Since the music industry was one of the first industries to heavily embrace Twitter, Bruce Warila asked some industry friends the simple question: "What is Twitter?"
Derek Sivers, Ariel Hyatt, Andrew Dubber, and Steve Lawson offer some answers.
Read them at musicthinktank.com.
What do you think?
-Bob
P.S. Did you enjoy this blog post? Get more tips like these when you subscribe to my Buzz Factor ezine -- the longest running music career tips email newsletter on the planet. Since 1995. Go grab your free subscription now.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Engage Music Fans with These Simple Online Tools
If you've never asked your fans for their input using an online poll, you really should consider it. It's a great device to encourage interaction with the people who support you.You can ask them to vote on:
- Cover artwork for your next album
- Songs you should include on your next album or EP
- What part of the country you should tour next
- Songs you should perform at your next show
- What to get the bass player for his birthday
- Their favorite flavor of ice cream (or some other lighthearted topic)
But what online polling service should you use?
A couple weeks ago I asked people on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and more. Here are the main results I got, combined with sites I've used. Most have both free and paid options:
SurveyMonkey
www.surveymonkey.com
Twtpoll
www.twtpoll.com
Zoomerang
www.zoomerang.com
SurveyGizmo
www.surveygizmo.com
Micropoll
www.micropoll.com
Wufoo
www.wufoo.com
Google Forms
http://docs.google.com/support/bin/topic.py?topic=15166
Action Step: Pick one of the services above, create a poll, and send it to your fans via email, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, etc.
-Bob
P.S. Did you enjoy this blog post? Get more tips like these when you subscribe to my Buzz Factor ezine -- the longest running music career tips email newsletter on the planet. Since 1995. Go grab your free subscription now.
Friday, November 12, 2010
What's Your "Internet Influence Index"? (3i)
Do you ever wonder how you're faring in the realm of Online Reach and Influence? Maybe you need to stop and take a snapshot of where you stand.
I call it your Internet Influence Index (or 3i for short).
I refer to it as a snapshot because, if you're proactive at all online, the numbers will be in constant flux -- hopefully in an upward direction.
I probably need to create a form or checklist you can use to track these important statistics. But here's a rundown of my current Internet Influence Index (as of Nov 12, 2010) to give you an idea of different ways you can measure your own 3i:
Twitter ...
Followers: 4,294
Total tweets I've posted: 5,322
Lists I am included on: 277
Facebook ...
Friends (personal profile): 3,229
Fan page "likes": 253
YouTube ...
Total views: 197,222
Channel subscribers: 985
Videos posted: 60
Music Promotion Blog ...
Feedburner subscribers: 1,994
Total # of posts: 521
Artist Empowerment Radio podcast ...
Feedburner subscribers: 583
Total # of episodes: 54
MySpace ...
Friends: 3,309
LinkedIn ...
Connections: 1,306
Scribd ...
Documents: 6
Total reads: 9,957
FriendFeed ...
Subscribers: 363
Google Buzz ...
Followers: 57
Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook on Amazon.com ...
Sales rank: #260,722 in Books
5-star reviews: 8
4-star reviews: 4
As you can see, there are many ways to measure your Internet Influence Index.
What am I missing? Would you like me to create a checklist form that can be used to track your 3i?
Let me know in the Comments.
-Bob
The image above comes from opensourceway.
P.S. Did you enjoy this blog post? Get more tips like these when you subscribe to my Buzz Factor ezine -- the longest running music career tips email newsletter on the planet. Since 1995. Go grab your free subscription now.
I call it your Internet Influence Index (or 3i for short).
I refer to it as a snapshot because, if you're proactive at all online, the numbers will be in constant flux -- hopefully in an upward direction.
I probably need to create a form or checklist you can use to track these important statistics. But here's a rundown of my current Internet Influence Index (as of Nov 12, 2010) to give you an idea of different ways you can measure your own 3i:
Twitter ...
Followers: 4,294
Total tweets I've posted: 5,322
Lists I am included on: 277
Facebook ...
Friends (personal profile): 3,229
Fan page "likes": 253
YouTube ...
Total views: 197,222
Channel subscribers: 985
Videos posted: 60
Music Promotion Blog ...
Feedburner subscribers: 1,994
Total # of posts: 521
Artist Empowerment Radio podcast ...
Feedburner subscribers: 583
Total # of episodes: 54
MySpace ...
Friends: 3,309
LinkedIn ...
Connections: 1,306
Scribd ...
Documents: 6
Total reads: 9,957
FriendFeed ...
Subscribers: 363
Google Buzz ...
Followers: 57
Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook on Amazon.com ...
Sales rank: #260,722 in Books
5-star reviews: 8
4-star reviews: 4
As you can see, there are many ways to measure your Internet Influence Index.
What am I missing? Would you like me to create a checklist form that can be used to track your 3i?
Let me know in the Comments.
-Bob
The image above comes from opensourceway.
P.S. Did you enjoy this blog post? Get more tips like these when you subscribe to my Buzz Factor ezine -- the longest running music career tips email newsletter on the planet. Since 1995. Go grab your free subscription now.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
FREE Music Marketing Tip Sheet - And Your Opinion Wanted
I want to give you a free six-page digest of great music marketing tips and news from the past week. You can download and print the PDF right now using this link.
No opt-in required. Just download these free promotion tips and start using them.
What's included in these six pages?
There is a good reason, and I really want your direct input about it.
As you may know, I spend a lot of time scouring the Internet every day looking for the latest news, info and best practices on music marketing for independent artists.
A lot of those links I post on Twitter, Facebook, and other social sites. But even if you follow me on these sites, I bet you miss a lot of them.
Plus, who's got the time (like I do) to obsess about these things and sift through the avalanche of new marketing blog posts, articles, podcasts, videos and more that are posted every day?
After all, you need to spend time writing songs, rehearsing, recording, booking your next gig, and making sure your equipment is maintained. Not to mention eating, sleeping and ... Whew! The list goes on and on.
So here's my idea ...
What if I created a regular digest of the best new music promotion ideas, breaking news, success stories, highly useful marketing tips, and more?
It would basically be my top picks for the best of the best every week -- probably delivered four times a month as a PDF file like this one.
I'd also throw in some of my more in-depth articles along with some from my favorite authors and marketing bloggers.
My question to you is ... Would a Music Marketing Digest like this be of interest to you?
And would you be willing to pay a modest fee for it?
It takes a lot of time (many hours a week, believe me) to research this stuff and then package it in this format. So enough people would have to step up to the plate and be willing to invest a small amount to make this happen.
(I'm only talking about $10 a month per person. Anyone can afford that. But would YOU be willing to actually click the "Subscribe" button?)
Please do this:
If you are interested, send an email to MrBuzzFactor A-T Gmail DOT C*O*M (please rearrange those gobbled-up letters into a proper email address) with the words "Music Marketing Digest YES" in the subject line.
I'll put you on a special list of music people who want the Digest, and if the demand is sufficient, you'll be the first to know when I launch it.
Thanks for reading this free sample of my proposed Music Marketing Digest and hearing me out.
-Bob
P.S. I hope this works out for both of us, because I would love to create this for you on a regular basis. But I have to know that enough people want it and see the value. So let me know if you are one of them!
No opt-in required. Just download these free promotion tips and start using them.What's included in these six pages?
- Trent Reznor's Advice for Up-and-Coming Artists and Bands
- 10 YouTube (and Online Video) Tips & Tricks
- Holiday Music Marketing Angles That Will Grab Attention
- 19 Effective Twitter Update Ideas
- Engage Your Fans with These Simple Online Tools
- Breaking News About the New MySpace
There is a good reason, and I really want your direct input about it.
As you may know, I spend a lot of time scouring the Internet every day looking for the latest news, info and best practices on music marketing for independent artists.
A lot of those links I post on Twitter, Facebook, and other social sites. But even if you follow me on these sites, I bet you miss a lot of them.
Plus, who's got the time (like I do) to obsess about these things and sift through the avalanche of new marketing blog posts, articles, podcasts, videos and more that are posted every day?
After all, you need to spend time writing songs, rehearsing, recording, booking your next gig, and making sure your equipment is maintained. Not to mention eating, sleeping and ... Whew! The list goes on and on.
So here's my idea ...
What if I created a regular digest of the best new music promotion ideas, breaking news, success stories, highly useful marketing tips, and more?
It would basically be my top picks for the best of the best every week -- probably delivered four times a month as a PDF file like this one.
I'd also throw in some of my more in-depth articles along with some from my favorite authors and marketing bloggers.
My question to you is ... Would a Music Marketing Digest like this be of interest to you?
And would you be willing to pay a modest fee for it?
It takes a lot of time (many hours a week, believe me) to research this stuff and then package it in this format. So enough people would have to step up to the plate and be willing to invest a small amount to make this happen.
(I'm only talking about $10 a month per person. Anyone can afford that. But would YOU be willing to actually click the "Subscribe" button?)
Please do this:
If you are interested, send an email to MrBuzzFactor A-T Gmail DOT C*O*M (please rearrange those gobbled-up letters into a proper email address) with the words "Music Marketing Digest YES" in the subject line.
I'll put you on a special list of music people who want the Digest, and if the demand is sufficient, you'll be the first to know when I launch it.
Thanks for reading this free sample of my proposed Music Marketing Digest and hearing me out.
-Bob
P.S. I hope this works out for both of us, because I would love to create this for you on a regular basis. But I have to know that enough people want it and see the value. So let me know if you are one of them!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Get Your Name in My Next Book: "Guerrilla Music Marketing Online"
Kathleen Gage called it "One of the most creative book launches I have seen."
She is talking about what I started doing last week, when I opened the door to a way my readers and supporters can get their name in my next book -- and start reading it now!
What's all this then?
And I'm offering a way for you to get your name in it ... and also be part of a select Advanced Group to start reading it now and give me feedback that will make the final version (due January 2011) even better.
This newest title is called "Guerrilla Music Marketing Online" -- and I think it
will be my best resource to date.
I won't bore you with the details here. So go to the official Guerrilla Music Marketing Online page to learn more.
-Bob
P.S. Did you enjoy this blog post? Get more tips like these when you subscribe to my Buzz Factor music ezine -- the longest running music career tips email newsletter on the planet. Since 1995. Go grab your free subscription now.
She is talking about what I started doing last week, when I opened the door to a way my readers and supporters can get their name in my next book -- and start reading it now!
What's all this then?
And I'm offering a way for you to get your name in it ... and also be part of a select Advanced Group to start reading it now and give me feedback that will make the final version (due January 2011) even better.
This newest title is called "Guerrilla Music Marketing Online" -- and I think it
will be my best resource to date.
I won't bore you with the details here. So go to the official Guerrilla Music Marketing Online page to learn more.
-Bob
P.S. Did you enjoy this blog post? Get more tips like these when you subscribe to my Buzz Factor music ezine -- the longest running music career tips email newsletter on the planet. Since 1995. Go grab your free subscription now.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Door-to-Door Musician: An Inspiring Story!
Last week I received an email from a Canadian named John Ioannou. The message opened this way:
"Hi Bob. Here's a true story about a musician, his dream, and proof that opportunity knocks!"
I was on the verge of closing the email to read later, but something prompted me to continue. I'm glad I did.
I've often reminded aspiring musicians that there are many paths to success. There are no guarantees. What works well for one artist often will not work at all for another.
And some of the things that end up working seem so outlandish (and even foolish) at first glance. Such was the case with John's story.
The message continued ...
"There's a really talented kid named Scotty James who attended high school in Canada and decided after graduation that music would be his full-time job.
"Armed with only a guitar and a dream, Scotty humbly has been going door to door to people's homes busking for cash - ten bucks a song to raise money for his first album."
"He came to our house on August 27 late in the evening to play. I was a bit skeptical at first, but gave him a listen and paid the ten bucks. The kid honestly blew me away - unique voice and some of the catchiest songs. I was hooked. I told him I run a music company and admire his hard work."
John met with Scotty a few days later and told him he would be interested in working with him. But ... Scotty had to take on three challenges:
Challenge 1 - Take Nelly's popular hip-hop song "Just a Dream," do an acoustic version of it, and give it the Scotty James sound. Here's what Scotty came up with:
Challenge 2 - Go up to random girls at universities/colleges, sing to them and record it on video. John wanted to see their reaction to Scotty and his music. Here's what happened that day:
Challenge 3 - Go up to random people and sing to them on a city bus.
John continues ...
"On September 23, less than a month after Scotty James first knocked on my front door, we met with a record producer. Scotty is now in the studio recording his debut album, called 'Crazy.' He met all of my challenges and for that I am paying to record his album."
John ends by saying "That's proof that opportunity really does knock!"
What actions are you taking to create your own musical opportunities?
-Bob
"Hi Bob. Here's a true story about a musician, his dream, and proof that opportunity knocks!"
I was on the verge of closing the email to read later, but something prompted me to continue. I'm glad I did.
I've often reminded aspiring musicians that there are many paths to success. There are no guarantees. What works well for one artist often will not work at all for another.
And some of the things that end up working seem so outlandish (and even foolish) at first glance. Such was the case with John's story.
The message continued ...
"There's a really talented kid named Scotty James who attended high school in Canada and decided after graduation that music would be his full-time job.
"Armed with only a guitar and a dream, Scotty humbly has been going door to door to people's homes busking for cash - ten bucks a song to raise money for his first album."
"He came to our house on August 27 late in the evening to play. I was a bit skeptical at first, but gave him a listen and paid the ten bucks. The kid honestly blew me away - unique voice and some of the catchiest songs. I was hooked. I told him I run a music company and admire his hard work."
John met with Scotty a few days later and told him he would be interested in working with him. But ... Scotty had to take on three challenges:
Challenge 1 - Take Nelly's popular hip-hop song "Just a Dream," do an acoustic version of it, and give it the Scotty James sound. Here's what Scotty came up with:
Challenge 2 - Go up to random girls at universities/colleges, sing to them and record it on video. John wanted to see their reaction to Scotty and his music. Here's what happened that day:
Challenge 3 - Go up to random people and sing to them on a city bus.
John continues ...
"On September 23, less than a month after Scotty James first knocked on my front door, we met with a record producer. Scotty is now in the studio recording his debut album, called 'Crazy.' He met all of my challenges and for that I am paying to record his album."
John ends by saying "That's proof that opportunity really does knock!"
What actions are you taking to create your own musical opportunities?
-Bob
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Apple's New Artist & Band Guide to Ping
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