How To Make The Most Out Of Your Blog

Do you know how to promote yourself on a blogging platform? Are you interacting with your followers correctly? These are things that artists should know when they begin a blog to help promote themselves. It is all about connecting with your fans.

I found this article on Billboard.biz by Chris Payne, which could be helpful for musicians using a blog to promote themselves. Though the article specifically discusses a musician’s presence on the blog platform, Tumblr, these tips can be applied to any blogging site. Below are the most important points that I took away from the article. As a fan, these are the things that I want to see when I visit an artist’s blog. You can see the full list of tips at Billboard.biz.

Don’t Be Shy. Get Personal!

Fans want to know what you do during your every day life. Where you travel to, what you eat for lunch, who you record with in the studio… These are all things that help your followers feel closer to you and want to know more about you.

Do Know What Sort of Content To Post

Keep in mind that this is not your band’s website. Yes, you can link to your tour dates and music on your site, but make sure you are posting content that is current and relevant to YOUR blog. Post pictures and videos from the night’s gig or of where you are traveling. These are all things that will pull viewers into your site.

Do Respond To Messages

Like I said, it is all about connecting with your fans and I can honestly say that I love it when a musician responds to something that I have posted. It is a very exciting feeling, so make your fans happy and RESPOND. Also, the person asking the question could be a writer or promoter wanting to get in touch with you. Keep your eyes open for these types of opportunities.

Do Mind Your Manners

Even though this is a more personal and relaxed platform, it doesn’t mean that you can just hang out in your underwear, so to speak. Make sure your posts are relevant and polite. Try not to pull a Kanye West and get all controversial on your followers, unless that is the angle you are trying to work.

Again, to see the full list of the dos and don’ts of blogging, go to Billboard.biz.

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Sources:
http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/indies/musicians-on-tumblr-ten-dos-and-don-ts-from-1005541772.story
http://www.aweber.com/blog-newsletters.htm

Girls - 'Vomit'

Girls performed their new album 'Father, Son, Holy Ghost.' See more at Pitchfork.tv.

Girls - 'Vomit'

Beirut - 'Santa Fe'

For your viewing pleasure...and mine. I love Beirut.

Beirut - 'Santa Fe'

And now live on Jimmy Fallon...I love Beirut, again.

Beirut - 'Santa Fe' on Late Night Jimmy Fallon

How Does Your Sponsor Make You Look?

Everyone needs a sponsor for touring, unless you’re driving across country in a beat up van. Even then money is spread so thin, you ask mom and dad to “sponsor” you a few bucks. My point is money is always needed for touring and promoting your music, but what does that sponsor say about your band or music?

Recently, Holy Ghost! had schedule tour dates across the U.S. to spread their joyous sound, only to realize they didn’t know how they were going to make it to each show.  Luckily, Mountain Dew’s in-house record label, Green Label Sound, came to the rescue.

Green Label Sound is known to promote more indie sounding musicians, so it was a match made in musical heaven. Mountain Dew is also linked with extreme sports such as snow boarding and skate boarding, which in a lot of cases seems to go hand and hand with indie electro rock.  Billboard.biz reports that, “Mountain Dew will receive on-site signage and product availability throughout the Holy Ghost - but any other branding opportunities will be strictly improvisational.”

In addition to receiving the money needed to tour, the band was also able to afford opening acts and a promotional tour video, which you can see below. This was obviously a good match up of musicians and tour sponsors, but is it always such a good pairing?

In 2009, Rascal Flatts signed a major tour sponsorship deal with JC Penney to promote the band’s new album ‘Unstoppable’ and JCP’s line ‘American Living.’ Per CMT.com, the sponsorship deal called for the band to agree to the following:

• Wear clothing from Penney's American Living apparel line during concerts. 
• Compose and record a tribute song titled "American Living" (to be available on a special CD sold only through Penney stores with CD proceeds going to the J.C. Penney Afterschool Fund, which funds afterschool programs). 
• Show American Living commercials throughout their concerts on two huge screens on either side of the stage. One of which you can view below.
• Wrap their fleet of tour trucks and buses in American Living commercial signage.
• Make American Living merchandise available for sale at each concert. 

In my mind, that looks a lot like a band selling out. I’m not saying that JCP’s ‘American Living’ brand doesn’t match Rascal Flatt’s brand, but it is a bit excessive to wrap some much of the band’s identity in a JCP package. 

All I am pointing out here is to be smart in your decision of choosing a tour sponsor. I understand every musician wants to promote their music and make a living, but at what cost. Make sure you aren’t selling your soul to get your music out there and that your sponsorship promotes the brand you’ve built.

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Sources:
http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/touring/how-mountain-dew-saved-holy-ghost-s-tour-1005437152.story
http://www.greenlabelsound.com/
http://www.cmt.com/news/nashville-skyline/1605967/nashville-skyline-is-rascal-flatts-tour-sponsorship-penney-wise.jhtml
http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem.asp?xid=2614
http://www.cmt.com/videos/misc/367098/jc-penney-commercial.jhtml

ESTRIA INVITATIONAL FINAL IN HONOLULU - 2011

Here is a video of the 2011 Estria Invitational graffiti battle in Honolulu, HI. The event was held at the Honolulu Academy of Arts at Linekona on September 3, 2011. As part of my internship at Under My Umbrella, I was lucky enough to be a part of this event and learn a great deal.

ESTRIA INVITATIONAL FINAL IN HONOLULU

For more information visit the Estria Foundation's website or follow him on twitter at @estria.