The answer is simple. The execution is difficult.

1. Have OUTSTANDING songs that MOVE people. Songs that make people who hear you want to tell other people. It doesn't matter how much "growth hacking" mojo you've got. If your songs and craft isn't there, it's like trying to start a fire with wet matches.

2. See step 1 again.

Once you're at a point where people who hear your music (not friends, and not family) want to share it with other people, your job is to perform in front of as many people as you can and to give new fans tools to make sharing your music easier.

Performing opportunities are everywhere, Some obvious and some hidden. There's YouTube, StageIt.com, Ustream, but the best performances are live, because it's harder and harder for someone who doesn't know you to stumble upon your music online. Find gigs. Create gigs. When Van Halen was struggling to get heard, they became their own concert promoters. They paid for a deposit on venue, booked a well-known headliner, sold tickets, and put themselves as the opening band.

Anytime you're performing, have a mailing list so you can stay in touch with fans who want to hear from you.

Make sure your website is professional looking, easy to navigate, and has plenty of audio and video samples. Look into sites like Noisetrade.com that offer free music in exchange for email addresses.

I have over 10,000 Facebook likes, over 6 million YouTube and Spotify plays, and nearly 500,000 Twitter followers, (and not the kind you pay for), and you know what that means? Nothing. It goes back to the old adage that quality > quantity. The only numbers that matter to me are the fans that are actively engaged and sharing what I'm doing. That's the only thing worth paying attention to. The rest is just buzz words and bullshit.

Good luck.

Ernie Halter
www.twitter.com/erniehalter
www.erniehalter.com