A website offers bands and musicians an easy and affordable way to stay in touch with their fan base, but what does a band need on a website?
The most obvious that comes to mind is interaction with their fan base or future fan base. There are many ways to facilitate interaction, from allowing fans to comment on news feeds or blog posts, keeping an online guestbook, to event registration, there is really no wrong way to have interaction, just so long as the fans feel they are a part of the band's experience not only will the website be a success, but band's fans will grow.
An event calendar to post all upcoming events is a must! (For obvious reasons! You want people at your shows!)
Next, a band needs a news feed/blog where the band can express recent news, reviews of their shows, express creativity, impart other information to their fans. A blog gives a band the opportunity to make a personal connection with their fan base and increase interaction and a community. The ability to post comments and get responses from other fans and band members will make the fans feel part of the bands evolution.
Other important features include: photo album, video album, email subscription, and members' page/section.
I currently host a radio show that highlights local country bands/musicians. It airs every Wednesday @ 7pm on Y96.5 FM in Kalamazoo Michigan. You can also listen past shows through podcast on my jock page. Many of these bands have loyal fans and their websites allow them to keep in contact with their fans.
The Bronk Bros
The Bronk Bros. have been playing Michigan area for about a decade and have amassed a loyal following that packs venues when they play! The frontpage/homepage is a preview of everything that is going on in the world of The Bronk Bros. Fans can easily find upcoming events, listen to music, link out to purchase music, read the latest news and link to social websites for a more rich interactive experience.
Of special note is this website's use of free web services to save on hosting costs. The Bronk Bros use YouTube to host their videos and just embed their channel on the video page. These are great tactics to help save on costs and still increase usership and interaction.
Shelagh Brown
Shelagh Brown isn't new to the music scene, growing up in a musical family has help make Shelagh a great songwriter. Now she's taking her show on the road solo and sharing it through her website.
Shelagh's website is powered by a CMS (Content Management System), wordpress. A CMS allows for well structured websites with well categorized content. If you're planning on hosting all your own content I recommend using a CMS. It will make your life a lot easier. Not to mention there are a plethora of open source CMS's with plenty of free add-ons and themes that will increase the useability and the interaction on your site. (Please contact us if you'd like some recommendations or help setting one up.)
Local Motive Band
Local Motive Band has a clean, easy to read, easy to navigate website. Their website allows for fan comments, music ordering and easy to navigate resources. With services like paypal, independently selling music directly to the fans has become easier and more cost effective and easier to set-up on a webpage. Let us know if we can help you create an income stream through your website.
Redhill
This Detroit band knows the importance of keeping an image. Country bands aren't known for coming from metropolitan areas, but Redhill uses that aspect in their website design. Exposed brick, bright color highlights, and Graffiti-like headers give this site an inner-city feel.
If your band has something that is only yours, use it to brand your group and your website. It will leave a lasting impression for visitors and help your fans identify with a unique identity that is your band.
Small Town Son
Small Town Son is another example of a website powered by a CMS. Using a CMS allows Small Town Son to easily organize their content and call it up in quick easy to digest modules. Small Town Son also makes their website an aggregate of all their social media profiles allowing their fans to visit their website to find all their updates.
What helps you keep in touch with your website users?
Comments
Nice work – you’re a real bad[censored]! Marketing ourselves has been a weak spot for us. We have been more concerned about learning and writing new songs - but we are far enough along now to start putting some icing on our cake. We need new pics, a website, a fashion consultant (don’t laugh) marketing director etc etc. Also, our MySpace needs work and we haven’t even started with Facebook or Twitter yet. What are your rates etc?
Thanks Quote