You need to be part of the online metal community to get your band known online.
Promoting a metal band online is hard work. It seems that no matter what you do, your band's fanbase doesn't extend beyond your immediate friends and family. But many bands have achieved fame online, and it is entirely possible if you spend some time working on your band's online presence. Awesome riffs and blistering solos are always a bonus, but before people can appreciate that, they need to have heard of your band. Getting your name out there is easy, but it requires patience and persistence.
Instructions
1. Set up a profile on major social networking websites. The big three to consider are Facebook, Myspace and Twitter. Many metal fans use them, and most bands will have a presence on these pages. Utilize these websites to tell your fans about upcoming gigs, and add new friends to get people to listen to your music.
2. Post any recorded tracks you have. You can use like Facebook and Myspace to introduce new people to your music, and Twitter will allow you to link to your tracks or any pages of interest.
3. Search for other metal bands on the social networking sites. Look at their list of followers or friends, and try to poach them. Spending some time sending off loads of friend requests can increase the number of people who have heard of your band, and even get people talking about who you guys are. You may get a lot of rejections, but you should also gain friends and followers.
4. Start a band website. Any band that hopes to have an online presence needs to have a homepage. You can link to it from social networking sites and use it to post more detailed information about your band. Try to make the domain name your band name. You want people who've heard of your band once to be able to find your website without a link. If you can't get your band name as a domain, choose something short and memorable. Include a forum to try to build a community of your fans. See References for more information on website creation.
5. Submit your music to online radio stations. Most internet radio stations cover all genres, and there are many online radio stations specific to heavy metal. Websites such as Last FM, Live 365 and Heavy Metal radio can be used to get your band's name known online. These websites function differently, but they are basically places where people go to look for new music in a specific genre. For example, on Last FM, users search for bands similar to artists they like or search genre tags.
6. Use everything. A key factor in getting your band's name out there is activity. You have to use your social networking sites, keep adding things to your website, comment on other people's activities, and change your profile pictures regularly. Visit heavy metal music forums, and post on forums of bands that you sound like. Include a link to your webpage as your signature and mention your website and social networking pages at any gigs you play.
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