Being primarily a composer and not having a performing band, I have given considerable time & effort to building an online audience through my website and other music sites I use. Along the way, I picked up a number of tips from musician friends and website developers. Following are several basic tips that have been helpful to me:
Cast a Large Net
There are many music sites on the internet. To name only a few: Youtube, Soundcloud, Reverbnation, Vimeno, BluesJazzRadio, All About Jazz, Last.FM, Hardcoremix Radio, Jango Radio, Fandalism, (the list goes on and on). Having your music on multiple sites is a good way to reach out to a broader audience. In addition, when you have your own website the other sites you are using can have a link to your site. This enables your website to be the hub of a network of music and social media sites.
Your Own Website
Having your own website is one of the most important things that one can do to have an online presence that stands out. The site layout and features can express who you are and what your music is about. There are a number of free or inexpensive site builders that are easy to use (using drag and drop icons). Talk with musician friends to see what they are using, look at their sites, and see which site builder is the best match for you.
When you have your website, think of it as being like a restaurant. What does a successful restaurant do to bring in customers and retain a loyal base? Take a similar approach with a website.
Here is an important tip: Do not let your site become stale or inactive. Do new and creative things with your site on a regular basis to keep it fresh. This includes adding new music, posting news and blogs, making improvements to the site, etc. Active sites typically have more weight with search engines than inactive sites.
A Personal Domain Name
A personal domain name for your site is highly recommended – in particular, using your name. A domain name can be purchased from a website builder or companies like Namecheap. A developer told me that one’s name (with a .com extension) makes it easier for people to remember your site and find it with internet searches.
Facebook
Without question, Facebook brings the greatest amount of traffic to my site. However, it is my understanding that only 7% (or less) of the people in one’s friend list actually see the messages posted on a timeline. In my experience, one of the best things about Facebook is the groups. With groups, you can find a collection of people who share an interest in music with you. Posting a link to your site within a message to a group (or multiple groups) will usually bring more people to your site than by only posting it on your timeline.
It is also important to have a music page on Facebook in addition to a personal timeline. I have been told that having a Facebook page gives more weight to your name in search engines.
Cast a Large Net
There are many music sites on the internet. To name only a few: Youtube, Soundcloud, Reverbnation, Vimeno, BluesJazzRadio, All About Jazz, Last.FM, Hardcoremix Radio, Jango Radio, Fandalism, (the list goes on and on). Having your music on multiple sites is a good way to reach out to a broader audience. In addition, when you have your own website the other sites you are using can have a link to your site. This enables your website to be the hub of a network of music and social media sites.
Your Own Website
Having your own website is one of the most important things that one can do to have an online presence that stands out. The site layout and features can express who you are and what your music is about. There are a number of free or inexpensive site builders that are easy to use (using drag and drop icons). Talk with musician friends to see what they are using, look at their sites, and see which site builder is the best match for you.
When you have your website, think of it as being like a restaurant. What does a successful restaurant do to bring in customers and retain a loyal base? Take a similar approach with a website.
Here is an important tip: Do not let your site become stale or inactive. Do new and creative things with your site on a regular basis to keep it fresh. This includes adding new music, posting news and blogs, making improvements to the site, etc. Active sites typically have more weight with search engines than inactive sites.
A Personal Domain Name
A personal domain name for your site is highly recommended – in particular, using your name. A domain name can be purchased from a website builder or companies like Namecheap. A developer told me that one’s name (with a .com extension) makes it easier for people to remember your site and find it with internet searches.
Without question, Facebook brings the greatest amount of traffic to my site. However, it is my understanding that only 7% (or less) of the people in one’s friend list actually see the messages posted on a timeline. In my experience, one of the best things about Facebook is the groups. With groups, you can find a collection of people who share an interest in music with you. Posting a link to your site within a message to a group (or multiple groups) will usually bring more people to your site than by only posting it on your timeline.
It is also important to have a music page on Facebook in addition to a personal timeline. I have been told that having a Facebook page gives more weight to your name in search engines.
RSS Feed