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The
age of information overload is upon us. If you want to play in
the field as a musician you better have a strong and intelligent
presence on the web. For instance, did you know you could lose
fans if your MP3 files are not named correctly? Did you know you
could boost your Google keyword ranking? Ariel Hyatt, Founder
of Ariel Publicity steers you toward sites that explain
search engine optimization, email list management, free digital
distribution and more…
WOMANROCK:
What's
a good first step for any musician trying to use the Internet
for promotion?
ARIEL
HYATT:
Look
at the bands at your level and see where they have presence on
the net. Who are they linked to? Who reviewed their CD? Look at
the sites of peers you admire and work backwards. The great thing
about the net is it turns everyone into a sleuth.
WOMANROCK:
How
do you drive people to your site so they listen to your music
and print out your tour dates?
HYATT:
Search
engine optimization techniques. They are not hard to learn and
very useful. The musicSUBMIT website explains it all: www.musicsubmit.com/seo/index.htm.
Adding links to other sites is also smart, as is putting your
URL on all of your flyers, posters and ads.
WOMANROCK:
You
have just partnered with musicSUBMIT.com, which handles music
promotion and Internet marketing. How do musicians benefit by
using this service?
HYATT:
Its
fast and effective and they will submit your band's information
to over 200 websites, music directories and Internet radio stations.
It's very affordable as well.
WOMANROCK:
Once
people start visiting your site, what's next?
HYATT:
Make
sure that you have an easily navigable website with all of your
tour dates displayed where people can get to them from the home
page in three clicks or less! Put the address of the venue you
are playing at so people don't have to hunt around forever. Always
put your set time.
WOMANROCK:
How
do you keep track of all of the information you'll be collecting
from visitors?
HYATT:
Get
a great e-mail list management program that organizes your data.
This is key so you can communicate with the people on your mailing
list (but not more than 1 time per month!). Remember you have
to give to get, so send them special MP3s, offer them $2 off your
new CD or even a drink special or $1 off the door at the bar/club
you are playing if they print out your e-mail and bring it along.
I like www.indiebandmanager.com.
WOMANROCK:
Besides
drawing people to your own site, bands obviously need exposure
on other websites. Can you recommend a few that review CDs?
HYATT:
I
love these all a lot: Pitchforkmedia.com,
Splendidezine.com,
Inmusicwetrust.com,
Reviewyou.com,
Indie-Music.com.
WOMANROCK:
Any
thoughts on free digital distribution?
HYATT:
CD
Baby will give you free digital distribution when you sign up
to sell your CDs through them. All indie artists should sign up
to work with this amazing distributor (www.cdbaby.com).
Tina
Whelski is a NY-based freelance writer/photographer who has
written for the Village Voice and currently contributes a regular
music column to the Aquarian Weekly/East Coast Rocker. She's also
a drummer.
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