So – as you know I am a newsletter evangelist! I believe it is the NUMBER ONE thing that will help you create a career in the music industry.  Communicating with your fan base regularly and consistently.  If you do not already have a schedule mapped out for sending your newsletters – get your calendar out NOW and pencil in 12 dates – 1X per month (I suggest you send your newsletter 2X per month but start with once a month and grow from there).  Studies show that the best days to send newsletters (for the highest open rates) are Tuesdays and Wednesdays so make sure to send them out mid week.

Here are 5 critical things to keep in mind as you are crafting your newsletters:

1. Keep Your Subject Line to 55 Characters

Most e-mail programs cut off the subject line after  55 and 60 characters, so keep your subject line short and sweet, and to the point; five to six words max. 

2. Get Personal

Saying something personal brings you closer to your fan base.  So share a photo of something you love (your pet, your kids, your friends), or something fun and non-music related you did recently like a vacation.

3. You Don’t Have To Have A Show To Send A Newsletter

How about just inviting everyone on your newsletter out for drinks evening, or to join you for a show, or share something fun that you’ve done recently; again, or maybe you just purchased a new album and you love it, and you want to talk about it.

4. Mailing Address & Unsubscribe Link

Know that by law you need to put your mailing address and an unsubscribe link at the bottom of each of your newsletters.  If you are uncomfortable adding your home address, then open up a P.O. Box and use that. 

5. First Names Get Attention

Use their name.  The best way to get anyone’s attention is to include their first name in the subject line of an e-mail, something like this:

Hey Kevin! Summer News From the Darrin James Band.

It’s catchy, and it gets people’s attention immediately to the subject of your e-mail.  Bandletter can help you customize your e-mails so that your first names of your e-mail list appear in the subject line.  Testing shows that the response rates will go up 50%-70% or more if you include first names.

I am falling more in love with Facebook everyday. It never freezes up (like MySpace) and I can’t believe how many people who I NEVER saw online in MySpace are on Facebook. All of a sudden back in touch with my babysitter from grade school, a ton of college friends and high school friends and even some from high school who are not in the tech or the music business, which is very cool. Here are my favorite picks for Musicians when pimping out your Facebook profile!
 

1. Spot DJ
Play Your Tunes
 

This cool app allows you to create and share music mixes and playlists. It not only works on Facebook but you can also add it to MySpace, Hi5, your blog, and other social networks. You can also use it to email music mixes to friends. Wit looks great too – you can select if you want a cassette tape, a boom box, a bunny or a cupcake to display as your player.
 

http://www.spotdj.com
 

2. Vod:Pod
Display Your Videos
 

I am a big advocate in creating small videos to share with your fans. Videos are an excellent viral marketing tool. This app is the easiest way to show your videos and your favorite videos. This is a good place to display backstage moments or live shows.
 

http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=2398125241&b&ref=pd
 

3. zuPort
Show Your Flickr
 

zuPort automatically imports your public Flickr photostream so you can show off even more photos to your friends. zuPort: Flickr keeps your sets, collections, tags, comments and everything else linked so you only have to update once
 

http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=2893465429&b&ref=pd
 

4. Twitter
Tweet Away and Have It Synched!
 

As you all know I am a huge Twitter evangelist. This amazing app allows you to update your tweets from Facebook and your Facebook from Twitter and your mobile phone…So you can be on the road but your facebook page can be updated from your van! Pretty Cool eh?
 

http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=2231777543&b&ref=pd
 

5. Newsfeed Blast
Get Your News Out
 

This app allows you to send a message out to all of your friends’ Feeds at the same time. Include up to 4 images with your News Feed story.
 

The best part is they’ll see it right on their main News Feed page when they log in.
 

http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=2380274314&b&ref=pd
 

6. iLike
Your Content on Many Platforms
 

They are the go to app for communicating your music to your fans.
 

They have widgets that allow you to update your tour dates on one play and they will show up on your MySpace, Bebo and many other social networks. You can share iTunes playlists with friends, get music picks and free MP3s to match your tastes and notify your fans when you (or your favorite artists are playing)
 

http://www.ilike.com/
 

Happy facebooking and please find me and join our group:
http://www.facebook.com/people/Ariel_Hyatt/571390595