Posted by Ann Bernard

Lots of newly generated talk about twitter in the music side of the industry thanks to a blog post written by Ariel Hyatt (@CyberPR) & Laura Fitton (@Pistachio) called the Musicians Twitter Roadmap.

I’ve written a few post on twitter already on this blog which you can find under twitter in the category section of the sidebar.  But one of the blog posts I hadn’t gotten around to writing yet is the Dos and Donts of twittering…so here goes. (Some of it is a refresher from the other posts – hint, hint…that’s because they’re really important.)

DO

• Do thoroughly fill out your profile
• Do add a picture
• Do follow people back
• Do learn something about the people following you
• Do interact with people
• Do @people
• Do ask questions and for feedback
• Do provide feedback and answer questions
• Do be entertaining (but yourself)
• Do be informative
• Do be engaging
• Do tweet on a regular basis (preferably a few times a day when starting out)
• Do tweet 12-18 times before following anyone to include @people
• Do use DM for one on one interaction when sending out to everyone is inappropriate
• Do assist in promoting your followers – they’ll return the favor
• Do retweet tweets that are worthwhile
• Do promote you’re on twitter on your other social network(s) and blog(s)
• Do learn some of the twitter terminology – and IM terms to shorten your words
• Do try to maintain a resemblance to using proper English
• Do take your extended twitter conversations to IM, email or DM
• Do realize things can be taken out of context
• Do know you can actually say A LOT in 140 characters
• Do look into tweetups in your area to meet people in real life
• Do look for twitter applications that will make your life easier 
• Oh…and do prepare to be frustrated at times. Twitter isn’t perfect

DON’T

• Don’t be a self-promoting fool
• Don’t DM someone your website after they start following you
• Don’t make all of your tweets 5-7 words
• Don’t follow 2000 people in one shot
• Don’t publicly send personal information over twitter
• Don’t publicly put someone on the hook for something
• Don’t publicly embarrass, bad mouth, or criticize someone
• Don’t go nuts welcoming and thanking all your new followers
• Don’t go nuts retweeting tweets that aren’t worthwhile (informative, funny or relevant)

It’s a simple Do and Don’t list that if followed; you’ll find success on twitter.

Filed in twitter

Comments: 2

Posted by Ann Bernard

Someone pointed out to me that the film/movie industry leverages social media better than any other genre, niche, and other industries within the entertainment industry.  I tend to disagree with that statement…while at the same time, I’ll give props to the movie industry for doing good marketing.  The exception perhaps being…Cloverfield

Of course, you could now bring the argument in that solid marketing on the web is leveraging social media.

Marketing Online = Word of Mouth for the Movie Industry
Okay…so this isn’t necessarily true for independent films.  They have a much lower budget and therefore limited abilities to plaster trailers all over the internet so more grassroot work is needed.

However, when it comes to blockbuster releases…the high dollars are invested in online marketing which generates the buzz.

People Love to Talk About Movies
A friend of mine that I talk to every few weeks asks me almost every time we talk “Seen any good movies lately?”

It’s a top rated question – it’s part of the American small talk dialogue. The movie industry just needs to give us something to talk about.

Whether it’s in person, movie review sites, on twitter or other social networks…what movies people have seen, are watching or movies coming out; those are all common and natural topics of conversation.

 “Quite the weather we’re having” right into “Hey, have you seen xxxxx?”

We naturally took those conversations online.

Recommendations

People love to make and get movie recommendations.  It’s probably the safest unsolicited advice to give “You should go see xxxx”

You might not have opinions about much, but I bet you have an opinion about pretty much all the movies you’ve seen. It’s probably, the few, if only opinions people seek and tolerate listening to.

Already Slated for Markets
Take the genre of a movie and the rating and Bang…you’ve got the majority of your market identified (age, sex and preferences).  With a little knowledge of where those people hang out online, you can easily target them.

The span of the various genre of movies pretty much reaches everyone – making for an unlimited market.

Appeals to our Senses
Movie trailers tickle our fancies.  The sounds, the pictures, the plot…the actors.  We watch movie trailers.  We just do. They’re entertaining.  They cater to our short attention span, they wet our appetites, they get us thinking about our opinions of the movie’s potential…they hit the mark. They even give us something to look forward to and get excited about.

Interaction
Interactive websites and video games add a layer to the icing on the cake.  So does our obsessions with actors and actresses.  

Movie fans are drawn together and like we already covered; they engage with each other.

The movie industry has a really good thing going.  Will anything change that? The economy – cost of tickets?

To other industries…you don’t quite have it made that way.  Even independent films…what can they do to generate more buzz without the budget.  What about performing arts, what can they learn from the movie industry?

Filed in movie

Comments: 2

Posted by Ann Bernard

I had to write this blog post because visiting this artist’s website really “moved me,” as cheesy as that might sound.

I was hanging out on Twitter reading the stream when this came across: DavidEckoff is excited to be seeing one of my favorite musicians tonight, the infamous Bob Schneider from Austin, TX. Listen (link to website)

I clicked and landed on one of the most innovative and “communicative” artist website I’ve found so far.

First off, it’s cool.  The CD case layout is pretty neat.  Cooler yet, if you click on the moving people inside the CD…talking bubbles pop up with funny stuff.

So after the cool factor comes the, WoW factor.  Unlike other musician websites I’ve visited, Bob doesn’t just let his music play.  He introduces each of his songs and the story behind the song…then the song plays.

A really simple thing to do to communicate with your audience, an easy addition to be memorable, and an upfront way to engage your listeners. 

You get to know Bob listening to him tell the stories behind his music.  You discover he’s a funny guy.  You connect to him and realize he would be a cool guy to have a beer with.  You realized that going to one of his shows is probably a total blast. 

Bob brings you into his world…in the process of doing so you realize you want to know more about him.  I bet he clocks in an average of 5-7 minutes out of each visit…if not more.

Once you decide you want to know more about him, you go exploring and what you find is more coolness. Click the menu button for more…this is one of my two criticisms of the site. The fact there’s a lot more to find from the menu isn’t necessarily intuitive.  Second criticisms is that you have to go offsite to see his tour schedule.

Anyway, the biography area is the best biography section I’ve ever seen.  It’s set on a timeline with pictures and it’s narrated by Bob. 

I’m not going to go through each parts of his menu but I recommend that you do go and have a look.

I’d love to hear from you. What do you think of the site?  How did it make you feel? Did you connect with Bob? Did it leave you thinking…I want to go to one of his shows?

Filed in music

Comments: 3

Posted by Ann Bernard

I already started to explain Stereo Fame last Friday and I invited a few local DC based bands that I’ve come across on MySpace to join Stereo Fame so I could sign them on to my label.  Only one band took me up on the offer so far, 23RAINYDAYS.  They now somehow have 3,000 more points than me…the bums!! 

So yea, I’ve been spending a good amount of time listening to music on Stereo Fame…much like Brew Dad who said in a blog post “…it has taken the place of the radio when I do my writing.”  If I were a musician or in a band, I know I’d be spending time on Stereo Fame…here’s why: 

Ten Reasons To Join Stereo Fame
1. It’s New and Easy.  Ever dream you could have been on MySpace when it first started out? According to the Stereo Fame homepage…there are only 3,415 artists on the site, to a 5,551 number of labels and listeners.  You can become a sought after artist now…and as the site grows; you’ll keep benefiting from it.  Getting started is real easy.

2.  Feedback on Your Music.  After listening to one of your songs (15 seconds of it) listeners can give it the thumbs up or down.  Pretty useful information because you can use it to narrow down who is and isn’t into your music.

 

3.  Knowing Who Listened to Your Music. You can find out who listened to your music. The site tracks the music each member is listening to.  Guess what that also does? Every time someone listens to one of your songs…it shows on their profile; fabulous visibility.

4.  It’s Only for Music.  You’re not competing with the attention of any other entertainers, cladly dress women, or whatever else might distract someone on another site.

5.  Exposure to All Kinds of Listeners. There are other people, just like Brew Dad who come to the site and just let the music play. Passive listeners who use the site as their new radio station. You also have extreme listeners looking for the latest and best new artists for their label.

6.  Downloads.  You can make your music available for downloads. 

7.  Technically Sound.  The site is well done. This isn’t a tech blog or startup blog so I won’t get into this…but trust me when I say, this site is well though out, designed and executed.  Plus, you have all kinds of widgets and banners to help spread the word.

8.  Collecting and Using Data.  You can look up in the charts area who the top labels and listeners are and the top played tracks for the last 7, 30 and 90 days.  Lots you can do with that information to help yourself.   

9.  Points and Prizes.  Yep, you get points for taking part in the activities on the site too, which means you can win prizes as well.  You would do all this work anyways…now, you get rewarded for it.

10.  Get Signed On to a Label.  So what if it’s a virtual label!?!? It’s a person/fan who enjoys and believes in your music.  It’s a fan who is going to help promote your music.  What’s better, earning a friend on MySpace or getting signed to someone’s label?

Although I say, and will keep writing that some of your time online is well spent expanding the ways in which you communicate online with your fans…for musicians, the most important thing is and will always be, to have your music listened to.  Stereo Fame offers great ways to make that happen.  Not only is your music listened to, but it is also promoted – the site is built to do that.

Filed in music, stereofame. promotion

Comments: 0

Posted by Ann Bernard

I left you with the question “Do you really think you can afford to not communicate with your fans?” in my first write-up on this topic of talking with your fans not to your fans. 

If you haven’t answered that question for yourself yet, consider this:

The internet has drastically changed and improved communication and interaction between people.

The internet has made a large world smaller and people in it more accessible.

Word of mouth exchange (recommendations, reviews, opinions) are on steroids within a person’s social network because of the size and accessibility of online social networks.

The internet has increased our requirements for immediate gratification.

The internet has increased our desires to be connected and in the know.

The internet has increased our human need to belong.

The internet has increased our ability to get away and take part of other worlds.

The internet has mostly definitely changed your fans expectations. 

We’re having this conversation because of how much the internet has changed things.

Do You Care About Your Fans?
A fan is an ardent devotee; an enthusiast.  A fan is someone dedicating their time, interest, passion and love towards YOU and your work/product.  Fans have a curiosity and interest in you.

The days of not being able to communicate with someone who is a fan (per the above description) are long gone.

Since communication is so much easier and simpler due to the internet: What signal do you think you send out when you can’t be bothered to communicate and engage with your fans?

Talking With Your Fans
Aren’t you curious about who your fans are? Aren’t you interested in what your fans have to say?

Talking with your fans is creating connections, personal interaction, exchanging information, recommendations and feedback.

Talking with your fans is building rapport and facilitating relationships. 

Engaging with your fans is showing you care about them.

Engaging with your fans is adding value to what they care and are passionate about.

“Do you really think you can afford to not communicate with your fans?”

Filed in fans

Comments: 2

Posted by Ann Bernard

As you might have noticed, we don’t have a blogroll…actually if you notice there is absolutely no widgets, links or other blog candy in the sidebar.  It’s semi intentional and unintentional. Unintentional, in that, we are using Mephisto and it isn’t the easiest blogging platform to work with or add widgets and plug-ins to.  Intentional, in that, we want the focus to be on the content and we don’t want you getting distracted and clicking off the site.

None the less, there are obviously great blogs out there for you to read to compliment what I write about so on Mondays, I’ll share the sites I know about and discover during the week. 

The following sites/blogs focus on marketing, self-promotion and leveraging the web

New Music Strategies: Andrew Dubber attempts to unpick and explain what’s going on in the online music environment - and from that, develop strategies to help independent musicians and music businesses cope and thrive in a changing media environment

gigDoggy:  gigDoggy loves writing songs and networking with bands. He first started asking around for advice on how to book gigs. Amazed by the support he got from other bands, gigDoggy soon realized that he wanted to share this advice, so he began blogging.

The Opening Note: Music, Industry, News, Resources

Bob Baker’s The Buzz Factor: Music Marketing tips and self-promotion ideas for independent songwriters, musicians and bands.

Music Think Tank: Where the Music Industry Thinks Out Loud

ArtistsHouse Music:  Helping Musicians and Music Entrepeneurs Create Sustainable Careers

Ariel Publicity - The official CyberPr Blog: This blog is part business ideas, part music industry tips and ideas for promotion and who knows maybe a personal entry or two… read on and do talk back.

C.J. Darlington.com: Thoughts on writing, books & publishing.

I realize the theme seems to be mostly on music…I’ll focus this week to find what’s out there for other entertainers for next Monday.  

Filed in linklove

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Posted by Ann Bernard

Friday night I went to see the Washington Capitals play at the Verizon Center.  They played against the New Jersey Devils and won 3-1. I tweeted while at the game…came home and started doing some homework on how well (but found how bad) the Washington Capitals leverage twitter. 

Don’t get me wrong, the Washington Capitals have a twitter account; they just aren’t doing anything useful with it. 

Twitter is a powerful communication, promotional and grassroot marketing platform for organizations, businesses and corporations…but it’s a KILLER communication, promotional and grassroot marketing platform for a team like the Washington Capitals.

Twitter is most powerful when used to do the three following things:

1. Delivers interesting and timely information/news
2. Connect a community of fans, loyal customers or people of similar interest together
3. Act in support other grassroot efforts – inner and outer connectivity
   

If I Were Tweeting for the Washington Capitals
The First Basic Steps

1. Tweet the Games.  There is no live tweeting happening from the @washcaps account.  I know…I mean come on!?!?  That’s a pretty basic way of delivering interesting and timely information/news. 
2. Follow Fans Back. This is seriously basic. Follows your fans back…get into the a conversation with them.  How do you suppose to turn your fans into bigger fans and supporters (hence promoters) if you’re not communicating with them. 

Here’s how I would do it – let the fans know that during each games (at home or away – watching on tv or at the game) that anyone who tweets @washcaps during at game will be followed back.  That way you find your active game twitterer.

 The Next Steps

1. Tweeting in-Between Games: Break the news (at least some) of what’s happening over twitter. Run facts about the players, information about practice and other happenings within the organization.
2. TwitPic: Send out some twitpics during the games and in-between the games.
3. Post Fan Blog Posts: Find who is writing up the games, NOT mainstream media wirte-ups…but your loyal fans who blog their heart outs about the Washington Capitals. Send traffic and fans their way. 
4. Engage with Fans: Send out questions, ask for feedback and communicate with the twitter followers.

Going the Distance 

1. Washington Capital Fan Tweetup:  Once the Washington Capital Fan start coming together over twitter…arrange a Washington Capital Fan Tweetup – be it before the game or going the real distance and brining them all together in one of the suits at a game.
2. Show the Live Tweeting on Screen: How cool and encouraging would it be to have some live streaming of people tweeting the game at some point on one of the screens?
3. Find Who is Tweeting Sponsorship:  During the games, prizes are given out that are sponsored by different companies…so run a contest where the answer is delivered over Twitter with a HashTag and make someone a winner that way.

The Benefits of Good Twitter Usage

Do I really need to spell this out? Really!?!?

1. Awesome crowd engagement
2. Bringing together of your fans/community
3. Engaging in communication with your fans/community
4. Discover your major influencers
5. Excellent and extremely inexpensive marketing
6. Bringing the hockey and Washington Capitals experience to a much wider audience which will generate greater ticket sale.

Filed in advice, promotion, twitter, utilization

Comments: 1

Posted by Ann Bernard

We got all kinds of goodies on this blog!  You’ll see these types of interviews, Social Media Interviews, every so often.  I’ll pose questions to different types of entertainers to find out how they use social media and what they think of it.

Our first interviewee is international romantic recording artist, Michael Paige.  I met Michael at BlogWorldExpo 08.  I was very impressed that he was in attendance since you didn’t find that many entertainers there…mostly all social media types, PR folks and bloggers. 

At any rate, I really enjoyed getting Michael’s point of view on social media and I had the pleasure of introducing him to Twitter.

Michael can be found on the web on his own website where he runs a video blog and on a few social networks.

Check out his interview and his web presence.

Interview
Q:  You’re in the process of establishing a strong web presence…when did you realize this was something important to do? 

Michael Paige:   Creating a strong presence online has been on my agenda for the last three years.  The more time that passes the more I realize how much business is being done on the web.

Q:  What do you perceive the value of social media to be to you as an independent artist?

Michael Paige:  Social media can do a lot for anyone online.  However I think it’s easy to get completely sucked in by wanting to be everywhere.  As an independent artist it’s important to be able to know where to spend your time and energy online.

Q:  What aspect(s) of building a relationship online with your fans are you enjoying the most?

Michael Paige:  People in general are great, and unique.  It’s a blast getting to meet, get acquainted and communicate with so many people that enjoy my music.

Q:  What’s the most useful/valuable social network/social media platform to you and why?

Michael Paige:  All of them are important.  I think where you spend your time the most is what’s really important. 

Q:  How much time a week do you spend on social media (communicating with fans, interacting on social networks) and what does the breakdown of that time look like?

Michael Paige:  I don’t spend a specific amount of time on a daily or weekly basis.  It depends on my performance and recording schedule.

Q:  I see you run a video blog on your blog/website. What made you choose to do a video blog?  Which post has been your favorite so far and why?

Michael Paige:  I’m not sure which is my favorit e blog post.  The reason I decided to start blogging was that people were asking questions about me, my family life etc.  So I thought it would be a good idea to let them in on what I spend time doing.

Q: Any  words of wisdom or advice to independent artists getting involved in social media?

Michael Paige:  Pour your heart and passion in to what you’re doing, and enjoy the journey.  Music/entertainment has always been a difficult field to be a part of. The most successful people in this industry have had their ups and downs.  So enjoy every moment you can.

Web Presence
Michael On: Blog, Website, Twitter, MySpace, Facebook, Viddler (he’s got more but those are where he seems to spend most of his time)

What I like
Michael’s web presence leverages the 3/4 out of the 5 ways to communicate and interact with his fans. 

He interacts with his fans and the people who interact with him. His profiles are public so he is accessible. He creates quality content for his video blog allowing people to get to know him.  He even conducts interviews of people in other communities other than music and recording.

All his profiles that can be branded are professionally branded…the others have the cover of his new album.  If he can sell his music on a site…he’s selling his music, but of course offering a listen for free.

Recommendations
My recommendations to Michael to have greater success with social media are 1) To leverage his video content more. 2) Add profile information to his Viddler profile.  3) Be a little more active with the Viddler community. 3) To not be shy or afraid to annouce his new blog videos to Twitter, MySpace and Facebook - must create cross promotion across all the networks. 5) Consider starting a YouTube channel and post there as well.  6) When the time is right (touring) leverage the use of pictures more.

Be sure to listen to Michael's beautiful and romantic music!  

Filed in interview

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Posted by Ann Bernard

What better way is there to show your favorite bands and musicians support than by signing them on to your own label?

That’s exactly what Stereo Fame allows you to do.  Once you’re a Stereo Fame member, you create your own labels, go around listening to music and select which artist you want to sign-on to your label. 

The other aspect of Stereo Fame is that it’s like fantasy football except for music.  They call it “ The Social Music Game” because you can earn points and win cool stuff. You can also download music for free!!

According the Stereo Fame site:

“Each Label earns points based on the popularity of each artist they've signed. When an artist or song gets a thumbs up it benefits the label. Also, Labels earn more points for being the first to sign a band, and extra points if an artist gets a lot of attention during a small period of time.

All Stereofame members earn bonus points just for playing the game. Actions like voting for a song, referring a friend, leaving a comment, etc. add more points your score.”

Promoting Your Label and The Artists
How does this help you promote your favorite bans?  Once you’ve signed on your favorite bands and/or discovered new bands…you go around promoting your label which brings people around to listening to the artists you’ve signed on. 

The more people that listen, the more points you make…and the more exposure you bring to the music you love. (You can redeem your points to win cool stuff)

Great Communication Tool
From what I’ve gathered of Stereo Fame it is rather new….can’t find a definite date it launched but my guess is it was in the last few months.  What does that mean??

It means a lot.  It means that many bands and musicians don’t know yet about Stereo Fame.  It means you can introduce Stereo Fame to your favorite artists and be the first to sign them (hence getting more points).

Here’s what I would do:

1. Sign up on Stereo Fame
2. Do a search for my (meaing your) favorite bands/musicians
3. Find them – Sign them onto your label
4. Can’t find them…send them a note on MySpace, their website and wherever you know they’ll see your message or use Stereo Fame and invite them to join
5. Once they’ve joined, signed them unto your label
6. Work hard and take them to the top – make them the artist of the week

I guarantee you that all the bands and musicians you do this for will love you for it.

Musicians…look  for the blog post on Stereo Fame for you next week.

Filed in fanfriday, promotion

Comments: 1

Posted by Ann Bernard

TGIF!! Happy Friday everyone and welcome to Fan Friday on the Your Path to Stardom Blog. 

Six days out of the week this blog is mostly focused on entertainers except for Fridays. On Fridays, this blog is now for the fans.

Fans have a lot of power to make or break an artist…particularly an independent artist.  There are many ways you can help promote the entertainers you enjoy the most, but you might not be aware of all the different things you can do.  You might also not be aware of how to be heard, listened to and properly interact with the entertainers you idolize.

I would be remiss in my duties to not inform you (the fans) of your powers of influence, abilities to help and duties to keep entertainers honest/straight.

Fridays is also going to be Feature Friday in honor of loyal fans who want to see their favorite entertainer(s) featured here on this blog.  Email me to let me know who you want me to get in touch with or leave me a comment.

We’re going to have a lot of fun on Fridays courtesy of  FANS!!

Filed in fanfriday

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