The Press Section Of Your Website

I'm constantly amazed at the number of brands (which includes artists and bands as well as companies) that don't have a proper "Press" section on their website that contains all the information that a journalist or blogger might need when writing a story. I speak from personal experience as a writer in that I'm always surprised with I can't find on a typical site, instead of what I can.

Many brands think that just having a list of press releases is enough, but they're sadly mistaken (especially when the releases are not well organized to begin with, which is so sadly typical). You have to make available anything about your brand that you think might be needed, no matter how mundane, because sometimes the smallest item can make the biggest difference in how the article is written.

I've talked a lot about the website press section in my books Music 3.0: A Survival Guide For Making Music In The Internet Age and The Musician's Video Handbook, so here are some of the essential items that every website press section should have:

• High resolution color and black and white photos that can be used for print. Yes, print is dying, but it's still with us and can have a huge impact. You never know when you or your product will get a mention in a newspaper, magazine or book.

• Low resolution color photos and graphics for websites and blogs. A picture says a thousand words and you'd rather someone use one of yours on their blog or website than just supplying a link. Make it easy for them, but giving them a variety to choose from.

• Your logo. It's surprising how often this is overlooked, but it's just as important as your photos and other graphics.

• A biography. Maybe you have an "About Us" or "About Me" section on the website or blog, but a more complete bio, or even a link to it from the press section, makes finding background info about you, your band or company a lot easier for the writer. The easier it is, the more likely it will be used.

• Quotes from the media. Great quotes about you or your product are also big with writers, since it adds credibility. Limit the quotes to those that are unique though. 10 quotes that all say the same, "You're the greatest," have a lot less impact than one, but it's OK to use it if it says the same thing in a unique way.

• Links to any interviews. No need to have the entire interview on your site as a writer will probably not read it unless he needs some additional facts that he can't find anywhere else.

• Scans of just 3 or 4 of your best press clippings. Once again, less is more. 10 press clippings that say the same thing tends to actually diminish credibility. 3 or 4 seems about the right number to add to give the writer sufficient information.

• PDF of adverts, promo flyers and posters. This has a dual purpose in that its additional info for the writer but can also be used virally by fans. Many "superfans" will print these out and distribute in their area if asked (more on this in an upcoming post).

• Web ready graphics and banners in a variety of sizes. If you're doing any online campaigns (either advertising or fan-based viral), these can make it quite easy to be up and running in no time since everything is readily available.

• Press releases. These are only helpful for a writer if they contain enough background information on a subject so details are important. It's also easier for a writer if they're grouped by type (personnel, products, events, etc.) instead of by date.

It’s a fact that the easier you make it for a writer or an editor, the more likely you’ll get covered. Having these tools easily available will increase your chances of getting media coverage.

By the way, I don't believe in making this info only available to writers approved by management. Make it available to everyone as it can lead to unforeseen viral opportunities. Just keep it up to date (I know how difficult that is, but you've got to try), and your press section is good to go.

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You should follow me on Twitter for daily news and updates on production and the music business.

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8 Tips To Start Marketing On Google+

Google+ has become the hot new girl in school and everybody wants to be her friend. It's getting traction because it's a Google product, but only to a very small degree. Google has had other products die before (Google Video, Google Buzz, Google Wave) despite their reach, but this one is different. Something just feels so right about it that people seem to be flocking to something they really didn't want or need - another social network.

That being said, it's still too early to put up anything but a personal page, since Google has informed everyone that current artist, band or brand profiles will deleted when they introduce their official brand profiles sometime in the near future (take that as a warning - don't do it yet).

That being said, there's no time like the present to begin planning your Google+ marketing. PRNewser offered these 8 marketing tips. Some are a bit lame, but worth a quick read anyway.

1. Be prepared. Have your brand’s profile ready and put up as soon as permitted.

2. Update your content on various media sites. Google+ has a smoother design to integrate feeds from multiple sources, so review your content on YouTube, Twitter, and other social sites. It should be up-to-date and relevant.

3. Keep an open mind. It may seem like just another task on a lengthy to-do list, but Google+ can prove valuable in new ways. Don’t begin by thinking in the Facebook/Twitter/LinkedIn mindset.

4. Take advantage of improved editing control. Facebook’s limited status editing, which only offers deletion, is expanded on Google+, to allow changes to updates once posted.

5. Get your brand’s name out there now while everyone is in love with the site. Once glitches or aggravations come about, the public will be loud and vocal about Google’s failings.

6. Make your name as a Google+ pioneer. Just as Ford Motor Company has been heralded as the first company on Google+, use early adoption as proof of your social media credibility.

7. Add rapidly to your circles. People who are using Google+ are spending a lot of time on the network to get better acquainted. Search for those you know, and don’t know, to follow.

8. Finally, enjoy the process. This tool is in its infancy, so use other’s mistakes to learn the best practices, and have fun while you are at it.

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Help support this blog. Any purchases made through our Amazon links help support this website with no cost to you.

You should follow me on Twitter for daily news and updates on production and the music business.

Check out my Big Picture blog for daily discussion of music, recording, and production tips and tricks.

An Instant Band Page With Onesheet

For a new artist or band, not only is it important to get your music together, but your online presence is equally important as well. If you have the dough you can hire a company to integrate all of your social media on to a new custom website, but that takes time. Most artists couldn't be bothered with programming their own site, and even if they could, that takes time as well. Time which could be better spent creating great music.

Now comes Onesheet, a site that can get your artist page up and running in literally only a couple of minutes. The brainchild of Artistdata founder Brenden Mulligan, Onesheet sucks in all of your social media data from services such as Songkick, Twitter, FanBridge, SoundCloud, Moontoast, Sonicbids, Vimeo, YouTube, Facebook and more and displays it on tabs on the page. You can then upload a picture as a background, then easily tweak the layout and info box to give you an instant band page. The best part about Onesheet is that once you set it up, you don’t need to update it because it’s  fed by your other social media sites. When you update them they update Onesheet to keep it up to date.

There are a couple of downsides that I see with the service, but they're minor considering the positives. First of all, your URL is a subdomain of Onesheet. In other words, it's "onesheet.com/yourname" instead of your own custom "myname.com" URL. The other is that the layouts are all the same except for the background image. Still, if you need something online right now, and I mean RIGHT NOW, this is the one service that will do it quickly and extremely easily. Oh, and it's free too, at least for now.

There's more info on Onesheet in the short video below.

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Help support this blog. Any purchases made through our Amazon links help support this website with no cost to you.

You should follow me on Twitter for daily news and updates on production and the music business.

Check out my Big Picture blog for daily discussion of music, recording, and production tips and tricks.

The Anatomy Of A Hit - Old School

Here's something I caught on Hypebot today. It's basically a promo piece for The Band Perry that was sent out by Universal Republic Records with the deceptive name "The Anatomy of a Hit Record." Now I can't say I've ever heard of the band (although they've had 3 hit singles and a 2x platinum album) but I don't keep on top of country music.

But that's the not the point. What this promo shows is how little has changed in the major label music world. Look at what they talk about - lots of radio adds, and Grammy and award show nominations. There's nothing here about social media except for the number of video views they received, of which most of them came from the label owned Vevo. Nothing about blogs, Twitter or Facebook followers, just more of the same thinking that major labels have had for 50 years. This could just as easily been sent out in 1979 as today.

The fact is that The Band Perry was a total inside job from the beginning as they were discovered by Garth Brooks management and immediately injected into the major label system. I wonder how much promotion money Universal spent on them buying all those radio adds?

Nothing against the band as I hope they have continued success, but you just hope to see at least some evidence of Music 3.0 thinking at a major label once in a while.

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Help support this blog. Any purchases made through our Amazon links help support this website with no cost to you.

You should follow me on Twitter for daily news and updates on production and the music business.

Check out my Big Picture blog for daily discussion of music, recording, and production tips and tricks.

Why No One Is Reading Your Newsletter

MicControl is one of my favorite blogs as it's always filled with useful articles to help musicians navigate the social world. A recent article posted by Brian Franke called "Why No One Is Reading Your Newsletter" especially caught my eye. Here are a few of the common mistakes that artists make with their newsletters that Brian listed.

• “Come to my show” is too Predictable: When I see an email from a musician, I know they’re a musician.  I’ve grown tired of emails that focus only on a bands shows–because I already know you’re going to play live somewhere.  There is more to your career and to YOU as an artist, so start sharing that.  It’s cool to announce an important show, but I get bored if all you talk about is where you’re playing and how great a show it will be and that you’d love to see me there.  It’s boring.  And I won’t go to your show.

• Newsletter is sent Sporadically or too often: Once I got a newsletter from a band I really enjoyed.  And then I didn’t get another update for a few months, at which point I sorta forgot who they were and actually didn’t know much about who they were as a band since so much time had passed.  Rarely do bands do the opposite in sending emails too often.  In both cases though, folks are likely to unsubscribe or to never read your newsletter because you’re either too in their faces or not in their face enough.

• WAAAAAAAYYYYY Too long: I have a good friend who goes on and on and on in his newsletter.  Time is your enemy in a newsletter–the longer it takes to read, the less one wants to read.  It’s not that your fans don’t care, it’s just that their time is short and they have other life things going on.  And if your newsletter is just all text, it isn’t visually appealing by the way.

• Gain their trust before selling anything: I’ve seen newsletters that read like a commercial every time asking folks to buy stuff.  If that’s all you do in your newsletter, it comes across as selfish or gives the perception that you just want someone’s money.

• The one-sided conversation: The best newsletters are the ones that ask the recipient to get involved. Ariel Hyatt calls this giving your fans a call to action.  Don’t just send a message, start a conversation!  If you don’t, you won’t know what people think of the newsletter.  I have some ideas at the bottom on what could work.

There's a lot more great advice in the article, which you can read in its entirety here.

Also, MicControl has just announced MicControl Consulting, and they're having their first webinar entitled "Get Your Music Featured On The Right Blogs" on August 2nd. You can register and get more info here.

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Help support this blog. Any purchases made through our Amazon links help support this website with no cost to you.

You should follow me on Twitter for daily news and updates on production and the music business.

Check out my Big Picture blog for daily discussion of music, recording, and production tips and tricks.