Author David Meerman Scott made a honest and realistic quote, “if you want 20,000 fans you must do 2000 different things that each generate 10 fans.” This was my favorite quote from 2010 and I am going to take this on as a challenge for 2011 for an ambitious project to give you 2000 different things you can do to generate 20,000 fans.
Some of these items will apply better for larger acts, some items will work for any act. Some may work for you, some may not… not yet. Some these can be done with little effort, some will take some web development, some might even require some significant development. Some of these have successfully worked for me over the years. The point is to create a list of items that would cover a wide range of acts and abilities.
The end result of all this will hopefully be more Facebook likes, Twitter followers, email list subscriptions, more sales and more traffic to your website… more fans!
Here are three more things that this time focus entirely on creating a environment where fans are always contributing to your website and you are obtaining new content without any expense. These will work for any size band, unsigned or international star.
2000 Things to Generate 20,000 Fans Challenge
14. Write or blog about your experience in the music business.
I think a area that many band members leave untapped is their knowledge and first hand experience in music business. As the idea of DIY continues to grow you can share your DIY experience with others. Your website could become a destination for other bands, and music industry professionals, to visit and read about your real world experience. Or maybe provide guest blog posts to a website you really like.
One of my clients, Lisa Sniderman of Aoede, is preparing some tips on producing a music video. Tips based upon her experience trying to shoot a music video a couple years ago. You can talk about booking shows, touring, recording a demo, building a website, using Facebook, selling other merchandise besides music. You know the type of things that you sit around your rehearsal space BSing about, saying “you know if we only knew before” or “I will never do it like that again.” I know there is another band out there that could learn from your experience.
Start a section in your blog just for sharing your music business knowledge. You never know who will be reading your article and you may just make a connection with some new supporters and fans.
One of the problems with bands’ websites is the amount and quality of written content that engage with their ‘fans’, blogs and blogging are a great way to overcome this difficulty.
I sharing information is a great idea, but I’m torn on this one in terms of its ability to generate fans. From my perspective as a consultant, I work with a lot of “transition” artists who are coming out of a situation where at least half their “fan list” consists of other musicians they met at open mics or songwriting events. I’m not saying that other musicians can’t also be fans, but I do think its important to expand your sphere of influence beyond other musicians. Blogging is a great way to do this… but why not blog about other interests that will attract the attention of like-minded music lovers? If you love to cook, blog about the comfort food you can’t wait to prepare when you come off the road, for example.
In my case as an artist, I blog about inspiring ways that people are looking at each other – and the world – from a place of love rather than fear, in keeping with our song “Love Can Change the World.” http://www.bevandgreg.com
Bev, you definitely should blog about other interests. This was just one example of a topic that I think some musicians feel they have nothing to contribute. In my eyes if a new fan is another musician who buys your music, goes to a show, etc… well that is a fan. What they do for a living does not matter. You take your fans everywhere you can get them. Look for your fans everywhere.
Example, Malcolm Holcombe, who’s new album was just released today, was discussed on Bob Lefsetz’s blog, a very industry focused blog. I had never heard of Malcolm, but after the blog I searched him out and bought his music. New fan.
Yeahhhhhhhh Michael ! I’m up with that !