When we, as a family, discovered Willies Place we started buying CD’s by artists heard on the show. People who watch Tru Country on RFD, or Texas County Line also order music. 64 percent of consumers reported that they make a purchase from a brand because of a digital experience via a Website, microsite, mobile coupon, or e-mail.

Social Media marketing is rapidly earning a role in the integrated marketing mix of small and enterprise businesses. Facebook is great for networking, while Twitter extends the range of marketing programs. Websites bring a personal touch to fan experience.

Marketing is a major consideration for any business, otherwise there is no business. Marketing is – and always will be – a major part of your business strategy as a musician. Whether you hire an agency to do your marketing, or use your own hands-on approach, you must craft a strategic plan rooted in goals and objectives.

Many Facebook users create a Facebook application around their brand. Over 40 percent used business-to-customer interaction to drive Facebook users to their website or advise them of upcoming venues. When driving customers – and friends can be customers – take a good look at the website or store the customers will see. Is it friendly, or is it bland, generic, and lifeless?

Marketers claim that buying ads is among the least effective of the mix. Many people use Twitter instead. Like Facebook, marketers view Twitter as a primary source for generating traffic. As such, most marketers reported using Twitter to send users to marketing web pages, and they seemed to be pleased with the results.

Services such as Upcoming.org and Eventful can augment Twitter and Facebook Events quite nicely. When we write articles our published articles are sent to Twitter and echoed via Google’s Feedburner within minutes, thus spreading the news rapidly. Including your articles in Digg adds additional exposure.

It is important to develop a good set of contacts to supplement or augment your name or brand. Tweet articles about you by other sources, link to them on Facebook, drive traffic to Myspace and your own website, and Tweet (again) about those articles. Amplify your message.

Sending prospects, customers, and influencers to poorly designed web pages is not an extension of the Twitter culture nor the expectations that define it. Make sure your users have a positive experience. In the end they are more likely to develop loyalty.

Fans of Ray Price followed Ray as loyal fans and friends for over 50 years. How did that happen before the Internet, and how can you amplify your own success today?

Musicians should also consider fan experience on Youtube, and first impressions. Are your music videos true, quality, and satisfying videos that represent your brand in a way that satisfies you? If not, consider making your own videos using Windows Movie Maker, a quality sound track, and a few good photos. Doing so is much better than a cell phone video with poor sound quality.

Unfortunately many radio stations fail to mention who sings the songs they play. If a listener enters keywords or a verse, will search engines send the listener to your website or Myspace page? Will the listener find your video on Youtube? Marketing can convert the song to a sale if you have a focused marketing plan for today’s Internet customers.

Learn more about marketing your brand from this reference.

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