| These days, just about the most important thing | | | | important fact to get from them is where they live, |
| that you can do as a musician or artist for your | | | | by city or state, but generally I don't recommend |
| self-promotion is to build a mailing list and use it to | | | | this. Yes, knowing where people live is useful for |
| build your relationship with the people on it. | | | | touring purposes but you have to balance the need |
| Getting people to sign up to your list means that you | | | | for that info against the resistance of people to sign |
| can contact them all directly when you want to and | | | | up if it's too much bother. Keep it simple! |
| create a two-way relationship with them. | | | | I'd always try to use an online hosted email system |
| That relationship with your fans and them getting to | | | | that allows you to communicate with your fans by |
| know you is what is going to build their loyalty and | | | | name - so a mailing list application that asks for their |
| help you to become successful. | | | | name (or first name) as well as their email address is |
| So, how do you get people to join your band mailing | | | | the way to go. It needs to have a simple way of |
| list and how do you communicate with them once | | | | dropping those sign-up boxes on to your website and |
| they are on it? | | | | social network pages too. We have suggestions on |
| 1. Let people sign up! | | | | which systems to use at our Blog. |
| That may sound stupid, but, you need to let people | | | | 3. Fan benefit of subscribing. |
| sign up online and offline - so you need to let them | | | | The obvious and best way to get people to join |
| know how! | | | | your band mailing list is to offer them something for |
| Firstly, make sure that you have a sign-up box in | | | | free - something that they can only get if they give |
| every place that you have a presence online - so | | | | you their email, and that they'll be worried about |
| that's Facebook, MySpace, band website, blog etc. | | | | missing out on if they don't! |
| Also, put a link to an online sign-up box in every email | | | | It works best if this is pitched as an immediate |
| that you send and try to get all your current | | | | freebie as well as long term benefits. On signing up, |
| subscribers to do the same for you so that they can | | | | you could offer money off your latest releases, or |
| help to spread the word. | | | | free downloads, and longer term benefits could be a |
| And, of course, make sure that you always have a | | | | free download every month, access to a member's |
| mailing list sheet ready for people to fill in at all your | | | | only forum, or early bird tickets for shows before |
| live gigs. | | | | everyone else, or even a fans-only show just for |
| 2. Don't make it too complicated. | | | | those on the list. |
| Be honest with yourself about how you're going to | | | | You need your potential and new fans to be |
| use the information that you get for your band | | | | impressed, happy, and eager to recommend you to |
| mailing list. You're almost certainly going to just email | | | | other people - so, think about what your fans would |
| people, and it's good if you have their first name so | | | | like to have, and make sure that it is of real value - |
| that you can address them personally in those emails. | | | | make it special! |
| But, try not to ask for any other information from | | | | The key to holding on to your fans is to then |
| your potential fans unless you're really going to use it. | | | | contact them regularly and always make it |
| If you put a long form in front of people, then a lot | | | | worthwhile. Don't leave long periods between |
| of them aren't going to bother filling it out. But, if all | | | | contacts, but also don't email them with drivel. |
| they have to fill in is their name, and email address | | | | If you genuinely foster the relationship with them as |
| then you'll find they're much more likely to do so. | | | | though they were your friends, your mailing list will |
| If you really have to have it, the next most | | | | grow and be very valuable to your path to success. |