The awesome thing about the internet for an independent artist is that you instantly have access to millions of people from around the world as your audience. The future of music is independent artists, and unless you can embrace the online world and learn to use it to your advantage, you won’t be able to compete in this new world of self-marketing.

One of the most important tools is an official band website. Yes, you can have a MySpace page, too–but a real website with your own domain name will give you an authentic presence on the web. You will have total control over the design, and you can use your website on all your marketing and press releases. It’s a part of building a “brand” out of your band.

Once you’ve got yourself established on the net, there are other tools you can use like offering free MP3 downloads from your site, or a newsletter to keep your fans in the loop. You can also place live video footage of your live shows online, sell CD’s and t-shirts; and create a message board community for you fans to interact on.

If you’re not comfortable using a computer, there are plenty of people who would be happy to help you–some for a very nominal fee. Find a high school kid with some talent and offer them a few bucks to help you build a site or install some of the features you want. If you really want a professional web designer, consider placing an ad on Elance.com or oDesk.com where freelancers can bid on your job and give you the best possible price for the work you want done.

Make sure you spend some time yourself online looking at other band’s websites to see what works for them, and what ideas you’d like to incorporate in your own site design and functionality.

Tags: band, indie music, marketing, online

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