Bands: Please don’t overstress Facebook! (How to NOT promote your band)
I guess I am something like a “heavy user” when it comes down to Facebook. Not that I post extensively myself but with over 700 “friends” and equally as many pages that I follow, I am obviously using this tool a lot and most of the times I really enjoy myself doing it.
However it is quite obvious that bands (also businesses, brands and other page-owners, but they’re not even half as desparate as most bands) tend to extensively abuse our beloved Social Media stronghold for a new weird kind of “self-marketing”. It reminds me a a lot of the friend-collecting-virus that Myspace infested once. The result was that bands connected with bands and 15.000 friends on Myspace basically just meant that you either used a friend-adder-tool or that you basically had no life and spent nights after nights to add all those pages yourself.
Oh yeah, I’m off the point. The social web and facebook in particular is a complex matter. Most people don’t understand the various technical, social and emotional processes that persuade people to “like” your band, not even most self-proclaimed Social Media Managers. However bands invest a considerable amount of time to promote themselves on Facebook. Most of them with one predominant result: comprehensive annoyance.
Here’s a little subjective How-To-Guide for Bands on Facebook:
- If you haven’t got anything to say, shut the f*** up.
I’m dead serious. If you’re a boring person your band postings will be boring, too. That might be because your band itself is boring. Maybe you should find a new hobby but in the meantime stay away from Facebook.
- (More than) One posting a day keeps the Likers away
I love to find out about band-news on Facebook. However most bands tend to post basically every unrelevant piece of information. Dr. Social says that’s what Twitter is for. People want to read REAL news. Announcing a new tour? Got signed to a label? Have a new video on YouTube? Albumstream? Lineup change? You got it.
- “Give us a like and you can hear our songs” - Eeeehm… no.
There’s a mean logic error in this strategy. How can you ask for someone to like your band/music before getting the chance to listen to it?! If you’re only hunting a figure to boost your ego instead of attracting real fans you should install a visitor-counter on your website and press F5 all day.
- If you have “big news coming tomorrow” then don’t post about it today
Tease me, please me… Announcing news that are most likely going to happen in the near future is very odd. I know your plan is to thrill people and fill them with excitement but in reality no one gives a “F”. Save your breath until something is actually happening.
- What’s that stupid question again?
Yes, you’re right, the social web is about interaction but who would ever be interested in the answers to “What did you guys have for breakfast?” or “coke or pepsi?”? Just try to avoid empty buzz and in so make people believe your are doing something meaningful like writing songs or practising.
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