Multiple Grammy Award winner Taylor Swift said:
Music is changing so quickly, and the landscape of the music industry itself is changing so quickly, that everything new, like Spotify, all feels to me a bit like a grand experiment.
The ever-evolving music industry is extremely competitive. That makes it pivotal for would-be artists to make themselves stand out from the competition.
While performing regular gigs and occasionally having a newspaper or magazine do a write-up about you was enough a decade ago, you will have to work a lot harder to get heard today.
With more than 56% of the world’s population having internet access, having an online presence is more important than ever before.
Even if you have never thought about sharing your music online and creating website or social media accounts for yourself, a few simple guidelines will help you make your entrance into the world wide web significantly easier.
Set Goals
Although building a prolific online presence for yourself may seem rather overwhelming, it is important to understand that it is achievable. If you are aiming to instantly garner an online following akin to that of Ed Sheeran or Beyoncé, however, you are going to be terribly disappointed.
The first thing you need to do to establish this presence is to set realistic goals for yourself. These goals can include anything from having a certain number of Instagram or YouTube followers to having a renowned blog write about you.
There are no right and wrong goals when it comes to building an online presence. Simply do what you believe is going to benefit your music the most in the long-run.
Develop Your Central Hub
As tempting as it may be to establish your entire online presence all at once, it simply isn’t possible. Decide where you are going to place your focus first, whether it is a website for your music, a social media presence, or online streaming.
While you will undoubtedly expand your presence, it is essential to first make sure your hub (or online headquarters if that is easier to imagine) has a good foundation.
Maximize your hub’s potential by developing a user-friendly interface and adding only high-quality, engaging content that will appeal to both your current fan base as well as music lovers in general.
Yes, Content is Key
To have an online following you can be proud of, you need to pique the interest of prospective fans. One sure-fire way to do this is to post relevant, interesting content in creative ways.
The internet has become extremely cluttered with a plethora of media, which is why it is so important to only post content with substance.
There are a number of artists and bands ranging from Ariana Grande to Maroon 5 that knows the importance of good content that appeals to their fans. Not only do they keep their online content current and of a good quality, but they make sure that all the online platforms they make use of sport a universal feel to them.
Choose Your Platforms Carefully
When establishing an online presence, it is important to choose the platforms you are going to share your music and post content on, carefully.
Once you have decided on your platforms, you need to figure out how you are going to grow your fan base. If you have shared your music on YouTube, for example, you would want your videos to rank high in the internal search results.
SEO optimization can make an enormous difference to how many subscribers and video views you get on platforms such as YouTube and Spotify and is definitely an area you would want to place some focus on.
Remember that not everyone will be willing to pay for your music if they have never heard it before, so consider uploading a few songs for free, public spaces as well as pay-to-stream or download sites.
Socialize More
It is pointless to share your music online if you have no one that wants to listen to it. But this does not mean you have to spam everyone relentlessly with your music and other content.
Learn to get social without being spammy. Conduct a bit of research into what other artists are doing and use their strategies as a basis when creating your own.
Become more vocal in the music community, sharing other artist’s news and leaving considerate comments. Engage with your fans as well by answering questions and thanking them for their support.
Being a musician is hard work. Thankfully there are numerous things you can do, such as establishing an online presence for yourself, that will make your life a lot easier.
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