How a professional looking site can help take you from the local scene to the world stage.
In a world in which social media platforms reign supreme, the value of artists having their own website is often overlooked. Having your own website as an artist not only puts you in full aesthetic control of your online branding, but it signals to the industry that you’re a professional act that takes your artistic endeavour seriously, not just messing around on the local circuit. Having an online space that you have full ownership and control over is a great way to expand upon your connection with fans, as well as providing you with a platform to sell your merch, music, tickets to gigs and more.
A dedicated online space that you control
A dedicated website provides industry professionals like journalists, booking agents and other artists with an online environment specifically curated by you to discover what your music is all about. Whilst social media platforms are limited and coloured by their own aesthetic sensibilities, building your own website is your chance to show people who you are in a way that makes sense as a companion to your unique music.
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Another key aspect of the importance of an independent website is that they withstand the changing times and trends of social media platforms. Whilst some platforms may seem like they’re here to stay, there’s no predicting when they will fall in and out of favour. Remember MySpace? Me neither. Putting all your eggs in the social media basket is problematic for this very reason, channelling your online presence into a platform that may become defunct or at the very least not translate across multiple generations is an unreliable long-term plan.
Any local act will tell you that until very recently, Facebook events were the one and only way to promote upcoming events and performances. Now, with the younger generation having all but abandoned the platform, Facebook events are no longer a reliable way to predict ticket sales or interest in a gig. I use Facebook once a year to respond to distant elderly relatives wishing me happy birthday.
Sudden changes like this to what may feel like permanent fixtures in the social media landscape happen all the time. This is why it is so important to supplement your social media presence with your own personal platform.
Refine your brand
Whilst music is not a visual medium, we all know how important visual branding is to get your identity as an artist across to your fans and the industry. Building your own fully customisable website on platforms such as Hostinger allows you to not only curate your content to match your band’s aesthetic, but the actual platform itself. This allows you to constantly update your own site to match your current album art and the tone of your evolving personal brand. These online platforms provide drag-and-drop style templates for websites that can be built, updated and refined as you see fit. Some basic HTML or coding experience is unnecessary but will help you elevate the site even further!
At the end of the day, every artist wants to have full control over their public identity. Generating a unique and authentic brand that compliments your music is crucial to not only expressing your artistic will, but controlling the narrative surrounding your work. Building your own website is an important step in this process, as well as providing up and coming bands with an opportunity to earn some much needed income to fund their projects. Achieving this has never been easier thanks to affordable and easy to use website building and hosting platforms. You no longer have to be an online wizard or hire somebody to create your site, this process is now readily accessible to even the staunchest luddites amongst us. We’re still using tube amplifiers over here!
Sell your music
Building your own website is also a great commerce decision for acts looking to maximise profits from their music and merchandise. Check out Ace McGuire’s Acid Tabs for some inspo! Providing fans with one convenient location to purchase your music and merchandise is more important than ever in the age of streaming. When given the opportunity to pay for music, a surprising amount of fans will still choose to do so, but only if you make it as quick and easy for them as it is to simply look you up on their favourite streaming platform. Your own website is only a quick online search away and if you set it up with this in mind, provides a simple, easy and convenient place for fans to buy your work.
Having your own site also provides you with a unique opportunity to encourage fans to subscribe to an online newsletter, a great way to keep them up to date with your upcoming shows and new releases. This is not only a great promotional tool but helps to build a more personal connection with fans that keeps them engaged with your music.
Along with building and maintaining a strong fanbase, having your own website is crucial to building a rapport with industry professionals. As well as providing a place to publicise your important contact information, a website can provide a convenient place for journalists, promoters and PR professionals to access your media/press kit, a crucial factor in generating press and interest in your work. A website validates you as it offers a space to to show off your music and accomplishments, but it shows how seriously you should be taken as an artist!
So if you take your music seriously and are ready to take the next step towards developing your career in the industry, don’t put off building your own website any longer. Your bandmates, fans and peers will thank you.
