HOW TO GROW YOUR FAN BASE © 2013 Vinny Ribas Having a large fan base is extremely important to selling more music and getting more gigs. It is also be the key to a successful CD release or fan-funding program. Growing your fan base requires 3 things: preparation, attraction and reciprocation. It is important to note that social network ‘friends’ and ‘likes’ do not count much towards your fan base until you convert them to newsletter subscribers. People will ‘like’ or ‘friend’ you all day long and never even listen to your music. But if someone gives you their email address, you know 3 things about them. First, they like you and/or they like your music. Second, they want to receive updates on you personally and on your musical progress, and; third, they are much more likely to come to your shows, buy your music and support you in other ways. So, your primary goal is to build your email list! Here are 12 steps to achieve that. Preparation – Be prepared to ‘capture’ your fans. 1. Be sure you have a good, attractive website. It must be easy for people to find and buy your music, and to sign up for your mailing list. Don’t confuse ‘good’ with expensive! Template based websites such as Bombplates and Bandzoogle can be dresses up to look very professional. 2. Use a reputable email newsletter service such as ConstantContact or MailChimp. Put the email sign-up widget in the upper right hand corner of your website. It’s the first place people’s eyes go when viewing online. Attraction and Reciprocation – Find people who either like your music, like you or have something in common with you. Give them a reason to visit your website and sign up for your mailing list. The most common thing to give away is a free download. But you can get as creative as you’d like. For example, you can enter everyone into a drawing for a free house concert (within a specific geographic area from your home or a gig). You can also have a drawing in which the winner gets to pick a charity that you will do a free concert for. Your options are unlimited. 1. Ask everyone you know to join your mailing list. This includes friends, relatives, co-workers etc. Don’t be shy. 2. Ask everyone on your social networks to visit your website and join your mailing list. Ask often but don’t be a pest. Again, offer something in return. Record a quick video in which you play a piece of a song and then make your request. Make it a very personable video. Share your interests. Posts with videos or pictures are much more likely to be seen and read. 3. Join affinity groups based on an interest that you have. What is your hobby? If you like outdoor sports like hunting and fishing, join a group of people with the same interest. Meetup is ideal for this. Make friends; invite them to your shows or even volunteer to perform for them at one of their events. 4. If you belong to a church or other organization, ask the people you know there to support you. Again, you might offer to do a performance for them (it could be a fundraiser) in order to collect email addresses. 5. Find affinity groups or forums online. For example, if you love to cook, find cooking forums Be sure to mention that you are a musician in your profile and invite them to check out your music and sign up for your mailing list. Then just get to know people. They will check out your profile and follow your lead. 6. Pass around a mailing list sign-up sheet at every one of your gigs. Also have it at your merchandise table with a sign that asks people to sign up. Offer an extra bonus to people who sign up. This could be a discount on your CD or something physical such as a sticker or poster. Be aggressive in letting them (and everyone else) know that you want them to sign up. Mention it several times during your show. 7. Perform in front of as many people as possible. Offer to do a lot of house concerts on your off days. You are much more inclined to sell CDs and get people on your mailing list at these events because it is a more personal experience. Do a free concert on StreetJelly for your fans and ask them to invite their friends to watch. 8. Find ways to generate positive publicity. For example, you could volunteer somewhere (not playing music) and then write a press release about it. This works especially well if what you do fits with your branding. You can offer to perform at prominent fundraisers that will have a large attendance. That gets you in front of a lot of people and might get you some great local press. Get creative. 9. Champion a cause. Pick something that you really have a heart for. Make it well known and part of your brand. Others who share the same interest will become fans. 10. Ask everyone on your mailing list to share your newsletters with friends. This works great if your contents aren’t just all about you. For example, if you like painting, feature a painter that you like. Your readers will share the newsletter with everyone they know who also likes painting. The key to growing a fanbase and doing it quickly is simply to get in front of as many people as you can worldwide and give them reasons to come on board!
Posted on: Sat, 03 Aug 2013 00:18:32 +0000
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