Putting your music artist or band website together

I was just thinking about how I first started this blog. I wanted to share some of the things I was learning on my journey back into the music world, that can asist other artists like me in getting thier music out there to be heard by the world. At first I was blogging like I was giving a class, but I want you to know that as I am learning you are following me on my journey.

So here are the steps I took to put my website together:

1. I looked at several other websites to find a few format that I liked. I actually liked the design of a couple of templates on template monster but wanted to include some features that I found on other artists websites that I thought were nice.

2. I decided on the color of the website that would fit the mood and the image I wanted the world to see as far as my artist site was concerned

3. I figured out the pages that should be in the site from what the other sites that I like and I looked at had…they were of course a Home Page, Music, Videos, Bio Tour Dates Contact Us

4. Some other links that I wanted on my site that I hadn’t really thought about were links to my social network pages on Twitter, Facebook and MySpace. (Even though I am a singer/songwriter…I really have gotten into facebook more than myspace…it seems so much more personal and less spammish).

5. I wanted to make it really easy for my friends and fans to be able to access and buy their favorite music of mine so I definitely am putting a link or links to the individual songs that they can download on Tunecore.com or buy the whole CD off of CDBaby.com.

6. I wanted to also do the merchandising of some of my songs, so I am incorporating a cafepress.com store.

7. Start a blog or two.

8. Make sure you have a place where your fans can sign up to receive notices or become part of your VIP list so that they can be invited to your upcoming shows. You can do this with a ConstantContact.com newsletter.

Ok…I think that’s it. If I think of anything else, you’ll see it on my website. Got any suggestions?

6 Tips To Promote Your Music Like a CEO

Do you want to be able to quit your day job and focus on your music full time? There is a way to do it but you have to put on that business hat of yours. I know that is sometimes hard for those of us who are artists, but we can truly experience the freedom to live our dreams on our terms if we also make a living off of our talents. The internet has given us an outlet to share with the world our music, but we can also focus on our local fan base, too, through some of tools that are offered online. Here are a few tips to help you promote yourself or your band and sell more CDs.

1. Learn How to Write Good Songs. You can learn so much by listening to hits and song writing abilities of artists that have come before you. You may want to take a lesson or two in song composition if you get stumped on how to pull something together.

2. Make Sure Your Music Sounds Professional. You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars on studio time nowadays to make professional sounding recordings. With pro tools your music can be produced in a home studio and sometimes sounds just as thick as the majors. Make sure your fans are able to buy your music and its levels sound as clear and crisp as the other music they have on their MP3 or CD players.

3. Perform, Perform, Perform. Get on the phones, get out to the clubs, talk to booking agents or whatever hook-up you have and book your shows. You have got to get out there to make a name for yourself. Don’t forget to video tape your performances so that you can have some material to place up on your acts website (not just MySpace…a little about this later…)

4. Promote and Make Sales During Shows. Have someone close to you go around during your show and have a sign up sheet where fans can placetheir info on your email marketing list. Also make sure you have a merchandise table set up so that fans can buy your music at the show. Look into investing in a credit card swiper, or if you are really selling a lot of merchandise, an electronic wireless credit card swiper so you can take credit cards at your shows and sell a ton of stuff…CDs, T-Shirts, Hats, Bags, buttons. You’ve gotta diversify. If you sit at the table after the show, you’ve gotta have photos to autograph…make sure you are nice, too.

5. Use the Heck Outta The Internet. You have to set up your own website with your own domain name…www.youract.com, not just a myspace page. You will get more sales that way. Some people just want to go directly to you. Have a box on your site where fans can sign up for email notices for your next performance. Also, make sure there is a way to buy your music on your website. www.cdbaby.com, and www.tunecore.com, are independent music distributors that set up mini websites for you for about $35. you input all the information about your music and they upload the audio for you. They sell your CD for a fee but can also set you up on ITunes and for individual song downloads and more. Load your vidoes to YouTube.com. Maybe set up a Facebook page or be a Twitter Tweeter, so that your fans can know what you are up to. Start a blog about the act and all of your adventures in the music industry and more.

6. Whatever you do be consistent. Set up a routine on when you are going to get the word out on your performances and send an email every Tuesday maybe. Update your status daily on Twitter or Facebook. Try to perform at least Twice a month or more. Announce when you put up a new video on You Tube…

After doing these things you should be on your way to building your following, so that you can make a living doing what you love…making and performing good music. If you have any other tips let us know in the comments below…