What Google does to the online world is the last thing on your mind. The fact of the matter is that their moves affect everyone trying to market themselves including independent artists.
Who cares? So what?!
You should care about the online trends that are evolving the “Interwebs.” From the SOPA & PIPA bills to the changes Google has implemented, you need to recognize the importance of the news and changes that occur.
You know that Facebook page you always check in on? The one that has interesting updates, good videos, great blogs and cool pictures? You know that one that even if you don’t see an update on your main page, you will still type in that page just to check in?
Now how about this for another set of questions…you know that page you can’t stand? The one that puts up the worst stuff, over posts, has those multiple repeat posts of the same updated two to four times, spams you with show schedules, invites to groups over and over again, excess hype and other annoying updates?
And for whatever reason, you have you have not unfriended them. Whether it is being nice or feeling guilty or maybe you have unfriended them and they added you again and you accepted them. Maybe you keep them as a friend but you block them and honestly have no idea what they are up to.
Now the real question.
Which one are you?
You know those people and hopefully you aren’t one of them…The ones that brag about having this many followers, this many friends and this many connections and yet they wonder why they aren’t getting people to their shows or selling their music and merchandise?
The track is off We the Kings’ highly anticipated third full-length due out this summer. “Friday is Forever” was directed by Bill Fishman.
Independent music community, Supernova.com, is teaming up with 102.1 the Edge, 99.3 The Fox and Power97 to find the “Indie Online Band of the Month.” Indie Bands have the opportunity to free promotion and a variety of benefits for their projects via the contest.
The contest will begin in February of 2011. Bands will be able to submit their band by creating a profile. Fans will be able to vote for their favorite independent artist or band. Indie Online will pick the winner from the top 10 bands voted by the fans.
As the “Indie Online Band of the Month,” winners will receive:
The process is overwhelming to complete an EP or full-length album for independent artists. Another difficult aspect is letting music fans know that the EP or album exists. Experts suggest that bands need to execute the basics – practice, tour and generate a fan base.
Creating a presence online is a different story. You can upload tracks to websites that generate links, so you can send the generated links to independent music blogs and post them on your websites and social media profiles. Be sure to display links to online stores where you are currently selling your music.
How about giving your music away for free?
News Corporation’s much publicized analysis of Myspace has put the social network in crunch mode as it tries to find its niche on the Web. With Facebook dominating the user experience and its threat to move into the music industry, Myspace is struggling to keep up.
Creating a partnership with ReverbNation by adding new tools for artists to interact with fans is the latest idea to give the site an identity.
Generating an online presence is something that has been ignored by bands that we search for when we look for information on new independent artists. Indie bands and artists generally have one or two sites that they have signed up on, but there’s a lack of vital information.
Since all of the social media sites are free, why aren’t artists taking advantage of this free marketing opportunity?
Your band’s website should be dominating the first page of search results for your project’s name. All of the social media and music websites should be right under it, fighting to take up the first page.
We receive many submissions from independent artists and bands who want to be featured, but they leave out important information about their projects. So we research their website, blogs and social media profiles to see if we can put the missing pieces together in a timely matter.
Unfortunately, we regularly find that bands are inconsistent with updating their social network accounts. Their websites offer outdated information or just don’t offer the basic information a fan or news/feature writer would be looking for.
Running a band is like a business and keeping your marketing cohesive is important to your exposure.