Promote your site with the ‘Jay-Z method’

From before the deaths of Tupac and the Notorious, there was one rapper who lived on and started himself, his name was Jay-Z. While this is no rap history blog, we do like to focus on bringing some self promotion to your site, and what better way to do that than by looking at the master himself, Jay-Z.

Start from absolutely nothing

What is interested about Jay-Z is that he really was not “brought up” by another rapper. He created, publicized, and made himself a star. Today he is huge and he has no one to thank but himself. Unlike Eminem, Jay-Z did not have a Dr. Dre to tell other rappers and the community about an upcoming star, he did that himself and today he calls himself “the best rapper alive.”
When creating a website you have to same power as everyone else. In using the Jay-Z method you are starting with nothing. It is up to you to create, publicize, and make your self a name on the internet. While you can have a ‘Dr. Dre’ hardly anyone starts with that kind of hype.

Create a good product

Jay-Z did not get where he is today through just publicizing his name, he created something unique, something that people enjoyed. While he did not create a new style of music, his lyrics, voice, and music were different from that of the rap world. If he would have created music just like everyone else he would have gone no where.

While visiting Time Square in New York City, I was constantly being asked to “support underground hip hop” by purchasing a CD from a guy on a street. Despite being 20$ I was intrigued so I gave a sample listen, and decided these independent artists were too much like everyone else.

When creating a website you have to be original, I am not saying that you have to be the first to think of an idea, but create unique content, create your own voice, create your own tone and get established in the world. If you promote junk, you will be just like the guys in Time Square who force their CD sales down people’s throats.

Tell people you’re the best

If there is one thing in particular that Jay-Z does well it is telling people that he is good. He does this in his own work, and in his promotion of his music. Let me quote Jay-Z;

You gotta pardon Jay, for sellin out the Garden in a day
I’m like a young Marvin in his hey’
I’m a hustler homey, you a customer crony
Got some, dirt on my shoulder, could you brush it off for me?

Jay-Z sold out Madison Square Garden in under a day, something that all musicians seek to do, he created a good product, promoted it, and now he is telling people that he is the best.

When you create a good product online, one of the best ways to get your name out there is to talk about yourself, use a little swagger, and be a little cocky. But make sure you can back it up.

Some of the best ways to do this are to submit your stories to the social networks, email some big blogs like Lifehacker or Engadget, and link to your other articles within your new articles. Promote yourself as much as you can, because you have made an awesome product.

Use the basic methods too

One thing that is unique about Jay-Z is that he is not always in the limelight, but he is advertised all over the place. Before his new album, “Kingdom Come”, came out I remember seeing commercials for it on Comedy Central. In addition to TV ads, Jay-Z had two huge ads in Time Square in NYC when I visited earlier this week.

Getting his name out in traditional advertising is something that most rappers do not do. I can not tell you the last time I saw a Ludacris TV commercial.

Though you do not have to buy a billboard in Time Square, you can create an internet campaign for cheap, or even free. Buy some schwag and give it away, launch YouTube ads, give away web buttons, or even sign up for ads on Adsense or another ad service. Traditional advertising works well for web too.

Don’t get down

Jay-Z has been a huge success, from zero to hero it has not always been a smooth ride. Jay-Z has not always been happy about how he has been treated.

Got beef with radio if I don’t play they show
They don’t play my hits well I don’t give a sh– SO
Rap mags try and use my black a–
So advertisers can give em more cash for ads…
I don’t know what you take me as
or understand the intelligence that Jay-Z has
I’m from rags to ritches playa I ain’t dumb

If someone bashes you on Digg, or slams you on TechCrunch, who cares? Back it up by being cocky, while still producing a good product.