Monday, July 07, 2008 

Listen to "Social Networks for Musicians" Teleseminar

First I have to say WHAT A GREAT CALL LAST WEEK! Thank you to those of you who were there with us. We covered a lot of ground. If you missed the call, no worries! I have a recording available to you free of charge.

The Social Networks Team:






Madalyn Sklar

Tracie Maloy

Tish Meeks

Carol Plunk

Here's a little bit of what we covered:

Do I really need to sign up for another social network?
I feel it's best to cast a wide net and reel people in. Once in you get to know them through one-on-one messaging. The goal is to turn your new, targeted friends into fans who then become buyers and possibly even advocates. Advocates are the fans who will post your songs on their personal myspace page, repost your bulletins and blogs and make the ideal street team member.

How can I use Myspace more effectively?
Spending an hour a day can make a huge difference! Consistently adding targeted friends, posting comments, post blogs and bulletins, etc. Spend time getting to know your friends. Take an interest.

I don't get Facebook!
Seems people either love, hate or just don't get Facebook. It's a great social network platform for one-on-one communication with lots of great applications especially Reverbnation. I spend the least amount of time on Facebook yet I have a great presence on there because I have set up several applications that automatically import my blog posts, twitter posts, flickr photos and youtube videos. I can even send up a photo from my camera phone in real-time to my Facebook page.

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Don't have time to figure it out? Why not hire Madalyn to walk you through this over the phone. In one 45 minute session she'll have you up and running! She can walk you through the process of setting up your Facebook profile to automatically import your blog, twitter posts, flickr photos and youtube videos. Or walk you through Twitter, Flickr or Blogger. Details at www.socialnetworksformusicians.com
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More on Facebook...
You can set up a band or business profile at www.facebook.com/pages/create.php

We cover WAY more on the call. Just head over to www.socialnetworksformusicians.com and take a listen.

On thing to remember...the bottom line when it comes to social networks is:
IT DOESN'T WORK UNLESS YOU WORK IT!

That's it for now! I hope you find all this information helpful to you. If you need additional help, please get in touch with me.

Rock on,
Madalyn Sklar

Check me out at:
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Flickr
Myspace
Blogger

Copyright © 2008 Madalyn Sklar, IndieMusicCoach

Madalyn Sklar is a music business coach, consultant, blogger, social networks expert and author. She founded IndieMusicCoach and has spent over 12 years working with a wide range of independent musicians all over the world. Her goal is to help indie artists achieve greater success in the music business by working smarter not harder. She is also the founder of GoGirlsMusic.com, the oldest and largest online community of indie women musicians, with a vision of bringing together and empowering musicians from around the world.

Madalyn is available for one-on-one consulting and coaching at affordable prices. Check out www.indiemusiccoach.com for more info.

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Friday, June 27, 2008 

Do I Need These Social Network Sites?



The other day I talked about Facebook and how I work "smarter not harder" by utilizing applications to import this blog, my Flickr photos, my Twitter posts and my YouTube vidoes. With very little effort I have a great Facebook presence.

Many people I talk to don't get Facebook. They don't understand Twitter and most haven't heard of Flickr. That's okay. I'm here to pass along information so it makes sense.

You can learn more about all these sites at www.socialnetworksformusicians.com. I have a bunch of articles there that are helpful. And also on the homepage I have available the teleseminar I hosted the other night so you can listen and feel like you were there with us. It was very informative.

So people are always asking me, "do I need these social network sites?" I say "yes" and here's why...

The Internet has evolved tremendously in the last few years. As indie artists, social networks allow us to form a bond with people within a community. That community is a web site whether it's Myspace, Facebook or what have you. Interaction is done more often through your computer screen and even on your mobile device than in person it seems. With these networks you can form relationships with potential fans. Just by reaching out on your computer you can develop an army of not only fans and music buyers but true advocates. Who are advocates? Devoted fans who will turn on their friends to your music. Devoted fans who occupy their Myspace music player with your songs.

Of course you need to find a balance between your online time and your real world interaction.

Robin Brantley of the band Ruby Red says it best...

"I love MySpace as it gives us a chance to do the one-on-one thing with people as well as make new connects that I can then go out and meet that person and form a real working relationship. I fear though that a lot of people are not taking it that far, especially bands- they think the computer is enough. I know sooo many musicians here that are constantly asking me, 'So how did you get a meeting with them?' or 'How'd you get THAT gig?' But they never GO anywhere! Not to see other bands, to take anyone out for a nice lunch or whatever. They just stay home with their computer, typing their fingers off and not really supporting anyone else's deal or showing interest in anything other than what they are doing. Life really is a two way street like you said! So many people don't seem to get that one. It's changing so fast, too- you never know what the wind will bring tomorrow. But, I know I have built quite a following by balancing computer and face-to-face networking so I am going to keep working on it."


I know, there are TONS of music sites, social networks, yadda, yadda, yadda. So what do you do... give up on it? No! Check out sites. See what looks like a good fit for you, your music and your goals. I recommend that indie musicians use Myspace, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and Blogger.

That's my two cents. Tell me what you think. Leave a comment.

Copyright © 2008 Madalyn Sklar, IndieMusicCoach

Madalyn Sklar is a music business coach, consultant, blogger, social networks expert and author. She founded IndieMusicCoach and has spent over 12 years working with a wide range of independent musicians all over the world. Her goal is to help indie artists achieve greater success in the music business by working smarter not harder. She is also the founder of GoGirlsMusic.com, the oldest and largest online community of indie women musicians, with a vision of bringing together and empowering musicians from around the world.

Madalyn is available for one-on-one consulting and coaching at affordable prices. Check out http://www.indiemusiccoach.com for more info.

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    Madalyn Sklar is a music business coach & consultant, blogger, social networks expert and author. She has spent over 12 years helping independent musicians and music business professionals achieve greater success. Her motto is: working smarter not harder. She also founded GoGirlsMusic.com, the oldest + largest online community of indie women musicians. Read more...


    Monika Herzig is a jazz pianist/ recording artist for Owl Studios and a full-time member of the Arts Administration Faculty at Indiana University. She has performed at many prestigious jazz clubs and festivals. Read more...


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