10 Websites You Need to Use to Build a Fanbase

In this new music business, the playing field is both even and saturated to the point that if you are not willing to work for it, your music will never be heard. Here are the top 10 sites you need to make sure your band has a presence on that can help you build up your fanbase. These are all free to join and are among the most popular destinations on the Web. Ignore at your own peril.

1. MySpace – although this dying monster is less and less relevant each day, it is still good to have your information on there. Make sure you link up your others sites from your page. www.myspace.com

2. Facebook – Facebook provides you with a very personal portal that you can then branch off and promote yourself from. Sign up for a personal account and then create a “Page” for your band or business. www.facebook.com

3. Imeem – Upload your music and start making imeem friends. As a listener, you can create playlists and share them. This is one of the most popular music streaming sites on the Web. www.imeem.com

4. Twitter – With Twitter, you can quickly keep up with your fans and customers from any computer or cell phone. www.twitter.com

5. ReverbNation – Popular independent music Website. Upload your music, meet some bands and spread the word. They have some cool widgets you can add to your other Websites. www.reverbnation.com

6. iLike – This site feeds into Facebook, so it is one of the most important ones. www.ilike.com

7. Tunecore – Through Tunecore, you can submit your music to iTunes, Amazon, eMusic, Rhapsody and more. This is a no brainer for independent musicians. Also, they build you a page with all the appropriate “Buy” links you can link up from all your other sites. www.tunecore.com

8. YouTube – YouTube is great for posting your live performances, behind the scenes footage, in the studio footage, interviews, etc. You should take the time to create these videos as they are as common and as needed as press kits. Make sure you link back to your MySpace and Facebook sites in the video descriptions. www.youtube.com

9. Last.fm – Thousands of people listen to Last.fm while they are at work or hanging out at home. They serve up music depending on the listener’s tastes. www.last.fm

10. WordPress – This popular, extensible and FREE blogging platform is a very quick and easy way for your band to have their own Website/blog. You can easily create pages in which you can add your bio, discography, widgets, etc. with little HTML knowledge. If you don’t have your own blog or Website, you must do this. www.wordpress.com

The point here is to make sure that people can find you wherever they are. As you find new social networking sites, add your info, links and music (if you can) because it doesn’t hurt you to have a presence everywhere. If you really want to get the most out of these sites, split the updating duties between band members and focus on growing your communities online. If you don’t put in the time, no one else will for you.