Bandsintown can help you maintain a steady flow of show listings on social media with its free app. (Screen capture via the author)
Maintaining a strong social media presence is crucial for independent bands, but so is booking your shows, recording your music, and making your merch. Feeling overwhelmed? If you find it difficult to keep up with your accounts on top of all your other efforts, try these easy fixes to improve your output, both in frequency and quality.
1. Schedule your content in advance
If you're having issues remembering to post on a regular basis, try setting a schedule. There are peak times for every platform: 5:00 p.m. is your best chance for retweets on Twitter, noon is primetime for sharing on Facebook, and, surprisingly, Saturday is the ideal day to post there. (See this study for more timing tips.)
You can create a plan for posting on your own, or use one of the many free apps or Chrome extensions available for scheduling content. There's Timely, DoShare, Postcron, and more. Some work for multiple platforms while others are specific to one. Check out this Lifehack post for help choosing which will work best for you. Also, consider linking your accounts (you can do this via each platform) to simultaneously post to more than one account.
[Set It and Forget It: 5 Tools That Help You Automate Your Band's Social Media Posts]
2. Give more than one bandmate access
So long as you're all clear on what's acceptable to post and what isn't, sharing social media responsibilities among everyone in your band can be a great way to diversify your content. Do make sure to discuss frequency ahead of time, and always be mindful of what's already been shared so as not to duplicate anything.
3. Incorporate concert listings with an app
You should never abandon posting show flyers and info manually, but you can easily make that first announcement across the board with one promotional tool. Inarguably the most popular of them all is Bandsintown, a free app (and website) that allows users to list show info and automatically posts simultaneously to all the accounts they specify. It's reportedly used by at least 65 percent of touring artists in the U.S., so we recommended riding this wave rather than going against the current with other similar services. You can connect the listing to its counterpart on Facebook, too.
4. Encourage engagement
Ask your audience questions. What do they think of your latest track? Who's stoked for your show? What's the song they most want to see played live? The possibilities are pretty much infinite; you can even solicit commentary on subjects not related to your band but are still relevant to your fanbase. Comments up the engagement level, which ups the likelihood a post will be seen.
5. Freshen up your profiles
When was the last time you changed your cover photo? How about the link in your Instagram bio? (You could use that space to promote an upcoming show!) What about your description on Twitter? Don't let your profiles go stale. Update your information when applicable, and keep your profile and cover images fresh by rotating previously what's already uploaded or adding new images on a regular basis.
[DIY Graphic Design Hacks for Bands on a Budget]
6. Call for photos and videos from fans
After a show is the perfect time for this, but you can ask your followers on social media to post their photos and videos anytime for a boost in both content and engagement. Pick a hashtag so you can easily keep track of all submissions. Comment on or like their posts, then share your favorites on your own page.
7. Try new features as they come
Have you used Facebook's temporary profile picture option before? What about the profile video feature? Not every new feature on any given social media platform will work for your band, but do try them out whenever they do. They're typically intended to liven up profiles, after all.
Get more social media tips:
- How to Perfect Your Band's Social Media Strategy: The 70-20-10 Rule
- 4 Social Media Mistakes Your Band Can't Afford to Make
- Ask a Publicist: 5 Social Media Dos and Don’ts for Bands
- 5 Ways to Promote Your Music on Social Media Without Annoying People
Jhoni Jackson is an Atlanta-bred music journalist currently based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where she juggles owning a venue called Club 77, freelance writing and, of course, going to the beach as often as possible.
