In 2018, there is no better way to promote yourself and grow your audience than by using social media. However, using these platforms for your brand is vastly different than using them for your own personal use. It is important that you understand how to effectively use these platforms to grow your career. In following these steps, you will be able to create social media profiles for your brand that will engage your fans while also ensuring that your work is being made available to new audiences.
Accessibility
Not only is the internet a place of seemingly infinite space, it is also where every artist and creator goes to build their brand. Considering this, it is important that you carve out a space for yourself in all available venues. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Soundcloud and Bandcamp will be the most recognizable places to promote yourself. Ensure that you are using the same handles across all platforms and that they are easy to search for. Create a web page for yourself and make sure all of your social media spaces are linked and easily accessible on the homepage. Use these spaces to connect with your fans in meaningful ways while promoting the projects and events you are working on.
Positivity
It is important to remember that the you profiles you create for your brand are very different than any personal accounts you may have. For your branded accounts, it is imperative that you remain positive in anything you post. If you had a bad show, don’t mention it; if you’re feeling creatively stuck, don’t mention it. Negativity causes listeners to lose faith in your ability as an artist and will cause your brand to suffer. Remember that these pages represent your work and your livelihood. Although there may be times when fans and listeners say negative things on your page, do not take it personally.
Be Conscious of Space
With the amount of content readily available online, it is important that you take advantage of the space on your pages in an effort to capture the viewer’s attention as soon as possible. It is important to be cohesive across all platforms. For example, having the same profile picture on all platforms. It is also important to use all available space to promote yourself. For example, using cover images on Facebook and Twitter to promote upcoming tours and concert dates. When attracting viewers to your pages is the goal, cohesion and readability are the two most vital factors in considering how a viewer sees your presence online.
Connect
With your pages online established, the next step is to use those spaces effectively. This involves using all of your profiles consistently and in a meaningful way. Engage with your fans by posting regularly and responding to comments occasionally. Encourage your fans to sign up for newsletters and to “like” or “follow” your pages by offering free downloads or other incentives. One of the most effective ways to grow your presence online is to simply use these spaces consistently.
Stay Informed
When you are using your pages online, be mindful of what is currently happening in the world. Check what is trending and what hashtags are being used on a regular basis. Don’t post about anything and everything that happens in the news as viewers won’t pay attention to vague and irrelevant posts but if there is anything applicable to you or your work happening, post about it and include any relevant hashtags in your posts. Doing so is a way to ensure that your presence online grows to reach new audiences.
Authenticity
Finally, when considering your online presence consider it an extension of your work. In order to have a meaningful online presence, it is important that you post consistently and that your posts are of the highest quality. Be creative with what you post and have a variation in the types of posts you make between links, text, and images. One of the benefits of platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram is that they give fans a glimpse into the lives of the their favourite artists. It is important that you nurture this relationship by posting updates that keep your listeners engaged.
There are quite a few facets to consider when it comes to managing your online presence as a creator. However, once you fall into a routine in making these platforms an extension of your work and of your brand you will find that they are an invaluable tool in expanding your audience and in turn, growing your career as an artist.
