Bands and artists that cultivate a strong presence on social media tend to see significant opportunity in their ability to connect with industry influencers, and reach out to fans directly to sell music and merchandise. Here we detail seven key tips for growing on social media.
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Guest post by Monica of socialgrowr.com
Musicians and bands that maintain a presence on social networking sites benefit immensely from the opportunities that social media presents. Through these sites, they can reach out to industry influencers, connect with their fans and sell music merchandise. If you have just formed a band or just decided to become a recording artist, here are some tips to help you grow on social media.
Keep it positive
Occasionally, you may find yourself tempted to post some negative things on social media. Resist that temptation. Remember that everything you put out online will be there forever. Therefore, you should try to stay positive and avoid making things personal. Remember, your fans are not your friends and they don’t know you personally. So, even when they say something you don’t like, try and spin it in a positive way.
Be easy to find
For a band or musician seeking to grow online, you should take your presence on each social network very seriously. Create pages on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, MySpace, SoundCloud, BandCamp, etc. and connect these channels to your music website. Use the channels to keep your fans up to date with what you are up to; tell them the song you’re recording in studio, the events you will be performing, and share behind-the-scene footage of these and other music events. Maintaining an active presence will make other fans who want to connect with you easily find you.
Don’t waste valuable space on social media profiles
In your social media profiles, use every space you have to advertise your band. The cover space for instance is an excellent place to put up information about your upcoming tours, a new music video you’re about to release, etc. Remember to also regularly change that header image with updates about the next project you’re working on.
Connect with your fans
Wherever you go, you must keep your social profiles in mind. With every opportunity on TV, radio, podcasts, vlogs, etc., use these platforms to encourage your fans to connect with you on social media. You can entice them with a preview of a new song you will be releasing soon in exchange for a like or a follow on social networking sites. Additionally, consider encouraging your fans to sign up for your newsletters. This way, you can send them an email every time you have a tour planned, a new release, etc.
Check out the #TrendingHashtags of the day
Occasionally, you will find some trending hashtags that align perfectly with your music. Take advantage of such moments and publish some music content around these topics. By participating in these conversations, you expose your brand to new fans who might fall in love with your music. If your messages align perfectly with these hashtags, you may see a spike in the number of shares and retweets you receive, further advancing your music endeavors.
Increase post quality
To stand out on social media, all the posts you publish must be unique and of the highest quality. Go for content that is educational, funny and sometimes revealing something about you that many people might not know about. This not only create a personal and up-close connection with your fans, it also creates value for your brand, keeping your fans engaged and emotionally connected to your music. When posting images on social media, Growr advises that you use photo-editing apps to create a more dramatic look that will capture the imagination of your fans. Keep looking for ways to create posts that will be hard to ignore even for the most unreceptive fans.
Be constant & stay authentic
The challenge with most bands and musicians is maintaining a social media posting schedule. Some go for months without saying a word to their fans. The problem with this is that you run the risk of making them disinterested with you and your music. This can have a devastating effect on your ability to get shows, sell music as well as sell your music merchandise. Seek to nurture a relationship with your fans by regularly posting all kind of updates that showcase your authenticity while keeping your fan base longing for more.