Does a band need its own website? Or is it enough to have a MySpace and/or Facebook account? Can you imagine anyone today taking a business without a website seriously? (The answer to that question is "NO!") So why would you think fans and venues will take you seriously without your own band website? If you want to be considered a professional band then you need to think about your band like a business.
That means you need your own website.
That doesn't mean you don't need a MySpace or a Facebook account.
You should have those too.
But those are social media outreach sites, not a professional website for your band.
If you've never built a website, don't worry.
There are many companies who provide template websites and you certainly don't need to know programming code like you used to.
You've likely heard of some of the companies who offer template websites; Go Daddy and Intuit are a couple of them.
Many people use free blog software like WordPress to create a website.
My favorite for a band website is a company called Bandzoogle.
I like Bandzoogle because it provides website templates designed specifically for musicians.
It enables you to share information, like any website.
But better than that, you can upload and sell your music and your merchandise.
You can share snippets of your music so people can check it out before buying.
You can also manage your email and your fan email list - all from your Bandzoogle account.
If you are a little web-savvy you won't be limited by Bandzoogle either.
Whether you choose to use Bandzoogle or build your own site, be sure your website's url includes the name of your band.
Unfortunately you can't just build your site and forget it.
You need to work on your website each day.
You need to give your fans a reason to come to your site..
..
and a reason to come back to your site.
Of course you'll want to keep your website updated with your gigs, but what else can you share with your fans? Pictures are a fast, easy way to update your site and fans love them.
Photos of your gigs, your rehearsals, your personal lives.
Share a little bit of each with your fans.
Have each band member write a blog once a week.
That means four updates a week for a four-member band.
Don't limit your blog messages to band related info.
Fans want to know you as people so give them a peak into your personal lives.
What are your favorite musicians willing to share about their lives? Explore and copy.
Do you have a tattoo? What's it of and why did you select it? If you had it to do over again, would you have the same tattoo? Do you play instruments other than the one you're known for? If so, why do you play the one you play for your band and not one of the others? Describe your "perfect" day and invite your fans to post their "perfect" day in response.
Post some lyrics you're playing with for an upcoming song and ask fans to comment on them.
When you go on vacation (or go home to see your family) tell your fans what it was like when you get back.
These types of posts to your blog really helps your fans see you as a real person.
Your website is your opportunity to create your band's persona, to keep fans engaged with you between gigs and, best of all, a place for you to sell your music and merch far beyond your local market.