A good Google+ Profile a must for Musicians

 Google profiles have been around for awhile, and has always carried some importance in online presence and branding. But with the addition of Google Plus to the crazy world of social media, the importance of a strong Google profile has taken a new meaning.

Google is the number one search. The term 'Google me' has become mainstream. When someone searches for you, they will find all the places you have been online, any comments you may have left on blogs etc, any pictures, videos you may have posted, and anywhere you have a spot on the web, from Facebook to twitter to, of course, Google. And Google, preserving their power of the web, will be showing the Google profiles prominently.
So, what constitutes a good profile?

Some tips:
Make it Personal
Google+ will be coming up with business accounts that can be used for bands too .  Keep your profile YOU

Fill out as much as possible
Not saying you need to add your street address or phone number, but adding where you live (town), and have lived, your name, etc is a no brainer.

Fill out a little Intro
Tell people some of what makes you, you, and sure - include some of your music info.  A short bio would work nicely.  Use the editor and add links.

Occupation and Employment 
If you work for a company, and prefer not to let world know where, leave blank. But if you are a musician THIS is where you make it known . Do not leave blank, or get all cutesy here.  I recommend coming across as professional as possible.

Links
Anyone who uses the internet for business in any way needs to add as many links as you can. All the marketplaces are supported, along with the other social media hot spots, so again, a no brainer.

Add a profile picture
A Good one. again, if your business uses the web to reach the masses, you need a good picture or logo even. It should be reflective of your style. But, unless you sell costumes on the side, I don't recommend the one of you dressed as a poodle.

Now Google+ WILL frown upon you using it strictly to promo your music - it is a 'social site' .. so be sociable too.  But with the integration of you tube videos and the use of "hangouts" you will find Google+ to be a very good spot to promote.

Handy Tools For Google Plus:
URL Shortener :  
There is one spot I found that makes getting your own custom URL a breeze.  Check out  gplus.to  Carefully pick your name.  I recommend using YOUR name.  Google+ is planning on business accounts (which could be used for your band)  as well in the near future, so you will want to reserve your business name for it.
I can be found at http://gplus.to/SusanLeak
Search 
A directory of folks on Google +  You think musicians are not on there??  Think again.  You can search via occupation here : http://findpeopleonplus.com/  
You need to add yourself to this - but super easy to do.

Any other Cool tools for Google Plus?? Let us all know!

Twitter, FaceBook and Music - 7 tips for bands in Social Media

Lately, many musicians are finally waking up to social media. With facebook and Twitter offering integration with countless sites, they are becoming a strong and almost necessary set of tools in today's world of music. But, many are also lost or are becoming 'lazy' with their social media campaign.

While the integration is good - Twitter feeding Facebook, Facebook feeding Twitter, MySpace feeding both, Reverbnation feeding everywhere, I am seeing to many fail at the most important part - the SOCIAL end of Social Media. Although the ends and outs, the do's and don'ts have been covered time and time again, let me jump on this happy bandwagon and give my take on it.

1. DO integrate - yes, use the feeds from one to the other to the other . My Favorite is the Reverbnation feed. From Reverb, you can keep everyone everywhere up dated with your shows, and by sharing the player with Facebook, increase the number of plays you receive.
2. DON'T Neglect - Just because you are feeding Facebook from Twitter for example, don't think you do not have to pop in there. Try to personally visit each social site at least once a week.
3. DO Promote - Yes - the whole purpose of you spending your time on Twitter, etc is to expose your music, and to increase your fanbase, hence increasing sales, and crowds at your shows.
4. DON'T over Promote - Again, the whole purpose is to build a fanbase, nothing turns people off faster than a barrage of "look at me!" 
5. DO be sociable - It is called social media for a reason - be sociable! - Chat with the people, thank them for mentioning you, sharing your song, and help out other musicians by propping them up and giving them some kudos too. THEY have fans, and no, you don't want to 'steal' fans, but sharing fans is only a win-win for all involved.
6. DON'T be rude - in ANY way. Keep it clean, keep it civil, keep it friendly.
7. DO be YOU - THIS is the most important one. Be YOU. Fans follow artists because they want to 'see' what they are like. Keep it real.

It is simple - relax - have fun - win fans. Just remember, what works in the club on a Saturday night with the drinking crowd is not going to wash for the Sunday morning coffee drinkers.

Be true to you - to quote George Michael's song - you gotta have Faith - faith in you.

Later - Renagade - Renagade offers many services to help musicians grow, including Branding and social media Campaigns.

Feel free to connect with me:
My Social Media spots:
www.facebook.com/renagades
www.facebook.com/renagadesmusic 
www.facebook.com/2wolvesdj
http://twitter.com/renagades
www.reverbnation.com/renagadesusanleak
www.linkedin.com/in/renagade

Tips on Self Promoting your Music

So, you have written some awesome tunes, recorded them, and have the downloads and CDs ready for sale, maybe even have them up on your site available for purchase already. Now What?

Gone are the early days of recording a few tunes and people finding them and buying. The marketplace is far more vast and good music is everywhere. So just how do you drive traffic to YOUR songs?

There are countless ways to do that, but fair warning, this does take time, and work. Countless books, DVDs, pod casts, webinars and seminars are available and some are really good sources of information. There is also a gazillion places on the web to find some information as well. But before you run yourself ragged looking for this, let cover some of the basics here.

Make Google Work For You

1. Be sure your title is the title and your name: People may not remember your CD called “XYZ and ME” , but may remember it is by “The Crazy Hippos” . Be sure your downloads and CD listings have both in title.
2. Is the price right? - Don’t expect to sell YOUR CD of music for $30 when others are selling for $14. Research your prices.

Feed The Beast - The items found on Google are not always found BY Google. They are fed to Google via Google Product Search . Luckily many, many marketplaces such as , Amazon Music, CD Baby and itunes do this for you, that is why they are a good place to set up shop

Help yourself

1. Be Social - Social Media is a goldmine of opportunities to promote your products. You have Face Book, Twitter, My Space, and a ton of Ning Sites, all offering you a way to let a huge audience know about what you sell and where they can find it. CAUTION The KEY word is SOCIAL - BE social. Chat with the people, show genuine interest in what THEY say, and they will return the favor. Above all have fun.
2. Join In - There are countless site to brainstorm with fellow musicians. There are groups on Face Book, My Space, as well as other places such as http://www.linkedin.com/, http://www.musicianforums.com/  http://www.bandfocus.com/ and a wide array of Ning sites. Remember - not only is it good way to find out information, but musicians buy too!
3. Blog it - A blog is and excellent way to promote without actually doing so. Simply by writing about what you like, or telling stories about the band, where youre playing, etc people get to know you a little better, and often will look at the ’Ad’ you have on the side.
4. Add your two cents worth - You are NOT a Blogger? Then try just leaving comments on ones you read. Agree, Disagree, give Kudos, add your two cents! When you add a comment you can also add a url. Why not use your url to where your music is!
5. YouTube It - You Tube is one of the most powerful marketing tools for musicians today. Use it, but use it wisely. Be sure the video is interesting and good quality, both audio and video wise.

Be your biggest fan

1. Become a Walking Billboard - Have a Custom T- Shirt made with your Logo. Or a tote bag, bumper sticker, window decal, you name it. Sell these or give them to your fans.  They will spread the word for you.
2. Address the issue - Make some address labels that not only have your Name or BAND name and Address BUT your URL on it! I use them on everything, even my bills I pay.
3. The 3 foot rule - Use the 3 foot rule. Simply put, anyone that comes within 3 feet of you will know you are a MUSICIAN. Find a way when ever possible to talk about songs. And if you follow this up with a business card, you just may get a sale or a Gig out of the deal.
4. Get Reviews - ask around for reviews of the album. Just be sure to go with those that understand your genre. A country artist is not going to fare well with someone who prefers rap.

I Don’t have the time

1. You don’t have the time to market. Many musicians don’t. Then consider hiring someone to handle your PR and Marketing. There are many good firms and freelance people that can do this for you. But WARNING: you must research them. As many good ones are out there, there are those that are scams. And remember size and price does not mean quality.

These are some of the basic steps you can take to try to drive more people to your site, and hence, make more sales. Be creative, be social, and become your biggest fan. Above have fun. It is not rocket science it is common sense. Remember common sense equals dollars and cents.

Feel free to add your two cents…. What works for you? (and lets see if you paid attention)

Renagade
Renagade offers PR and marketing for good quality Indie Artists

What Bands can Learn from Radio Stations Regarding Social Media

The headline caught my attention -
Radio's Social Media Performance is Pathetic

I thought, hmm it isn't just me who feels this way. And no, I am not. With several comments, posts to facebook and retweets shortly after it was posted, to over all consensus in YES, Radio Stations haven't a clue about social media.

Social media such as FaceBook, My Space , Twitter and others are a powerful powerful marketing tool. And for the most part, the Radio stations get that and used them to let the fans know whats goodies they got going on. But the failure comes into play when they use Twitter, etc as their soap box and forget the first word in the term Social Media. Unfortunately, so do some musicians.

Fans want to here about what gigs you have coming up, what CD or song you are working on and given links, will repeatedly  view your you tube. But fans appetite for new stuff is ravenous, so if that is all you are using these sites for, they will quickly go find another place ( band) to feed their hunger.

The easiest way to keep their attention is by actually engaging with them. Now I know many of you have 1000 or more fans following you all over, and are thinking " I don't have the time to 'engage' them all. Well it would be crazy to try to. But you can occasionally welcome your new people, personally post an answer or response, and thank them for the prop ups and love they are throwing your way. If you are sincere about it, you will find the casual fans become loyal devoted ones giving you the most important form of advertising going - 'word of mouth'.

I recommend going and reading Mark Ramsey's article., Radios Social Media Performance is Pathetic , his insight is great and you will find tips any one that is using social media within their business can use.

And if you have a tip for others, feel free to share it here. I am always looking for ways to improve my social skills myself.

Is your online conduct hurting your 'Band Brand'?

Recently on my Rants. Raves, Renagade blog, I posted two articles addressing behavior online. Although that blog is geared towards eCommerce Merchants, people in the music industry need to take heed as well.


In "Are your words running across the internet?" I ask the question "How is your reputation?" and demonstrate how what you post on social media sites, forums and other places on the web can make or break your reputation. Dont think for one second that people don’t notice or care. And surely don't think that your words stay where you left them.

In the second post, "Are you Talkin' to me???.....You  Talkin' to ME??? I tackle the subject of beefs, gripes, moans, and down right slams and arguments on the web. Not the way to win a fan base people.

If you are a musician, you are a business person plain and simple. Your music is your product, and the way you conduct yourself online can and will have lasting effects on the saleability of your product. Your Name is your Brand, and what you say and do online can affect that brand.

If you get into a public row with someone, it can hurt. If you slam out nothing but 'Hey! Look at me!" messages, you will be branded a spammer and your words will lose value. If you talk trashy talk with others, dropping F-Bombs and other 'colorful ' words around, some will grow weary and drop you too. Or worse, not allow their kids to buy your music or fail to go an even listen to your music themselves. As and Indie Artist, the loss of one fan can equal the loss of hundreds more simply by losing that one person not telling others about you.  And if you have a 'day job', what is your employers opinion about your online persona and the way you are handling yourself.

Social Media is a powerful, powerful marketing tool for music. Use it wisely to build your Brand and the fan base and sales will follow.

Later..........Renagade

www.renagadesmusic.com- where good Indies build great reputations.