If you’ve ever had any experience with an agent, publicist, or studio, you understand that the first thing they’ll do when they hear about a new artist is Google that artist’s name. Not only do they want to see what other people are saying about them, but they also want to visit the artist’s website. If you want to be successful at any level, you need to create a free website.
Why is this true? For one, these gatekeepers know that the first thing potential fans do is look at your music website. But more importantly, they want to see how you present and package yourself. Businesses these days are more image-conscious and look for artists who understand how to market themselves and leverage the internet to build their platform and fan base, so if you want to make it in the industry, you need to showcase your web. Know-how 2.0 with a Flash website.
Here are the top things EVERY singer needs on their website.
directed music
Too many singers make the same big mistake when they showcase their voices with a vocal portfolio website: they try to showcase the widest possible range of music they can sing. It’s generally a bad idea to have samples on your site that consist of show tunes, pop songs, opera arias, and hip-hop (for example). It’s better to pick one approach and stick with it on your site. There will always be time to show off your amazing array of workable styles, but that’s not why you want to build a free website.
The internet is all about finding a niche, fitting into it, and presenting it clearly. Your choice of vocal samples will not only revolve around this niche, but will also affect the overall look and design of your site, so be clear from the start about what you’re presenting.
Social media
Much of making it in the music industry these days revolves around connecting directly with your fans. On his website, he should show that he is at least making the effort to create this kind of direct connection and that he knows modern social networking practices. As of this writing, this tends to translate to blogging, micro-blogging via Twitter, and having a Facebook profile that’s easily accessible from your web page design. Putting them out there is essential, even if you don’t have incredibly interesting things to say, because it allows you to speak directly to your audience. While high-quality posts are helpful, at the end of the day it’s more important that you update these sites regularly and reliably.
Photos and videos
Multimedia is just as important these days as the sound of your voice, so be sure to incorporate these sections when creating a free website. While it is important that you can sing, it has become equally important that you have an appearance that is congruent with the niche you are working in and that you also present yourself well in your videos. While your voice alone might have been more important in the days of radio, now you must create a congruent “package.” We can lament this fact all we want, but at the end of the day you will be much more successful if you work with the system as it is instead of rebelling against it.
While including a few candids on your website might be a good idea for certain niches, it’s generally a good idea to take professional photos. Take headshots and performance photos, and include both on your site. The same goes for videos. It’s a good idea to include videos of your live performance, but it’s even better if you can put together a reasonably slick music video of your most commercial song.
In general, when you create a free website, remember to showcase your total package and design accordingly. If you’re looking to sign, then it’s even more important that you use all of the above items, as they will tell agents and record labels that you understand the industry and what it needs, and that you’re looking to work with them to create something. Great.
