsletter Mentions
Pre-Order section / Noteworthy section / New Release section
- "Past/Like-Buyer" HTML email to Insound database
- ONE Streaming Radio Player Track
- MP3 Feature Track Homepage placement (& ‘Team Insound’ placement)
- SIX Weeks Banners
- Featured Promotion
- Featured list of bandmembers’ album picks
- Direct Mail Inserts
- ‘Team Insound’ challenge to support release
- Sale pricing on release
- Label/Imprint feature on homepage
- Sale pricing on limited catalog
A Package
- Pre-Order service
- Homepage Feature (3-5 days)
- TWO Email Newsletter Mentions
Pre-order OR Promotion section / New Release section
- "Past/Like-Buyer" HTML email to Insound database
- ONE Streaming Radio Player Track
- MP3 Feature Track Homepage placement (& ‘Team Insound’ placement)
- FOUR Weeks Banners
- Featured Promotion
- Direct Mail Inserts
- Sale pricing on release
B Package
- Homepage Feature (2-3 days)
- New Release Email Mention
- ONE Streaming Radio Player Track
- THREE Weeks Banners
- Sale pricing on release
C Package
- New Release Email Mention
- TWO Weeks Banners
- Sale pricing on release
Banners Only
- 468 x 60 pixels (width x height)
- ONLY .gif files accepted
- No larger than 20kb
- Link to product page on Insound.com
LABEL DELIVERABLES
BANNER - 468x60.gif file around 20kb
AUDIO TRACKS – Please supply promotional copy of the release
DIRECT MAIL INSERTS – Please send
ATTN: ANDY NYSTROM
c/o INSOUND
221 WEST 17TH STREET, 5TH FLOOR
NEW YORK, NY 10011
RETAIL MARKETING DETAILS:
Homepage Placement
Each release will be featured on Insound's homepage in the "New Releases" or "On Sale" section within the week of street date or the week chosen by label. Homepage traffic is +500,000 unique visitors per month.
http://www.insound.com
Weekly E-mail Newsletter
Each release will receive premier placement as a “new release” in the weekly e-mail reaching 88,000 Insound customers. A direct link to buy will follow the album description. “Pre-order” and “promotions” placement are also available with certain packages.
http://www.insound.com/newsletter/thisweek.html
Database Marketing - "Past/Like-Buyer"
Insound will send a unique HTML email about the featured release to customers who have previously purchased works by the artist. Insound will also work with label to choose similar recommended-if-you-like bands, and include those customers from the Insound database (250,000+) on the email as well.
Streaming Radio Player
A track from each release will be placed in Insound's streaming radio player found at the top of the left column below the “shopping cart”.
MP3 Downloads
A track from each release will be added to the product page and featured on the MP3 page for at least two weeks, linked from the homepage. MP3s will remain in Insound’s archive indefinitely, unless specified by the label. MP3s are hosted by Insound.
http://www.insound.com/mp3/mp3s.php
Banner Ads
Banners included in retail marketing packages are 468x60 .gifs located at the top of the site. Unless specified otherwise, we will link the banners to the product page for the album on the site to encourage sales.
PROMOTIONAL PAGES
To increase awareness for the release, Insound will create a unique promotional page for a contest, sweepstakes, value-add or another noteworthy aspect of the release.
http://www.insound.com/noteworthy/index.php
LABEL COUPON
Insound will create a 15% off coupon code provided to the label to distribute to fans via the band’s website, MySpace page, label site, newsletters, etc.
Direct Mailorder Inserts
1,000 Stickers or other inserts will be placed in shipments sent directly to Insound consumers. Additionally, releases may have the option to target inserts to particular locations or demographic groups. Insound ships +/- 6,000 orders every month.
TEAM INSOUND ONLINE STREET TEAM SERVICES
"Team Insound" is an online street team composed of a dedicated group of Insound customers and fans that can be utilized for viral marketing initiatives in tandem with the album release. MP3s, videos, news items, viral tools and activities created to support the release can be featured on the site.
http://www.teaminsound.com/