What Are You Afraid Of…Uhhh?

Most people are crippled by negative possibilitites.  They question themselves with “What if’s”, which prevent them from doing things in their lives that they would truly enjoy, or that they dream of doing. I have got to admit that I used to be one of those people.  I don’t know why but for years after I stopped singing with my sisters in the music group Nik-Tash’tA, I had developed this terrible stage fright.  I think it stemmed from doing a couple of just really bad shows.  We had been exhausted.  I was in school full time, and so were my sisters.  We hadn’t really practiced that well.  I think that also, with one of the performances, I had totally syked myself out because it was one of those “comedy and R&B” shows.  So I created this FEAR inside me of what if’s”.  What if I totally choke and then the comedians make fun of us all night?  Man it was a self fulfilling prophecy.  Our rehearsal before the show was great but during the show my throat felt like I had eaten a box of salteens.  It was totally not me and absolutely aweful.  I heard a guy in the audience who was at the rehearsal say…”what in the world happened…they were great in the rehearsal.”

So years afterwards, I have had to face my fears to really live the life that I truly want to live.  I am a singer down deep in my soul. 

I began to think about this topic last week, but really got deep into this conversation of “fear” running your life, with my best friend.  She was dealing with the same issue, and was finally recognizing it for what it was and what many people have learned that fear stands for…False Evidence Appearing Real.  You have to face some of your fears head on, and to do so, you have to see the positive possibilies insted of the negative what if’s.  I’ve learned that time is going pass with or without me doing things that I really love so I might as well do them, while still be reasonable and ethical.  I’m not saying do something that will harm or injure yourself or someone else, but to move you to action with things in your life that will make your dreams come true or move you to happiness.  What are some of these things for you?

Marketing Your Music-Blogging Tips

One of the best ways to brand yourself as an indie music artist online is to create a blog. It can be about your experiences as the band, where you are going and what you are planning for the future, or it would be set up like a diary of some sort. It can also be set up to share information on how to produce music, or play an instrument using some original chord progression or something. Whatever your blog covers, has got to relay info from your experience or your opinion to really be good and intriguing to your readers. Here are few tips to great blog writing.

1. Be consistent with your Posts – You should post your blog regularly so that your readers have fresh content to look at, at least once week. One way to set up your blog so that you are not tied to it all the time is to write some of the posts in advance and then set them for the date you want them to post in the future.

2. Find Your Niche – Make sure you are targeting those people that you want to reach with the messages in your blog. Hone in on the audience you are addressing and make sure you are giving them the content that they are seeking. For instance, are they your fans, or are fans of hip-hip underground you write about, or are they guitarist who want to learn more about playing acoustic…you have to choose your audience and focus.

3. Refer to Other Blogs or Articles in your Niche – By referring to other blogs or articles that can give your audience the information they are for, you become a resource that they can come back to. While I’m on this point, there is great course called www.thenicheblogger.com, where this house wife, Amy, created a day by day instructional program to help you get started blogging, and shows you how to make money with your blog.

4. Become a Decent Writer – You should concentrate on writing well, gramatically, as well, as in how you relay the information that you are writing about. I learned from June Jordan, famous poet, that you should write how you would speak, and someone would understand you. Make it easy to read and not too stuffy. I’m not the best writer, but I hope I’m getting my point across.

5. Write About Things You Know – Write about this that you can back up with experience and stories about the experince you have. You’ll become some what of an expert as your blog grows.

6. Be a Real Person- Let people know that you are real by including a bit of your personality in your blog. Do you have any special sign off at the end of your posts? Can you share a little story that reflects the kind of person you are, that your readers can relate to? Do that and your readers will become more connected to your blog.

7. Make it Easy to Look At – Make the design of your blog inviting but don’t over do it. You want to make it easy for your readers to stay on your blog and read each post.

8. Blog, Blog, Blog – Sometimes blogging can get a little boring, but it can be so rewarding, financially, if you use it as a tools to market your music. You can also market affiliate programs you belong to as well. For instance, you can talk about certain books that you like and link people to them on amazon.com and make money if they buy it, if you are member of Amazon.com’s affiliate program. For more affilate programs check out clickbank.com

9. Use Tag Keywords – Use some great tag keywords. Maybe your blog can relate to something else that is “hot” going on. Use those “hot” tag keywords to attract more people to your blog.

10. Market Your Blog – Make sure that everybody knows the name of your blog. Allow search engines to search for your blog for relevant content.

Stick to it and you will be successful. For more help on blogging go to www.thenicheblogger.com and join the course.