Independent Music Marketing Resources at MaxLowe.net

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been doing some research on Ariel Hyatt and her PR prowess when it comes to independent music. I was planning to do a feature in the next week or so about how much of an undiscovered gem she and her service could be for a struggling act or artist. I mentioned her (hopefully) influential article about Twitter from musicthinktank.com on the blog yesterday.

Unfortunately, Ariel just launched a new marketing program for herself that will probably guarantee her and her team will be so busy they’ll be turning away loads of work for months. If you’re lucky enough to get a spot in one of her publicity programs, take advantage of it as soon as you can. If you’re truly certain your act is ready to compete on a worldwide stage, Ariel will be able to help you take it to the next level as far as online media is concerned. Just make sure to give your project plenty of lead time - your album promotion should start at least 3 months in advance of your release date!

Learn more about Ariel Hyatt’s Cyber PR Magic

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Sitting down to write those first mind-racking band descriptions and introductions on your profile can be very hard. It involves a great deal of thinking, planning, and usually a lot of collaboration with the rest of the band, your friends and family members for ideas and the “right” thing to say. But, rather than worry excessively about what you want to say, you should consider what people want to read about your band.

New Fans and Innate Curiosity

When a new fan visits your site, they likely have three questions in mind:

• What kind of music do you play?
• What are you and the other band-members like?
• How does this affect me?

MySpace provides plenty of space and prompts for you to provide information about what kind of music you play and what kind of band you are. You can upload tracks for them to listen to, list your major influences, and create a series of mini-profiles with information about your band’s members. However, the third question is one of the most important and must be addressed carefully in the descriptions you write.

You might notice that many bands write a very long, involved profile discussing who they are, where they came from and what they see in their music. Other bands simply post a concert calendar and a short bio of 200 words. While a profile that is too long will simply bore readers, one that is too short does not address the question of “how it affects them.”

To address this question, you must write less with the “goal” of your music in mind and more with the “substance”. What do you do that is different from other bands and how do you interact with your fans? Fans want to know that you are an active, fun band. If you know you are going to be traveling a lot and that you will update your blog, respond to fan messages, and listen to requests, write that into your profile. If you want to hear feedback on a track or have a cool idea that you want to run by a large group of people, do it in your profile.

By combining the basic marketing information that all bands include in their profile - origins, influences, and aspirations - with the basic, interactive information that your fans want to hear, you can ensure they know what you want them to know while feeling like stopping by you profile has a positive effect on them.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Twitter is one of those micro niche tools that has developed in the last few years to take advantage of the various different opportunities available through Web 2.0 technologies. Basically, the service allows you to post a short, 140-character line about whatever it is you are doing at any given time. You can upload them directly to the website or from a cell phone. It is basically a take on the status messages so many people use on their social networking profiles as applied to the Internet at large.

So, what can this basic little gadget do for you and your MySpace profile? It might seem straightforward – a widget that tells people what you are doing – but it can be so much more if you let it.

Twitter on the Go

First, you need to find the right application for your MySpace profile. You can find plenty of simple, easy to install Twitter profile widgets that will display your posts directly on your profile. Make it as unobtrusive as possible and with the same colors as your background and it shouldn’t stand out too much.

Next, start posting to your Twitter. The best part is that you can post from anywhere in the world by texting your posts in through SMS. After setting up your cell phone to work with Twitter, you can post from shows, on the bus, or the comfort of your own bed.

Now, make sure to post as often as possible. If you post often enough, you will create an effect similar to that of a blog – an interesting, content filled glimpse into your life. Especially if you are able to post to it everyday, you can be sure to have something new and interesting for your visitors each time they visit your profile – one of the most important things you can do.

Ultimately, twitter is just another small tool in the monstrous toolbox that is the Internet. But, like the other tools that are available to you, Twitter – when used properly – can provide a solid boost to your page views, fans, and ultimately to the connection you have with those fans. You want them to keep coming back, so give them something to come back for.

Popularity: 6% [?]

What do you do when your friend ignores you for a few weeks?

Hopefully, you forgive and forget because I apologize for being so slack on keeping up to date over here. I’ve been pretty focused on a few new music related projects (details coming soon) and this part of my life (the one that doesn’t pay) has taken a back seat.

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