Protecting Yourself From Success on Twitter…

I am a songwriter, who aspires to be published.

I know a lot of folk in the same boat.

I work with an organization that tries to help local songwriters have an opportunity to perform, and we have a Twitter account.

I guess, because I tweet using the hashtags, #Songwriters, #Songwriting and #Showcase… we get a lot of followers from all over North America.

Because we are based VERY locally, in Langley, BC… I don’t follow everyone back.  But I check every profile.

A lot of the Twitter feeds are filled with… “I have great songs, does anyone want to hear them ?” tweets.

Sadly, the Bio line is empty… there is often no location… no website link and sometimes the Tweets are protected.

If I have ANY hope to succeed as a songwriter, I know that I have to fling open the doors, and invite people in, to look at my “product.”

BobSongs

I have this Blog, (which is about music,) a Company Website, (BobSongs Creative Media) a General Blog (BobSongs Musings) a Twitter account, a Facebook profile, a MySpace page… as well as other links… (Broadjam, IMRadio, & YouTube, and more…)

All of them are open, free, unrestricted and accessible.

What benefit do I gain, as a person trying to sell my songs, by putting up barriers or obstacles to people finding out about me OR my songs ???

None.

I take the standard precautions with my product… as soon as I record it, I send myself a registered copy in a sealed envelope, and attach a copy of the contents to the outside.

If I was really concerned, I could take further steps… but I personally don’t feel that is necessary.

Here is the stupid part.

I’m writing this, in order to try to help my competition!!!

What I DO feel is necessary, is to encourage artists to unlock the doors, open up yourself to the world, and say “Here is my product… what do you think?!?”

The alternative is not a pretty picture, as it involves those three ugly words.  Woulda, shoulda, coulda.

Open it up, folks.  You might sell something !!!

 

 

I Have A Secret Place – BobSongs.com

I have a secret place, and no one ever goes there.

It‘s my Music Website.

Screen Capture of the www.BobSongs.com homepage

I open with this line, not because I want sympathy, but because this fact has only recently been made real for me.

I’ve had my www.BobSongs.com website for a number of years. I’ve redesigned it a number of times, and regularly go in and tweak Keywords, Meta Tags, and post new songwriting offerings.

In the past few months, I’ve started up the Blog you’re reading now. I recently read some info on Google Analytics, and so, installed them. In the two weeks since I’ve started getting information, my Blog traffic varies… from daily high of 37 visitors and a low of 3.

At the same time, I installed the tracking software on my Music website, but with a vastly different result… Flatline. Zip. Zero. Zilch. The soundtrack of my website’s stats is crickets chirping.

While it was disappointing, I was pleased to find this out sooner, rather than later. This was a game-changer for me.

I have a number of friends who are songwriters , musicians, and performers… and many, like me, want to market themselves. Many have websites, or pay to have their profiles put on websites… but I think a lot of them are having the same results that I am.

Now, I am on a quest to find a more productive way to market my songs. I hope to encounter someone who would like to publish or perform my music, so that my songs get heard.

I also hope to help my friends and readers find success, or at least maximize their chances, and maybe, at worst, save them some money on marketing !

Stay tuned !