How to Promote Your Band with Free Online Tools

You're in a band. You don't have time to worry about promoting your music--you're too busy writing it. Here's a list of free online tools that make it easy to generate buzz, so you can concentrate on what's important.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• computer
• internet
• recordings of your music
• camera
• pen
• paper

1. 

   *Create a MySpace.
   
   Before you do anything else, get a MySpace page up with some band photos and samples of your music. Include some information about the band members as well as your influences. Add everyone you know as a friend.

2. 
   E-vites for everyone.

   *Invite everyone to your first gig via Facebook.
   
   Create an event page for your show. Send the invite to everyone on your friends list, and make all of your friends do the same. Get your name out there, and let people know that you'll be contacting them in the future when there's another show.

3. *Create a Facebook group for your band.
   
   Get people to join, and designate a close friend the administrator. Have him update the group frequently with pictures, links, news, and discussions.

4. 
   "Would you like to be on the list?"

   *Bring an e-mail list to your show.
   
   Have your girlfriend compile everyone's name and e-mail while you play. The goal is to get as many as possible, but don't add people to the list without their consent.

5. 
   MailChimp.

   *Get an account at MailChimp.com
   
   Type the e-mail list into MailChimp, which is free until you have over 100 subscribers. Now you can update your fans with easy-to-make, professional-looking e-mail newsletters.

6. *Make a Facebook fan page.
   
   Fan pages are more professional and less annoying, since they are public and unable to send out mass messages. Plus, it just sounds better to call everyone "fans" rather than "group members", right?

7. 
   Tweet.

   *Get Twitter.
   
   Link your Twitter to Facebook, and start updating via Twitter. Keep new links, pictures, and concert dates coming.

8. 
   Rock and roll 4ever.

   *Hire someone to manage your social media.
   
   If you have that many people following your every move, you can probably afford it.

Tips & Warnings

• The overarching goal of these steps is to get as many people as possible to sign up for your groups/lists/invites.
• Networking with other musicians and people in the industry will also help generate buzz
• Play your best even if a ton of people show up to your first gig; you may have to win over those fans who heard of you through someone else
• Don't bombard your fans with Facebook messages or e-mails
• Don't spend so much time perfecting your MySpace that you miss practice

Resources

• MySpace
• Facebook
• MailChimp
• Twitter

[dorigillman]

on 7/19/2009 great online ways to promote your band.