After researching artists around the net, I have found that independent artists are not understanding the basics of online marketing. Indie artists are ignoring that fact that they need to purchase their own website domain name. This is imperative for artists, because the link to their site is what they need to employ in order to utilize search engine optimization. The domain name should also direct to the artist’s website page.

To help market their site, the website link needs to be posted on other websites, forums, blogs and message boards. Basically, this is similar to posting flyers all over the cities where they are playing shows. Every flyer seen and picked up is another potential fan that the band attracts.

By applying this method, indie artists are strengthening their page rank status, according to search engines. The artist’s website is more likely to be on the first page of searches when a person types in the artist’s name in a search engine such as Google or Bing.

The site’s content needs to be designed with keywords, so search engine crawlers can efficiently index the site. Of course, more occurs behind the scenes when designing a site to utilize SEO techniques.

An important fact that artists need to realize is that they are free to manage the content that is applied to their site such as: updates, the design and the merchandise being sold. The content is regulated by their own standards, period.

When indie artists use social networks such as Myspace or Facebook (who have their own rules and regulations) as their primary site, their profiles face restrictions. Indie artists need to understand that at any time News Corps. or Facebook can delete a profile if it violates their rules. Meaning, that all the time spent on content for the profile could be lost forever.

The artist’s profile links help their SEO and should be used to develop their online presence. However, the artists need to only use social networking sites as marketing tools and not their primary website in order to develop their online marketing status.

[The Buzz - GigHive]