Lately we’ve had a lot of people become friends with us on MySpace. We love this and we always check out profiles of our new friends, so we’ve noticed something that we’d just like to let you know about.
It’s not that you’re doing it all wrong, but failing to use the way MySpace works to your best advantage is
Don't be a monkey - let them see and hear what they're looking for!
Ultimately you’re on MySpace to get your music heard and make fans. Bearing this in mind, a lot of artists are not using their ‘influences’ and ‘sounds like’ sections to their best advantage. This is something that we stress quite heavily in our MySpace book, but the basic premise is that you need to be as open and honest about your influences, and what you actually sound like as possible. You can try and be clever and say you sound like ‘a bad weekend’ or ‘ice cream on a hot day’ but that doesn’t let people know what to expect, and this is after all what they’ve come to your page to find out!
So here is how we think you can make the most out of these sections…
Genre:
Genre is one of the first things you choose when you sign up for a MySpace, and you can change it by going into your account setting. This lets people know the style of music you make and allows users to search for your band through that genre section in the music directory listings. You need to make sure that you choose the correct genre for your music in order to make sure that you are available to the right fans. Putting a comedy genre down may seem funny but will not do you any favours as no one who likes your style of music will be able to find you.
As I write this I can almost hear some you shouting ‘But my music doesn’t fit into any genre’. If your music genuinely doesn’t fit into anything at all in the options available, then congratulations, you are unique, and I’d love to hear what you’ve done! However, the chances are that you’re not. Take a step back and look at your music objectively, or play it to friends and see how they’d categorise it. A lot of people who think they can’t be categorised are just too close to their music and need a little reality check.
The genre selection you choose will also be displayed in your profile, and everyone will see it so make the right choice, or risk losing potential fans.
Influences:
Here you need to put down as many bands, artists and songs that have inspired and influenced you as possible. Rather than being pointless this is hugely helpful to anyone who visits your profile and can initiate conversation between you and your potential fans. For example, if you like guitar music and are given the choice of two bands to listen to, one inspired by Oasis and the other inspired by Girls Aloud then you have a pretty good idea of how their music is likely to sound and therefore which one you’re going to prefer.
Remember, you’re not trying to show how cool and obscure you are, you’re trying to gain fans. Users can search for new bands to discover based just on this, so don’t waste it. Provide as much information as possible and be honest!
Sounds like:
What does your music resemble most? Make as accurate a comparison as possible here because, as above, people will search out new acts based on what they sound like. Don’t lie about your sound or pretend to be something that you’re not as you will quickly be found out. If you can then compare yourselves to other bands and artists who sound like you, and make friends with these artists. Their fans will be more open-minded to you and your music than anyone else.
This is the one that people are most likely to fill in with an amusing quip as we said at the start – sounds like ‘a ten day hangover’ or something like that. Since people are searching for bands who sound like other bands, why would you shut that chance off?
This may sound simple, or just plain common sense, but the number of profiles we’ve come across that don’t follow this is amazing, and you’ll be surprised at the difference it actually makes!
So, once you’ve amended your profile to let the whole world know who influenced you, what you like and sound like, here’s a quick traffic tipfor you. Comment on the MySpace pages of any of the artists you’ve mentioned. It doesn’t have to be a huge comment, just a quick note along the lines of ‘you’ve inspired us’ or ‘we aspire to be like you’ or just tell them how much you love them. The fans of that band will then be able to click through to your profile and check you out, providing you with a whole new pool of potential fans. Lovely.
Our eBook ‘Make It On MySpace’ covers many more issues like this in detail. It’s not a guide on how to just put a MySpace profile up, it’s aim is to show how that profile can be and needs to be at the centre of your relationship building with your fans. People who find you on MySpace can become lifelong active fans, not just meaningless friend numbers. ‘Make It On MySpace’shows you how.
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I found your blog on google and read a few of your other posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future.
Hi, good post. I have been wondering about this issue,so thanks for posting. I’ll definitely be coming back to your site.
Great post! I’ll subscribe right now wth my feedreader software!
Dude you are right on it! I feel such an idiot for not already utilizing myspace more efficiently!
Keep posting!