How to Use Social Media to Build an Awesome Fanbase
This is a presentation from a workshop I hosted at the Arizona Songwriters Association annual conference. In it I discussed how artists can use social media to build their fanbase by focusing on three main areas: 1. Building a Story 2. Engaging 3. Creating and Releasing as much content as possible This presentation focuses less on the actual social media channels and how they are used and more on building the foundation for an entire website presence with techniques that will work across all social media channels existing now and those that will in the future. Building a Story This area of the presentation focuses on how you set yourself apart from other musicians in your genre. Showcasing uniqueness is by far one of the more valuable strategies indie artists can make. This story can be built on a personal hosted blog, guest blog websites and social media channels. Sharing your story also builds trust with your followers and makes you more relatable as well. Engaging As I mentioned in the presentation, the most important part of being on social media is actually being social. It might seem funny but there are a ton of artists that constantly share links to their music and never engage with fans, followers or gatekeepers. Engaging with fans means so much more than anything else you could do. Give them a little bit of your time and you'll have an advocate for life. Someone to share your music with others. Engaging with gatekeepers is also far more valuable then sending spam email in attempts to get your album reviewed or to get on the bill for a dream show. Follow and engage with gatekeepers on a regular basis and when the time comes for your album review or to book a show, you already have built a relationship with those people. Create and Release Releasing music as often as possible is so important in today's online world. Give your audience something to share and enjoy every week if you can. This way you aren't forgotten about with all the other music being released every week. These three points, when done correctly, can hold up your entire online presence, no matter what channel. They are key and they work to grow your fanbase through social media.
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How to Use Social Media to Build an Awesome Fanbase
- 1. HOW TO USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO BUILD AN AWESOME FANBASE JEREMIAH CRAIG
- 2. –Jerry Garcia “You do not merely want to be considered just the best of the best. You want to be considered the only ones who do what you do.” Jeremiah Craig jeremiahcraig.com
- 3. THIS IS THE FOUNDATION • Techniques that Work Across all Channels • Gain New Listeners • Connecting with Gatekeepers • Strategies to Get New Fans Jeremiah Craig jeremiahcraig.com
- 4. WHAT WE’LL BE COVERING • What is Social Media • Building Your Story • Engaging with Fans, Bloggers and Gatekeepers • Creating and releasing content and music • Examples Jeremiah Craig jeremiahcraig.com
- 5. WHAT IS SOCIAL MEDIA? • Social Media is Community • Word of mouth • Types of Social Media • Content Channels • Conversation Channels Jeremiah Craig jeremiahcraig.com
- 6. SO WHAT CHANNELS ARE RIGHT FOR YOU? • Don’t worry about this yet • Depends on your story Jeremiah Craig jeremiahcraig.com
- 7. Build Your Story Jeremiah Craig jeremiahcraig.com
- 8. WHAT DOES BUILDING A STORY MEAN? • What makes you love music? • What do you love about your own music? • What makes you unique? What’s your “thing”? • Find that uniqueness and build a story around that Jeremiah Craig jeremiahcraig.com
- 9. HOW TO BUILD YOUR STORY • Create Content • Blog posts, podcasts, videos, images • Share that content on social media Jeremiah Craig jeremiahcraig.com
- 10. BECOME KNOWN FOR IT • Search Social Media and start conversations • Talk about it • Everywhere you’re mentioned online, get your story mentioned too • Find the social media channels where it’s talked about Jeremiah Craig jeremiahcraig.com
- 11. BRAINSTORMING TOPICS • What to write about? What to talk about? • Talk about what you do in music and why it’s important • Talk about the future of your genre • Explain your genre and uniqueness • Your heroes, favorite quotes, or teach people your style Jeremiah Craig jeremiahcraig.com
- 12. SO WHAT’S YOUR STORY? • Balladeer, Storyteller • I write blog posts, make videos, talk about folk music on Twitter • My content has helped me become known for being a storyteller and balladeer. Jeremiah Craig jeremiahcraig.com
- 16. Build Your Story Engage Jeremiah Craig jeremiahcraig.com
- 17. ENGAGING WITH YOUR COMMUNITY • The most important part of being on social media is being social. • Talk with people about your content • If they compliment you, say thanks! • If they disagree, start a conversation • Make it interesting Jeremiah Craig jeremiahcraig.com
- 18. MAKING IT INTERESTING Jeremiah Craig jeremiahcraig.com
- 19. MAKING IT INTERESTING Jeremiah Craig jeremiahcraig.com
- 20. MAKING IT INTERESTING Jeremiah Craig jeremiahcraig.com
- 21. ENGAGING WITH GATEKEEPERS • The bloggers, the venue owners, the promoters • Build a relationship - talk about anything • Come album release time or show time you already have a relationship Jeremiah Craig jeremiahcraig.com
- 22. THIS IS A LOT OF WORK • Why do it? • Because it’s real • It shows you care • It gets more attention then spam Jeremiah Craig jeremiahcraig.com
- 23. THE GRATEFUL DEAD • Wrote their own Newsletters • Set up recorder areas • Engaged with fans • Licensed their logo to fans Jeremiah Craig jeremiahcraig.com
- 24. Build Your Story Engage Create and Release Jeremiah Craig jeremiahcraig.com
- 25. CREATE AND RELEASE • Key is to release music regularly • Video or Audio • Consider some free downloads too • So create and release! Jeremiah Craig jeremiahcraig.com
- 26. CREATE AND RELEASE WHAT? • Mixtapes • Alternate Takes • Live Recordings • Collaborate • Remember public domain • All you need is something with a camera and mic Jeremiah Craig jeremiahcraig.com
- 27. WHAT YOUR ALBUM COMES OUT • Hip Hop and mixtapes • Free downloads = more album sales • The more you give, the more you get • Makes fans happy • Increase shares • Grows fans • Fans pay you back when its time Jeremiah Craig jeremiahcraig.com
- 28. REMEMBER FAN’S BEST INTEREST • Make it easy for them to like you and your music • Help them share your story • Make it simple, make it good • Engage • Make as much music as possible Jeremiah Craig jeremiahcraig.com
- 29. Build Your Story Engage Create and Release Blog, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Google+, Vimeo, Tumblr, Vine, Instagram, StumbleUpon, Snapchat, Pinterest Jeremiah Craig jeremiahcraig.com