We probably don’t need to tell you this, but Twitter really is one of the best resources available for a musician today! It’s absolutely invaluable as a tool for reaching out to your fanbase, as well as getting noticed by new people. There’s no quicker way to get your name out there, if nothing else.

Of course, Twitter has some challenges when you’re looking to work it into your online marketing strategies. The big one, of course, is that you’re not selling music directly through Twitter. There aren’t even plugins to do it. Any benefit you get through Twitter will be indirect.

But that said, buzz and outreach are far more important in the music biz than in most kinds of business. Bands and solo acts live and die by their fans. Since Twitter makes it so easy to connect with the fans, there’s just no reason not to use it. It is free, after all.

So, here are some things to know about using Twitter in your band’s online marketing strategies!

Things Bands Need To Know To Make Twitter Work In Their Music Marketing

With over 500 Million users, and 100,000+ joining their ranks every day, Twitter is the second most-used social site after Facebook. A billion Tweets are sent every five days. With users from Philadelphia to Phnom Penh, it gives you a truly global outreach.

How do you connect with those new fans? Well…

For starters, be legit. You can’t approach Twitter timidly. You need to jump in and be yourself, like a real human being. (Unless you’re 100% dedicated to character anyway.) You’ll be tweeting about meals or concerts or how much gas costs like everyone else.

Just make sure to put your own spin on it. Make it authentic.

Now, the trickier rule is: Don’t self-promote all the time. Or even most of the time. Think of Twitter as being nearly as personal as face-to-face communication, except you’re doing it with everyone simultaneously. (Congratulations if your mind just imploded.)

When in doubt, real life etiquette often applies.

And that means not advertising yourself to everyone you see, all the time. Yeah, if you’re in a band, you drop it. You don’t get introduced to people and immediately start shouting, “Hey man, Buy our New Album, Only $9.99 on iTunes!” Right? (Right?) Same goes for Twitter.

When it’s real news – like a new single, album, appearance, etc – then by all means, it’s fine to share it in some Tweets. You deserve a little respect! But for the rest of the time, look to participate actively in what’s going on.

Again, it goes back to keeping it real. Find people talking about things you like, and join in on the conversations. It’s that simple.

Despite the online negativity, you truly do get credit when you keep it positive. You’ve seen how often stars find themselves in the news for sending angry political Tweets at 2AM. Don’t be that guy. Be the guy who suggests a useful solution to a problem and gets re-Tweeted a zillion times for it.

When dealing with rival bands, think “good sportsmanship.” Look to make positive suggestions for improvement, or suggest collaborations. Getting dragged into serious feuds rarely ends well.

And never ever EVER say anything in anger to a fan. Seriously. If they make you upset, don’t respond. It’s safe to say that Tweeting while angry is pretty much always a bad idea.

With that being said, you should be good to go. Get an account, and start looking to expand your online marketing strategies!