Since helping launch my clients Twitter account (@basetriprecords) I have become aware of the record label and recording artist community on Twitter. There is a ton of potential on Twitter for artist to build an audience, increase awareness and propel tours. Many artists are combining Twitter along with their Myspace accounts and successfully creating a great online presence, which in-turn builds a bigger fan base, heightens communication and boosts album sales. (Check out @Matisyahu @MChammer @Sara) HOWEVER the majority of artists are doing it wrong.
So what are the biggest recording artist Twitter blunders?
How does an artist successfully use Twitter?
Here are the 5-major Do’s and Don’ts:
#1 Don’t: Mass Follow! You will be capped at 2k following. You can’t go above this number until you are followed by 2k yourselves. You may get 2-400 followers from this but they are most likely automatic and are useless in achieving your goals.
#1 Do: Follow 100 of your friends to start. People you actually know, have spoken with and are preferable in your area. If you can’t find 100 friends connect with locals that would be interested in you. This will go miles to build a core and foundation to your followers.
#2 Don’t: Post exclusively about you blog/shows/release dates. Twitter is not a community calendar. It is a social media site.
#2 Do: Tell your story. Who are you? Why are you important or entertaining? Be interesting. Twitter is a great place to display your personality.
#3 Don’t: Be boring. 140 characters of text all the time. Really?!? You can do better then that.
#3 Do: Blast followers with great content: Twitpics, video, blogpost, links, art, give-aways, contest, ETC. Be Creative.
#4 Don’t: Auto Follow/Auto Direct Message. Twitter is a personal community we don’t like fake communication.
#4 Do: Engage total strangers in @reply conversations. Ask questions. People are on Twitter to build relationships, reach out and you will be rewarded.
#5 Don’t: Take it to seriously. I know it’s your career but nobody likes square.
#5 Do: Have fun! That’s what social media is all about. When you have fun it shows. People gravitate to fun people in social media as well as in life.
Bonus Do: Create a hash #tag for you community/fans. It’s a great way to organize you fans and help them build a community.
The internet is a great place to build a fan base. There hasn’t been an artist to break out using Twitter. Can that happen? These tips will help you start off but can they take you to the next level?
-MA
@Mandrews33
mandrews33@gmail.com
Follow @basetriprecords Check out their blog basetriprecords.blogspot.com/