There are a lot of changes going on at MySpace Music these days. Just recently, they have released a host of new features to keep the music fans happy and provide artists with exciting ways to connect with them. The most noticeable update is the faster, more search friendly music player which will soon include user-customizable skins.
Playlists on MySpace Music have also been overhauled. Users will now be able to create as many playlists as they like, each of which can hold up to 100 songs each. In the future, MySpace promises to allow these playlists to be embedded across the web.
Another exciting development on this service allows users to browse entire discographies and purchase full albums, something that was previously prohibited until now.
That being said, MySpace is still a place for emerging artists to actively promote their music and gain visibility not available anywhere else. Growing your friend list here should remain of great concern, and in my opinion should be done as organically as possible. The use of Bots and Auto Add software should be used with caution. As with any social network, the goal should not be on the number of friends or followers, but on the quality of each individual connection. This of course doesn’t mean that you cannot have both.
Here are a few tips that I have used to build large followings and meaningful connections for my clients.
Start With Great Music – You can’t expect to get very far without first having an excellent product. Gaining friends are great, but getting them to stick around is the ultimate goal. Make sure your Myspace promotions are not getting in the way of your rehearsal schedule or you will be defeating the purpose.
Begin Slowly – Don’t go in like gang busters by trying to add too many friends at once. If your requests start to get out of hand, you will feel it. Ignoring that feeling will lead to unresponsiveness on your end. That is never a good thing.
Add Friends Locally – Search for friend within a 50 mile radius of your own zip code who shares the same interests as your band. This is helpful when it comes time for you to play out in your local dive bar. Always stay focused on the pot at the end of the rainbow, tickets, merchandise and music based sales.
Actively Engage – As you begin to develop a friends list, thrive on how many of those people you are actually connecting with. Strike up a conversation that’s relevant to that connection and keep the lines of communication open. You’d be surprised how much these friends will embrace the relationship and help you in ways you never thought imaginable.
Use Bulletins and Blogs to Remain Current – Myspace comes with a variety of social applications to help connect with your audience. Blogs, Events and Bulletins allow you to benefit from this robust application. Bulletins are a precursor to Twitter updates and fall in the same realm as a community based Instant Messaging system. There are always people on line, looking for their next information fix. Use that to your advantage.
Set Guidelines about whom to Befriend – In real life, I am sure you choose your friends based on a series of specifications. Do you listen to the same music, like the same movies or read the same magazines. Do the same on MySpace. Take the time to read a person’s profile and avoid the itchy trigger syndrome when adding friends.
Create Contests Your Friends will Care About – Everyone loves to get things for free. Pick an inexpensive contest that your friends will actually enjoy. $10 iTunes gift cards work brilliantly. If all else falls use cash. The point is to draw in as many new friends as possible without seeming desperate. Turn the tables by giving away a small amount of money each month. This has proven to be very effective in the past without putting a strain on your budget.
Customize Your Page – Spend a few bucks and invest in a web designer that will give your page a more professional look and feel. You don’t have to blow your life savings on it, but make sure you find a designer who is familiar with the platform. Everybody and their Mamma is on MySpace now. Without customization, your page will easily be overlooked.
I must say however, that MySpace is quickly losing its appeal. If you intend to use this service, I would begin soon. Have you ever sat back and wondered what the next hot social networking platform will look like? I think we all have an idea, and it rhymes with Shitter. Follow me @eleetmusic. I look forward to hearing from you soon…
