Whether you are an established musician or you just started a band last week, chances are you are on Facebook. And for a good reason!
Everybody these days uses social networks, particularly Facebook, to stay up to date on the news and keep in contact with family and friends.
As a musician, if you aren't on the Facebook news feed, you are missing a massive opportunity to promote yourself and grow as an artist.
Facebook groups, in particular, are an excellent music marketing tool and a way to connect with your fans and make new ones.
Understandably, some folks don't like using Facebook, but if you are a musician trying to grow your audience, having a Facebook Group is an excellent extension of your Facebook Page, website, and other social platforms.
Let's talk about some of the benefits of a Facebook Group.
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There are several reasons why Facebook Groups can be invaluable to you or your band.
The main reason is that they allow you to easily connect with your listeners for free. Facebook is one of the most cost-effective ways to grow and expand your audience.
Facebook groups are all based on interests. While you can directly invite people from your Facebook Page or friends list to join your Group, it also means that someone who likes your genre of music could stumble in and become a fan for life.
There are more than 600 million Facebook Groups out there, so you need to make sure that yours stands out.
The best thing to do with your Facebook Group is to make it a hub for your fans to stay up to date with the latest news and updates about your band.
It’s also a great place to encourage members to build relationships with each other so they can discuss their favorite songs and share pictures they caught at a concert of yours. Naturally, the more established of a musician you are, the more engagement you'll immediately receive.
If you're a newer artist, it will take a little leg work to get things humming. But, it's certainly worth it as Facebook is clearly one of the top social media platforms for musicians.
First things first, you may be thinking, "I already have a Facebook Page; do I still need a Facebook Group?" So first, let's break down the major differences between the two.
Think of the Facebook Page as an official entity for a band or musician. It's a public profile that allows fans and listeners to gather information, see pictures, and more.
Essentially, a lot of shared content can exist between a Facebook Group and Facebook Page.
The big difference between these two comes down to the community aspect. Facebook Groups, which can be both public or private, give followers more of an opportunity to be "in the action," so to speak.
Where a Facebook Page can only create content by the Page Admin, anyone who is in a Facebook Group can make a post, as long as it doesn't violate the group's rules which should be implemented by the Group Admin.
Common post requirements are to keep everything civil, limit spam, and avoid hate speech. To be extra cautious, musicians can set it up so that every Facebook Group post must be approved by an admin.
While topics may stray away from your music, Facebook Groups raise the opportunity for engagement and an overall sense of community, which is pretty powerful.
So, now that we have that settled, let's move onto engagement.
Part of having a Facebook Group is to engage in discussions with your fans and contribute to discussions however you can.
Whenever someone starts a discussion, posts a meme, or asks a question, you should always respond and personalize your connection with your audience. Don't ignore posts or use copy-and-paste responses.
Your group will likely have other aspiring musicians in it, so you can also offer advice for people who want to be musicians, as well.
We'll touch on more content ideas below, but polls and "either-or" posts are simple and great opportunities for engagement.
Poll
When you go to create a post in your Facebook Group, you can scroll down to the "poll" option. This allows you to ask a question and create multiple answers. Naturally, this will spark interest, drive engagement, and start a discussion.
Either-Or
This could be specific to your music as an artist, such as, "which single off of my new album is your favorite?"
However, you can also go more general, such as: "Which is better: Fender or Gibson? Which Amphitheatre is the best: Red Rocks or The Gorge? Which was your 90s jam: N'Sync or Backstreet Boys?
Have fun with it!
It's not uncommon to be excited about a Facebook Group, create one, go to create your first post, and then...wait, what do I post about?
Essentially, you can post anything at all that is relevant to your music but be sure to stay creative and add variety. To help spark some inspiration, we included a list of post/content ideas below:
As you can see, there are a lot of opportunities to make your Facebook Group fun and engaging. Also, remember that your followers will be able to post, too!
Keep in mind, there are two rules of thumb you should follow when you post in your Facebook Group:
This will make you feel less like a "Facebook Admin Bot" to your followers and more like a real-life artist.
Fan interaction is an integral part of every music career, and Facebook Groups are the perfect place to make memorable, productive connections with people.
The music business can be cutthroat; you never know where a networking opportunity will come from.
If you want to keep your audience's focus, every time you sign in to your Facebook group, you need to act like you're headed to a family reunion.
People usually talk to their families every day, keeping everyone updated on how things are going and the latest details of their life.
That's how you should treat your group.
If you do it the right way, you won't only be giving to your fans, but they will give back. Your Facebook Group will provide you with input, advice, and new ideas for your music if it is run the right way.
While you shouldn't bend to every listener's will, genuine input on your music and art from real listeners is incredibly valuable. If they aren't coming out with it forthright, utilize some of the content ideas above (the perfect opportunity for a poll).
As you can see, Facebook Groups are a great way to build your network, develop a community, and grow as a musician.
These groups will allow you to break through Facebook’s algorithms and attract listeners in ways that business pages struggle to accomplish, as long as you can keep their focus.
To make the most out of your Facebook Group, you need to be sure your skills as an artist are up to par. No matter how good your Facebook posting ideas and skills are, people still want to listen to good music.
One of the best ways to ensure your music is top-notch is by attending an accredited music school like the Atlanta Institute of Music and Media.
At AIMM, you'll find yourself in a hands-on music atmosphere and surrounded by industry-leading instructors, the best equipment, and like-minded musicians. The growth and collaboration opportunities are endless.
AIMM offers a wide variety of degree and certificate programs for musicians and producers, spanning categories such as:
We also offer an Online Music Certificate. You have the talent and passion. So what are you waiting for? Take the first step toward a successful music career by clicking below.