Pros and Cons of Facebook musician/band page for composers?

[mojobone]

Just want to quickly add that you shouldn't overlook Facebook Groups; I joined a local filmmakers' network that's led to lots of interesting and educational experiences and looks like even a few paid gigs will sprout, eventually.

[coachdebra]

Just want to quickly add that you shouldn't overlook Facebook Groups; I joined a local filmmakers' network that's led to lots of interesting and educational experiences and looks like even a few paid gigs will sprout, eventually.

Facebook Groups is an awesome way to begin to connect with your target or niche market. Just don't go there to promote - go there to engage in a real authentic way. Be a giver of resources and encouragement. And go there AS YOUR PAGE. (you can engage in facebook as your page and I recommend it!) And trust that because they are intrigued by who you are - they will check out your page and from there go to your website and become lifetime fans!

[mojobone]

It's taken a lot of time and energy, but I'm beginning to get some traction from my blog, after 'bout three years; probably could've happened faster, if I'd promoted it, but I've been following that rule about content, keeping the quality high by writing only on topics I'm passionate about. The analogy to chess is spot on; without content, you have nothing, but engagement is your most powerful tool. It really seems that quality of content has done more than any amount of promotion would have; I believe people are finding my stuff through thoughtful comments on other blogs, and if they trace back to mine, (the address is in my signature) they find a collection of content, some of which was originally posted as commentary on other sites, but most of it exclusive. I use Twitter and LinkedIn to connect with colleagues/professionals. On Twitter, I mostly post links to articles of interest to folks in our business, and on LinkedIn, I join in group discussions and share whatever info I think can be helpful; LinkedIn is tricky, though, cuz most of the groups are not worth the time. The good ones are like gold, though, or more precisely, like panning for gold, as a lot of sifting is still required.

The Facebook Fan Page has some cool new features I'm finding useful; there's a button labeled "Insights" that gives you information on which posts generate the most fan activity, how many are reading/talking about your posts and some demographic info. Ditto to what Deb said about having your own dotcom site where you're fully in control of your brand; any others could be as dead as Myspace, any day now. However, I don't think you can join groups as your fan page; at least I haven't figured out how.

[coachdebra]

It's taken a lot of time and energy, but I'm beginning to get some traction from my blog, after 'bout three years; probably could've happened faster, if I'd promoted it, but I've been following that rule about content, keeping the quality high by writing only on topics I'm passionate about. The analogy to chess is spot on; without content, you have nothing, but engagement is your most powerful tool. It really seems that quality of content has done more than any amount of promotion would have; I believe people are finding my stuff through thoughtful comments on other blogs, and if they trace back to mine, (the address is in my signature) they find a collection of content, some of which was originally posted as commentary on other sites, but most of it exclusive. I use Twitter and LinkedIn to connect with colleagues/professionals. On Twitter, I mostly post links to articles of interest to folks in our business, and on LinkedIn, I join in group discussions and share whatever info I think can be helpful; LinkedIn is tricky, though, cuz most of the groups are not worth the time. The good ones are like gold, though, or more precisely, like panning for gold, as a lot of sifting is still required.

The Facebook Fan Page has some cool new features I'm finding useful; there's a button labeled "Insights" that gives you information on which posts generate the most fan activity, how many are reading/talking about your posts and some demographic info. Ditto to what deb said about having your own dotcom site where you're fully in control of your brand; any others could be as dead as Myspace, any day now. However, I don't think you can join groups as your fan page; at least I haven't figured out how.

That's great Mojo! What you're doing will attract attention from colleagues and as a music provider it definitely builds your profile. BUT if you want to attract fans - I recommend doing less of "music business" centered stuff and more of what your fans are searching for.

I see this a lot on Facebook - that people invite their fellow musicians to all their gigs - that's not your target market. Those are your colleagues and selling to them is like the ouroboros eating its own tail.



So on all your internet marketing (and this isn't directed to you personally Mojo but to everyone), be clear about who your target market is and what they're going to be searching for - what are their keywords - and make your content rich with quality they will want to engage with.

[mojobone]

Deb, I see it on Facebook and LinkedIn; targeting is a really important skill to learn! It's also important not to spam your FB friends; they're a warm market, predisposed to help your cause, (because they know you, or know people who know you) but repetition only irks them, you can't saturation bomb your close friends with marketing messages, at least not without providing a carrot, and Facebook isn't well-built for that.

'Attracting fans' is probably best done by playing shows, something that's probably not in the cards for most of my projects, this year. (sorry, older fans) There's a group of what I'll call adherents, who don't know me, nor have heard a show, who may have randomly encountered my music over digital media; they're not so much invested, as interested, and continuing to make the best music I know how to make should be the way to draw them further in, though I'm open to suggestions....

[coachdebra]

The best way to transition people from being interested to being customers is by giving them a little taste for free (which they can only receive if they give you their email!!). And then engaging them from there.

I had a teacher who once called that separating the suspects from the prospects ....

I have lots of suggestions for you Mojo - but now we're getting into the stuff that I charge for And I'm not supposed to market my products or services in this section of the forum...

[DesireInspires]

Facebook is getting boring now. For some reason, they got really uncool after they went public last week. There isn't anything better yet, but it will be coming. Social networking is all about following trends to me. Whoever creates the next big trend will be the next multibillionaire.

[Len911]

Facebook is getting boring now. For some reason, they got really uncool after they went public last week. There isn't anything better yet, but it will be coming. Social networking is all about following trends to me. Whoever creates the next big trend will be the next multibillionaire.

Tulips?? They are pretty and they aren't always trying to sell ya something!!

[DesireInspires]

Tulips?? They are pretty and they aren't always trying to sell ya something!!

Huckleberry.

[mojobone]

Facebook is getting boring now. For some reason, they got really uncool after they went public last week. There isn't anything better yet, but it will be coming. Social networking is all about following trends to me. Whoever creates the next big trend will be the next multibillionaire.

Tulips?? They are pretty and they aren't always trying to sell ya something!!

I think it's been done. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulip_mania