I’ve been thinking about this for quite some time now and I’m still not sure whether there’s a perfect answer to this question: are social networks really worth it from an artist’s perspective? One thing is for sure: between MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, SoundCloud, ReverbNation and whatnot, it’s very time consuming. Every time I release a new track or remix, I need to update all those networks to make sure I reach the largest amount of people with one single bit of information, probably hitting some of them twice or more in the process, because they’re following me in more than one place.
And it gets worse… On Facebook, for instance, I have a “personal page” and an “artist page” that both need to be updated. So you can see why “time consuming” is an understatement. And time is precious.
So from now on, I’ve decided to try and focus all my attention on my website, which is the most logical point for any of my PR efforts. Especially now that I’ve managed to come up with a layout that allows me to give the most important news on a single page, with quick access to my latest releases, mixes and gigs.
Question is: what do I do with the rest? I feel that MySpace is still relevant for an artist (after all, that’s where it all started for me), so I’m probably gonna keep this one alive for now, while trying to make it an incentive for people to visit my main website, rather than being an alternate version of it (which frankly doesn’t make much sense to me).
I see Twitter as a modern RSS feed. It allows me to quickly communicate updates in a few words while linking them to this place, if people want to read further about it. So this one’s probably relevant as well. And it’s not really time consuming, so that’s a plus.
But Facebook is a pickle. On my “personal page”, I have more than 500 friends, some of them I don’t even know. And to me, that doesn’t make much sense. Especially when I also have an “artist page” that’s probably more accurate from a PR point of view. And even that seems redundant with my website. I agree that it’s always better to have multiple entry points for people to choose from. I know some of you don’t come here very often and prefer to stick to my FB updates. But for me, it means more work, thus more time. And sometimes, it’s a luxury I can’t afford, even if I want to do my best to promote my work.
Even from a personal point of view, Facebook doesn’t make much sense anymore. Let’s be honest: I have many means to reach out to my “real life friends” and to the people I work with, I have their email addresses, phone numbers or IM’s. And since my Facebook “artist page” is mainly a mirror of my own website, it feels like everytime I have something to say, I need to say it twice, which is pretty stupid.
So what now?
Well, honestly, I don’t know for sure. I think I’m probably going to completely remove myself from Facebook (because it’s clearly not worth the time I spend on it and it has become more of an “ego trip” than a real efficient PR tool) and use the others as entry points leading to this place. If you want to keep up to date with my releases, I recommend you follow me on Twitter and/or bookmark this website, which has to become the central node again. And if you want to interact with me, there are lots of ways to do that: you can post a comment, use the contact form to send me an email, I usually reply though not as quick as I’d love to sometimes.
In the meantime, I’d love to hear your thoughts about this, because I probably missed a few crucial points in my reflection.
Agreed.
I think Facebook became too much, everyone is using it, too many informations, too many losses.
Imho Myspace was / is / will be -the- place for music’s artists.
As said, Twitter is fast and efficient, great tool for advertising.
Hi, how are you!!?? LOL
ok, so I have to agree with you 150%…
faskil.com, myspace.com, twitter.com…
Perfect social networking combination!!!
We want you in the studio making music and NOT trying to update 1,001 sites!!!
Jennifer!!!
Jen <3 :)
My point exactly. I wanna be able to spend more time in the studio, not talking about it. :)
Nesousx > I totally agree. Facebook is so bloated with useless information nowadays, it’s a pain to browse through. Especially when people start to repost their friends’ posts, the shit storm never ends. I don’t really see how someone can manage to do any efficient promotion in such a mess.
Facebook is a place where a lot of people talk, but no one really listens.
Afters several (and several times) of friends and work partners making fun of my ‘this is actually useless’ mantra about FB, I’m starting to feel a morbid pleasure reading articles like this one of yours.. ;-)
I said (and still think) the same about twitter, but haven’t been strong enough to resist to the temptation of creating my personal one when the ‘get a twitter or die’ wave was reaching its peak, which was abandoned after a 3 weeks try; so now when everyone will start realising that twitter is as profitable as any blog but enormously more time consuming and sick; I will not be able to show off…
Cid, like I said, I mainly see twitter as a modern RSS feed. It’s a quick way to drop an update on what I’m doing, production-wise or not, or to link to a new release on my website. It only takes a few seconds to write a twit.
My main concern about FB is that it is so bloated with tons of (mainly useless) information, that it becomes almost impossible to grab the interesting stuff out of this mess. Thus reducing my “promotion effort” to zero.
I can see your point and I kind of agree on the trilogy you’re sticking with (this website, MySpace, Twitter). As an “artist book”, MS is still very powerful in terms of quickly checking the work of someone in a prehashed format, so you don’t have to spend time browsing around a new website design. I think that’s where you can grab some attention (and with banners, but maybe it’s a little to easy, costly and obvious for underground DJs ;) Twitter is cool, actually I would rely on it more than on FB if it were not for the photo updates.
So, I think, good move overall, now it’s up to you to make faskil.com worth checking every week, and most of all, go make some music!
my 2 cents : drop facebook and then 80% time on the website, 20% time on music platforms, selected music social networks or forums (like you do on frisky’s one).
I may be naive but I think the more you care for the fans (or potential fans and progressive aficionados), the more they will care for you and soon they ‘ll become your best PR !
(Or just get out of internet and releases more Rezi-like tunes and some more collabs with chrisman :p)
I agree with Jennifer’s comments. I’m a fan who checks your website literally every day and I’d perfer to know you’re producing or mixing than updating social networking pages.
So feel free to drop the Facebook web page and let your music do all the talking, I mean your music is so good that people will hear it and check you out via a google link to your web site anyways…
Laters
WOODS
Facebook is a rare an example of a “gated community” that actually works. Because it’s up close and personal. The people you don’t know are the people who know you or someone like you via your reputation and as a friend of a friend (of a friend). It’s an avenue worth taking advantage of. Updates don’t have to be more than a sentence and a link.
All the best,
s007ii
If it was “working”, I wouldn’t be asking myself those questions. I know what you mean: it’s successful and a lot of people now have their profile on FB. But every morning, when I check my wall, there’s way too much information to find anything relevant. To me, it doesn’t seem relevant from a PR stand point, because the info gets lost very quickly.
You seem to have made up your mind, can’t really argue. All I can suggest is to look for a way to simplify things before shutting the door entirely. Maybe get someone close to help you navigate through it; another person who shares plenty of marketing experience too perhaps?
_-
s007ii
Actually, I haven’t made up my mind yet. I’m still thinking about it. ;)
To answer your question, the problem is not on my end. The problem *is* FB. Someone with marketing skills won’t be very more qualified to sort out the mess on every user’s wall so that my PR stand out (unless I decide to go for spamming, which is not really something I wanna do). ;)
Still looking into it though, trying to find the best compromise between exposure & available time.
Sorry if I seem stubborn, s007ii, not intended. I’m a *really* wondering about the whole thing. And I thank you for your input. :)
I have confidence in your marketing creativity. You’ll know what to do. :)
_-
s007ii
If you you were giging more, i think facebook fan page could be a good thing (photo videos …) But as anyone said, the wall of facebook is more about ” Mathilde got 90% a her SWEATY BOOB TEST, what’s yours ?” (even if i blocked all those things). You perfectly sum up the situation for promoting something with saying that ” Facebook is a place where a lot of people talk, but no one really listens. ”
BUUUUT … Facebook is also number one social networks so it’s perfectly understandable to think twice about leaving the blue place.
To me (as everybody here i think), spending more time to produce, to write some stuff etc. is a better choice.
Wala wala :D
[...] La réflexion a démarré sur mon autre site, quand j’ai commencé à m’interroger sur la pertinence d’utiliser Facebook en tant qu’outil de promotion pour un artiste. Finalement, au fil des discussions ici et là, j’en suis arrivé à la conclusion suivante : oui, Facebook peut probablement fonctionner comme outil de marketing, dès lors qu’on centralise l’information en un seul endroit. En l’occurence, ma page « artiste ». [...]
Hey Faskil,
Re. social networking and promotion – Check this website out:
http://www.reverbnation.com/woods
I’ve recently joined and it seems very good at getting you noticed quickly. It also tracks how often your material is being checked out by fans etc.
Let me know what you think…
WOODS
Héhé Woods, been there for a while now. http://www.reverbnation.com/faskil
Ofcourse you have… know it all =D
I’ve literally just joined and hadn’t considered checking you out there. I love the data collection aspect.
Anyways, looking forward to your new productions. BTW I like your recent ‘Chill Out Sundays’ – Very cool! It mentions that it’s the 3rd installment – What happened to 1 and 2 or were they by other artists in the Frisky Series?
Laters
WOODS
Yeah, haven’t been using it at its full potential I think. I’m gonna take some time to look into it a bit more.
As for the CS mixes, didn’t get the time to upload 01 & 02 yet, and since I think 03 is the best of the three, he got the priority. ;)
Well if you find the time please please please upload 01 & 02… Please =D
Laters
WOODS