Another way to build your list is through social networks, special interest groups, forums, blogs and – of course – your own site. Let’s start with the social networks.
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- Most important music networks
- THE most important network of them ALL, is YouTube.
- Other KEY networks you need to join include: ApplePing, SoundCloud, MySpace (YES it’s still VERY important, no matter what you may have heard), LastFM, ReverbNation, MixCloud, 8Tracks, Hulkshare, Eventful, FanBridge, BandZoogle
- Most important general-purpose networks:
- Other very important networks and bookmarking sites:
- Most important resource sites to sign up to and follow:
Most important forums and blogs:There are MANY really good sites I haven’t mentioned here. That’s NOT because you should ignore them, but rather because you have to be able to start and stop somewhere before you get overwhelmed. Once you’ve registered with the ones above, you can consider signing up to more of them. I will give you all the steps as well as a MUCH fuller list of the best links in the Resource Section, in part 3 of this course.
An important aspect of your social presence is CONTINUITY. This means that your graphics and your “image” must be consistent. Don’t invent a new logo or new graphics for each network you join. Be consistent. Make sure that your “profile” page contains your home page link (MUCH more about this in part 3). Also, on forum and blog sites which allow you to have a “signature” make sure that you use a signature that allows people to click through – to your main site or to any page you want them to go to.
It is important to post regularly on your social network pages – but don’t overdo it.
Don’t post just to post. Don’t be boring.
If you’re already in the habit of posting things regularly – then you probably already know the drill. If not – you’ll need to take care of this either personally or by tasking someone among your friends/family with this.
Your social presence should be just that: a presence. MINIMIZE sales pitches and other things like that. In fact, do NOT pitch anything in your social sphere. Not “directly” anyway. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t post links. On the contrary. It’s important that you do, regularly. But you just shouldn’t be seen as someone who is only interested in selling. Much better to sell indirectly. Once people land on your page through an interesting link, then somewhere on that page you might have a call to action for a specific product or event. If they’re interested, THEY will click without you forcing them to do so.
This is a bit different when marketing directly to your subscribers where you CAN call them to action directly. But when you’re just a member of a social network or group, keep your sales impulses in check!
So, to briefly review and elaborate, you’ll need to bear the following in mind, when conducting your social promotions and activities:
- Have consistent profiles across all your web properties.
- Your profiles must match your fans – i.e. you need to BELONG to your niche.
- Keep your fans up to date on all your latest developments, gigs, releases, events, etc.
- Treat them as friends you already know
- Engage them – use simple Yes/No questions and ask them to vote (should we release this or that version?), or any number of other ways to get them to take part, including giveaways and contests, where appropriate.
- Address them as individuals, not as a group (“hey you”, rather than “hey all” – in most cases anyway).
- Don’t shy away from controversy. Artists shouldn’t be conformists or afraid to tick someone off.
- Recognize your specific fans
- Keep the momentum going
- Never stop reaching out and building your list, i.e. your visitors must ALWAYS have an easily-accessible way to OPT IN and join your mailing list.
- Join the most relevant social groups. Music groups on Facebook or Twitter. Many people will follow you back. And that’s the whole point.
- “Poach” fans from others, why not! Many good social networkers have accounts on other networks. While Facebook might not allow you to get in touch with someone, he/she may have a profile on some other network, where you can send them a message.
- Give people reasons to share your content even without asking them to do it. That’s “viral” promotion, the best there is.
- Comment on other people’s YouTube videos. Just make sure your YouTube channel has all the links to your home page.
- DO: Inform, entertain, amuse, educate, share generously, be a friend
- DON’T: Bore, pester, sell-sell-sell, push, insist, be critical and snarky
- DO: be controversial (ideally in a good-natured way)
- DON’T: conform (not counting the universally preferable social norms)
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| Book 2 – Chapter 14 Building Fans With Email |
Course Overview | Book 2 – Chapter 15 Contests, Gigs and Submissions |
Book 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 14b, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, Overview
