Social Media - Bee Active

If you are an artist, you are a brand, and if you don't have a social media presence, your brand does not exist. The success of one's business is rated through social media. The more followers you have, the more credible your brand becomes. This is true for all businesses trying to sell a product, and in this case, you the artist are the product.

I went to a twitter workshop on Sunday, run by StageFaves, and was taught how to maximise my twitter experience in order to really benefit from it. I learned that I don't spend enough time playing with all the features twitter offers, which will help boost my profile.

It's not easy to sell yourself. It can feel too pretentious or vain, and for those who try to live a humble life, can find this type of "bragging" exposure difficult. As a performer, you are subjected to rejection on a daily basis, so when you worry that no one will care about what you have to say on social media, you fear being rejected again, only this time by your peers. Many performers are adamant in keeping a level of privacy, which I support, but then struggle to find a fine line. Your personal life may sometimes spill into your professional life, which can be beneficial, allowing fans more access to the real you, as long as you stay diligent and be specific in what you choose to share.

The benefits of having a strong social media presence, is that you are not only building your fanbase, but allowing yourself to be seen by producers, casting directors, agents, writers, directors and anyone else who may be able to help drive your career forward.

My belief is that when you are offering a service, that service needs to be presented to the public in it's best light, and your best light is your true light. Your fans are your support and they will help drive your career more than anyone. In todays industry, entertainers are hired, based on their social media presence and follower count. Followers translate into dollar signs for investors and producers, so as a business person, you need to remember this when marketing yourself.

I am still learning the game, but have embraced the power of social media and so should you.