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10 SOCIAL MEDIA TIPS FOR MUSICIANS: HOW TO ENGAGE FANS

Wed, 17 Feb 2021 10:07:00 +0000

Learn how to boost fan engagement, promote your brand, and increase followers. This social media tips guide offers ten ways to develop a social media strategy.

SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING FOR MUSICIANS

The rise of social media has proven to be a valuable asset for musicians. A strong social media presence is essential for promoting your music, engaging with fans, and expanding your fan base. Moreover, having an effective social media strategy connects you with music industry peers and presents new opportunities.

Social media marketing for musicians can seem like a daunting task. However, this social media tips guide will help you develop an effective strategy. The following ten proven tips show you how to boost fan engagement, increase followers, and promote your brand on social media.

1. ANALYZE YOUR AUDIENCE

Who are your fans? What are their interests? Knowing your audience and what type of content they respond to better is crucial. For example, one demographic of fans may like videos, while another likes your photos. It’s also helpful to know where your fans are spending their time online, and when they’re online. This information will help you determine the best times to post.

Most social media networks offer analytic tools that help you know your followers and track engaging content. You can also see your fans location, age, gender, and interests. Understanding this data will help you develop an effective social media strategy for your music.

There are also analytic tools like Google Analytics or Statcounter. They can help you keep track of likes, shares, comments, trends, and other information.

2. POST REGULARLY

Keeping your social media profile active is important. Post with regular consistency to stay relevant to your fans. This task is vital for musicians who don’t release music or play shows often. It’s critical to create content for your audience even when you’re busy in the studio or between releases. However, don’t get carried away. Fans will unfollow you or stop engaging with your posts if you saturate their feed.

Also, develop a rhythm with your posts, so people know what to expect. For example, post a mashup song every Friday at noon.

3. SCHEDULE YOUR POSTS

Scheduling your posts in advance can be a valuable way to engage with your fans without staying online all day. It’s also a smart strategy to publish when the most active users are online. Determining what days to post and at what time of day is important. CoSchedule has a great article on this topic. You can also find this data by looking at your social media analytics.

In addition, there are tools like Hootsuite and Buffer that schedule posts in advance and track engagement.

4. SHARE ENGAGING VISUAL CONTENT

Visual content tends to generate more engagement than plain text posts. Sharing photos and videos is a great way to tell stories quick and easy. They also capture people’s attention much faster than text. Below are some visual content ideas:

Photos of your music gear, home studio, DJ equipment, fans, etc.
A photographic announcing upcoming tour dates, a new single or album, etc.
Photos or video of shows you played at or attended.
Photos or video of you making music in unique places.
A short video explaining the meaning behind a song.
Live stream yourself at an event, working in the studio, replying to comments, offering tips, hosting a Q&A, and anything else fitting.
Photos or video of favorite moments from your personal life.
Photos of inspirational quotes.
Animated GIF images and memes.
Music videos and interviews.

If you don’t have Photoshop, try free online tools like Canva to edit or design images.

5. SHARE ENGAGING TEXT CONTENT

The type of content you share is critical. It’s essential you post a variety of content fans can connect with, share, like, and comment on to keep them engaged. Balancing both visual and text content is important. Below are some text content ideas:

Update fans about a new song, upcoming album, and tour dates.
Inspirational and motivational posts.
Educational posts that offer tips and techniques.
Interactive posts that encourage engagement. The most effective posts include polls, questions, fill-in-the-blank, contests, giveaways, and “caption this” photos.
Ask your fans for feedback or their opinion about something. For example, track feedback on a single, songs they might want to hear in your next set, which merch design they like better, etc.
Add a “Call to Action” to prompt an immediate response. For example, “Like if you agree.”
Categorize or theme posts with hashtags. For example, #MusicMonday, #ThrowbackThursday, #QuickTip, etc.
Tell a story. For example, share what’s on your mind, a personal experience, etc.
Make various lists. For example, your favorite plugins, songs you’re currently into, favorite music production gear, etc.
Write posts that explain the meaning behind your music, brand, or style. Also, share a positive press quote about your music.

6. OPTIMIZE YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PROFILES

People are likely to find your social media profiles first when searching your artist name. That’s why having a clean, optimized profile for each platform is a top priority. Below are some social media tips for optimizing your artist profiles:

Make sure all your artist information is accurate and up-to-date. This includes tour dates, latest releases, bio, links, press coverage, etc.
Include a current bio or a link to your bio. Also, make it easy to find your Electronic Press Kit (EPK).
Create visually stunning profile images and covers. Also, make sure all images are the correct size.
Add links or a “Call to Action” to images and covers. For example, links to buy your music, your website, press coverage, etc.
Advertise with cover images. For example, create covers that display tour dates, upcoming release details, new merch, etc.
Make use of Facebook cover videos. You can upload a video as your cover. For example, create a looping video or animation that advertises your next release or tour dates.
Change your profile and cover images regularly to get some engagement from your followers.
Pin your most engaging post to the top of your page. Or, pin the post that best represents you as an artist for all new fans and music industry peers to see first.
Increase engagement on your posts with Tags. Tag all the people in your photos or videos and any companies or venues etc. Tagging also increases the reach of your posts by appearing on the feeds of those you have tagged.
Ensure all your social media platforms have the same theme. Also, post the same images across your social media platforms. Keeping the theme consistent gives the impression of a complete package. Moreover, artists that have different profile pictures for each platform is confusing. For example, fans may not immediately recognize you if all your profile photos are different.

7. USE A PERSONAL TONE AND SHOW YOUR PERSONALITY

Developing a personal connection with your fans will help solidify the artist-fan relationship. How you communicate to your fans makes a huge difference. It’s also essential that you show fans your real personality. When you start to show your true self, you’ll begin to see a big difference in the way your fans interact with you.

Take your voice beyond the music with these social media tips:

Write like you speak so that your content has a genuine personal tone. And don’t forget to give your posts a once-over for basic grammar and readability.
Personalize your message and don’t front a persona that doesn’t reflect who you really are.
Embrace your passion and don’t be afraid to speak your mind. Many fear rejection over sharing polarizing content. Letting little quirks in your personality show is ok.
Don’t be afraid to open up on social media. Let others into your world and share the good times as well as the struggles. Show your fans who you are, what your about, and where you’re going. Remember, your brand represents you, so don’t hesitate to hide that.

8. INTERACT WITH YOUR FANS

This tip is a no-brainer. However, it can go overlooked. It’s vital that you connect with your fans and show them you care. Don’t just use social media to promote your music and tour schedule. Use these platforms to interact with your fans. For example:

Don’t forget to reply to comments, messages, Twitter replies, mentions, etc. Your fans will appreciate that you are open for discussion and engaged in a personal connection.
Interact with fans by asking questions, getting involved in discussions happening in the comments, and anywhere else to keep the conversation going. Moreover, take the time to write a good response. For example, if someone says your music inspired them, say more than “thanks!” Interacting with your fans shows that you’re listening to them.
Don’t be afraid to ask followers to share or retweet your posts. Also, return the favor. Share or retweet photos, music, shout outs, quotes, and anything else relevant to you. Moreover, encourage them to post photos from your shows or remixes of your songs and tag you. You could even make a regular theme like “Fan Feature Friday.”
Remember to check your social media accounts frequently. Don’t create posts and then leave them unattended. Developing a fan base requires your full commitment.

9. SHARE CONTENT FROM YOUR FANS

Spread the love and share or retweet content posted by your fans. One sure way to boost engagement and excite fans is sharing their content with other fans. It’s also a great way to show appreciation to your biggest fans.

Moreover, show respect for other artists, musicians, DJ’s, and other music industry peers. For example, share, retweet, and like content from your fans. Also, comment on other peoples Facebook posts, Twitter tweets, Instagram stories, SoundCloud tracks, etc. This move shows your engaged in the music community and that your brand is not solely self-promoting. It’s also an excellent way to network and gain new followers.

10. ADDITIONAL SOCIAL MEDIA TIPS

Below are some other proven social media tips that will help you grow your followers, increase engagement, and build relationships with your fans:

Send personal invitations: Invite people to shows you’re playing in a private message.
Create a Story: Collect the best moments from your show or anything else and do a recap. Post it as a story on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat.
Create SoundCloud playlists: Include songs from other artists you’re into at the moment. Spread the love!
Create a Facebook Group: Build a community and engage with them. Ask questions, get feedback on your upcoming release and other projects, share content, etc.
Live stream: Host an AMA (ask me anything), offer feedback on a project created by a fan, demonstrate music production techniques, etc.
Caption contest: Capture a funny moment before or during a show and host a caption contest.
Photo tagging: Take a photo with your fans. Let them know when/where you will post it and ask them to tag themselves.
Create Twitter Lists: Add fans, companies, venues, and other music industry peers. Lists make it easier to interact with important players in the music industry.
Write emotional headlines: Studies show emotional headlines increase shares and traffic.
Create videos: Consider ideas like how-to, behind-the-scenes, music culture, shout-outs, event recap, promotional, demonstrations, interviews, and even testimonials.
Meet your fans: Host a meetup group for fans and create an event page to share. It’s an easy way to make connections, promote your music, and invite people to your show.
Live Tweet/Stream other acts: Highlight other acts playing at a show. Also, tag them in all photos and videos. It’s also a great cross-promotional tool if multiple acts use the same hashtag.
Say thank you: Post a message of gratitude if your song received a lot of plays or after a show. Also, tag other acts, the venue, the promoter, sponsors, and any fans you met.
Promote your social media channels: Use your social media platforms to promote your other channels.
Create a podcast: Launch a podcast series and share it on your channels. Talk about your musical inspirations, life on the road, commentary about the music scene, etc.
Invite Facebook Likes: Grow your followers by inviting people who “Like” your posts to follow your artist page.

THAT’S A WRAP

Sticking to tried-and-true techniques like the ones above are a great way to start implementing a social media strategy. Also, don’t be afraid to get creative, try to think outside the box. Figure out what suits your fans and then have fun with it.

4 TIPS FOR BUILDING YOUR PERSONAL BRAND AS A MUSICIAN

Wed, 17 Feb 2021 10:06:00 +0000

Want to know how to market yourself in the music industry? Sarah Karney offers four successful tips on how to start building your personal brand as a musician. Learn about the elements of branding and how to they are used in music marketing.

1. YOUR PERSONAL BRAND

In today’s industry, a musician’s brand can end up playing more of a role in their success than the actual music they create. This can be frustrating for many musicians who simply want to make music.

However, personal branding doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your humanity for the sake of your career. Instead, branding enables you to consistently put out high-quality, holistic content that attracts and retains fans for the long run.

Personal branding allows you to present yourself in an organized way that is appealing, recognizable, and — as the term suggests — personal. It’s important not only to build a personal connection with your fans but also to establish legitimacy and credibility as a professional with other brands. For example, media and talent buyers, that are willing and wanting to work with you.

2. ELEMENTS OF BRANDING

Personal branding should be something you’re thinking about, even if you’re just starting out in music production as a hobby. Beginning the process of personal branding can even help you determine the very path of the music you create.

Early on, you have a few key decisions to make that will affect the rest of your career. Whether you dream of playing major festivals or just quietly scoring behind the scenes, branding will play a significant role.

To get started, focus on nailing the following elements of personal branding first. This approach will make forthcoming branding, business, and career decisions a bit easier to take on in the future.

BRAND NAME

What’s in a name? According to psychologists — everything. Words evoke meaning, concept, and context, and your stage name is no different.

Start by brainstorming a list of words, phrases, and images that you feel describe your music or personal style. You are obviously biased here, so the decision can be challenging. To help, try asking friends and family about the imagery that comes to mind when they listen to your music.

While it’s certainly a possibility to change your name in the future, it’s also a guaranteed hassle. Make sure you put a lot of thought into this aspect of your brand the first time around.

More importantly (from a marketing standpoint at least) is that you choose a name that won’t make it impossible for listeners to find you — aka SEO. It will be hard for potential fans to find you and your music if you choose a name that is too common or has multiple meanings.

It’s not just SEO this big decision affects; choosing a name someone has already trademarked could get you in a lot of legal and/or financial trouble down the road. Be sure to do your due diligence before settling on a brand name.

BRAND LOGO

Logos are essential for event flyers and other print media. A logo also adds a professional touch to your social media and streaming pages. They are also building blocks from which your colors, fonts, and other design elements will stem.

Many brands choose to come up with two variants of a logo, known as a logomark and logotype. Logomarks are standalone images used to showcase your brand, while a logotype is the stylized version of your stage name.

Here’s an example of each, as demonstrated by well-known producer Skrillex:

Variants of Skrillex’s Logomark

3. ONLINE ASSETS

You’re likely going to need a strong online presence if you want your music shared. It’s important to have at least one streaming platform, if not multiple social media sites. This approach will require consistent branding to create a unified, professional brand across various sites.

Start by browsing Pinterest or Instagram for branding inspiration. You can also use Pinterest to create your own mood board. Building a mood board is an inspirational process that allows you to gather some thoughts and ideas into one area. They can consist of imagery, color palettes, words, typography, and other brands you aspire to for inspiration. They also give you something to return to anytime to ensure anything new you create aligns with your personal brand.

Once you have your mood board laid out, you can use it as a guide to design your website, electronic press kit (EPK), social graphics, and any other online assets you may need.

Consider the statistic that first impressions are made within seven seconds. A poorly-designed press kit, biography rife with grammatical errors, or a grainy logo can drive a talent buyer, blogger, or potential fan away before you even have a chance to put your music in front of them.

That’s why it’s crucial to get these pieces right the first time around and ensure they all fit together cohesively.

4. IRL BRANDING

It’s also crucial that your online brand accurately represents how you portray yourself on stage and IRL (in real life). Today’s audiences are vigilant when it comes to seeing through gimmicks, so how you brand yourself in the flesh is an important consideration.

IRL branding can also be demonstrated through your live show visuals, stage set up or merch booth, wardrobe choices, and your set list. How you present yourself on stage and interact with fans plays a significant role as well.

By focusing on these basic elements of branding, you can build a strong foundation that will later expand with you as your career evolves. For example, translating into your merch designs or co-branding opportunities.

CONCLUSION

Logo, name, and imagery aside, the most important thing to remember when building your personal brand is to always side with authenticity and originality. As long as you base the foundation of your personal brand around ideals you accurately represent, building it out as your career continues will come naturally.

HOW TO BUILD A FAN BASE FOR YOUR MUSIC

Wed, 17 Feb 2021 10:03:00 +0000

Learn how to build your fan base. Here are ten tips that will help you boost fan engagement, promote your brand, and increase fans.

HOW TO BUILD A FAN BASE?

Building a loyal fan base is essential if you want to be a successful musician. Making great music will only get you so far. You’ll also need to be savvy with marketing, branding, fan interaction, and more.

Here are TEN effective tips that will grow your fan base:

BUILD A BRAND

Before you do anything else, you must first know your brand. Your brand and story will influence your music career decisions. It will guide your marketing and messaging strategy. It will also influence the way you present yourself in person and online, how you interact with fans, and more. Your brand reflects your style as much as your music!

It’s also crucial to have a vision of where you want your music career to go. So, take the time to discover what’s unique about you, your artistry, and your story. Then build your brand identity from there.

GET DISCOVERED ON MUSIC DISCOVERY WEBSITES

Music fans and industry influencers alike search music discovery websites regularly. Music discovery websites make it easier to capture new fans. Many also help you get discovered by music bloggers, Spotify playlisters, record labels, and more.

Check out sites like Hype Machine, NoiseTrade, SubmitHub, Pitchfork, TopSpin, ToneDen, Bandcamp, SoundCloud, and ReverbNation. These sites help connect independent artists with passionate music fans. Some also provide tools and services that help you engage with fans, promote and sell music, view analytics, and more.

GET YOUR MUSIC FEATURED ON SPOTIFY PLAYLISTS

Spotify is one of the biggest music streaming platforms. It is an excellent place to grow your fan base, discover new artists, and promote your music.

Getting your music featured on popular Spotify playlists is an effective way to introduce your music to the world. Curated streaming playlists are also how most fans discover new music.

Below are a few ways to get your music featured on Spotify playlists:

Create a Spotify for Artists account
Submit unreleased music to the Spotify Editorial team for playlist consideration
Submit music to independent curators such as Soundplate, Indiemono, and Spingrey
Email or message playlist curators and ask them to add your music
Get your music signed by a label with high performing playlists
Create themed playlists featuring music from other artists and regularly update your playlists
Support and share other artists’ playlists. Also, follow artists you like to help your fans discover the music you’re into
Share your playlists on social media, blogs, and music related websites to expand your exposure
Promote your music on Spotify. Encourage your fans to follow you and to listen to your music on the platform
Release quality music that stands up to well-performing tracks
Stay active, be proactive, grow your followers, and increase your streams

GET FEATURED ON MUSIC BLOGS

One of the biggest challenges as an artist is getting your music heard. Getting your music featured on blogs is one effective way to promote your music and reach new audiences.

Support from a music blog will help you increase exposure, establish credibility, and open new opportunities. However, it’s challenging to get your music featured on a blog. Especially with so many emerging acts striving to get heard. So, how do you submit music to a blog? And, how can you find the music blogs that will feature your music? The guide below breaks down all the essential steps of scoring a feature on a music blog.

RUN COMPETITIONS OR GIVEAWAYS

Offer incentives as a referral strategy to reach new fans. Running a competition or a giveaway is a great way to incentivize your existing fan base. Give your fans something in return for referrals.

Here are some ideas that will motivate fans to refer their friends to your music:

Offer a free song download in exchange for an email.
Run a ‘Like and Share’ competition on Facebook. Offer a free download of your album to anyone who shares your music to ten people.
Offer a free song or merch discount to anyone that subscribes to your mailing list.
Giveaway free merch, tickets or anything else when a fan gets ten people to subscribe to your mailing list.
Use music marketing tools from sites like FanDistro and StereoLoad. FanDistro rewards fans with free downloads and merch when they get their Facebook friends to download or share your music.

PLAY LIVE SHOWS

Live performance is one of the best ways to reach new fans and connect with people. It’s also a chance for fans to experience your music rather than stream it. Playing your music live has a more powerful impact.

However, gigging needs a strategy. For example, avoid playing live too often. If you play every weekend in the same city or venue, your shows will lose value. It also helps to promote your shows. List your tour dates on Bandsintown and Songkick, create Facebook events, and send out emails. And don’t forget to meet people in the audience and engage with them!

Also, try to play with established artists with a strong following. A great way to increase your fans is to play with artists who have a larger fan base. Network with local artists and venues or even artists in cities you’re touring. Networking in the music industry is essential!

CREATE VIDEO CONTENT

Videos are an effective medium for music promotion. And YouTube has become a must-use media platform for musicians.

Beyond being a video platform, YouTube has other advantages. For example, it is one of the largest search engines. People also visit YouTube first to find a song. In addition, music is the most searched topic on YouTube.

Videos also offer a different way to connect your music with fans. Plus, there’s a lot more you can do with video compared to music streaming. Here are some video content ideas:

Official music videos: Create official videos for your music. Tag them, so they get discovered by potential fans.
Remixes or cover songs: Showcase music inspired by other artists to reach their fan base.
Live videos: Capture footage and audio of live performances, making music in the studio, goofing off, etc.
Updates: Use video to share important news like an upcoming music release, tour dates, etc.
Interviews: Develop a stronger connection with your fans through interview videos.
Create playlists: YouTube has a playlists feature that allows you to group several videos. This feature can help keep fans watching longer.

Don’t limit yourself to YouTube. Several other video hosting platforms are also effective. For instance, Vimeo, Facebook Live, Instagram, and Stageit.

DISTRIBUTE YOUR MUSIC AND MERCHANDISE

Digital music distribution services help independent artists and labels get their music on major online music stores and streaming sites. These digital aggregators distribute music on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, Beatport, Amazon, Google Play, Pandora, and other leading music platforms. Getting your music on these platforms is a sure way to reach new fans.

Leading digital music distributors such as Symphonic Distribution, TuneCore, and DistroKid also offer a suite of services and tools for artists. They provide everything needed to prepare, sell, and market your music online.

Building an official website for your brand is another effective way to offer music and merchandise. An official website should feature your artist bio, music, tour dates, images, relevant media, achievements, social media links, merch, and contact details. A successful website represents you as an artist, your brand, and musical identity.

LEVERAGE FANS OF OTHER ARTISTS

Leverage the fans of artists, venues, and brands to increase your fan base. For example, collaborate with other artists, create remixes, and play at venues with a loyal following. Tapping into other people’s audiences is an easy way to reach new fans.

HAVE A SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE

The rise of social media is a valuable asset for musicians. A strong social media presence is essential for promoting your music, engaging with fans, and expanding your fan base. Moreover, having an effective social media strategy connects you with music industry peers and presents new opportunities.

These social media tips will boost fan engagement and increase followers:

Analyze your fans: Who are your fans? What are their interests? Knowing your audience and the content they respond to the most is crucial.
Post regularly: Keeping your social media profile active is essential. Post with regular consistency to stay relevant to your fans.
Schedule your posts: Scheduling your posts in advance allows you to engage with fans without staying online all day.
Share visual content: Photos and videos generate more engagement than plain text posts. They also capture people’s attention much faster than text.
Share engaging text content: Post a variety of content fans can connect with, share, like, and comment on to keep them engaged. For example, music releases and tour updates, interactive posts, educative posts, and motivative posts. Also, ask fans for opinions, feedback, and other engaging topics.
Show your personality: Developing a personal connection with your fans will help solidify the artist-fan relationship. How you communicate to your fans makes a huge difference.
Optimize your social media profiles: People are likely to find your social media profiles first when searching your artist name. That’s why having a clean, optimized profile for each platform is crucial.
Share content from your fans: Spread the love and share or retweet content posted by your fans. It’s also a great way to show appreciation to your fans.
Interact with your fans: Connect with your fans and show them you care. Don’t just use social media to promote your music and tour schedule. Use these platforms to interact with your fan base.
Use hashtags: Search trending hashtags on Twitter and Instagram. Then use them to connect with niche audiences or topics relevant to you.

CONCLUSION

Implementing these methods will increase your fan base. However, you must engage with your fans frequently if you want to maintain and grow your fan base. Also, stay consistent if you want to break through the noise and hold the attention of your fans. Give your fans something to expect or look forward to regularly. Last, get creative and think outside the box. Figure out what your fans love and then have fun with it.

HOW TO DESIGN AN EFFECTIVE MUSIC WEBSITE

Wed, 17 Feb 2021 09:58:00 +0000

Learn how to design an effective music website. Here are ten tips for building a musician website that connects with your fans and music industry peers.

WHAT IS A MUSIC WEBSITE?

Establishing an online presence for your music and brand is an absolute must. Social media is not enough for musicians starting their music career in today’s digital landscape. If you’re serious about your music, you’ll also need a music website.

A music website serves as an online hub for your brand identity and music. A professional website with your latest music, artist information, tour dates, and merchandise will get you and your music taken seriously. It also plays a vital role in your music marketing strategy, discovery, and fan engagement.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A MUSIC WEBSITE?

There are many reasons it’s necessary to have a music website. Here are a few reasons:

A musician website is a one-stop-shop for everything your artistry represents. Your music website should be the center of your online presence.
You have complete control of everything. There are no limitations to what you can do. You control how it looks, what features to add, the messaging, and more.
It’s easier for people to find a website. Make it easy for people to find you. Remembering a website URL is easier. Telling people to search for you on Facebook is more work and less professional. Also, sharing a short and simple website URL is better than a long Facebook URL.
You can sell music and merchandise and keep all the profits. You’ll make more money from sales on your website versus services that charge a fee or take a percentage of each sale.
You control the mailing list and data. Conversely, social media owns the database of your fans. There’s no way to transfer it to a different platform. They can also restrict how many fans see your updates or change the way you connect with fans.
You can build your fanbase. Use your music website to connect with fans, grow your fanbase, and unlock opportunities from music industry peers.
A musician website puts the focus on you and your music. Whereas, your music promotion efforts on social media can get lost in political rants and annoying memes.
A musician website shows your serious about your music career. It also shows professionalism and a certain level of credibility.

WHAT CONTENT DOES A MUSIC WEBSITE NEED?

A musician website should reflect your image as an artist, attract new fans, and connect with existing fans. It’s crucial you provide relevant information, engaging content, marketing material, and contact info. Your music website will be the go-to place for people to know about your brand and music. Ensure fans, record labels, booking agents, promoters, music journalists, and other music industry peers can find everything they need.

Consider adding these pages and content ideas to your music website:

1. HOME PAGE

The home page is your chance to make a first impression. Include all the essential information about you and your music. Make it easy for fans, record labels, booking agents, promoters, music journalists, and other music industry peers to find essential info in one place.

The home page should display a shortened artist bio, latest release, upcoming tour dates, visual media, social media links, mailing list signup, and a link to your Electronic Press Kit (EPK). It’s also vital to have clear navigation links to all the important pages and a call-to-action (CTA). A CTA asks visitors to engage with your content. For example, a button that says “Buy My Album.”

Also, update this page often to keep all the info current. Moreover, consider using a sidebar or footer section to add a newsletter signup and to promote your latest release or next show. Content that appears in these sections will show on all pages of the site.

Last, avoid cluttering up your pages with too much content. Keep the layout simple, quick to navigate, and easy to find relevant info.

2. ABOUT SECTION OR ARTIST BIO

Have a dedicated page that displays your full artist bio or tells your story. This is where you can highlight your music career. Also, include brief details of any previous or upcoming releases, milestone achievements, collaborations, recent shows at notable venues, and any significant endorsements. Record labels, music promoters, booking agents, and press use this information for promotional material and write-ups.

This page could also include a downloadable Electronic Press Kit (EPK). An EPK is an online media/marketing portfolio. It’s designed to provide simple access to all your essential information. Learn how to create an effective EPK below.

3. MUSIC AND VIDEOS

Your website should have a page where people can listen to your music. You can embed audio players from music streaming services like SoundCloud, Spotify, Bandcamp or Mixcloud. You could feature releases, playlists, mixes, music videos, and even free music downloads. It’s also important to add buttons or purchase links directing fans to buy or download your music.

Also, don’t auto-play music or videos when someone visits your website. Avoid startling people with blaring music that plays unexpectedly. Their likely to leave your site, which is a missed opportunity to gain potential fans. It also hurts SEO.

4. PRESS PHOTOS

A page of promotional photographs is beneficial. Professional looking photos is also a must for any press coverage. It’s essential you have high-resolution photos for promoters, labels, booking agents, venues, press, and anyone looking for visual media.

Showcase your artistry. Add photos of you in the studio, playing live, candid shots, and anything else that reflects your brand. Also, include vertical and horizontal photos to fit the varying layouts of different media outlets.

Last, high-quality press shots have large file sizes and can slow down your website. Consider uploading high resolution (300 DPI or larger) versions of your best photos to Dropbox or another offsite cloud drive. Then add a button or shareable link for easy access.

5. SOCIAL MEDIA

Social media is a valuable asset for musicians. A strong social media presence is essential for promoting your music, engaging with fans, and expanding your fanbase. Moreover, an effective social media strategy connects you with music industry peers and can also present new opportunities.

Make sure your social media profiles are easily accessible on your website. Also, using icon buttons associated with the different social media profiles makes them easily identifiable.

6. PRESS AND TESTIMONIALS

Have you been featured or interviewed on a music website or magazine? Having a page dedicated to your press is beneficial. Include short quotes and links to any press coverage. Also, add favorable reviews or testimonials from respected industry professionals. A few key points of interest will help build up your profile and credibility.

7. TOUR DATES

Do you have upcoming tour dates? Listing forthcoming gigs or tours on a dedicated page or footer widget is crucial. Adding tour dates informs fans when and where you’re playing live. They also help booking agents work around your current schedule. In addition, anyone mentioning you on a radio show, podcast, or in a blog post can include the dates and help promote them.

There are several ways to add tour dates. You can use dedicated plugins compatible with your website theme. Or, embed widgets from music sites like Bandsintown and Songkick.

8. CONTACT PAGE

A page that includes your contact information and a form to contact you is vital. Make it easy for fans and music industry professionals to reach you. Someone may want to book you for a show, ask about licensing your music, schedule an interview, or another opportunity.

Also, consider including your management or booking agents contact details if applicable. The contact page is also a great place to add links to all your social media profiles. Make it easy for people to find your online presence.

Alternatively, you can skip a contact page and add your contact details and social media links in the footer, so it’s visible on every page.

9. MERCHANDISE STORE

Fans often want something tangible from the artists they support. Having a merch store on your website is an option to consider. Selling merch is a marketing strategy to promote your brand, connect with fans, and make money. Having a merch store also looks more professional to promoters hoping you’ll bring fans to their venue.

Some item ideas to include are music downloads, vinyl, tickets, t-shirts, hats, stickers, tote bags, buttons, bracelets, or other swag. Moreover, items sold in your store are commission free. 100% of the profits go straight to your pocket!

There are also a ton of merch design websites for musicians like Bandzoogle, Dizzyjam, Threadless, and Shopify.

10. PROMOTE YOUR MUSIC WITH A NEWSLETTER

Email marketing is an essential promotional tactic for musicians. Every artist should be collecting email addresses on their website and anywhere else. Email lists are an effective way to reach your fans directly. You can promote new releases, tour dates, send updates, sell music, merch, tickets, and more.

Newsletter services like Mailchimp offer email marketing tools and newsletter templates for musicians. Also, Mailchimp’s free account may be enough for most musicians.

All the major email marketing services also provide newsletter signup forms you can embed on your website. Adding it in the footer or a sidebar will make it visible on every page of your site.

CONCLUSION

Your music website should represent your brand and music. It’s also vital that it looks sleek and professional.

There are lots of options for designing a musician’s website. You can use website builder services like WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, and Bandzoogle. Or, you can hire a website designer. There are also tons of low-cost options out there for web design, so do your research and shop around. Browse various themes and features that will best serve your needs.

Finally, keep your design simple and easy to navigate. You want your fans to immediately find what they’re looking for within seconds of arriving on your site. Avoid cluttering your pages with excessive content and links that make it hard for visitors to find everything. Last, keep your website’s content fresh. Update it regularly and give your fans a reason to keep coming back!

HOW TO BRAND YOURSELF: 5 MUSIC BRANDING TIPS

Wed, 17 Feb 2021 09:53:00 +0000

Learn how to brand yourself in the music industry. ICON Grad Nick Voorhees shares five music branding tips to help you define your brand.

THE PHILOSOPHY OF BRANDING FOR MUSIC PRODUCERS

Developing a career in today’s music industry requires much more than producing great music. If you crave a music career and a life that swims in the musical world, you must work hard. You’ll also need to figure out how to uniquely showcase your brand in this competitive industry.

A question you’ll inevitably ask yourself is: do I want a career in the music industry? If your answer is yes, then you must consider music branding. Branding is essential for advancing a career in the creative world.

The hard truth is, people will make judgments and decisions before actually hearing your music. That’s why it’s crucial to have a vision of where you want your music career to go and how you want to present your brand to the world. It’s also essential to discover what’s unique about you, your artistry, and your story. Then build your brand from there.

WHAT IS MUSIC BRANDING?

In today’s music industry, branding can play more of a role in a musician’s success than the music they create. Musicians are not merely selling their music; they’re selling an image, an experience, and a message that defines them.

Music branding is a powerful marketing tool for creative musicians. It’s the reflection of their overall message, identity, personality, style, values, beliefs, ambitions, and music. In other words, branding is everything that helps people identify and experience your unique brand.

Music branding also includes the marketing and communication strategies that differentiate you from other musicians. Moreover, it aims to create a consistent experience which leaves a lasting impression and builds a loyal following of fans. The key components of music branding include brand identity, brand communication, brand aesthetic, brand awareness, brand loyalty, and various other strategies.

Your brand will also influence your music career decisions. For example, it will guide your marketing and messaging strategies. It will also affect the way you present yourself in person and online, how you interact with fans, the imagery you choose, and more. Your brand reflects your story as much as your music!

HOW TO BRAND YOURSELF

You may feel uncomfortable or unsure about how to brand yourself. Defining your brand and developing a brand strategy can be difficult. Here are five helpful music branding techniques and thought exercises to help identify your brand.

1. BE YOURSELF

Yes, this is a cliché. However, never forget your music tells the story of your life, connects people, and expresses your vision. It’s also crucial your brand does the same. Your logo, cover art, messaging, social media presence, and other branding elements provide a unique perspective of your brand and a visual representation of your music. No one else has a sound like yours, and this should be true for your brand.

Also, do not fake this process. The music industry can see bullshit from a mile away, and being inauthentic will damage your momentum. It’s vital to show your true colors, and in return, your fans will love you for it. And if you’re struggling to come up with ideas, think about what describes your style, inspires you, and sets you apart. What will make a memorable impression?

2. WHAT’S YOUR MESSAGE?

Some of the greatest musicians during the past century spread powerful messages that extended further than phenomenal music. For example, in the 60s and 70s, we saw many artists push anti-war ideologies and other agendas that helped fight for humanitarian causes. By being an advocate for something they believed in, these musicians helped grow both awareness for the issues and the size of their fanbase.

Why are some musicians more innovative, influential, and profitable than others? To begin creating a brand message, you must first understand your own beliefs and message. Simon Sinek, author of “Start with Why,” does an excellent job of diving into this concept. He explains most businesses only communicate what they do. But the most successful ones communicate why they’re doing it instead.

Knowing “why” will help you connect with your fans and develop your brand to a level you never thought possible. Start by finding a unique and memorable message that like-minded people can connect with and recognize. For example, boost your brand’s awareness through advocacy.

The circle diagram below shows how to organize your thoughts and better understand yourself as a musician. Try creating a similar layout and then fill in your information to get a better visualization of your music venture.

Let’s dig deeper into brand messaging using examples from popular bands. Using the circle diagram, well explore the “Why, How, and What” of self-branding.

Your Message (Why)

Why do you want to brand yourself? What are you trying to say? What are your beliefs? Who are you as a person? Why are you even producing music? Many bands answer the “why” by using their brand to express their views and messages. For example:

Rage Against the Machine railed against war, racism, corporate America, cultural imperialism, government oppression, the establishment, and the capitalist system.
Bono helps raise awareness for impoverished and struggling nations in Africa.
Bob Dylan focuses on political and social movements. He was the “voice of the generation” whose music defined anti-war and civil rights movements.

These musicians not only supply us with great music, but they also shine a light on what needs to change in the world. There’s a reason why decades later, we still know these names.

Spreading That Message (How)

You’ve chosen music as your career, so this is “how” you tell your story. You can tell a great story with your music, lyrics, imagery, ambition, unique style, social media engagement, and more. These pieces must also reflect your brand’s message. It’s challenging to master all these at once, so focus on each one individually. With enough dedication and practice, these concepts will come naturally.

Your Job (What)

This part is self-explanatory. You should have no trouble explaining to the world that “what” you do is music production. You make music for a living.

3. ESTABLISH A MEMORABLE FIRST IMPRESSION

First impressions are influential and key to music discovery. You have only seconds to hold someone’s attention, so you must make a lasting first impression. That’s why brands are powerful. They are usually the first impressions people get of an artist in today’s music industry.

Have you ever seen a logo, cover art, tour flyer, or other imagery that instantly resonated with you? Imagery plays a vital role in brand identity. Visual identity should capture people’s attention and make them feel something, whether that emotion is happiness, sadness, or somewhere between. Musicians who move the souls of their audience will gain lifelong fans.

Designing effective cover art is a great place to start when creating a personal brand. Cover art is the visual gateway to your music. It’s also the image listeners associate with your music. For example, your cover art will often grab someone’s attention before they listen to your music. Potential fans are also more likely to listen to your music when your album artwork stands out.

There are several ways to create album cover art. A few free options include services like Canva and Pixlr. If you’re looking for professional work, there are services that host graphic designers like Fiverr or Upwork. Melody Nest is also an excellent choice for music producers and creative entrepreneurs because of their specialization in graphic design for the creative field. They offer music cover art, podcast cover art, logos, social media branding, and more.

4. REALIZE YOU’RE AN ENTREPRENEUR

Musicians are also entrepreneurs. They have a product and a brand to sell in a competing marketplace. To do this, musicians need to learn business skills. They must also have the drive to sell their music and brand as any entrepreneur would. If your branding is inconsistent or non-existent, chances of conducting business with key players in the music industry diminish drastically.

A successful DJ once said to me: “To blow up, it’s 80% branding and business, 20% music.” You might read this and feel like it shouldn’t be this way. However, that’s the way it is in the music business. The music industry is over-saturated with hungry producers looking to make it big.

Begin treating your brand as a business by dwelling on things you may need to acquire. For example:

A trustworthy team that understands your message and can help build your brand.
A talented graphic designer to help you design a logo, cover art, and other imagery assets.
A target audience. Find the people your music resonates with the most. There are various ways and analytic tools to help you understand your fans. For example, SoundCloud’s “Stats” feature can find the locations of your listeners.
Marketing strategies to help you reach more fans, engage with current fans, sell music, and bring awareness to your brand. For example, placing targeted ads on Facebook and Instagram. However, if you’re running on a low budget, utilize your personal skills to engage with others on social media. For instance, your sense of humor, people skills, artistic style, etc.
Legal protection. Music law, contracts, music rights, etc. are complicated and confusing. It’s often wise to find a lawyer when dealing with the complexities of the music business.

It’s essential to have a basic understanding of the complexities and formalities associated with making a career in music. A music career is like operating a legitimate business. You’ll have to treat it as a full-time occupation to prosper and succeed.

5. CREATE REALISTIC GOALS AND HIT THOSE MARKS

What is it that you’re looking to achieve? You’ll need to understand this critical question because it’s key to creating a successful music career.

“I want to be the next Skrillex” is not an answer.

A good practice is to define success. What does success mean to you? Are you looking to “get by” with your music? Would you like to be a touring artist? Or maybe you want to produce music for tv, film, radio, etc.?

These are the questions you cannot ignore. It’s rare to stumble upon success. It’s earned by those who know exactly what they want and ready to put in the hard-working hours to achieve their goals.

For instance, setting smaller goals can help you understand what it is you’re looking to achieve. For example, some realistic goals could be:

Gain 10,000 Spotify plays on your next release
Play at a major festival
Land a sync licensing deal with a major motion picture
Create a record label (not really)

It’s essential to set goals, hit those goals, and then move to the next target. And if you don’t hit your target, try again!

CONCLUSION

It would be nice to produce music all day and immediately make millions of dollars. Unfortunately, this is unrealistic for the vast majority of us. It’s no secret that choosing to be a full-time musician is a difficult task. And to keep yourself motivated through hardships, you’ll need a strong force to keep pushing you forward.

Having a robust and consistent brand is necessary for all music producers looking to create a successful career. Spend time thinking about how to brand yourself, what you care about, what you want to achieve, and how to incorporate it all into your musical venture. Adequately self-reflect to better understand what you’re looking to accomplish. Good luck!