CREATING A SMART BUZZ ABOUT YOUR MUSIC - INCREASE YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA "VALUE"

"Once your products are created, simply write about them, talk about them, and create articles from the content and say “Yes” to interviews. The buzz created will point people back to your site." - Kytka Hilmar-Jezek

Same goes for music. Once you have a new "product", begin a smart and well thought out buzz to get it heard and increase your social media "value".

1.) Tell your fans, promote the heck out of it in new, creative ways, not just "here's my new CD" or "check out my video." 

 Create contests that involve fans. Put them in your videos to promote the music. Here's an idea, choose a few random fans that are regular hardcore promoters of your music, pick up the phone & call them, ask them for ideas, get quotes to use in trade publications. Don't just rely on industry quotes. There is no bigger promoter than your fan base. They'll be honest about your music.

2.) Connect w/ bloggers, journalists, and local media. 

Don't turn down an interview request because you don't think the audience won't be big enough - do you really want to put limits on your publicity and possibilities? Anyone willing to genuinely help you and is interested enough to talk to you about your music is a good thing.

3.) Respond to as many tweets and Facebook comments as you can personally without relying on a social media manager all the time. 

A social media manager can never convey the same emotion as you can when it comes to what you want to say and what's on your mind. If you're proud of your new project, take the time to tell people why it means so much to you. If you have time to read your timeline, you have time to interact on it. When fans and potential fans see that you take the time, they'll take the time in return. Nothing means more to a fan than a personal connection. So, 3 things - FIND the time, MAKE the time, TAKE the time.

4.) Don't oversaturate your or your fans timelines and don't swim all into their DM's with the same spam posts over and over. 

There's nothing more of a turn off than constant spam about a new project or show. When you look at an artist's timeline and it's nothing but the same tweet over and over, it's honestly annoying as hell and the quickest way to get someone to move on. Change it up, post about it a few times during the day but differ the wording, make it less "robotic" and make it more personal. You want to create a buzz, not put people to sleep. Also, if you're going to send someone information about your music, take the time to introduce yourself and thank them for listening, don't just DM a link and "Here's my new single." That is the surest way to get the opposite reaction than the one you hope you'll get.

This is your product, your music, your name, your reputation and fans are the ones who make the difference between your career and your hobby. Be buzz smart.

- Jennifer Smith
Follow Jenn on Twitter at @Lovinlyrics

MAKE THE CONNECTION: BRIDGE THE GAP WITH YOUR FANS AND MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS

Are you an artist on social media? Are you noticing a drop in your followers or that you just can't seem to build a social media following larger than you'd like? With social media (Twitter, Facebook, TikTok etc) making such a huge impact in the world of entertainment today, it's almost a must for any new artist to get their music and name recognized. Word of mouth seems to be the best way to get that done these days. People like music and people like to talk, put those together and it's a surefire win-win combination UNLESS you aren't working it like you should be in order to get the most traffic and new fans. As a fan of social media and country music, I thought I'd share some things we've received feedback on from fans and artists alike. It's simple, you have to engage, connect ... you can't just DO social, you have to BE social. Here are some things to consider which may help you bring in a more solid, lasting fan base rather than the touch and go follower.

The first thing to remember is that social media is 

"more about sociology and psychology, more than technology" 

- Brian Sollis

Social media is about getting more personal with potential fans and current fans whereas your website is more about the technical side of your business. Social media is just that, social. Websites are mainly for your "advertisements" such as news stories, merchandise, tour dates, etc. You may have an "online store" on your website but essentially your website as a whole is your on site store, it's there to sell you as an artist. Granted, social media is a way to sell yourself too, but it's a great way for your fans to "sell" you as an artist and that's why you have to connect with them to find out what they want, what they like and how they will be willing to promote you. You'd be surprised the amount of fan promotion going on that you can't see, the "groups", "fan clubs" and "support pages" on Facebook and Twitter. It's amazing how deeply your fans care and want to help you succeed but you have to show them that you're interested and that you care about what they're doing for YOU. They want to be included and you need to show them that you're willing to include them and even more so that you WANT to include them.

As an artist, you HAVE to interact with your fans. They are your bread and butter and can make or break you. I know your schedules are busy, so are theirs, yet they make time to spend their hard earned money on YOUR music because they think you've got something worth investing their time and dollars in. That should be a compliment to you and you should want to give back to them, even if it's a simple hello. Now I know it's impossible to personally contact each fan who comments on your Twitter or Facebook pages, but at least make a visible effort. If you never interact, people will stop coming to your page and find other artists who will. Every time a fan tweets or posts about you, that's promotion for you. The least you can do is acknowledge a few of those posts with a sincere and personal thank you. Go through your timelines, pick a random few who have posted about you and say "Hey, thank you for that. I appreciate it!". Simple, easy peasy and will make someone feel appreciated. You can't go wrong with appreciation. Once you do that, chances are they'll probably post it for their friends or other fans showing that you took the time to acknowledge THEM out of a crowd of thousands and that says more than you realize. It will also show potential fans that you pay attention. Social media is a forum that wasn't available 10 years ago, you have the advantage now. Use it to the best of your ability.

Just a couple of fan suggested ideas to really make an impression.

1.)  Pick a few followers (make sure you're following them back if on Twitter), message them and ask if you can call them to personally thank them for buying your music, your merchandise, for telling others about you. That's something they'd never forget.

2.) Watch fans timelines and notice things like special events for them like birthdays, new babies, weddings, etc? Acknowledge those events. For a fan to know that you take the time to pay attention to their big news and that you think it's big news too is HUGE.

3.) Don't just "like" a post. If you really like it and it hits you, share the post to your followers. Then they'll share it to theirs and draw more people to your pages.

"Don't build links, build relationships." 

- Rand Fishkin

By God, keep your page interesting. Don't just self-promote, self-promote, blah blah blah. That gets old really quick and is a HUGE turn off, even to your biggest fans. They want something more personal, something fun, something to keep them coming back for me.

Don't just post about yourself. There is so much more out there to talk about than your business, your shows, your latest Reverbnation standings. Humanize yourself. You don't have to get too personal, but soften your edge a little, let your guard down. Yes, you may be hesitant because let's be honest, there are those obsessive weirdos out there, the overzealous fans who quite honestly want to get too personal, think you are best friends, and probably make your skin crawl a little. The great thing about social media is that you can block those people and connect with those who know their boundaries, who have good and honest intentions and realize that your great aunt Selma isn't their great aunt Selma. Those kind of people aren't the core existence of your fan base and in reality, only make up a minuscule percentage of it. The majority of fans are down to earth, good and honest people who just want to see you succeed and love your music.

"Marketing is no longer about the stuff you make but the stories that you tell" 

- Seth Godin

Many artists like Jake Owen, Dierks Bentley, Benton Blount, Craig Campbell, Jason Michael Carroll, Steve Holy, Mark Wills, JT Hodges and Hillary Scott of Lady Antebellum post pictures of their families. Taylor Swift is always posting pictures of herself doing something crazy like her recent "cookie baking". Brett Eldredge is always posting something that will make his fans laugh. These artists have built a huge sincere following from letting people see them as more than their favorite artists, they see them as parents, as spouses, as ordinary people with extraordinary jobs. Let people see that there's more to you than where you're playing, what your latest cd or single is, how many followers you have.

Tell stories - did you bust your butt on stage? Tell them about it. Did you hear a great clean joke? Tell it. Press releases, the latest news and performance schedules are great but what about telling them about something funny that happened at your last show, your latest embarrassing moment, a stupid joke or do a webisode? Keep 'em clicking on your site, that's your goal. The more clicks, the more interest, the more interest, the more music you sell. Focus on quality. The more quality you put into your posts, the better quality fan base you build, which means better quality promotion from them you'll get in return. Be personable, it counts for so much in today's marketing environment. Involve your followers, do random social media contests, you need to do something that the other guy isn't doing.

One other note, don't always post pictures of you with a beer or red solo cup in your hand. We know you're a drinker, a partier, a certified bad ass but it's not necessary to post that in EVERY picture. It doesn't make you look cool, it makes you look like your next performance will be in rehab. It's also unnecessary to post a picture of you throwing peace signs or acting like you're all gangsta thug. You're not a gangsta and well, it just looks dumb. Just post a simple pic without all of the unnecessary posing. That's not how you naturally act all day, don't do it in every picture. That gets old really quick.

Keep Political Views / Rants / 4 Letter Words and Unfounded Gossip 

to a Minimum, If At All

If you're an artist, the worst and easiest thing to do is offend someone. Don't forget that not everyone who reads your posts is going to agree with you and that's fine, however those potentially harmful posts can cause you to lose a fan, who in turn, is going to tell someone else and so on. Also keep in mind that not everyone who reads your post is an adult, kids tend to read these pages just as often as adults and while you're not a babysitter, you still have an obligation to those who essentially put food in your mouth and a roof over your head to keep it clean, keep it friendly and keep it worth coming back to. People are connecting with you because of your music, keep that the forefront. Yes, you have the freedom of speech, but remember so do other people and you don't want people using it to talk about you negatively.

Keep Your Timelines and Streams Current

Again, I know how busy you guys are, but have someone keep your page updated regularly. There is nothing more disheartening to a fan than to check your page everyday only to see that the last update was 6 months ago yet they know you've have more activity with your music than that. Most everyone has a smart phone these days, get the free apps and UPDATE often. Keep their interest and they'll keep buying your music.

Take Social Media Seriously. It's NOT a Waste Of Your Time

When Myspace first hit the limelight, people were interested in it, not as a marketing tool but as a way to catch up with old friends. Once professionals saw the traffic they could drive to their business, Myspace was no longer a way to kill free time, it became a lucrative way to interact with potential customers. While Myspace is still out there, Twitter and Facebook have become the top ways to interact with the public, to grow your business and trust me, people take this VERY seriously once they start their account and promoting it.

In essence, think like a potential fan. See yourself from their point of view. Do you like what you see? What can you change? What can you stop doing and begin doing? What can you do to better your personal connection?

- Jennifer Smith
Follow Jenn on Twitter at @Lovinlyrics

#ARTISTTIPS - EVERYBODY'S TWEETIN' AND POSTIN'

Social Media is a HUGE platform for new artists. It not only allows you to get your music out there, it allows you to bridge that gap between you and your fans, bring you closer to the front lines and get to know them better and allows them to get to know you better. If you're not active and regular on social media , you're missing an important opportunity to expand your audience.

Not Sure What to Post?

People are hesitant about what they should or should not put on social media and that's a good thing because there are some things that just need to be left off your timeline, especially if your purpose is to GAIN fans. Stay away from inflammatory subjects such as politics, tabloid garbage, "personal" details, etc. There is such a thing as TMI.

Try These Instead:

- What Are You Doing???  - Are you working on a new CD? Tweet about it. Are you on the road and discovered a cool new venue? Tweet about it. Did you adopt a rescue animal? Tweet about it, people LOVE animals.

- What Is Coming Up? - Do you finally have a release date for your new video? Put it out there. What's next on your tour schedule? Upcoming TV appearance? Talk about it!

- Share Interesting Content - It doesn't always have to be music. Did you see a new movie that you really liked? Did you hear a song by another artist that you fell in love with? Share what interests you with your fans.

- Retweet, Re-post, Repeat - Simply liking a post isn't getting the word out. If someone tweeted something nice about you, complimented your new song, raved about your latest performance - like it AND re-post it so others can see the positive feedback you're getting.

- Ask Questions - Ask your fans what THEY want to hear, ask what their current favorite song by any artist is, ask for ideas. You could get an idea for your next hit single or video just by asking a simple question. You may also find out what fans DON'T like that you're doing which is always helpful and might make you rethink some things. You may even discover that your "team" isn't exactly doing what they should be doing like updating your website, posting as often as they should be, etc.

- Fun Stuff - Post funny videos that made you laugh, non-offensive memes, jokes ... make your fans laugh, let them see the not so serious side of you. Brett Eldredge, Mark Wills, Joe Bonsall, and Blake Shelton are some of the best at this and they know how to keep 'em coming back just by making them look twice and laugh.

- Recommendations - Thinking about seeing a movie or looking for a new book to read on the bus? Ask your fans for their recommendations. Want to try a new restaurant on your next tour stop? Ask the people that live in that area.

- Likes and Dislikes - Find out what your fans like or dislike about your new single, video, social media account, website, etc.

- Snapshots from The Road - People love pictures.They love anything visual and social media is big on visual content. Post pics from the road, pics of you with fans, pics of your new dog, etc. Give your fans the bigger picture.

- A Simple Acknowledgement Goes a Long Way - Acknowledge random tweets on your timeline. Respond unexpectedly and make someones day. Thank them for showing off your new t-shirt in their latest tweet, thank them for making the 5 hour drive to see your last show, congratulate them if you see they're celebrating something such as a birthday or birth of a new baby. Show them that it's not all about you. Show them that they matter.

- Take Part in Social Media Events - Answer questions in a Twitterview, live tweet from events, etc Facebook Live, Stage It and Periscope are great ways to bring yourself to your audience when they can't physically get to your show or when you just feel like doing something off the cuff. Imagine if Elvis had been able to Facebook Live from the Jungle Room at Graceland or if Merle Haggard just performed an acoustic Stage It show from his couch?

- Post Random Thoughts on Life - share quotes, advice or photos that have helped you through rough times. If they helped you, they may help someone else who really needs it.

Don't be afraid of social media. It's an advantage that wasn't around for artists until just a few years ago. It can be a machine that can move your career forward rapidly or if you use it wrong, it can move you in the wrong direction. Use it wisely, use it regularly ... just use it to your advantage!

- Jenn

Follow Jenn on Twitter at @Lovinlyrics

#ARTISTTIPS - VIDEO AND AUDIO CONTENT IDEAS FOR SUCCESS

I see a lot of new artists struggling with what makes for interesting and worthwhile media content. With social media, video goes a long way and can really help boost your following. It also shows that you are more than just your show dates and new cd or single release date posts.

- Interviews

Do these, do them often. People love to hear what's going on right from you and they love to find out what makes you tick. Your fans want to get to know you. Interviews give them that opportunity and give you the chance to say in your own words what's happening and to personally express your gratitude. Interview with ALL size media outlets, not just well known names. These days independent bloggers and music reviewers are gaining traction on the big corporate blogs and catching up quickly in numbers. The difference? A lot of independents WANT to help you, they CARE about your music and they're not in it to just make a fee and lump you in with a hundred other artists. Corporate blogs are great too but you also can tend to get lost in the shuffle so don't blow off a small fish in a big pond. Remember, piranhas are small fish too but they sure do leave an impression and make their presence known. 

On the subject of interviews, try a "reverse" interview and YOU be the interviewer and turn the tables on your band members, crew, publicists, manager or even fans! How awesome would it be for a fan to be questioned by their favorite artist and it be posted on the artist's website? If you're in Nashville, do a random pop in at a honky tonk, the Country Music Hall of Fame or any other country music themed attraction and talk to visitors on camera and ask them about country music related subjects. That would make a HUGE positive impact for both you and your fans and would definitely pull in some new ones! Interview anyone related to your target audience and watch that audience grow.

- WEEKLY WEBISODES

No, I don't mean the drama that goes on after the show between band members or that kind of soap opera webisode. Give your fans a personal backstage on the road glimpse into your daily work life. Playing the Opry? Take your fans with you and show them what goes on in the backstage area before your big performance. Playing a small bar? Let them walk through set up with the crew and see all of the work that goes into the "before the show" show. Shoot from the bus on the road, singing show tunes with the band and crew, whatever. Just do something on a regular basis and keep the fun going while the camera's rolling. Ready? Set? Action!

- COUNTRY GIVES BACK

Do you participate in charity events? Charity causes are a big plus about country music. Country artists seem to always find a way, any way, to give back when needed and help. Take a video camera along and record the moments of the day, talk to the people involved and let them talk about why they choose to give back and let your fans know how they can participate. 

- SHARE ADVICE AND TIPS THAT HAVE HELPED YOU

If you're a more well known artist, post video giving advice or tips that have helped you along the way that may help a struggling artist. Don't be afraid to give away industry "secrets" to advancement, practices that you've found to be helpful. You can let fans know what they can do to help you, let them know things that aren't so helpful as well. If you're a songwriter, talk about songwriting tips and how to's. 

- BE A TOUR GUIDE

If you're an artist on the road, be a video "Tour Guide" to some of the places you visit when you're in certain areas. 

- Recommend local restaurants and the best eats on the menu. 

- Showcase the venue you're performing in and the staff that work there

- Spotlight some of the locally owned businesses around town

- Turn the spotlight back on the local media in town that have supported you. Let people know!

It doesn't take high dollar video equipment to produce a high quality enjoyable video so don't let cost scare you. Most smart phones are perfectly capable of producing a fantastic quality video and there are plenty of editing apps out there to make you look like Spielberg.

Get out there, have fun, stand out and show your fun side! Grow your audience!

- Jenn

Follow me on Twitter at @lovinlyrics

#SOCIALMEDIATIPS FOR ARTISTS - DO'S AND DON'TS FOR MAXIMUM POSITIVE RESULTS

As someone who is on social media way too much, I notice a lot of things that make me cringe and a lot of things that make me want to hug an artist's neck for nailing it. I'm not an expert by a long shot, but I am someone who pays attention and who conducts feedback with fans about what they see that makes them want to follow an artist or unfollow an artist. Here are a few tips that might make all the difference for your fan base.

DON'T OVER PROMOTE

Yes, promotions is a HUGE part of what social media is about, however it's not ALL that social media is about. A timeline that is full of nothing but your show dates, what number you hit on Reverbnation, and music release dates is boring, informative but boring. There's no need to post it daily or multiple times a day. Make sure it's on your website and refer your followers to your website for the most current and up to date info. Posting a couple of times a week is more than sufficient or you can post your latest show and "pin" it so that's the first thing that will be seen on your timeline when visited then when the show is over, "un-pin" it and "pin" your next show/cd release announcement/etc. This was it's in your timelines and showcased but not showing up in everyone else's feed multiple times a day. Over promotion tends to turn people off and even the biggest fans will get bored with constant pats on your own back and over promotion of yourself.

DO BE HUMAN

Don't let your Twitter become automated and sound like it's being run by the Rosie the Robot. Tell jokes, laugh, show emotion. Don't fill it with automated responses like "I had XX unfollowers according to TheyLeft.com". No one cares who unfollowed you and if you constantly show who unfollows you, it tends to make it look like you are more focused on your numbers than your actual connections. Post things that appeal to the human spirit. Go through your timeline and respond to posts you see a fan excited about something, having a hard time or they just need a smile.

DON'T GET TOO PERSONAL

We don't need to know about your gynecologist appointment, your possible STD that you might have caught from your latest groupie, your marital woes or anything else you wouldn't want posted on the news to the world. Twitter is your own newscast, keep it light and friendly, keep your dark side to yourself. Would you want your mom or your child to read it? If not, don't post it. Fans don't need to know everything about you no matter how bad they may want to.

DO BE PERSONALLY ACTIVE / DON'T RELY ON SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGERS

Social media managers are great, but don't rely on them to share YOUR thoughts, YOUR ideas, YOUR comments. It doesn't take 2 seconds out of your day to say something to your fans. No one likes to see a response from you with "Team XX" at the end or tweets that obviously don't sound like something you would post. Fans know the difference.

DON'T BE NEGATIVE

The world is negative enough, don't add to it. I get the whole political climate right now and how we all have our own thoughts, but don't be part of the problem. If you have a personal account, fine, go at it. bash and complain all you want to about this, that or the other, but your business account is for business and negative posts are never good for business. To add to that, don't engage the trolls. That's what they live for, or should I say don't live for because they obviously have no life other than to try to get a rise out of people ALL DAY LONG. Don't feed the fire. Block 'em and move on. Don't let negativity pull you over to the dark side.

DON'T EXPECT OVERNIGHT INCREASE IN FOLLOWERS

The only way your followers are gonna go to a gazillion overnight is if you go the crap route and buy them or create fake accounts and follow yourself. Don't do that crap. If you keep your posts interesting and post consistently, they'll come on their own. Be patient Grasshopper, be patient. Good things come to those who don't cheat the system and play the game honestly. Besides, don't you want followers who actually care about your music and not random BS accounts who are following you just for numbers sake?

DON'T FORGET TO USE TOOLS TO ENHANCE YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA EXPERIENCE

Keep in mind that not everyone uses Twitter so post on other sites too. Use a "multi-post" app that allows you to post to multiple sites at once. Use schedulers if you need to, and I know there's a reason for them, but use them sparingly. You don't schedule your thoughts, why schedule your posts? When someone responds to you and you've posted using a scheduler and you don't actually get on Twitter for a week, think of how many chances to interact with fans you've missed.

DO HAVE A PLAN

Don't just haphazardly jump on social media without a plan to build a fan base. Think about the posts YOU like to see, what keeps YOU logging on, what keeps YOUR interest? How much do you want to post? A little? A lot? What is your end goal of starting a social media account?

DON'T DRUNK TWEET

Oh sweet baby Horace, don't do this. We'll just leave that there. It can just get too ugly and before you know it, you're all over TMZ looking like an ass. Just don't.

DO ACKNOWLEDGE AND PROMOTE OTHERS WHO ACKNOWLEDGE AND PROMOTE YOU

There is nothing worse then an artist who never responds to tweets. It's called SOCIAL media, be SOCIAL. You have to engage to build interest and you have to build interest to build your fan base. Rummage through your timeline a few random times a day, randomly say hi to a fan, show an interest in what they have to say whether their post is about you or not. Some tweeters post some great content if you pay attention. Just engage and show that you care, it's not time consuming and it only takes a few minutes.

Also, if you see a blogger, magazine, website or podcast that talks about you often, make a point to cross promote them and give them a little acknowledgement in return. It NEVER hurts to cross promote. If they're sharing you with their followers, share them with yours and combine your followers.

DON'T LIMIT YOUR FOLLOWBACKS / TWEETS AND RETWEETS TO OTHER ARTISTS OR CELEBRITIES

I see a lot of artists who only respond to celebrities and only follow other artists. Why? Don't leave your fans on the outside looking in and wishing they could be part of your party. Just because you follow fans back doesn't mean you have to become bosom buddies and share dog pictures. It just means that you took the time to check out their timeline and you find them interesting enough to follow. You can always mute them if they get a little overwhelming and you don't have to turn on notifications for all of them.

Retweet tweet from fans that you find interesting that you think your fans will find interesting too. Jump in a conversation that you see going on and give some feedback. Where's that word again, oh yeah, ENGAGE.

DO SAY THANK YOU

Two small words make a HUGE impact and can last the life of your career.  Randomly thank fans for taking the time out of their day to listen to, talk about and share your music. Thank them for driving hours to see you even though they have to work the next day. Thank them for buying your latest t-shirt that you see them wearing in a picture they posted. You might not consider this, but some people put off paying bills and spend their last dime to come see you or purchase your music. That deserves at least a thank you. At the very least, respond to a complimentary post with a thank you.

DO SOMETHING TO STAND OUT

Post webisodes, create funny memes that make fun of you or your band, run contests, post funny pictures of you with your kid, do something, ANYTHING to stand out above the other tweets on someones timeline.

If anyone else has tips that might help an artist combat the "Damn Your Twitter Sucks" blues. post them out there on Twitter! Fans are an artists best means of promotion so help your artist promote themselves in a good light and share your ideas!

- Jenn

Follow me on Twitter at @lovinlyrics.




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SOCIAL MEDIA: 11 WAYS TO BUILD YOUR FAN BASE

As an artist, in the world of today's technology, social media is everywhere and is the top way to reach your fan base and make it stronger, more personal and most importantly, to make it grow and work for you.

Fans are very outspoken and get very personal about their love for music. It's one of the few things that people are extremely passionate about. They won't hesitate to tell others about their favorite and least favorite songs or artists and they sure won't hesitate to tell others about what you do or say online. On any social media site, there are do's and don'ts -

1.) The 80/20 Rule: The most important thing is maintain a human interaction with your followers, don't just post your appearance dates, your upcoming cd release, and business things. Make it a little more personal, actually talk to them like you would your friends, ask their opinions on your projects, see what they like and don't like. No, you don't have to give them personal information or become friends offline, but keeping it fun online keeps your followers coming back and telling others. If you're going to take the time to have a social media account such as Twitter, take time to interact on it personally, don't push it off on an assistant, especially one who sounds like an obvious assistant. You're not THAT busy that you can't type 140 characters at least once a day. I won't follow artists that do that and neither will thousands of other people. Remember keep it 80% personal interaction and only 20% self promotion. Self-indulgent promotion is one of the biggest social media turn offs. Social media is not one-sided, don't fill your time lines and streams with "Look What I Did", "Look at Me", "Buy my CD" and constant barrage of self-absorbed comments.

2.) Be Patient: Social media is an opportunity but doesn't guarantee, much like everything else in life. Your fan base won't grow overnight, but if you interact on a regular basis and make it fun, you'll be surprised how fast word will spread and you'll see your numbers increase day by day, which means more people checking out your music and telling their friends about it. Don't get discouraged, it doesn't matter if you have 30 or 30,000 followers, they're all important.

3.) Show Your Human Side: Laugh, tell jokes, inspire, tell personal stories or daily happenings ... make your followers pay attention, make them want to talk back and above all, make them keep following you. Act as if you were talking to someone in the same room with you, show your true self, your true personality. A prime example of this is Blake Shelton on Twitter (@blakeshelton). Blake is one of the most genuine, "I am who I am" people I've ever followed on Twitter and it's so refreshing to see someone who says what they think, doesn't have to be politically correct and hide behind his stardom, he's just himself and that's why he's one of the most followed and talked about people in social media.

4.) Offer Value: Offer your opinions when it counts and answer questions with worthwhile responses. Give your fan base content they'll be interested in that will keep them coming back.

5.) Be Active: Don't start an account, get people following and only get on once every six months. That's gonna get you nowhere. Even if you log on only to say hello once a day and touch base, that means more to your fans than constantly checking to see if you've taken the time to post and your last post was a year ago. Keep it active or delete your account.

6.) Acknowledge and Promote Others: Social media is all about networking. If you hear a great new song on the radio, tell people about it. If you saw a cool new band, start talking about them. Get the word out and let others know, trust me, the good you do for others will come back to you in no time. Others would do and actually do this for you more than you know.

7.) Don't be Negative: Keep a positive flow in your time lines, don't complain left and right, moan about how sad your life is, bitch about your ex, or talk badly about someone else. That will cause your people to do an about face and run for the hills, leaving your fan numbers headed in a downward spiral. Yes, social media is about expressing yourself, but if you're an artist, leave that for offline. And for God's sake, with the climate the way it is, avoid any and all political rants and raves. You're trying to build a business, not start a riot.

8.) Have Contests and Promotional Giveaways: People like free stuff, period. I don't care what it is, people are gonna jump when you say "win this". If you have a new cd coming out, hold a few copies aside, sign them and give them away online. It's not gonna be a huge financial loss, trust me. Yes, it costs to make them so I know you don't just want to give them away, but suck it up and do it. Same with your band t-shirts, posters, chachkies. Tell the winner you'll post their pic with the prize if they win. Hold a contest to have someone design your next cd cover and the prize is a signed cd and their name in the liner notes for the design. Involve your fans, make them want to come back to your site.

9.) Webisodes: These are short video clips, no more than 5 minutes (shorter if possible) of your everyday life on the road, at home, on stage or interacting with your fans after a show. Fans go crazy for these, just ask Lady Antebellum and Randy Montana. Make them fun. Lady A's spoofs of other artists songs like Blake Shelton's "All About Tonight" is hysterical. They made a song that sounded just like it and called it "These Jeans Are Mighty Tight". Over 53,000 hits on Youtube, so trust me, they drew in more fans on their social media accounts from this.

10.) Say Thank You: If someone promotes your music, compliments you, helps you, just say thank you from time to time. You don't have to say a personal thank you to each and every fan, just a blanket statement will do letting them know you acknowledge their love of your music and that you appreciate them spending their hard earned money to buy your cd, your MP3's, your overpriced concert tickets, your tshirts, and anything else they do to keep your paycheck rolling in. Some people have a hard time financially, but always manage to find the money for these things because that's how important music is to them. Just say thank you.

11.) Don't Follow and Immediately Un-Follow: This chaps my ass more than anything. Don't follow me and as soon as I follow back, send me a private message with the link to your new song or video and then immediately un-follow. That's not promoting yourself, that's spamming and is the quickest way to lose potential fans. If you follow someone, follow them until they give you a valid reason to un-follow.

Let social media work for you. It will if you take the time and care about the message you're sending out.

- Jenn
Follow Jenn on Twitter at @lovinlyrics

ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS NEEDED TO MAINTAIN A SUCCESSFUL FACEBOOK FAN PAGE

Everyone wants to run a fan page these days on Facebook, but are you running your fan page to it's fullest potential? Noticing you aren't getting many "likes" or that your fan numbers are dropping? Here are a few tips to help you run an amazing page. A successful and popular page requires time, patience, the ability to get along with various types of personalities and the ability to  think outside the box. Do you have those 4 things? If you answered yes, then you can run a successful Facebook fan page.

1. Create an awesome cover page that draws people's attention, same with the profile picture. 

Visual is everything. Don't just use a standard picture, create one that will wow visitors to your page. Do some research, check out other fan pages, google Facebook covers. Create a collage of fan photos from your artist's concerts. Here's where your creativity kicks in.

2. Network with other social media pages and websites for your artist. 

Your content doesn't need to be exclusive to you. Share articles, photos, videos and contests that mention your artist and be sure to credit your source, link to them if they have a website or social media site. Credit photographers and videographers. If you post something original about your artist, share it on other pages as well using the link for your post so it will direct back to your page and bring in more fans.

3. Be a valuable resource for information, not just pictures and videos. 

Make sure you are a central place for ALL things related to your artist, not just photos and videos. Include show dates. links to ticket purchase sites and venue sites, special events, news and giveaways.

Page admins can add multiple tabs. Tabs can be added to the left side of the page just like on your
personal profile.

Keep your content updated regularly. There is nothing more aggravating than going to an artist's page and not seeing the most current info and posts.

Share posts from your artist's official social media pages, but don't over post. Fans don't need to see every single post from every page. Share the stuff that's gonna get feedback and make an impact.

4. Work Positively with Pre-Existing Pages.

It's not necessary for there to only be ONE fan page if those already established can co-exist peacefully and work together. The more properly and positively run fan pages there are, the more traffic you draw to your artist and that's the goal, not competition. You can also share information among yourselves which creates more of a "community" feel than just another "fan page".

5. Target the right audience.

Know the audience your artist will appeal to. Posting about your favorite country artist on a rock and roll radio station's page is a waste of time as is sending out posts on your personal page. Chances are not everyone on your personal page is as into your favorite artist as you are. Choose who you promote to and make sure they'll be interested in what you're saying and the music you're trying to "sell" them on. Don't waste your time on just anyone and everyone. You want to foster relationships with those you common interests with and the main common interest is the artist and their music.

6. Keep the negativity to a minimum, a zero actually. 

Nothing turns potential fans off than bitching and moaning, criticizing and negative posting. Keep a positive arrow pointed at your target, your artist. Everything you post on your fan page directly reflects on the artist you're promoting.

7. Page admins need to be accessible and friendly. 

You may run the page but you don't own the artist. If you work directly with an artist, be sure to run things by them regularly instead of just running with something. You're representing them and how you handle things can help or hurt them. If you have an issue with a fan, take it behind closed doors and don't argue on the public wall. Be there to answer questions in a timely manner. If you have an app on your phone, turn on notifications and have your message section turned on. Respond timely, don't let messages or posts sit for days unanswered. Don't say that you officially represent an artist unless the artist has given you permission to do so and knows that you're telling people you are "official." That can be very misleading to readers.

8. If you're gonna start a page, keep it going.

If you are going to take the time to build a following, you have to take the time to keep things moving. Posting once or twice a week isn't going to keep interest, but neither is posting a gazillion times a day. Plan your posts, plan what you want to say and the content you want to use. We're all busy but if you start it, you need to keep it going. If you find that it's too time consuming, either turn the page over to someone else and step aside or close the page completely.

Start doing your favorite artist a favor and represent them professionally and make it enjoyable for everyone. Get people talking!

- Jenn

Follow Jenn on Twitter at @Lovinlyrics

SO YOUR FAVORITE ARTIST WON'T RESPOND TO YOUR TWEETS? THIS MAY BE WHY ...

The purpose of social media is to connect with people and the goal of many music fans on Twitter is to make that connection with their favorite artist. Who doesn't like to get a response back from an artist or better yet, a follow? Twitter is the most powerful tool there is for connecting on social media and the best way for a most direct connection between fan and artist other than being at a concert. That being said, there are ways to connect positively and ways that will definitely make you known to that artist but in a not in the way you'd hoped. Here are some tips to make your Twitter experience a positive one! Remember that Twitter is just a simple conversation, the only difference is that it's done via a keyboard. This isn't written as a self-proclaimed "expert", "guru", "maven" or any other self important word people tend to give themselves, but it is written from experience and from conversations I've had with celebrity friends that I have offline and interact with. I've had conversations with many artists and this is always a question I ask them, "what is the best way to get your attention on social media?". It's simply observation and information. You want to get their attention, not get a restraining order.

Don't Tweet Them To Death

We've all seen it - a million tweets from the same person in our favorite artist's timeline. It fills up the timeline over and over again. Some even make your skin crawl. Keep in mind that artists and celebrities are crazy busy. They're not sitting at their computer or looking at their phones all day. There are rehearsals, travel time, schedules set by their labels and management, family time, recording time, etc. They don't get as much time to sit and respond as they'd like, but most do when they can. Also remember that they get hundreds, if not thousands, of tweets a day. It's very easy for you to get overlooked. It's not personal, it's just reality. If they see your tweet and want to respond, they will. If they don't, don't take it personally, they can't realisitically respond to every tweet they get on a daily basis nor are they required to. While Twitter is a great marketing tool for them, it's also not something they have to do. Most do it because they love the interaction, some do it because their management tells them to. Put yourself in their shoes and in the scenario of being offline - do you want someone texting or calling you 45 times in an hour? No, it would drive you crazy and make you wonder if this person is crazy or not. Being persistent is fine, being a pest is not. You can cross the line from fan to creeper pretty quickly which can also lead from being welcome to being blocked.

Keep Your Tweets Interesting 

It's awesome that you "love their music" or that you "can't wait to see them", blah blah blah. Amp it up a little, tell them WHY you love their music, why it makes an impact on you. You can fit it into 140 characters with some creativity and real thought. Tell them something personal that connects you to their music, of an experience you had at a show that stuck with you, tweet something funny (those tend to get a ton of attention). Avoid the "you're so hot", "I love you", "Luke, you could make my speakers go boom boom" tweets. Those are a dime a dozen and are often overlooked.

Don't Include Them in Every Conversation

Yes, we know you want them to know you're talking about them but it's not necessary to include their handle in every conversation, every response, every tweet throughout your day. Fans who are reading an artist's timeline don't want to see your conversation with @Fan123 @WhoCares119 @ITalkAlot419 @OMGWTF about how dreamy he is or how you made the coolest sign to take to the next concert. Keep some conversations just between you and your friends, unless you are talking directly to the artist or have already started a conversation with them that included a response from them. It's like talking about someone and hoping they overhear you, not cool and again, it's overkill and is a HUGE turn off.

Don't Talk Negatively

Talking about someone negatively will connect, but not in the way you hoped. Even though you may think telling an artist  things like they "look tired", "need to rest", or "sounded a little off" at the last performance is being helpful or concerned, to a lot of them, it comes across as negative. I'm pretty sure they already know they're tired and know they sounded off, no need to tell them. Try to keep your tweets positive, constructive. Negative tweets will never get you anywhere except blocked.

Offer to Help Them

Yes, most already have a TON of help getting their music heard, but the newer artists don't. They depend on fans to be their first point of contact. Tweet them and ask them how you can help, what do they need from you to promote their music? Offer ideas. Be proactive. Let them know if you have a venue in your area you'd like to see them play or an event.

Don't Demand or Hound Them

They're people just like you, they just have a different job. You don't like it when people demand that you do something, return the courtesy online. Don't beg for follows, give them a reason as to why you're a good person to follow. What makes you so interesting that they should follow you? Just because you followed them doesn't mean they're required to follow you back. If they haven't responded to your tweets, don't constantly ask them "why are you dissing me?", "what did I do wrong" or "why don't you like me?" That comes across as needy, clingy and desperate and while it will attract their attention, it will do so in a negative way. You'll become known as "that person" and none of us want to be "that person".

Just Be Nice and Talk, Be Yourself

Tweet a compliment, a thank you, a song lyric of theirs that means a lot to you, something that makes them want to respond. Kindness will work so much better than pressure or being annoying. Stand out in the Twitter crowd, don't blend. This is your chance to connect and even though the changes are remote, maybe even really make a friend of your favorite artist. Respect them and they'll respect you.

Enjoy your experience, don't stress over it. Twitter can be a fun place if used correctly.

- Jenn

Follow Jenn on Twitter at @LovinLyrics

THOSE THAT PAVED THE PATH TO COUNTRY MUSIC TWEET TOO!

If you're on Twitter, you may not realize just how many of country's biggest and best veteran artists are tweeting! While we're all about supporting the new guys, we are all about keeping tradition alive and well and these artists paved the way, making country such a unique and wonderful genre of music through their music. Be sure to follow them and show that you support them even if radio is in favor of the younger generation! Throw in a thank you tweet to let them know you appreciate their contributions to country music!

Aaron Tippin - @TippinAaron
Alabama - @TheAlabamaBand
Alan Jackson - @OfficialJackson
Allison Krauss - @AlisonKrauss
Andy Griggs - @TheRealGriggs
Asleep at the Wheel - @AATW1969

Barbara Mandrell - @BarbaraMandrell
Bellamy Brothers - @BellamyBrothers
Bill Anderson - @WhisperinBill
Billy Dean - @BillyDean
Billy Ray Cyrus - @BillyRayCyrus
Blackhawk - @Blackhawklive
Bryan White - @Bryan_White

Charlie Daniels Band - @CharlieDaniels
Chely Wright - @ChelyWright
Clay Walker - @ClayWalker
Clint Black - @Clint_Black
Collin Raye - @CollinRaye
Con Hunley - @ConHunley
Confederate Railroad - @CRRMusic
Crystal Gayle - @TheCrystalGayle


David Ball - @DavidBallMusic
David Lee Murphy - @DavidLeeMurphy
Deana Carter - @DeanaSings
Deborah Allen - @deborahallen3
Diamond Rio - @DiamondRioBand
Dixie Chicks - @dixiechicks
Dolly Parton - @DollyParton
Doug Stone - @DougStoneMusic
Duane Allen - @DuaneAllen
Dwight Yoakam - @DwightYoakam

Eddie Montgomery -@LuckyManEddie
Emmylou Harris - @EmmylouSongbird

Faith Hill - @FaithHill 


Gary Allan - @GaryAllan
George Strait - @GeorgeStrait

Hank Williams, Jr. - @HankJr
Highway 101 - @Highway101Band

Jamey Johnson - @Jamey_Johnson
Jo Dee Messina -@JoDeeMessina
Joe Bonsall - @JoeBonsall
Joe Diffie - @TheDiffster
John Michael Montgomery - @JM2Squared

Ken Mellons - @KenMellons
Kenny Rogers - @Kenny_Rogers
Kentucky Headhunters - @KyHeads
Kix Brooks - @KixBrooks

Lari White - @SkinnyWhiteGirl
LeAnn Rimes - @LeAnnRimes
Lee Ann Womack - @LeeAnnWomack
Lee Greenwood - @TheLeeGreenwood
Little Texas - @LittleTexasBand
Lonestar - @LonestarBand
Loretta Lynn - @The_LorettaLynn
Lorrie Morgan - @TheLorrieMorgan
Lyle Lovett - @LyleLovett

Mark Chesnutt - @MarkChesnutt
Mark Wills - @MarkWillsMusic
Martina McBride - @MartinaMcBride
Marty Stuart - @MartyStuartHQ
Mary Chapin Carpenter - @M_CCarpenter
Merle Haggard - @MerleHaggard
Montgomery Gentry - @MGUnderground

Neal McCoy - @NealMcCoy

Oak Ridge Boys - @OakRidgeBoys

Pam Tillis - @PamTillis
Patty Loveless - @ThePLoveless
Paul Overstreet - @PaulOverstreet

Radney Foster - @RadneyFoster
Randy Travis - @RandyTravis
Reba McEntire - @Reba
Restless Heart - @Restless_Heart
Richard Sterban - @RASterban
Rick Trevino - @RickTrevinoMain
Ricky Skaggs - @RickySkaggs
Ronnie Dunn - @RonnieDunn
Ronnie Milsap - @RonnieMilsap
Rosanne Cash - @RosanneCash


Sammy Kershaw - @SammyKershaw
Sara Evans - @SaraEvansMusic
Sawyer Brown - @SawyerBrownLive
SheDaisy - @SheDaisy
Shenandoah - @ShenandoahBand
Skip Ewing - @SkipEwing
Shania Twain - @ShaniaTwain
Steve Holy - @SteveHoly
Steve Wariner - @SteveWariner
Suzy Bogguss - @SuzyBogguss

TG Sheppard - @TGSheppardmusic
T. Graham Brown - @TGrahamBrown1
Tanya Tucker - @Tanya_Tucker
Terri Clark - @TerriClarkMusic
Tim McGraw - @TheTimMcGraw
Toby Keith - @TobyKeithMusic
Trace Adkins - @TraceAdkins
Tracy Lawrence - @Tracy_Lawrence
Travis Tritt - @TravisTritt
Trisha Yearwood - @TYCom

Vince Gill - @VGCom

Wade Hayes - @WadeHayes
William Lee Golden - @WLGolden
Willie Nelson - @WillieNelson
Wynonna Judd - @WynonnaMusic

GLOCOSOUND: BRAND NEW SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITE LAUNCHES IN NASHVILLE

-National Expansion August 1st-

Globally Connecting Sound for Musicians and Fans Alike

A brand new social media website was launched on August 1 in Music City. GlocoSound, or Globally Connecting Sound, is the music-oriented social networking site that is geographically amplified. It is the best of video sharing, social networking and business connecting, and it’s absolutely FREE.

GlocoSound allows users to create a personal profile with video; a chance to be seen and heard. This can be finely tuned to a specific GlocoSound Select-City, which makes the whole experience much more personal. GlocoSound launches in Nashville today and will be available nationally this summer. Already, there have been requests for International connections so that will be included in the next phase.

Users can upload covers, originals, or anything else they want. If a visitor likes the video, they may visit the artist’s profile page and request a connection, which would allow the two parties to chat. Networking is an important part of music business and GlocoSound allows for a very unique way of connecting.

“I believe that giving artists a platform to work together towards their individual goals is exciting. GlocoSound is that platform and I am looking forward to watching it happen,” said Tanner Adams, Founder of GlocoSound. “Imagine entire cities being connected, not just with each other but across the globe; writing new songs, creating music together, becoming stars, accomplishing goals, making friends – all through the simple love of music. I’m excited to watch the big world of music become a much smaller place.”

Give it a try, see what you think! Together, as music fans and as artists, we can spread the love of music and increase the chances of potential fans connection with new music! This is a great springboard for new artists and an additional avenue for artists who have already established a following to increase their audience nationwide!

Start your Glocosound account here and increase your fan base! http://www.glocosound.com/

IS YOUR BLOG OR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGE WORTH READING?

Are you considering blogging, tweeting, or any other social media? Think about WHY you're doing it. If you're doing it to promote a cause, market a product or even market yourself, make sure you're not jumping in blindly and that you'll get a good return investment on your time. This means take time to consider HOW you're going to do this to reach the maximum amount of people and to make your blog or social media account appealing so people will talk and send other people your way. 

1.) Connecting with People - The most important, and really the whole point, of a blog or social media page is to connect with people, to share ideas. You have to be willing to connect with people personally in order to really make your blog or page work. Social media is just that, social. Take the time to respond to people, to reply to their posts or blog entries and don't just sit there letting them do all the talking and responding. Social goes both ways, be sure you're doing your part to keep their interest.

2.) Familiarization with Your Audience: What kind of audience are you looking for? Do you want people who actually care about what you're doing, who are interested in the same things you're blogging and posting about? Put yourself in your reader's shoes. What would YOU find interesting in a blog about *insert your cause here*? Do you like bloggers who stick to the script and stay professional or do you like bloggers who show their personality and throw in things that aren't always on course but still keep your attention? Consider more than just yourself when it comes to writing and posting, consider your audience first.

3.)  Timing of your posts: If you're posting an article such as an event review or a music review, post them as close to the end of the event date or the music release date as possible to keep them current. No one wants to read about an event that happened 3 months ago or a single that's been at radio for 6 months already. People want current, they want to be kept up to date. If you find that you want to write about something that's already happened but time has put you too far behind so it's not relevant anymore, move on and post about another upcoming event, current news story, or music release that is relevant.

4.) Be Authentic: No one likes a poser and someone who pretends to be what they aren't. It may not be evident to them at first, but eventually they catch on and you'll find yourself the center of lost interest. Talk about things that you like, not just things that you really don't know anything about. Blog about things you're passionate about, things you really want other people to know about. Are you known for your sense of humor? Infuse your posts with your personal sense of humor, don't be afraid to be funny. Are you deep and thoughtful? Then be that way in your posts. I prefer to think of what I post as things I would say in a conversation with someone. That's all social media and blogging are - a conversation with others. Keep the conversation worth being involved in. Keep it honest, keep it real and keep it delivered with the best of intentions or they'll keep moving right past you to someone who does.

5.) Content: Ahhh content. A small word but huge in the fact that what you post can make or break you. Be considerate of what you post and consider that you're showing this to the world and it will ALWAYS be out there long after you're gone. Is it something you'd want your kids to see? Is it informative as far as your cause? Will it help someone? Is it entertaining? Videos and images seem to gain the most interest and you'll find that more people tend to share these with others. Keep your posts "vivid to the imagination", informational, and complete. Don't blog or post something that you haven't fully proofread or fact checked. Don't simply repost an article that a celebrity has passed away, make sure it's factual. There are way too many hoaxes out there and when you repost without researching first, it chips away at your credibility. While on the subject of reposting and retweeting, don't just repost everything you see. Only repost if it genuinely interests you. Not everything needs to be reposted. Don't be a regurgitator, be an originator. Don't just blah blah blah. There is no bigger turnoff than someone who just rambles with no point and no reason. Don't be one of THOSE bloggers. Stay focused, have a rhyme, have a reason.

6.) Draw Them In: The title or opening sentence of a post means everything. Make it enticing, make it interesting, don't give away all the info in your opener. Make them want to read more, keep them guessing. Catch their interest right away in a few words.

7.) Reference your Posts: If your blog post includes information from another blogger, website or publication, reference them properly. Don't use information that isn't yours without proper credit. Same with photos and videos - credit where they originally came from. Do the same with social media reposts - include the original source.

8.) Keep up With Comments: Always respond to comments, good, bad and ugly. Don't respond negatively, but at least make it know that you've seen and read the comment. The reason people leave comments is to let you know they took the time to read your blog/post, take the time to let them know you read their feedback.

9.) Ignore the Internet Trolls: An internet troll is someone who has nothing better to do with their time than complain, be mean, finger point, and just be an asshole. Sorry, but that's the best term to describe them. If you add fuel to the fire by acknowledging their rudeness, it just makes the fire burn hotter and longer and doesn't make you look any better than the troll by engaging in back and forth, argumentative conversation. They live for this, they live for conflict. Avoid it. Block them and move on.

Keep things are genuine as you can and you'll be surprised how quick your audience can grow. Surround yourself with an audience who has a genuine interest and cares about your subject matter and your numbers will grow organically on their own. Speaking of organic, your blog or social media page is like a garden - keep the weeds out and it will flourish beautifully.

___________________________________________________________

FINDING YOUR WAY THROUGH THE TANGLED WORLD OF TWITTER ... A LITTLE BIT OF "TWITTIQUETTE" GOES A LONG WAY

Twitter can be a confusing world of 140 characters or less, follows, replies, retweets, reposts and other strange lingo and etiquette for some people. For those who are just starting on Twitter or those who have been on and just aren't getting it, here are some hopefully helpful hints to tweet your best and enjoy the connection! These aren't steadfast rules by any means, just personal tips that I personally find helpful and think some of you may as well.

1. BEGGING FOR FOLLOWERS IS A NO-NO ... 

Do you beg for friendship offline? Chances are you probably don't. This is no different. Begging is frowned upon no matter whether it's online or offline and on Twitter, it's definitely not something you want to do. Not only will it not get you followers, it will get you blocked and your name will get around in circles. Don't be "that person". It's not a good thing and it's annoying as hell.

2. IF YOU WANT FOLLOWERS, YOU NEED TO FOLLOW TOO

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, right? Yes. When someone follows me and I see that they're following 3 people but have 1500 following them, that tells me one thing - it's all about them. Granted, you don't have to follow every person that follows you, but take the time to check out bios and read timelines of those that follow you, you might find that you're missing out on some great people to follow back. One other thing, just because you follow back doesn't mean you've committed yourself to constantly tweeting that person, it means that you've found them interesting enough to keep up with what they're posting from time to time. You can tell by a glance at someones profile and their timeline whether it's someone you want to invest your Twitter time in.

3. THINK BEFORE YOU TWEET

Don't tweet out negative things about someone else, that makes you look like an ass, not them. It also says a lot about you. Other things you may want to reconsider before posting - off color jokes, pics that are too sexy, too much personal information about yourself, your email address or phone number, photos of abuse whether it be animal or human, or photos of your latest bloody injury. Just keep in mind that everyone sees these, not just certain people.

4. AUTOMATED MESSAGES ARE IMPERSONAL - TRUTH BE TOLD, THEY JUST SUCK

While it's nice that you want to ensure you acknowledge everyone that takes the time to follow you, these automated messages saying stuff like "Thanks for following. Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram too" are just impersonal and personally are a turn off. Twitter is about connecting, so if you want to really make a connection, take the time to tweet 140 characters of gratitude and address the follower personally. You'll make a much better impression instead of giving off the impression that you're too busy to respond personally or that you don't care to.

5. DON'T RETWEET EVERY SINGLE TWEET THAT MENTIONS YOU

When you retweet every tweet that's about you, it says just that "hey, this is about me! Look who's talking about ME!". Follow Fridays are terrible for it! Take yourself out of the equation and post your own #FF with those people instead.

And speaking of #FF, don't just tweet a random list of names. Choose a few and tell others WHY they are worth following and why you choose to recommend them as great people to connect with.


6. NOT EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE RETWEETED

Please don't retweet everything that comes across on your timeline. Retweeting is there for posts that you think other Twitter users want to know or something that would appeal to them. The fact that your friend's daughter got caught having sex with her boyfriend isn't something that needs to be retweeted. As a matter of fact, those things should be sent in direct messages.  Also, everything that mentions your favorite celebrity doesn't need to be retweeted either, keep it to the most important informational tweets, not that he/she just ate a Taco Bell burrito.

7. LIMIT YOUR DIRECT REPLIES TO THAT PERSON, NOT EVERYONE

If you see a tweet that involves more than one person and you find yourself in the middle of the conversation, once the conversation changes, don't continue to include everyone in all of your tweets. For example, if 3 people are talking about something and you decide to jump in the conversation and say hi to 1 of those 3 people and ask how their mom's doing, don't include the other people in your tweets. I've found myself caught up in a conversation between 2 people that were talking about how well someone filled out their Wranglers just because I originated a tweet about an upcoming show. I finally had to ask them not to include me in that conversation.

8. RESPOND TO TWEETS AS MUCH AS YOU CAN - SAY THANK YOU

Again, Twitter is about connecting. If you don't respond to those that take the time to tweet you or about you, why should they continue to do so. You've got time to tweet about your work out, that cool outfit you just bought, your weekend plans, your kid's acceptance to college, your dog's latest funny picture, and other things, you have the time to say thank you and acknowledge that someone thought enough of you to tell others. Say thank you and let them know you appreciate it. Start a conversation, agree with something someone has posted, let them know a quote they posted meant something to you - JUST CONNECT!

9. NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO RESPOND TO EVERY THING YOU TWEET

People seem to think that everyone is on Twitter 100% of their day. People have jobs, families and other responsibilities. Some people have their tweets on scheduler and aren't sitting at their computers or on their phones personally tweeting. People aren't going to respond to everything you post or tweet them, especially celebrities. Keep in mind that celebrities have a very limited window of personal time and when they are able to get onto Twitter, they have hundreds if not thousands of tweets a day that they see. Sometimes you're going to get overlooked, it's part of Twitter life. Don't get offended and don't take it personally, chances are your tweet was lost in the shuffle or they just honestly didn't have time to respond. You're not the only one and trust me, it's not personal, unless your tweet was of a questionable nature, then it may have been ignored, but most of the time it's just overlooked or there was a lack of time to respond to everyone. There's no need to hound someone to death to respond to your tweets, that's going to have the complete opposite effect of what you want to happen and will get you blocked. It also makes you appear to have issues that only a high paid therapist or medication can attempt to fix. Again, don't be "THAT PERSON".

TIPS FOR SPOTTING FRAUDULENT ARTIST SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS

There are several fake artist accounts out there on social media created by people who have nothing better to do than sit at a computer and pretend to be someone else, either to get your attention or even worse, to steal your personal information. Granted some fans set up pages to try to help promote an artist and can come across like they're pretending to be that person by copying and pasting everything that the artist posts and sharing the same photos too. Those people just don't know how to set up and run a proper fan page. If the posts on a page are identical to an official artist page, stick with the official page and leave the "fan" page alone. Before "liking" an artist page, do your research and make sure you're giving your attention and promoting the real account.

1.) Most bigger names and some newer names will be officially verified by Facebook and Twitter by a blue check mark. If there is no blue check mark, this is a HUGE red flag that chances are the person you're hoping to connect with and telling other people to connect with is not who you think it is. More times than not, the real account will have this to alert you that it's been verified by the website's security and that it IS the right person.

2.) Most official artist websites will have a link to their official social media pages right on the home page. If you click the social site button and it takes you to a page different than the one you thought was the right one, that's a surefire sign you've been duped. Unlike or unfollow the imposter and move over to the page the artist's website refers you to. Report the fraudulent account to Twitter, FB or Instagram. (Whichever site you find the page on).

Notice the blue checkmark below next to Joe's name on both Twitter and Facebook. Instagram will have that as well if the celebrity has been verified.

3.) An official artist page will NEVER request money and will NEVER send you private messages with questionable content such as requests for money or involving content of a sexual nature. NEVER give these people ANY personal information such as phone numbers, email addresses or physical addresses and NEVER agree to meet them.

4.) Some of these people are trying to manipulate you into believing the artist wants to be your friend when all they're really after is either to simply play mind games or to set you up for theft of money, passwords, and other personal information.

5.) Read their profile or timeline. Do any of the posts seem oddly worded or like something your favorite artist would say? If you're a long time fan, you'll know how this person typically posts and their way of doing so. Most of these scammers can't even use correct spelling, grammar or punctuation and sound like idiots. When's the last time you heard Garth Brooks say "I need want be your friend. I am a God fearing man of honest nature."? You haven't and you won't. 

6.) Be aware of inconsistencies in their posts. Look for contradictions or things you know aren't factual.

7.) Most on Twitter will constantly RT things that the celebrity they are trying to impersonate are tweeting. Rarely do they have a genuine tweet from the fake account.

8.) Misspellings of Names: Most artists know how to spell their own names. Garth doesn't spell Brooks as "Brroks" or "Brrooks", Mark Wills doesn't spell his name as "Willz". Notice the example below: Jake Owen won't have his twitter account as @jjakeowen and even his Instagram is misspelled in the bio. He also follows no one and only has 20 followers and likely only recently set up the page. The real Jake Owen Twitter account has over 2 million followers. Just pay attention to the not so obvious.

9.) Most fake accounts will only have press photos, album covers, etc and will only have a couple of them, not albums. They will also use the exact photos that are on the real artist's page.

These accounts are growing more and more by the day and more artists are having problems with them so please be on the lookout for any others and not only let the artist or their management know about the page you have seen, but block it and report it as being a suspected fraud account. Never be afraid to report a suspicious page. In addition to protecting the artist, you're protecting yourself and other fans. It's better to be careful and wrong than get caught in their game and find yourself the victim of a potentially dangerous mind game that could result in identity theft, financial ruin or worse. Just be smart. Don't be the fan that gets taken for a fool. No celebrity connection is worth that. Straight truth - people are getting crazier by the day and scarier too!

Thanks for helping keep an eye out for these and doing what you can to close them down. They can be harmful to you and you not even realize it until the damage is done. Just use your best judgement and don't be so quick to "like" a page or respond to someone that raises your eyebrow with doubt.

- Jenn

CMA CLOSE UP: NEW SOCIAL STRATEGIES MOBILIZE VIEWERS FOR CMA AWARDS

By Crystal Caviness

© 2014 CMA Close Up® News Service / Country Music Association®, Inc.

Sometimes it really is as simple as a hashtag.

Utilizing #CMAawards across multiple social media formats is the target of the Country Music Association’s plan to boost social media traffic significantly for “The 48th Annual CMA Awards,” airing live Nov. 5 on the ABC Television Network.

“Last year, in terms of social media, ‘The 47th Annual CMA Awards’ was the most talked-about broadcast of the week,” said Damon Whiteside, CMA’s Senior VP, Marketing and Strategic Partnerships. “We had 130 million impressions on Twitter. This year, we want to generate even more conversations around the Awards. We are doing more to raise awareness about tuning into the show, and we’ll do that with #CMAawards. We want to get fans to use that hashtag to generate conversations.”

Tim McGraw was among many artists who shared their 2013 CMA Award experiences live via Twitter. - Photo Credit: CMA

Kelly Clarkson was among the artists who posed for and tweeted selfies backstage at the 2013 CMA Awards via a “twitter mirror.” - Photo Credit: CMA

CMA’s digital platforms reach 2.5 million followers on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, mobile and email.  CMA’s plans involve leveraging that strong artist and fan community by providing content for its members to repost and retweet in the days before as well as during the broadcast.

New to the show this year will be the Backstage Pass via the WatchABC app, a behind-the-scenes, second-screen experience, accessible on tablets, laptops and other mobile devices. CMA had formerly provided multicamera, fan-directed streaming feeds at CMAawards.com. This year, they will also be featured inside the WatchABC app, offering a more integrated experience across multiple devices, including iPad, iPhone, Android devices and smart TV. Cameras on the Red Carpet, in the backstage area, and even focused on the A-list celebrities in the first few rows of the audience, will capture additional footage.

The CMA 360 app offered multiple views of the action during the 2013 CMA Awards.

Photo Credit: CMA

“With more cameras and more interviews and insights from the artists, the Red Carpet and backstage show will let the fans be more involved than ever before,” said Ben Bennett, CMA’s Director of Digital Strategy. “In select markets, fans can even watch the CMA Awards live on the WatchABC smartphone app alongside the backstage show. Being included in the WatchABC app will introduce Country Music to millions of potential new fans. The experience will also be available on the digital home for the show, CMAawards.com.”

Of course, Facebook/Instagram will be part of the experience. In 2013, using instastop photo booths, artists posted Red Carpet photos to the “Extra” Instagram account. They also participated in fan Q&A sessions on their Facebook pages. This year, fans will have even more chances to connect with artists through Facebook.

Colgate, another partner, will provide a site in the hair and makeup area from which artists can tweet. Additional partners JC Penney and Pepsi will offer their own social media elements.

One of the largest social media initiatives will involve Chevrolet, which launched an Instagram promotion during ABC’s broadcast of “CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock” on Aug. 5. This campaign invites fans to post photos evoking the Country lifestyle and what it means to them to Instagram using #ChevyCMASweeps. The winner receives a trip to Nashville and tickets for the 2014 CMA Awards. All the info about this campaign is available at CMAawards.com/Chevy.

Promo spots airing on ABC in the weeks before the broadcast will incorporate a social media twist, featuring co-hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood driving fans to social media platforms to vote on playful elements of those promos.

“Our goal is to create a great fan experience so the fans will want to talk about the Awards with their friends online, and as we reach more of their circles of friends, we can potentially reach a bigger tune-in audience,” Bennett concluded. “The fans, promotional partners and artist communities are all vital to our success.”