Use social media to connect. There are many social networking sites out there, and it really doesn't hurt having a presence on each one. But twelve accounts can be awfully hard to manage if you are also trying to create new music, schedule live shows, and balance your web presence. It is for this reason that you may ought to think about an aggregate tool such as Threadsy that allows you to make updates to all networks using one interface. When you can consolidate work like this, it saves you the cost of hiring a social networking manager, and it allows you to focus on creating music.
Make sure you have maximum exposure. There are many ways to reach people online. Individually, it may be difficult to grow a network, but combining your efforts allows you to reach the maximum number of people with the minimum amount of effort. Of course, it all starts with making great music, but after that, you should be trying anything you can to build links and get your name to the top of the search engines.
Don't just create music. Create relationships. Developing a unique sound that people will want to listen to is the cornerstone of any great band, but the ones that stay around create followings. Behind the scenes web content, smartphone applications, and allowing your fans to provide easy feedback makes you accessible, and accessible bands will always be there for their audiences, come rain or shine.
Balance your creative side with your business side. Playing music is a passion. It can turn into a business. You have to make sure that it becomes enough of a business to turn into profits, but never let your passion for it go away. The minute that happens is the minute that you no longer have anything worth promoting, either in the virtual or real worlds.
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