Friday, July 30, 2010

Week 4: Social Media for Musicians

This week's chapter in 9 Weeks is packed with useful techie websites.  My favorite has to be the commoncraft "in plain English" series, which takes terms like cloud computing and social bookmarking, and explains them in such simple terms that an attentive 4 year old could get it.  I had a vague idea of what a widget was before I saw the commoncraft video, but now I can geek out with the best of 'em!   After watching every single video, I feel downright educated!  That said, there are SO many applications and widgets, it's hard to know which ones to use.

My first Flickr2Facebook Upload
In an effort to simplify these social media processes, I did recently get a fancy phone to help out.  Not to sound too much like a commercial, but the Sprint EVO is super easy to use and comes with applications for facebook and twitter so I can post to both accounts with little hassle. I downloaded an app for twitpic, so now as soon as I take a photo on my phone, I can upload it to twitter instantly.  Far out, man.  Just don't let the wrong person get a hold of your phone -- they can far too easily take sordid photos and upload to ALL your accounts.  Not that I know anything about sordid photos ;)  I can also easily upload photos to my Flickr account, which links to facebook.  Can't wait for the app that just links every single social media site in one go!  Maybe there is one already?

To soup up my facebook page, I decided to go with the Reverbnation "my band" application.  I have some free downloads available there if a listener decides to become a fan.  Also, I added a Facebook "Like" button to my Homepage.  It's right under my exclusive download widget, which I changed after meeting Benji from Pledge Music at Ariel's Brooklyn Cyber/PR mixer last week.  Unlike the Reverbnation widget which asks only for an email address and requires several click-throughs, the Pledge Music widget gives the listener a choice between entering an email address, posting a link to twitter, or posting a "like" to Facebook, and the free download is instant.  Right now, I have the first song "Sometimes" (STUDIO VERSION!!!) from my new album posted for free download, only available on my site.

The Photo I wish I could Send to my Facebook Page instead
of to my FB profile via FlickR (Dead Copycats at
Local 269, NYC)
My problem with facebook is that I find it difficult to manage the band page.  I have a ton of facebook friends on my profile page, but only like 13 facebook band "likes" so it will be interesting to see how my newly added "like" button on my website helps out.  Also, How do you link Flickr to your band page instead of your profile page???  To sidestep this issue, I used the Selective Tweets app to hook up my twitter to my facebook, so that twitter will now automatically post to my profile AND my page.   I'd gladly appreciate any advice from those who are technologically wiser and know how to get more traffic to the page not the profile.

Okay, I'm dizzy now.

I'll do a quick update on last week's topic before I sign off.  My web 2.0 strategy Jess Takes Requests (i.e. audience participation) is progressing, and will hopefully go easier once my technological learning curve gets less steep. Last week I posted my version of Nirvana's "Come As You Are".  This week, I recorded "Happiness is a Warm Gun", originally by the Beatles, which will be on view as of Saturday 7/31.  All my cover songs are available for Free MP3 download.  You can make requests by commenting on this blog or on my site,  or by emailing JessBraunMusic@gmail.com.

I'm happy to report that the exclusive download widget on my site has led to quite a few more people joining my mailing list, and my website's traffic is up by like 400%.  I truly believe that the more energy you put into something, the more you get out of it.  If you're reading this and you dig the music, please share!  And "Like" me (via Facebook)

Much Love Until Next Time,

Jess Braun: Dream Rock Songstress

3 comments:

  1. Hey Jess,

    Ariel here - checking back on you.

    Love your latest blog entry, you seem very committed to the contest. Great to hear you bought a widget!

    You're doing a great job with the contest so far, and I really like your cover of "Come As You Are." Keep up the good work!

    Ariel

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  2. And one more thing...You can follow all entrants of the contest here:

    http://twitter.com/CyberPRContest/blog-challenge-2-0

    And follow all the contest's highlights here:
    @CyberPRContest

    and my book here: @musicsuccessin9

    Ariel

    ReplyDelete