Which Part Of Your Website Is A Gig Magnet?

If you're an artist or band, hopefully you have a website. If you do, you're probably wondering if it actually helps you to get gigs. By itself, a good artist website can be a good introduction to any promoters checking you out, but there's one section that's more important than all others that's usually overlooked by more artists - the booking section.

Here's an excerpt from the artist website chapter of my Social Media Promotion For Musicians book that covers the essential parts of the booking section of a website that gives it that extra punch to make it a gig magnet.

"If you’re generating some buzz in your local scene, make sure that if an agent or promoter does check out your band that you have pertinent information available on your website for them. Create a “Bookings,” “Book Me,” or “Book My Band” section on your website, which can be similar to an online press kit, but instead includes specific additions like: 

• Statistics about the number of newsletter subscribers, Facebook fans and Twitter followers you have. Remember that your social media presence is now taken into consideration by most bookers and promoters, as it’s a vital part of their marketing too.

• Average attendance for your shows. Are you regularly selling out 50 ,100, or 500-seat venues? Make sure to include it.

• The markets and venues that you play in.

• A photo gallery with lots of quality live photos, including any that include crowds in packed venues.

• Good quality live videos meaning good video quality, good audio quality, packed rooms, and minimal audience talking. Audience sing-a-longs are always worth including as well.

• A stage plot of how your gear is normally set up.

• A typical set list, if you’re a cover band.

• Quotes from the media that mention your live show.

• Quotes from venue bookers.

• Quotes from fans about your live shows.

Other than that, you should always blog and tweet about your live shows, which we’ll discuss in Chapters 7 and 8. Post about the turnout, the crowd reaction, and post plenty of pics and live video whenever you can. All of this will help create the impression that you’re a hard-working band that takes their live shows seriously."

You can read additional excerpts from Social Media Promotion For Musician (and receive a free chapter too) and my other books on the excerpts section of bobbyowsinski.com.

----------------------------------

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

Tweaking Your Website's Contact Page

Believe it or not, many artists create a fantastic website and forget to include what may be the most important section of all - the contact page. After all, how can you take advantage of any prospective opportunities if people can't easily connect with you? What if a promoter wants to book you? Or if a record company exec wants to hear more? Or if a fan wants another piece of merch? None of that will happen unless they have your contact info.

Here are a number of items to consider when adding your contact info to your site:

1. Be sure that the contact section is easy to find. Don't bury it deep in a menu. Try to keep it as a top-level link that will be available on every page.

2. Include multiple ways to contact you, not just an email address. Some people are more comfortable on the phone, so include a phone number. Phone numbers also have the added advantage in that they tend to make people feel secure that you're actually reachable and will respond. If you don't want someone calling your cell, get a Google Voice number that will ring all your numbers, and that you'll be able to screen. Also include a snail mail address in case someone (like a fan) wants to send you something. You don't want to give out your home address, so open up a post office box just for this purpose.

3. Make the contact info prominent on the page. Make it the primary object of the page, not buried in graphics or other none-related text.

4. If you're looking for bookings, have a dedicated booking page that has all of your contact info there as well. You can check out this post for more on what to include in a booking page.

Remember that the more options you provide, the more likely you'll have someone connect or buy something from you, and the more secure they'll feel about doing it.

----------------------------------

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

Interested in the Music 3.0 archives? Buy The Music 3.0 Guide To Social Media. The best of over 800 posts.

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