You’ve got the 1000 fans, and now?
I. Keep them interested in you
Now that you've found your fans through your social network sites and through playing live, learn how to maintain their interest in you and your music:
1. Anticipation:
If you follow very many bands who have been popular for years, they usually announce upcoming releases of CDs or new songs, months in advance. By announcing your new releases well in advance of the release date, you give fans time to anticipate the new release and a reason to keep your name fresh in mind.
2. Freebies and Rewards:
Everyone loves getting something for nothing; free mp3s, wallpapers, …or you can create levels of engagement where fans get something in return: for example, you can offer your fans a free download of your latest single in exchange for joining your mailing list. You can give free tickets or discounts in return for their help in promoting you… Give a free concert or a benefit show once in a while. Doing these things will make your fans feel good about supporting you. It gives them the sense that you care about them. One of the best rewards is to make the customer / audience feel as if they are part of something. Membership is its own reward.
3. Sell unique Merchandise:
Make the most out of your fan connections by selling exclusive bundles and packages through your own storefronts. Create different levels of pricing for different levels of fans. Give your fans a chance to support you at whatever level they want. Selling direct builds and strengthens the emotional connection between you and your fans. A simple thank you for buying gives them the satisfaction of knowing they are supporting you, adding another level of emotional connection.
Try to be as creative as you can, open a contest for example, where they can win a mix CD with an exclusive packaging just for the contest, make a limited-pressing Vinyl of your new release, a good idea can also be asking your fans what they’d like to buy from you, and then making it available,…
II. Get your fans engaged:
Make them feel a part of the band! Enlist their help for tours, gigs, merchandising, get ideas from them, ask them what they'd like you to do next...involve them and you have them for life.
1. Ask Your Fans’ Opinion:
Show your fans that you care about their opinion. Whenever you add a link, a video or just for a status update, try to finish your sentence by asking a question. People always love giving their opinions! It is a very good way to incite comments on your page.
2. Daily update:
Don’t let a day go by without adding a new post to your Fan Page. If you do so, you might lose your fans’ attention. Even if it is just a status update or a video, it is important to add it.
3. Surprise them:
Don’t bore your fans by always sharing content they would expect to see on your Fan Page, surprise them with something new sometimes! Try to share a rather funny video, or a viral that has taken over the Internet.
III. Continue to expand your network
1. “Physically”:
Keep on doing as many live gigs as you can, go in new cities, new countries, make your fanbase bigger. Gain exposure in attending music conferences, indie showcases and music festivals.
Play for free if you have to, anywhere, any time. Create an event, an event with a cause and donate the proceeds to a charity, remember live aid, comic relief, get onstage and strut your stuff. This can open up some interesting contacts and opportunities.
2. Online presence:
Keep all your sites updated, include blogs, video blogs, podcasts and videocasts.
Announce every song, every CD, decent chart position, contest win, top sales on releases, announce anything and everything to stay in the public’s eye. Write a review of every gig and get feedback from local VIPs, fans, whom ever matters and include the best quotes.
i. Create work for your fans:
Instead of blogging every minute and answering every question, let your fans to comment on a particular song, and let them read each other’s comments instead of asking you questions. Give away a free track and encourage fans to share it, make them post comments on your last EP on specialised websites,…
Create a fan club online and get them to spread your banners, links and provide content for them to spread.
ii. Place a facebook store link wherever you can:
You should always be thinking about where fans discover you, but also where you want them to go and why. Which platform offers you the best options for sales, engagement and discovery.
iii. Newsletter:
Create an online newsletter, with interesting content to the receiver. This is an invaluable way to keep fans informed on gigs, news, gossip, new releases and other great info. Send out your newsletter about once a month. You can give your fans insider, behind the scenes, back stage with the band info and videos.
Examples of use of all the most known platforms:
Facebook: Build a Fanpage with music, pictures and videos (live extracts or clips). Everybody is on Facebook so try to make everybody « like » you !
Twitter: At least once a week keep your fans informed of your current recording sessions, your live tours or your thoughts on whatever you want (but keep it coherent with your image).
Youtube: This is the place to try to make a buzz. Let’s have a brilliant idea and post the video. Try something funny, keep on surprising your fans!
Blog: A bit like Facebook and Twitter for music, pictures, video and informations. But you can also see a blog like a diary where everybody can leave comments. Everybody like to read someone else diaries... !
Myspace: Today myspace act as a business card for bands because when you are searching for infos on a band you know exactly where it is on myspace. The community is decreasing on myspace but leave a nice look of your pages and some songs/videos.
Personal website : Make it easy to navigate. Infos must be available in 3 clicksmax (people are lazy). Most important is the look and feel correlated with your image. Tag it to make it easily accessible on Google.
Podcast: If you have time you can try to make a mix of one of your songs and other artists’ songs too, and post this as a podcast on your blog or website.
Reality !!! Don’t forget the good old posters and flyers for promoting your concerts.
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