Why have a traditional website?

[kclements]

Doing some research, I discovered since Jan 1, 2012:

My Web site (clementunes.com) had 256 unique visits. Of those, 127 hits to my demo page, and 33 to my contact page. So currently I am paying 16¢ per visit, 39¢ per visit to my demo page.

Contrast that to Soundcloud, same period; 1047 people visit/play my music, paying .02¢ per person. Quite a difference in plays per visit.

This isn't really about the money. A month or so ago, my account/email was suspended because I didn't update my wordpress site and it was compromised. It took about 1.5 hours to get everything straightened around with the hosting company, update the site and get my email back. Also, I rarely update my site anymore (another reason I don't get many visits) as I would rather focus on other things.

So I wonder if it isn't just as well to go with Soundcloud and something like this for an about me site. I wouldn't want a site covered with ads that I have no control over. I also wouldn't go with a Facebook "pro" page.

Since I am not into touring or selling CD's anymore and focusing on writing for libraries, I wonder how necessary it is to have a traditional website. What do you guys think? Do you have a website and do you update it regularly? Have you given any thought to down-sizing your web presence to just, say, Soundcloud? What kind of hits are you getting and do you think it's worth the maintenance to keep up your site?

Just wondering...

Cheers -
kc

[stevecollom]

good points!!
i have often wondered the same. I recently put up a composer page, with a bunch of my instrumentals. I figure that they are better online to be bought at anytime than sitting in a folder on my HD
Does SoundC let you sell your music? that could be a great thing.
also i want my songs to reach as many people as possible, so i'd like to have a presence everywhere.....
these are just my thoughts.
looking forward to hearing other peoples ideas too
steve

[kclements]

good points!!

Does SoundC let you sell your music? that could be a great thing.

Kind of. You can put a BUY link on any track, but you have to have that link to another "app". I use BandCamp and it works really well.

more info here

Cheers -
kc

[DesireInspires]

My opinion: websites are not beneficial to most composers.

A simple Soundcloud page is enough to provide fans a chance to listen to your music. Most people really do not care about others unless they have something interesting going on about them. Songs in and of themselves don't hold much interest to the general public. People really want a personality behind the music.

This sounds crazy, but I am probably one of the most popular posters on this site. It is not because I make great music. I have only posted one song! But people come to view my posts because I have something interesting to say. Regardless of people agreeing or disagreeing with me, they come to see me. I generate conversation.

I would encourage musicians that want to get page views to get into the blog circuit. Building a buzz on hype is what gets peoples' attention today. The entertainment value has to come before a single song note is presented to listeners. Musicians need to tell the good, bad, and ugly of the business. That is what people enjoy. Once you get people interested in your stories and personality, they will get into the music.

If you are not willing to engage people in an entertaining and informative way outside of your music, you should not have a website.

Good luck!

[michael11]

I do have a website.

Is it worth it?

It’s difficult to tell, but it’s tax deductible so being worth it isn’t an issue.

I use mine primarily to send libraries and people that I work with to check out any new stuff,usually a maximum of three pieces.

I send them an email with the url on,the page will probably have the company’s initials on and when they have visited I take the page down.

The rest of the time the website is just there.

It can be fun,sometimes it allows me to display the more silly side of my nature but having said that the people I work with know I am deadly serious about my music so they know it’s just a bit of fun.

I think!!!!!

I hope!!!!

HELP!!!!!!

Mick.

[michael11]

My opinion: websites are not beneficial to most composers.

A simple Soundcloud page is enough to provide fans a chance to listen to your music. Most people really do not care about others unless they have something interesting going on about them. Songs in and of themselves don't hold much interest to the general public. People really want a personality behind the music.

This sounds crazy, but I am probably one of the most popular posters on this site. It is not because I make great music. I have only posted one song! But people come to view my posts because I have something interesting to say. Regardless of people agreeing or disagreeing with me, they come to see me. I generate conversation.

I would encourage musicians that want to get page views to get into the blog circuit. Building a buzz on hype is what gets peoples' attention today. The entertainment value has to come before a single song note is presented to listeners. Musicians need to tell the good, bad, and ugly of the business. That is what people enjoy. Once you get people interested in your stories and personality, they will get into the music.

If you are not willing to engage people in an entertaining and informative way outside of your music, you should not have a website.

Good luck!

Wowzerz

Are you saying vanilla posters make vanilla music?

[fusilierb]

My opinion: websites are not beneficial to most composers.

A simple Soundcloud page is enough to provide fans a chance to listen to your music. Most people really do not care about others unless they have something interesting going on about them. Songs in and of themselves don't hold much interest to the general public. People really want a personality behind the music.

This sounds crazy, but I am probably one of the most popular posters on this site. It is not because I make great music. I have only posted one song! But people come to view my posts because I have something interesting to say. Regardless of people agreeing or disagreeing with me, they come to see me. I generate conversation.

I would encourage musicians that want to get page views to get into the blog circuit. Building a buzz on hype is what gets peoples' attention today. The entertainment value has to come before a single song note is presented to listeners. Musicians need to tell the good,I bad, and ugly of the business. That is what people enjoy. Once you get people interested in your stories and personality, they will get into the music.

If you are not willing to engage people in an entertaining and informative way outside of your music, you should not have a website.

Good luck!

Interesting definition/perception of popular.

[Casey H]

This post left intentionally blank.

[michael11]

My opinion: websites are not beneficial to most composers.

A simple Soundcloud page is enough to provide fans a chance to listen to your music. Most people really do not care about others unless they have something interesting going on about them. Songs in and of themselves don't hold much interest to the general public. People really want a personality behind the music.

This sounds crazy, but I am probably one of the most popular posters on this site. It is not because I make great music. I have only posted one song! But people come to view my posts because I have something interesting to say. Regardless of people agreeing or disagreeing with me, they come to see me. I generate conversation.

I would encourage musicians that want to get page views to get into the blog circuit. Building a buzz on hype is what gets peoples' attention today. The entertainment value has to come before a single song note is presented to listeners. Musicians need to tell the good,I bad, and ugly of the business. That is what people enjoy. Once you get people interested in your stories and personality, they will get into the music.

If you are not willing to engage people in an entertaining and informative way outside of your music, you should not have a website.

Good luck!

Interesting definition/perception of popular.

1. appealing to the general public; widely favoured or admired
2. favoured by an individual or limited group I'm not very popular with her
3. connected with, representing, or prevailing among the general public; common by popular discontent
4. appealing to or comprehensible to the layman a popular lecture on physics
n
(Communication Arts / Journalism & Publishing) (usually plural) cheap newspapers with mass circulation; the popular press Also shortened to pops
[from Latin populāris belonging to the people, democratic, from populus people]
popularity [ˌpɒpjʊˈlærɪtɪ] n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003


I added that bit!!

[fusilierb]

Always cleaning up after myself here. Not falling for this again.