Tips For Building A Bigger Fanbase

So you got your band together, recorded some songs, and played some shows…now what?  Now it’s time to start building your fanbase.  The internet may have made things significantly easier than before, but it’s still just a tool.  You have to do all the hard work yourself.  So here are some helpful tips on how to do that.

PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!!!  I’m sure you’ve heard the old adage, “Practice makes perfect” and for good reason.  It’s because it’s true.  When you go out to play a show, you get one chance to make a good first impression on the crowd.  You want to make sure you’re going to put on a show they will never forget.  One of the best ways to do that is to practice your material over and over again.  Every single member of the band should not only be able to play all of their parts flawlessly, but they should have a good idea of everyone else’s parts as well, so you can hold each other accountable.  If you are able to forge that perfect show, it can go a long way when everyone at the show tells their friends about the incredible show they just experienced.

Newsletter!  This may seem a little old fashioned with the rise of social networking and websites, but a fan’s email address is much more valuable than a Facebook like.  It’s a good idea to give away something too, like a free download, in exchange for a fan’s email address.  Then once you have those email addresses, you want to use them sparingly.  Send your fans updates maybe once or twice a month.  You want to keep them interested but you don’t want to overdo it.  

Website!  You have no excuse to not have a website anymore.  Anyone can easily create and maintain their own website nowadays and for pretty cheap too.  Not only does it make your band seem more professional, but it should also serve as the central hub for all information regarding your band: news, tour dates, merch, videos, pics, etc.  And don’t just add the basics to your site, really beef it up with pictures and videos and whatever else you can think of!  If a new fan sees you at a random show, you want them to go home and check out all your pictures and videos so they can learn as much as they can about you.  Hell, you should even encourage fans to submit pictures and videos they take themselves.

Social Media!  You need to have a strong presence on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, not only to keep people updated, but as a way to interact with them as well.  Don’t just post about upcoming shows or record releases; post funny pictures or videos that you find interesting.  At the end of the day, people want to connect with their favorite bands, and the best way to do that is to really let your thoughts and passions shine through.  So go ahead and post that old awkward family photo, or that embarrassing video from high school...you’ve got nothing to lose (except maybes some self-respect, but it’ll be worth it).