Strategies To Make Your Website “Fan-Friendly”

By Julie Blake, President MusicBizWebsitePro.com

Your website is a powerful tool to create a sense of community and connect with your fans. Focusing your website on making your fans feel appreciated, important and part of something special will help create raving fans that will promote your music!  

Questions to help make your website focused on your fans…

1. Who are your fans in general?
2. Why should someone become a fan?
3. Can you describe your music in one sentence?
4. How does your music/live performance make people feel?
5. Why should a fan return to your website?
6. How do you keep in contact with your fans?

Ways to interact and connect with your fans online

• Newsletter - Promote upcoming gigs, CD releases, tour dates and the latest news
• Guest Book - Fans can post comments and rave about your music to everyone who visits your site
• Message Board - Post a topic and your fans can respond and interact with each other. Get feedback on a new song, a performance or a CD.
• Auto Responder - Instantly welcomes your fans to the club
• Polling Booth – Give your fans a voice and a chance to vote on their favorite song etc.
• VIP Passes or Discounts to Gigs – an exclusive benefit of joining your fan club
• Calendar – keep updated with accurate info
• Journal – while touring post your thoughts in a weekly journal AKA “blog”
• Fan Photo Album – ask permission to list names and post photos, but this is a great way to drive traffic to your website!
• News – Post articles, press releases etc…
• Insights – go beyond the lyrics and share the story behind your songs
• Fan Club Only Privileges – Contests, ticket pre-sales, message boards, back stage video or photos

Fan-Friendly Websites

http://www.DonCampbellMusic.com
www.SaraEvans.com

http://www.MusikMafia.com

Julie Blake