DO:
1. Own Your Own URL.
Once you decide on a name for your band, make sure you secure a domain name and social network IDs (Twitter, Facebook, Google+, YouTube, Instagram, etc.) that correspond. Even if you don't use them all, you should have them under your umbrella so someone else doesn’t grab them.
2. Think About Your Creative Vibe.
It's important to make sure the look of your website matches the sound of your music and that you have consistent branding throughout everything you do, like your merch, website and even your album artwork.
3. Think of Yourself as a Rock Star!
Capture content like you have the biggest fan base on the planet, which will not only help you grow your audience, but show people that you work hard at keeping your channels fresh. As your audience develops, you won’t regret that you captured photos, videos and other historical content that shows your growth and success.
4. Put Your Lyrics on Your Website and Make them Searchable.
People will search for lyrics to a song they like even if they aren’t sure who you are. You want to make sure they can find you first and not an unofficial lyrics page filled with ads!
5. Make Videos for as Many of Your Songs as You Can.
These could even be lyric videos, which are really popular right now. In fact, major labels are putting out lyric videos with singles right away before committing to putting money behind a video. While fan-made videos are a great tribute, you don’t want people to search for them and think they’re official. You should get the traffic!
DON'T:
1. Forget to Update Your Website.
Don’t forget to update all the information on your site that may be static for a while, such as contact info (make sure it’s current!) bio and new photos. You definitely don’t want Wikipedia to become the official source of historical information on you. You may not think it's important, but before you know it, it will be and you’ll wish you didn't have something on your site all along.
2. Lose Sight that this is Your Business.
Don't lose sight that even though you're supremely talented, this is also your business. Part of running your business is making sure your branding and marketing, online and off, is consistent and resonating with your fan base.
3. Miss the Opportunity to Continually Talk About Your Brand and Website.
Whether it’s on a social network, at a show or even when you're at a conference where you're hoping to make connections, these are two very important pieces of information to impart.
4. Dismiss the Impact of Email Marketing.
It’s super important to try and capture email addresses and then give something to people who are interested in you. An email database is still an important factor in keeping your fans engaged and updated.
5. Auto-Populate All the Same Content All the Time.
Mix it up a bit and make sure your Twitter feed has different information then your Facebook page. It helps to have 'exclusive' information on your "core," which are the top three ways you reach your audience. Maybe it's your website, your tumblr and your Instagram. Perhaps it's your website, email database and SoundCloud page. Whatever the top 3 spots your fans go to for information, make sure it's current, relevant and interesting. Variety keeps people coming back for more!
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