Social media is powerful.
Streaming platforms are powerful.
Video platforms are powerful.
But an independent musician should strongly consider having a digital destination that represents the entire brand.
That destination is your official website.
Think of it as your digital headquarters.
WHY A WEBSITE STILL MATTERS
Some artists believe websites are outdated because everybody uses social media.
That misses the point.
A website serves a different purpose.
Your website can bring together:
Music.
Videos.
Biography.
Press.
Tour dates.
Merchandise.
Photographs.
Contact information.
Email registration.
Electronic press kit.
Business opportunities.
Social links.
Instead of sending industry professionals through six platforms, you can provide one organized destination.
OWN YOUR CONNECTION
You do not own Instagram.
You do not own TikTok.
You do not own Spotify.
You do not own YouTube.
You participate on those platforms according to their systems and policies.
Your website gives you more control over presentation.
Pair that with an email database and you begin building a digital infrastructure less dependent on any single algorithm.
WHAT SHOULD AN ARTIST WEBSITE INCLUDE?
HOME PAGE
Immediately communicate:
Who you are.
What you do.
What is currently happening.
Give visitors an obvious path toward your latest release.
MUSIC
Make listening simple.
Do not make supporters search unnecessarily.
VIDEOS
Feature important music videos, performances, interviews and visual content.
BIOGRAPHY
Include a professional artist biography.
Consider having short and extended versions available for media use.
PRESS
Feature meaningful interviews, articles, reviews and media appearances.
SHOWS
Include upcoming performances and ticket information when applicable.
MERCHANDISE
If you sell products, make the store easy to locate and navigate.
CONTACT
Separate inquiries when necessary.
For example:
Booking.
Press.
Management.
Licensing.
General business.
EMAIL SIGN-UP
Give supporters a reason to stay connected.
ELECTRONIC PRESS KIT
Provide professional resources for journalists, promoters and industry professionals.
MOBILE FIRST
Many visitors will arrive from phones.
Your website needs to function properly on mobile devices.
Test:
Navigation.
Load speed.
Videos.
Forms.
Store checkout.
Music players.
Buttons.
Typography.
A beautiful desktop site that becomes frustrating on a phone is not doing its job.
SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION
Your website can help search engines understand your identity.
Use clear page titles.
Write useful descriptions.
Maintain accurate information.
Publish relevant content.
Use descriptive headings.
Optimize images responsibly.
Connect your official platforms.
As your digital footprint grows, your website can become an important source of information about your brand.
BUILD A MEDIA ROOM
Create a professional media section containing downloadable or accessible approved materials such as:
High-resolution photographs.
Biography.
Artwork.
Logo.
Selected press.
Music links.
Contact information.
This saves journalists and promoters time.
Professionalism is often about removing friction.
MR. DOPE CHEF MOGUL TIP
Social media introduces people to your world. Your website should give that world a permanent headquarters.
IMPLEMENTATION CHECKLIST
Your artist website should include:
- Professional domain
- Homepage
- Biography
- Music
- Videos
- Photography
- Press
- Shows
- Merchandise
- Email registration
- Contact information
- EPK
- Social links
- Mobile optimization
- Analytics
- Basic search optimization
- Privacy information where appropriate