There’s no excuse for not being prepared as a music creator. In a competitive world where there are millions trying to achieve the same things as yourself, you have to be ready to take on the challenge especially when the right opportunity comes.
Get a website together and buy a domain
Nowadays, the need for having a web designer is not necessary. There’s so many platforms you can set up a site on. Some are free and others you pay as little as a couple dollars a month. Nonetheless, having a hub on the internet -your website- is imperative in today’s economy. For example, look at my website. It’s a hub for many different things, however it’s a central location for my brand and business. I provide free content on my blog, if you’re interested in working with me there’s a contact page, you have links to my social media, and etc. People can engage with my brand, while I’m doing something else.
Secondly, buy yourself a domain name. You can buy a domain name for just $10 a year, it’ll give your that professional look and add that extra polish to your brand. The question is, would have second guessed me if I had AjaniGriffith.wix.com or AjaniGriffith.wordpress.com? I know I would have, because it looks tacky.
Here are some platforms you check out for your own website:
Squarespace
Bandzoogle
WordPress
Wix
Here are some hosting sites where you can get your own domain:
GoDaddy.Com
1and1.com
Whois.Com
Register an LLC or Corporation
If you plan on making any significant money, I suggest you register a business. There are many reasons and advantages in doing so, however the most important thing I want to stress is protection for yourself. In a lawsuit happy culture, people like litigating and taking each other to court. Having and operating your business activity under a legal entity, will protect you and your personal assets.
In other words, look at your company as a person. When you engage in lawful business, like say signing contracts under your own company, the company is taking full responsible as the legal entity engaging in that commercial activity and not you personally. If something goes wrong with that undertaking and someone wants to sue you, they’re suing your company and not yourself.
Presence on Social Media
This is a necessary evil, however a presence on social media is imperative. I know so many people who dispel the notion of being on the internet. Nonetheless, this is what the market is! Invest some time -it could be yourself or build a team- to build a clear strategy, define your audience, create a plan and execute. There are billions of people on the internet at any particular time in the day. Furthermore, there are people like you who are working to achieve similar goals, are making money and their building a fan bases. Social media has made brand building more efficient and effective. You can reach hundreds or even thousands of people for free or with a couple dollars, whereas in traditional marketing it use to ridiculously expensive and took up a lot of time.
For example, I have a friend who invested $20 in FB ad campaign a few weeks. He went from about 40 to a few hundred likes, thousands of views his video and downloads of his music. All in three or four days!
So the question is, are you going to adapt to the market? I’ll leave you to research the how’s or what’s for social media. There’s Google or Youtube for that. However, don’t get left in the dust because you were stubborn or too lazy. Don’t be complacent, strife for excellence. I want you to succeed and win.
The End Story: Invest Into Your Brand
Don’t be cheap, your results equate to your effort. Put in some time and money into your brand, stand out. I’m not saying you need to have the most expensive site in the world or make some dazzling campaign. However, at least investing in some of the basics -the things I mentioned in this article- can make you stand out.
Look at me for example. I don’t have the biggest audience, developing my brand is a work in progress, however if someone wanted to get in contact and pay be to write a song for them, I’m readily accessible on the internet. Furthermore, for all the talented artists who only focus on their art and not the business part of music, they’ve already been beaten. Not only by me but also all the other people who developing their brands.
You create business by meeting a demand and letting the market you’re available. Don’t be the artist who forgets or neglects the “business” part of the music business.
