I have just finished documenting the trials and tribulations of my progress through Ariel Hyatt’s “Music Success in Nine Weeks” on my own blog I recently started, which for me basically amounted to a fierce battle of “me vs. the internet” (I’m really old school!). In the course of that exercise I struggled through the process of setting up a “real” newsletter/email list management service on ReberbNation’s infrastructure. I just sent my very first “official” band newsletter earlier this week, and I’m taking everyone’s word for it that it will prove to be worth all the pain I went through to make this happen. This article made for a nice compliment and recap to that.

Brenda K, fiddlerchick from The Panache Orchestra
http://fiddlerchick.wordpress.com/

Yes, I agree be personal. Be relevant. Show the human side of yourself as people want to know what is behind the mask of the person they go to see on stage.

As a new “partner” with ArtistData.com there are amazing things in that system that allow artists to remain connected on a personal level. Scout66.com uses the ArtistData.com application to propagate tour schedules from our site to many other music sites where fans will see mentions of artists’ performances multiple times. The is the preview model notifying people of performance dates. Scout66.com is the review model that archives what the ticket buying public has to say about what they paid to see. Audience reviews are a new addition to what can be added to newsletters.

It’s very good and useful guidelines that you bring up, especially about the design and analysing your metrics.

We have just launched new features like Mp3 storage, Public profiles and SMS
to compliment the Email blasts and Social Media shoutouts.

Also – if all your newsletter says is “come see my gig” or “buy my new CD”, you will find people unsubscribing as fast as you add them. You need to use the newsletter to actually create a relationship with your fans. Add value, tell stories. Let people know who you really are.

It’s true a newsletter well done is a vital tool to growing your committed fan base. But a newsletter that is nothing more than an advertisement will do more harm than good in the long run.

Art is about creating an experience in the fan – decide what experience you want them to have and create it with your newsletter

I’ve been arguing with my drummer recently about pricing for our new album and emails. I have us setup with BandCamp for listeners to “name their own price.” If they set it to $0, then they must offer an email for the download (This can be set to for individual songs too). I argue the emails are much more valuable than the $9 he’s asking for. Not only because even established artists can’t get $9 (and people can find so much music online free anyways), but also because of the outreach you will build from those emails collected. If someone wants to go through the trouble of making a bunch of bogus emails or what have you, so be it. But emails are a great way to also search across the various social networks and connect with people who wanted to give you an email.

My two cents.

~SocialSoundSystem
http://socialsoundsystem.com/

@TheGents
http://thegents.mp/