Several months ago I wrote an article on my 6 favorite Facebook apps. Since then Facebook has relaunched with a new design and now as a musician you can create a band / musician page.

Here is an updated version that explain how to set up a page from scratch and my favorite apps for you!

Getting Started & Ariel’s Top 6 Facebook Apps For Musicians

Facebook is here to stay. I know a lot of artists who are already overwhelmed with MySpace tend to feel daunted by the whole concept of introducing yet another social network into their lives. On September 4, 2008 Facebook launched “new” Facebook and the new interface is easier to use than before.

You won’t believe how many people who you never saw around MySpace are on Facebook. All of a sudden you will be back in touch with your babysitter from grade school, a ton of old friends, and even the drummer from your first band. And, if you have been resisting because you think Facebook is just for kids in college, you are mistaken. The largest demographic on Facebook is over 25. It’s the 4th most-trafficked website in the world and it’s the number one photo sharing application. Read the full stats here: http://www.new.facebook.com/press/info.php?statistics

With over 110 million active users it’s here to stay so my advice is DIVE in (if you haven’t already).

Here is a quick rundown for newbies on how to create a page as a band / musician and my favorite apps for Musicians when pimping out your Facebook profile!

FACEBOOK FOR NEWBIES – HOW TO SET UP A PROFILE

STEP ONE: Create a Band / Artist Profile
Go Here: http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/create.php

STEP TWO: click on the third button down, it will say: Artist, Band, or Public Figure

STEP THREE: Select Band or Musician After you select it, a pull down menu will pop up. Select band it if you are a band, or musician if you play solo or want to create a solo-page (you can create as many as you want so you can create one for you and one for your band).

STEP FOUR: Enter Your Name Name your page and select create page. You are now off to the races!

The rest is pretty self-explanatory – you will upload your photo for your main user icon, your bio, band members and photos and details.

STEP FIVE: Click Create Page Now you are live and ready to add Apps! What is an App? It’s short for application and it is simply a cool additional tool that you can add to your page so that you can display features such as music, photos, and videos.

Facebook has a great page that explains how to help you with apps. FAQ’s are here: http://www.new.facebook.com/help.php?page=25

And the whole list of available apps is here: http://www.facebook.com/apps/

Here are my top picks for musicians and links to where you can download the apps for your own profile.

1. Music By Reverb Nation
Play Your Tunes
http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=6452028673&b= &ref=pd_r_c

Musicians and bands can post unlimited songs for streaming or download, add bios and band photos, sell your music and have your friends add your music and share with their friends (viral marketing for you!). This app also includes links to your homepage and you can add up to 30 of your songs (full-length) to your Facebook Musician Page. And the best part: great stats track song-play activity.

2. Vod:Pod
Display Your Videos
http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=2398125241&b&ref=pd

I am a big advocate in creating small casual 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, live shows and of course your music videos

3. zuPort
Show your Flickr photos
http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=2893465429&b&ref=pd

If you are a Flickr user 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 only once.

4. Twitter
Tweet Away and Have It Synched! http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=2231777543&b&ref=pd

This app allows you to update your status on Facebook straight from your mobile phone. So you can be on the road but your facebook page can be updated from your van! Pretty cool eh?

5. Facebook Mobile
Bring Facebook on the go
http://www.facebook.com/apps/#/mobile/

This app allows you to use Facebook on the go. With it, you can quickly to upload photos and notes from your camera phone straight to Facebook. You can also receive and reply to Facebook messages, pokes and Wall posts using text messages, or use your phone’s mobile browser.

6. iCast By iLike
Tell your fans your news
http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=6917629807&b=&ref=pd_r_c

Send bulletins to fans with iCast, the best bulletins system on Facebook. You can send multimedia or mobile bulletins, or just plain blogs. Your bulletins will show not only to Facebook fans, but also via iLike across 10 different networks. They are the go to app for communicating your music to your fans.

7. iLike this Artist
Show off to your fans
http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=6627984866&b=&ref=pd_r_c

Musicians, you can show off your fans on iLike on your artist page. This will add an “iLike this artist” button on your page, and will show your (larger) fan count across the entire iLike network.

Happy facebooking and please find me and join our group which features loads of free tips for musicians:
http://www.facebook.com/people/Ariel_Hyatt/571390595

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