- Logo for Sony Pictures' The Social Network. - Sony Pictures
Social networks just a few years ago were of little or no use to millions of the global Internet community. However, today social networks like Facebook and Myspace have become a part of our everyday online interactions and even vital forums for forming connections with clients, customers and fans for musicians and celebrities.
There is seemingly no end to the growing popularity and usefulness of these sites both personally and professionally speaking. Here is a look into some of the top social networks currently dominating the Internet and the world and how musicians can look to capitalize off of their success.
Musicians &Twitter
Micro blogging social site Twitter is a network where users can very easily update their list of followers on their latest news, events and happenings. Top companies, celebrities and the masses have all clamored to this free service and developed an entirely new way of communicating with clients, family, friends and yes, even fans. It is not very difficult for any user to gain some sort of buzz or popularity if they choose to use their account on a regular basis and actively pursue new relationships.
By posting a maximum of 140 character messages a musician can direct fans and potential customers of their music and merchandise as to what they are currently working on, musicians can promote their materials and websites and can even post contests or giveaway information on Twitter.
With all of the numerous free applications for Twitter that are around and continuing to surface the possibilities are endless as to how a musician can utilize Twitter for profits and fan base increasing. One indie musician actually managed to sell over $19,000 worth of t-shirts, CDs and other autographed merchandise utilizing her Twitter account following when while live streaming herself playing live and chatting with fans, she started auctioning off items and taking orders.
Musicians & YouTube
The YouTube user generated video content community has had a similar impact for many musicians out there worldwide. Any user can post up advertisements for their music and merchandise or websites, music videos, biographies and interviews with their band, web series that feature band members and even performances by the band. Many bands are also updating fans daily on YouTube via vlogging. You can now also post up to 15 minutes worth of video footage on YouTube which makes their service even more attractive.
It is easy and cheap to get started on YouTube and you can even possibly stand to earn money for your productions if you one day meet YouTube’s requirements for partnership on their network. Your channel and videos will then have Google Adsense for video advertisements placed alongside the videos and even pre and post rolled within your actual video content which has led to hundreds, if not millions, of earnings for some users.
Several individuals have even received record contracts (Justin Bieber being one of them), television shows and even key roles in major Hollywood movies with six-seven figure contracts.
Musicians on Facebook
The social network Facebook initially didn’t really cater to companies and indie musicians or celebrities as a whole. It was initially solely sanctioned for use by students. However, times have changed and with it so too has the entire Internet’s landscape. Facebook has crushed Myspace as the most visited social network and is now even giving Google a run for its money as the top ranked daily viewed website. So much so that it is rumored that Google will soon reveal its plans for its own Facebook rivaling social network.
For musicians the growth of Facebook is just as significant as its predecessor MySpace’s former successes were. You can't form a page’s look and feel as simplistically as with Myspace, however, since Facebook isn’t open source. This and a few other restrictions seemingly are part of the reason so many more people chose to participate with Facebook that refused to get involved with Myspace in the past.
Facebook isn’t as easy to spam on and you aren’t constantly bombarded with marketers and musicians trying to cold sale you thier music and other products due to tightly enforced regulations and the basic structuring and architecture of Facebook.
There are many popular applications provided specifically for musicians to promote their works directly on Facebook and even to help them sell more music and merchandise. Add to this the ability to start groups for your band, targeted advertisement opportunities and status updates that appear on all of your friend’s homepages and even their own friend’s homepages if they choose to like or comment on your status posts and you can see how easy it can be to spread your band’s gospel throughout the land of Facebook.
Every musician should consider possibly adding Facebook marketing and list building into their marketing and promotions plans.
Participate in Only a Reasonable Amount of Social Networks
While many people will instantly think that the proper thing to do would be to sign up for all of these and the many other music focused and general social networks out there, this might not be the best idea. It is very easy to spread yourself too thin online due to the vastness of the Internet. You must choose wisely where you are ready to put your time, money and efforts online in social networking for your band.
While social networking has changed the Internet, and nearly every business, one thing holds true. It is more important to do a few things well, than to do many things averagely. Focus your efforts, master a few of the top social networking sites and if in the future you are given enough time and profits to adequately assume that it makes since for you to pursue additional networks, then by all means choose to cautiously pursue these additional markets.
Think like a major corporation would as you develop your band’s social networking plans and veer to the conservative side with your spending of both your time and money. Focus your efforts and you will stand to see significant levels of possible growth and success.
