GetMusibility.com
Knowledge for Musicians
Branding ABCs for Musicians by Greg de Lima
Mar 9th
Self-marketing and personal branding in the music industry has never been more important. But what does that mean for you, or your band?
The ability in today’s marketing world is making yourself known and understanding the techniques and strategies available to you.
Better yet, what tools are you using to make yourself known, and get your name out so that people will understand your band?
More often than not you’re probably going about it the wrong way. Keeping name consistency across social networks and websites is going to be your top priority. If someone goes to one of your shows they will want to Google you. Promoting your band comes as easily as any other manner of self-marketing or personal branding. The way you set up your username to be shown should always (unless already taken) be the same.
Keep your YouTube channel, Twitter name, Facebook vanity URL the same. Just by using that your own Google results will skyrocket.
Note from Michael: Use Namechk to find a username that works on all networks.
Find more Search Engine Optimization tactics on Gregdelima.com
Next off, what do these various channels have to do with YOU as a music entity. Social media tools are impressionably long. Many of these are even catered specifically to musicians. But what about the ones everyone else is on?
Get them. Have them. Keep them. But the true key to these tools is engaging, interacting, and transparency.
- Engaging – Look for the followers and fans that you want AND need. Looking for them instead of them looking for you is going to be your number 1 way to get them to know you.
- Interacting – Use these fans, and use the network they’re on to give them incentive. Why should they come watch you? Hell, if you gave them a free entry to your band for the day, they might bring 5 friends. Just think about Pay-it-Forward. Being there for your fans is going to give you much more credibility.
- Transparency – Letting people understand you, and your ideals is going to give them more reason to come see you, or pay for you music. Concert cancelled? Why? Tell them. Don’t hold back (please take that with a grain of salt).
Note from Michael: Don’t be that opening act (or headliner) that fans try to Google can’t find (I’ve experienced this).
Be real.
Don’t spam.
Don’t “announce” either (spamming under another title).
Just communicate.
Image by Rocio Lluch
6 Ways to Engage Fans Online
Jan 7th
What do you do after you’ve posted links to your album and shows? How are you keeping your fans’ interest? I will skip why having an engaged audience is important, and jump to some ideas that will hopefully help you out.
- Talk Radio
Notice how interesting talk radio shows pick topics. The subjects aren’t boring news or random dull facts. Everything has an edge or something that can provoke discussion, and actually motivates listeners to call the show. If you hear a good topic on talk radio, use it and give credit. - Opinions
“Bungee jumping or skydiving?” Or… ”If someone has a dream that they hooked up with someone other than their significant other, is it bad?” The more a fan can describe and back up their answer, the better. - Contests
Be careful on Facebook with photo tagging contests – Facebook is really picky in their latest terms saying most contests are forbidden. I recommend avoiding contests on Facebook altogether. But on Twitter, a simple “First ten people to tweet ‘I love @bandname’ get my album mailed free” will work. Remember, there’s no promised result and you need a large following to get it to work. - Magazines
Like opinions, magazines are easy references. If you’re out of ideas, Cosmopolitan articles can start up a great conversation. ”Is it true …?” is a great question to ask your fans and can keep them going for a while. Tabloid headlines like “Britney Spears: My Mom Slept with My Husband” are entertaining. - Finish the lyrics: (insert lyrics) ______.
Works well on Facebook. Make sure the lyric is popular enough that your fans know it without having to search. - Reddit/Stumble Upon/Digg/Stuff to Tweet
Go to these sites and browse around. They are great time wasters. Humor sections are the best. Try to find new content that hasn’t been rated all the way up so your fans find something fresh- chances are that some have seen the top rated stuff.
Be your fans best gatekeeper.
This is common sense. If you are a rapper, you probably wouldn’t post something about Cosmopolitan. If you are an emo band, don’t post lyrics to finish a Britney Spears song. Remember, the goal is to be engaging…not just another pop culture outlet.
We talk on principle, but we act on interest.
- Walter Savage Landor
Launching GetMusibility.com
Dec 25th
GetMusibility.com is officially launched as of Dec. 25, 2009.
I think you will enjoy the first tutorial – Twitter: Followers to Fans, a musicians guide to success on Twitter.
I’ll post another tutorial next week.
Happy Holidays!
It takes half your life before you discover life is a do-it-yourself project.
- Napoleon Hill
