MAKING THE MOST OF SOCIAL MEDIAPacific Music Business CampJuly 2013Presented by Dana Myers

WHAT IS SOCIAL MEDIA?

Webster’s Dictionary: forms of electronic communication through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content. Sort of like digital networking

Networking: Creating mutually beneficial business relationships with other people

What are some examples of social media communities that you use?

WHY IS SOCIAL MEDIA IMPERATIVE?

It creates a relationship between the fan and the artist

It allows you to target market directly to people that already “like,” “follow,” or “opt in” to you

It’s a networking platform

***Beware: Do not “spam” your followers!

WHERE SHOULD YOU BE?

It depends on your target audience / niche What online communities do your fans utilize?

That’s where you want to be. In one location per-community

You only need one facebook/twitter/etc. page for your band

More than one page per community is confusing, splits your fans, and requires more management on your part

SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT: WHAT SHOULD YOU INCLUDE?

What types of content have you seen bands / artists post before?

Basics: music, tour, photo(s), contact, etc. Develop a content strategy based on your

brand, your niche, and your fans. Who is your audience? How will your fans be most engaged? What makes you most interesting? How are you different from other artists of the same

niche/genre? How do other bands or your audience members

engage with each other? Your content should be cohesive and

identifiable with your brand.

HOW TO BE EFFECTIVE WITH YOUR CONTENT

Thematic Consistency gives fans something to expect and

a reason to stay engaged Examples: Throwback Thursday

Sharable If fans share your content, it reaches a greater

audience Interactive

Interactive media deepens the fan-to-artist connection

A close connection between the fan and artist creates a long-term consumer

Examples of interactive social media content?

HOW TO GROW AND MAINTAIN YOUR AUDIENCE

Give fans an opportunity to participate Examples?

Give fans shout outs when appropriate; acknowledge their opinions and presence

Create and/or contribute to the conversation in your local, genre, or fan community

Thank fans for interacting with your content Be active, post interesting and

interactive content

EXAMPLE: MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS

Communities Facebook: facebook.com/macklemoreryanlewis MySpace: myspace.com/Macklemore Twitter: twitter.com/Macklemore Instagram: instagram.com/Macklemore Tumblr: macklemre.tumblr.com Bandcamp: macklemore.bandcamp.com YouTube:

www.youtube.com/user/RyanLewisProductions

EXAMPLE: MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS

Facebook Thematic? Sharable? Interactive?

Twitter Thematic? Sharable? Interactive?

EXAMPLE: MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS

Content Blogs Posts, shout outs (multiple per day) Video blogs Photos Contests #sharkfacegang #MacklemoreMonday “Behind the scenes”

Gives fans a peek into who the musicians are as real people – easier to connect with

ELECTRONIC PRESS KITS

Content Contact info Biography Professional photos Quotes from industry professionals / press coverage Gig information Links to audio, video, images, texts

Host your works on free and well-known platforms Sound Cloud, Band Camp, Vimeo, YouTube

Some websites offer inexpensive “pro” versions to use as your website Tumblr, Word Press, Band Camp

Make a PDF version, too!

WRAP UP

Use social media to form and nurture relationships with fans

Be thematic, sharable, and interactive Be interesting, and tailor your content

strategy to your audience