Saturday, March 29, 2014
Social Media Secrets for Indie Musicians
March 17, 2014
Social Media Secrets for Indie Musicians
BY: DAVE KUSEK | POST A COMMENT | PRINT ARTICLE
Today, social media is the cornerstone of your music career. It’s what lets you stay in touch with your fans and easily notify them with exciting news. With all the social media guides out there, you’d think no one remembers one of the key behavioral aspects to being human – socializing. I know, it’s hard to find a balance between social and promotional – afterall, you still need to sell your show or record. Here’s 5 secrets to help you find that social media balance.
1. The 80/20 rule.
So exactly what is the balance between personal/interesting content and marketing content? I don’t like putting a formula to something as spontaneous socializing, but a general rule of thumb is that 80% of your content should be personal, funny, interesting, and entertaining, and 20% should be reserved for marketing pushes. Go beyond 20% and people start ignoring you. Keep it social. Keep it fun.
2. Drive interest.
Just like the flow between social media and the offline experience, you should also create a flow between your social media channels and your website. Your website is the hub of your career online. It’s where you make sales and have more detailed information for fans. Link creatively to your website, so that you give people fun and interesting reasons to visit.
3. Don’t over-invest yourself in every social media platform available.
A lot of musicians I’ve talked to find themselves completely consumed by social media. As a result, they don’t have much time left over for their music. You are only one person and can only do so much. Pick a few social media platforms and really focus on creating strong interaction and engagement on those platforms.
4. Pick platforms that are relevant to your image and brand.
If your target fan is a young teenage girl, Twitter and Instagram are your best bets, as these are the platforms where these girls spend the majority of their time. If you are a improvisational jazz band whose target fan is a forty-year-old working man, Facebook and email would probably be your best bet.
5. Make your channels unique.
It’s also a good idea to use each social media channel slightly differently. Give your fans a reason to follow you on all platforms. While you can and should push important information out across all your channels, try to give it a different spin. If your announcing a gig try this approach: Take a picture of yourself in front of the venue and push it out to Instagram and use Facebook to drive engagement, asking fans what songs they want you to play. Get creative!
You can contact me on Twitter @davekusek.
If you’re ready to get a better handle on your social media, check out my new online course the New Artist Model, or sign up for 10 free lessons here.
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Monday, March 10, 2014
Toyota's the i-Road, a compact all-electric three-wheeled vehicle
Toyota i-Road: Leaning toward a city near you
Electric 3-wheeler has maneuverability of a motorcycle, cabin of a car and ease of vehicle sharing.
By Douglas Newcomb 1 hour ago
If futurist predictions come true, the global population will become increasingly urbanized, leading to the further growth of “mega cities” — and to what’s been termed as global gridlock as more vehicles take to the roads.
Toyota’s solution is the i-Road, a compact all-electric three-wheeled vehicle that has been turning heads on the streets of Toyota City, Japan, for its unusual appearance as well as its potential. The i-Road’s rear third wheel (think of it as a reverse tricycle) gives it a pivotal form of operation that’s similar to riding a motorcycle, although it’s more stable and therefore safer — and also fun.
Like a motorcycle or bicycle, the i-Road can weave through traffic and is far more maneuverable than a car since it takes up less space. Unlike a motorcycle, the i-Road has an enclosed canopy so the driver won’t get windblown and can stay warm and dry.
Because of traffic-clogged metropolises as well as the related issue of increasing air pollution — which is already coming to pass in the most crowded parts of China — automakers are experimenting with alternative vehicles that bear no resemblance to traditional cars.
The i-Road, which weighs about 650 pounds and is just under 3 feet wide, is also far more efficient than a car and has zero emissions. Toyota envisions that it could also cost less to own than a car — or that drivers wouldn’t have to own one at all.
The i-Road is being introduced into Ha:mo, Toyota's experimental urban transport system in Japan, by making the three-wheelers available to Toyota City residents at vehicle-sharing stations. Drivers book an i-Road via their smartphones and complete a trip through the city without burning a drop of gas or having to actually own (and also park) their own car. Next, residents of Grenoble, France will get the chance to share in the three-wheeling fun when a similar i-Road-sharing project begins there soon.
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