As I entered week 3 of my journey, I felt a growing sense of clarity about where I wanted to take my music and my business. The work I’d done in the past couple of weeks had set a solid foundation, but now it was time to dig deeper and focus on expanding my brand in new ways. I was no longer just an artist putting music out into the world—I was becoming a business owner, and that came with new challenges and opportunities. Week 3 was a week of focusing on two important areas: merchandise and refining my marketing strategy.
The first major area I dove into was the idea of creating merchandise to offer my fans. I knew that music alone wasn’t always enough to build a sustainable business, so I began brainstorming ways to expand my offerings and give my audience something tangible. My first thought was to create a lyric book. I’ve always believed that the power of my music lies not only in the melodies but in the lyrics themselves. The messages behind my songs are a big part of who I am, and I wanted to share those stories in a way that my listeners could hold on to.
I started thinking about the design of the lyric book. It couldn’t just be a collection of words on a page—it had to feel like a piece of art in itself. I wanted the book to reflect the same care and attention to detail that goes into my music. I envisioned a beautifully designed book with lyrics, accompanying stories about the inspiration behind each song, and maybe even some photos or illustrations that tied into the themes of the music. It had to feel personal, like a reflection of my creative journey, so my fans could feel even more connected to the music.
As I brainstormed the structure and content of the lyric book, I also began thinking about how I could present it alongside my music. I didn’t want the book to feel like an afterthought—it needed to be integrated into my overall branding. One of the ideas that came to mind was offering it as part of an exclusive package. For example, I could sell the lyric book in combination with my vinyl LP, which I was planning to release next year. It would give my fans a complete experience—something they could hold in their hands, along with the music itself. I wanted the entire package to feel like a treasure for my supporters, so they didn’t just buy an album—they got a deeper connection to the music and the story behind it.
Beyond the lyric book, I also thought about other possible products. I considered creating limited-edition posters with lyrics from my songs or iconic images tied to my music. I imagined having a collection of signed photos, postcards, or even custom items like T-shirts or tote bags. All of these ideas were ways to bring in extra revenue, but more importantly, they were ways to give my fans something they could hold on to, something that would remind them of the music that resonated with them. I wanted to create products that felt meaningful, not just items to sell for the sake of selling.
While working on my merchandise ideas, I also knew that refining my marketing strategy was crucial. Week 3 was a pivotal moment for me in terms of thinking about how I could reach my audience and grow my following in an effective way. I wasn’t just interested in increasing numbers on social media—I wanted to attract listeners who would truly appreciate my music and who would feel a connection to the brand I was building. To do that, I needed to focus on more targeted marketing.
I spent time revisiting my Facebook ad strategy and refining how I was using it to connect with the right people. In week two, I had launched my first ad campaign, but now it was time to dig deeper. I began analyzing the data from the first campaign, looking at who was engaging with the ads and where they were coming from. I realized that to make these ads more effective, I needed to target even more specific groups of people—fans of certain subgenres of jazz, blues, and Latin music, as well as people who followed specific artists I admired.
I worked on creating new ad creatives with more compelling visuals and messaging that would resonate with my audience. I wanted to make sure I wasn’t just asking people to listen to my music—I wanted to share the story of who I was as an artist, what I stood for, and why my music mattered. It wasn’t just about gaining likes; it was about building an audience of people who truly cared about the music I was making and who were excited to be a part of the journey.
As I worked on refining my marketing efforts, I also thought about how I could engage with my fans more authentically. I didn’t want to rely solely on ads to reach new listeners. Social media engagement was just as important. I began brainstorming ways to connect with my followers on a more personal level, whether that was through sharing behind-the-scenes looks at my creative process, posting more about the inspiration behind my songs, or responding to comments in a way that felt genuine. I knew that the more I connected with my audience, the more likely they would feel invested in my music and my brand.
By the end of week 3, I had made significant progress in refining both my merchandise ideas and marketing strategy. The lyric book concept was starting to take shape, and I was excited about the possibilities. I also felt much more confident in my approach to Facebook ads and social media engagement. I wasn’t just focused on growing my following—I was focused on attracting listeners who were truly connected to the music and the message I was sharing. There was still a lot of work to be done, but I felt like I was headed in the right direction. Week 3 was a pivotal moment in my journey, and I was ready to continue building on the progress I had made.