Time is Money
Blogging is free (in a monetary sense, anyhow). So, the return on your investment (ROI) — the time it takes to set up and maintain a blog — can be well worth it.
I won’t offer a formulaic equation to foretell the amount of attention any given blog will receive simply based on the amount of time invested. However, at the very least, you’ll get what you paid for (as the old adage goes).
Return on Investment
The Wall Street Journal Defines ROI as a “measure of a corporation’s profitability.”
There are ways to calculate ROI that I won’t bore you with (accountants and like-minded business persons can find more in-depth info on ROI at forbes.com).
For our purposes, let’s keep things simple.
When you blog, whether it be on a social media network like MySpace, or on wordpress (like me), you are opening up the door to a portal. Through this portal are millions of individuals who may stumble across your page and music. The time that it takes to get the door on its hinges, to open it and keep it open, is the investment.
Keep reading to find out how one MySpace musician opened the portal door. Relatively soon after, they picked up the phone to find a television show producer on the other end of the line. How about that for ROI?
Bands That Blog
Here are just a few national acts, with a smattering of local artists, that blog:
- Bare Naked Ladies
- Counting Crows
- Radio Head
- Seth Ohm Band
- Switchback (South Africa)
A Social Media Networks Case Study
When singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson began using MySpace to showcase her musical talent, she probably was like any up-and-coming musician. Maybe she had hopes and aspirations of making it big. Then again, she may have simply thought of MySpace as a fun way to share her songs with friends and family. Either way, things are looking up in New York for Michaelson.
You may recognize this previously unknown independent artist’s voice from episode’s of Grey’s Anatomy and, more recently, Old Navy sweater commercials.
Michaelson is an exceptional example of how the power of social media networks can help get the word out.
After all, opportunities for exposure, such as appearing on Last Call with Carson Daly (NBC), don’t come knocking all on their own (or very often).
Michaelson sings “The Way I Am” on Last Call with Carson Daly
A Call to Action
You can help Michaelson, a Rolling Stone emerging artist, get ”The Way I Am” played on VH1’s VSPOT Top 20 Video Countdown by voting for her video on-line at VH1.com.
Getting the Ball Rolling
What are you waiting for? Turn off the television. Plug in to your latest record. Turn up the volume and blog. Being, or enlisting the help of, a public relations practioner will help with the writing, content and organization.
- Format the music as an MP3 (think portable samples to be shared)
- Use your cell phone, or better yet, a DVD recorder to upload songs and video
- Invite friends to provide feedback and spread the word
- Remember to include interactive elements in the design
- Good start: concert dates and comments
- Great start: a band shirt design or name the next CD contest
Free Blog Resources
Let the next big band blog be yours! If you’re not sure where to start, here is a list of Web sites that offer free blog pages for users:
Hadn’t heard of Ingrid before today. Beautiful voice. Look’s like she’s going it alone. Doesn’t have a label, so she may not have a PR person. A little probono work might be in order.
Thanks for stopping by, Kathy. I recently sent an email to the Ingrid Michaelson camp, via the posted email address, to no avail. Free publicity or not, Ingrid Michaelson may have too little time or help to read her email, let alone respond to it.
Unfortunately, it’s these early stages of launching a career that, I would argue, require responding to every email, IM, social media post, etc. possible. Michaelson’s luck might continue. She could keep receiving offers to appear on TV. But, then again, she might not.
Besides building brand loyalty, establishing and maintaining the dialouge with the audience is critical right now. If Michaelson can keep the audience’s attention, she might just make it as more than a flash in the pan, with or without a label.
The Internet offers everyone the opportunity to put themselves out there– Ingrid Michaelson is a great example of the huge impact the web has had on the music world. The chance for artists to promote themselves for free allows literally anyone to have a voice. This applies to all people, not just musicians, and Internet marketing has created many opportunities for people of all kinds.
Very interesting!
Amanda,
Great observation. The Web and social media networks do provide the opportunity and tools for public relations practitioners, and savvy entrepreneurs (musicians, artists, etc.), to “promote themselves.” However, you may have overlooked the cost associated with using online vehicles for communication — time. As the saying goes, time is money.
Aside from publicity, social media tools such as MySpace and Facebook allow two-way conversations to occur. When this happens, relationships are built. Once you have a relationship, results can improve significantly.
Thanks for stopping by.
Noah
very interesting, but I don’t agree with you
Idetrorce
Idetrorce,
Freedom of speech (First Amendment) is one of the greatest benefits of living in America. Although, having the right to express ourselves doesn’t mean that we’ll always do so with clarity or purpose (as evidenced by your post).
Would you care to elaborate on your statement? After all, we’re here for conversation, right? If not, then why even post at all?
Thanks for stopping by,
Noah
Strabane says : I absolutely agree with this !