Bob Baker's Indie Music Promotion Blog

News, notes and ideas on music marketing, self-promotion, artist empowerment and more

June 27, 2005

Avoid One Potential Problem with MySpace

My pal Joe Taylor Jr posted a good piece of advice on his spinme.com blog regarding the ever-popular MySpace.com -- which more and more musicians are using to create a home on the Web and network with fans.

Here is part of his post:
Yes, MySpace is a pretty efficient way to quickly build a web presence. Many talent buyers still have a problem with the way that bands over-rely on it for draw, but if you don't have a web guru on your team yet, it's a simple way to get online fast.

However, if you're only giving out your MySpace.com address, you're risking a lot. For example:

* What happens if the bandmate who starts the MySpace account leaves/gets kicked out? One of my clients is going nuts trying to get this account back, especially since the ex-bandmate is now using the "friends" to slag off the old band and get folks to come out to see the new one.

* What happens if something ever happens to MySpace? Folks may laugh, but there was a time when lots of us thought MP3.com and IUMA would be eternal.
Joe's solution is registering and promoting your own domain name (something you should do anyway, especially considering it costs as little as 8 bucks a year) and directing it to your MySpace URL. You can even "mask" it so your domain name continues to appear in the user's browser even when they're on the MySpace site.

As master of your own domain name, you can point it wherever you want. And while the final destination might change, your web address remains the same.

Great advice!

posted by Bob Baker @ 9:40 AM   4 comments

4 Comments:

At Jul 6, 2005 1:33:00 PM, Blogger Mark said...

Amen to your points! Use myspace as a spoke on the wheel of your online network, and establish your own website as the hub and it will work much better in the long run.

Here are two hints that will also help in the use of Myspace.com:

1) Use the Groups function and their forums to identify those listeners that are a part of your audience. Then contact them to be friends.

2) When I first began using myspace, I was contacting people to build my friends list. Often people would either not respond by adding me, or they would add me and then leave a message like, "How did you find me?" Like they didn't trust me.

So, now, when I add someone, as soon as they're added, I'll turn right around and send them a message inviting them to check out my music and saying, "I saw your profile listed on such-and-such a group or message board..." I get a lot more approvals, and more plays on my songs.

3) bonus tip--When someone does add me, I'll jump to their profile and post a comment thanking them for adding me, and maybe commenting about something in their profile (a TV show they like or something). Not only does that build the fan communication, but it also promotes me on their profile.

 
At Oct 18, 2005 10:27:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

This is very thoughtful advice. I like myspace, but felt I needed to branch out and have my own website. However, I never thought of redirecting my domain to point at myspace, should've read this earlier, oh well!

 
At Feb 13, 2006 12:16:00 PM, Blogger Ruth Greenwood said...

This post has been removed by a blog administrator.

 
At Feb 13, 2006 12:17:00 PM, Blogger Ruth Greenwood said...

I'd like to know more about how people make decision re who to contact to be a friend. I'm primarily a songwriter, who just recorded my first CD (because
people kept asking to BUY one when I'd play writers' nights). I tend to add people I know personally, those whose music I like or those who just are interesting to me in some way. Am I being too conservative?

http://ruthgreenwood.com
http://myspace.com/ruthgreenwood

 

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