Bottom line, you have to promote your release. Don't rely on your friends to buy it. They'll SAY they will, but they won't.

Take out an ad ( if you can afford it ) in your local 'zine.
Make some stickers and post them up around town.
Tell any, and everybody you know that you have a release out.
Build yourself a Discogs page, and keep it up to date.

Most importantly, DON'T believe the hype about giving your music away for free. It doesn't help you. If you want, you can hit off a few DJ's that you've built personal relationships with, but don't send blasts out. Nobody responds to them, and you've basically cheapened your own product. The whole "it'll bring you exposure" thing is a lie. People will NEVER buy your material if they get used to getting it for free.


Good luck.