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I recently update a club’s website (www.northsideclub.com) after they came under new management. Now I did the old version of their website (you can see this on the from page of marketingmusician.com) but it was literally one of the first sites I ever did, and it looked like it. The owner was very cheap and never wanted to update it.

The new owners aren’t quite so frugal. In talking with them they were going to keep live music, but probably change the menu (to what they are not sure), etc. So they need to figure out exactly what they want to be (its hard to hit a moving target). None the less I did some research on the club and found that a few websites had reviewed them, and I took those and made the front page filled with testimonials.

I think the same applies for musicians. What if you don’t have any gigs? No schedule? Then ask yourself what sets you apart from other musicians? My band had 7 people in it (we had a horn section). Most bands playing the same clubs had about 4 or 5 people. We started pointing that out, “Come hear Akron’s most entertaining seven piece party band.” Then we had a list of all the musicians with a picture.

Is there something that sets you apart from other bands? Exploit it and embrace it.

Always open for feedback.

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Today I vistied a site that once again had me wanting to poke out my eyes. I went there looking for a descriptoin of what the band sounded like. Not only was the front page a train wreck, but there is no phone number, no email list, no audio. NO FRICKIN AUDIO! ARE YOU KIDDING ME. The only way I could hear the band was to go to their you tube page where the band was recorded on a camcorder from about 79 feet away. I think two cans and some string would’ve sounded better. Watch the video, and you’ll see what I mean.

Why band’s do this I don’t know. However, the cure is to go to www.marketingmusican.com and learn how you can make a website using FREE tools that is easy to navigate, looks great, loads fast. You will also learn the dos and don’ts of web design.

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This show originates at www.musicianscooler.com a site featuring free Music Marketing tips. This is show #193.

Sponsors: Get your own .com domain name using the Godaddy promotional code " cooler10 " at www.godaddy.com

Today we are talking about some very easy ways to drive some traffic to your website

EASY WAYS TO DRIVE TRAFFIC TO YOUR BAND’S WEBSITE
In my book Get Your Band Out of the Basement (and keep them out of the asylum) I mention how putting pictures of our fans on our website (RELIGIOUSLY) TRIPPLED our website traffic. People knew that if I took their picture it would appear on our website the next day.

Be sure to have your website address in your signature. As this is the last thing in your email, it gets more clicks than many of the items in the middle of your email.

Also why not use your expertise of (insert your instrument) at answers.yahoo.com (and be sure to have your website address in your signature).

Another "answer" based website is www.fluther.com Why not go answer some questions about your instrument (for example guitar).

If you are looking for message boards where you can find your target listeners check out http://www.boardtracker.com/

FROM THE GROUP

Dave King gives us a review of the Mio C230, and says he’s used a Garmin, and except for the voice being more like a computer, he really liked it and it’s only $126! 

TALES FROM THE ROAD
Marc Gunn of www.marcgunn.com and www.bardscrier.com tells us a story of bloody noses,  (not once but TWICE).

Other Sites Mentioned
Get 35 Free MP3s at www.emusic.com/emusic totally DRM free, burn them, throw them on your ipod.
Weekly Web Tools Podcast www.weeklywebtools.com
Marc Gunn on the Cooler Episode #62 (Niche Marketing) and Episode #63 (Pricing Your CD).

MUSIC
Kitty Martin from the soon to be released "Whiskers from the Jar: Irish Songs for Cat Lovers" available at www.catdrinkingsongs.com