Musicians Guide To Building Community: Nurturing Your Super Fans
So you're trying to build a community online, aren't you? Is it because you're unsure of how to get started or what you'll need to do so?
Is TikTok your only option? How many times a day do you Tweet? Do you publish videos to YouTube or Twitch? Do you have a Discord server of your own?
When it comes to social media networks, it doesn't really matter which ones you choose to utilize. There are a variety of techniques to build an online community, and you're almost certainly going to employ a couple of them, but one thing is certain:
You must be consistent.
Your prospects of building a strong online community are minimal if you don't stick to a schedule. Showing up and checking in with your community on a daily basis is what this entails. In the absence of frequent communication, your community's growth is unlikely to progress.
Musicians Guide To Building Community
Because online communities are distinct from those in the real world, it's important to understand how they vary. Instead of the new buddy you met over the weekend, they're more like a fickle house plant. They require regular attention, but not so much that they become dehydrated. They'll perish if you give them too little food.
As a result, online communities tend to be two-dimensional connections, lacking many of the benefits of face-to-face interactions. People's attention spans are dwindling because of the quantity of noise and the number of distractions. Attracting attention but also providing something of value to your community is the key. It's up to you what you're going to provide.
Consistency and value create a loyal fan base.
Weapons of Choice
You must first decide where you want to expand your online community. We'll start with social media since, for the great majority of artists, a basic landing page will suffice in lieu of a comprehensive website. The following is a selection of platforms that we believe are worth your time and consideration.
TikTok — Twitch — YouTube — Instagram — Discord — Reddit — Twitter and… Calypsoroom
Now, we're not advocating that each of them should be used on a daily basis. Instead, narrow your focus to one or two priorities, and then work on the remainder as a secondary concern. A minimum of one account must be established for each, even if private or inactive, so that you may easily reactivate them when the time comes.
It is important that you have a fundamental grasp of each platform's functions and how you may utilise them to your advantage so that you can choose the best platform for your needs.
If you're outgoing and at ease in front of the camera, TikTok may be a good fit for you. The format of Instagram Reels is the same as that of Instagram videos, so you'll be able to produce twice as many posts as you normally would.
Perhaps you're a master of the spoken word. Are you funny and eloquent? Then perhaps Reddit and Twitter are more your speed.
Calypsoroom
You might be wondering what Calypsoroom is, right? Well, it is a platform for everyone to come and listen to the music connected by webcam together with their friends, new friends, favourite artists, etc.
It is not an ordinary platform like other social media platforms. Calypso is all about listening to music together in a further dimension. Everyone can join Calypsoroom to listen to the music through a video music session with other people. You, as an artist, can listen to your own songs with your fans face-to-face. It's a nice way to nurture your super fans, don’t you think so?
Why do we recommend Calypso?
We always recommend musicians to join this music platform and ask their fans too to join it. You can easily interact with your fans on Calypso. It is simple, easy, and straightforward.
The Pillars of Your Content
You should take some time to think about what you're going to post once you've decided on the platforms you're going to use. A video of you cooking might not be the ideal option if you're attempting to build a community around your music.
Define your "pillars" of content—the kind of content you will post—since you are likely to be more than a one-trick pony.
Write down the things that you like about yourself and what you're good at. Do others describe you as outgoing and amusing? Are you a one-of-a-kind person? Do you have a knack for words?
To illustrate, let's say our artist is a music producer who enjoys making people laugh and is a good instructor. This is an example of how his/her content pillars may appear. All of them revolve around music, but they also deliver something for the audience, whether it's amusement or education:
- Performance and production videos of his/her own original music (Entertainment)
- Comedy videos in the form of music memes (Entertainment)
- Making music as a form of education (Educational)
It is on the strength of these pillars that the artist will build his/her online presence. He/she won't be able to post anything that doesn't fall under one of these categories.
But my dog did something hilarious: why can't I share it with the world online?
Because you're creating a recognisable brand in your neighbourhood! Niching down is a critical component of community development.
"A jack of all trades, a master of none," as the saying goes.
In other words, focus on what you do best. As a result, people will begin to recognise and remember you and return to you as a result.
The Road Is A Two-Way Street
Your TikTok, Twitch, and YouTube channels are all full of videos of you performing music, but your audience isn't increasing despite all of your efforts! For this reason, community development is an ongoing process. In addition to providing interesting or educational information, you should also show appreciation to other content authors.
When it comes to developing a community, it's important to focus on giving rather than receiving. You're already providing excellent material, but there's room for improvement.
This is usually a very straightforward process. Whenever you receive a comment on a video, respond to it in a relevant manner. If someone joins your Twitch stream, you should say hello and thank them for joining. If someone retweets anything you've posted, be sure to thank them in a direct message.
It's no longer about having the finest music to be successful in the music industry; it's about having the nicest people around you. Gratitude is a powerful way to develop a community, but it's also a powerful way to cultivate a sense of belonging.
Don't Forget About the Connections You Already Have
Even while it's natural to desire to expand as a group, it may be a double-edged sword. It feels amazing when a Discord server reaches fifty active members, but after you reach one hundred, two hundred, and so on, it becomes a constant struggle. The feeling of contentment is short-lived.
In the end, we want a vibrant, involved community. If you're promoting a new NFT product or music video, you don't want a sluggish fan base. Your efforts should instead be devoted to welcoming and caring for those who have joined your community.
It's up to you and your budget to decide how to achieve this. For starters, you might give them a sneak peek at your music or cover art in exchange for their email address.
How to Nurture Your Fans in an Online Community?
Is it feasible to have your fans fall in love with you and your music as a musician?
If you follow these five easy but crucial steps, the answer is a resounding "YES.”
In order to succeed as an up-and-coming musician, you must create a significant and committed fan base online. Loyal followers buy your music, attend your shows, spread the word about your music, and help you build your fan base immensely.
Finally, you'll have the power to pursue music in the way you see fit. A cult following allows you to keep creative control over your work, and no record company would ever try to meddle with an artist whose loyal following is generating significant revenue for them.
There is no "secret sauce" that can help you build a large fan following like this.
It's not unusual for certain people to be at the fore of a movement from the start. Others have tried for years, but without success.
If you want to move forward, there is one thing you can count on: treating your followers like gold. A secret sauce is wonderful, but it is not necessary.
Some of you may find the concept of customer service to be too “corporate'”, but it's something that you should all be considering as you connect with fans and establish a presence (and ideally, an impact) on the web.
Five essential techniques to treat your supporters like gold are outlined below.
Fans aren't just numbers; they're real people
When it comes to social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube videos, many artists and companies promote the idea that they are just a particular number of followers away from reaching a specific milestone.
This mania for increasing the number of users is a holdover from the MySpace age of social networking, and it must be put an end to.
Loyalty can only be nurtured from the very beginning, and nothing devalues a fan more than treating them like simply another number.
Take a step back for a moment and focus on the fans you DO have instead of striving to reach a goal of 5000. The more you treat them like human beings, the more likely they are to return your kindness and respect.
Give Your Fans a Personal Response
Talking about the importance of treating your customers as people and not just numbers... A human being, not a robot, is what the fans want to know when they communicate.
Whether they're complimenting your music or asking a personal inquiry, show your fans that you care by responding to their messages with a personalised touch.
Interact with Your Fans on Calypsoroom
Calypsoroom is not only a music platform to listen to music in a further dimension, but it also allows you, as a musician, to interact with your super fan base face-to-face, unlike any other streaming platform or social network out there.
Think about promoting your new single personally with your fans or organising a listening party with them on Calypsoroom, where they can join and connect, starting from the same music taste and creating new fascinating communities around your music!
All fans need a response from their favorite musician. Think about how your fans will feel about listening to your music and having a video music session in Calypso with you.
It will be so exciting for your fans. And Calypso is providing you this feature to encourage and nurture your fans further. Join Calypso now expressing your interest through this form!
Enlist the Support of Your Audience
If you want your listeners to be loyal to your music, you need to give them something to be loyal to.
It's impossible to connect with your audience if you're constantly talking about yourself and focusing on "me, me, me." Because they don't exist in your reality, it makes no difference whether or not they stay.
In contrast, if you engage with your audience in meaningful dialogue and offer them a genuine feeling of ownership over your music career, you'll give them a reason to support you in the long run.
Your fans will experience a greater sense of loyalty and support if you often include them in your (the collective "your" made up of both you and your fan base) journey.
Don't Promise More Than You Can Achieve
One of the most effective ways to keep your online audience engaged is to provide them with regular, relevant content. They'll be more loyal to you if you consistently provide them with value.
Many artists, however, run into a dilemma with the concept of giving value; they create promises they cannot keep.
In other words, you could promise that your music will be "unique" and "unheard of before," or simply that a new song will be released on a specific date.
Follow-up!
As basic as this is, it's one of the most crucial things you can do.
Keep in touch and express gratitude to your fans who have taken the time to attend one of your performances, join your email list, or express their appreciation for your music by commenting on one of your social media posts.
To build a devoted fan base, the follow-up is considered by many to be the most critical component, therefore you should give it your all.
Conclusion
Increasing your fan base is as simple as putting in a little time and effort. Do not worry if you don't have a lot of money; most of the strategies on this list are free or extremely inexpensive to use.
It is also critical to maintain and grow your present fan base since they are more willing to buy from you because they have previously shown their support and loyalty. The kindest thing you can do for your audience is to express your gratitude. People prefer to be recognised for their efforts.
It's possible to promote a client loyalty program with a monthly email that contains links to your new music and information about your band, for example. This is a great way to show your supporters how much you value them, and it will also help you make more money.
Don't forget about the importance of building and maintaining a loyal following. Simply increasing your fan base while disregarding your current one might lead to a decrease in your fan base. You'll also be disregarding the most lucrative part of your audience.
We recommend you to join Calypsoroom to further build and nurture your online music community in a active and engaged way.
backWritten by CalypsoRoom Editorial Team
The CalypsoRoom Editorial Team is a skilled and diverse group of writers, researchers, and industry specialists who have access to Calypso's data and information in order to give you broad knowledge about the music industry as well as helpful advice to help you manage your music and dancing career.
Updated January 2023
