Be more specific when describing your band’s music

Monday, April 6th, 2009
by Mark Carras

One of the biggest things I see bands mess up on is trying to get people to check out their stuff. I just saw a guy on Twitter ask people to download his band’s cd for free. I doubt he will get any reaction. Why not? What do they sound like? I understand you only have 140 characters, but you need to maximize the amount of information you give when you do that. Instead say something like “free download of my oldschool thrash band at http://unknownband.com rt?” That is only 69 characters so it gives enough room for people like me to re-tweet your message. It also tells way more information that just saying that you are metal.

Metal has not been a decent description for well over a decade. Not saying you should deny your metal love. In fact metalheads are the type that will react more if you raise the flag high with pride. What I am saying is that you should pick something that is more specific. Is it metalcore, thrash, traditional metal, power metal, death metal, black metal, progressive metal, crust, grind, glam, or folk metal? The general public are so jaded that even to take a free download of a band they need to make sure you at least fit the style of metal (or music) that they like the best.

Metalheads are some of the most radical zealots that ever walked the earth. That passion also makes them dismiss the “poser” without even listening to you. Without that specific information most of them will just assume you are a style they think sucks. Think about what it takes to get you to go download a cd. There are a billion bands out there begging for peoples ears. To stand out from the crowd you have to do just a tiny bit more than what 99% of them are doing. This doesn’t take much to be honest.

Make sure and follow me too, because i will re-tweet if you phrase it in a way that gives people the information that will enticed them into clicking.