(Disclaimer: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means I get money when you purchase anything through these links. However, I only recommend things I’ve personally used or have come highly recommended by other industry professionals.)
Your Band’s Website
Many bands make the mistake of not having their own website. Though it’s cool to have all the social media sites for your band’s stuff, you are really hurting yourself by not having your unique website. Your site is your main means of selling your music, driving email subscriptions, and controlling your content.
The three things you need for a website are a domain, hosting, and a content management system.
Domain
GoDaddy: A domain is your internet address. YourBand.com is a domain. I use GoDaddy for my domain names. Go for a “.com”. If the “.com” is taken, go for a “.net” or a “.org”. If those are taken, get creative. Remember, make it easy for your fans to find you.
Hosting
GoDaddy: I use this for both HowToRunABand.com and Shiplosion.com. It’s a clunky interface to get your site set up, but I haven’t had any problems. In fact, they have customer service reps that contact you to make sure you’re not getting overcharged or when you’re about to let something expire.
HostGator: Recommended by Michael Brandvold, the guy that did KISS’s online marketing. Though I haven’t used them, Michaels says they are cheaper and better than GoDaddy for hosting. I saw beginning prices at $3.96 a month.
Content Management
WordPress: The free blogging platform will give you everything you need to have a kick ass site. It does way more than just blog posts. A staggering amount of free plug-ins and themes will give you a massive arsenal to create a website of the gods. The coolest thing, most hosting, including GoDaddy and HostGator, give you a simple one-click way of installing WordPress on your site.
More To Come…
Keep checking back here, because I’ll be constantly adding cool tools for your band. Expect this page to get massive!
