How music artists can flourish by going Web-first

In today's online world few markets survive without some sort of Web presence. This has proved true in retail, journalism and especially the music world. Under the new Web rules, musicians who simply release albums and tour are bound to fold.

Radiohead, Muse and Lady Gaga are great examples of how the Web, blogging and social media can increase fan base and connect artists to fans. Below is a list of tips on how musicians can build a Web presence, a following and a stronger connection among fans by going Web-first.

Social media is secondary to the guitar pic

Twitter is one of the few ways fans can actually connect with you directly. So don't be afraid! Talk with your fans, build a dedicated network of listeners to which you can tweet your upcoming gig dates. However, don't turn your Twitter into an events calendar, tweet low or high quality songs that you're working on and let listeners in on the many dimensions of your music. On another note, using Twitter as a way for fans to keep tabs on an artist is great. It lets your fans get "obsessed" with you in a good way.

Create a Facebook Fan Page where listeners can gather to comment and share videos and sound recordings you have created as a community. Allow fans to post their own multimedia of your performances and before you know it, you will have media to share without having to put up with recording it yourself. Note: Unless your trying to make money on ads, a Facebook page can replace an artist's website. Plus, very little HTML knowledge will be needed.

Play the smallest venues and tell everyone

It seems pretty obvious that most musicians want to play big-bar venues and hot spots in cities but if you're just getting started, try to think local. If your town has a local coffee house, play there and tell all of your friends (in-person and throughout your social networks).

Not every performance has to be a big deal. Even grocery stores like Whole Foods host open mics and depending on which location you attend, many of the employees end up playing the part of the onstage talent. Lame, right? Wrong!!!

Be the big name of that small venue and you can be a big part in making it more successful. After two or three performances, when the MC or events coordinator begins to see that the audience likes you and that you can pull a following to the venue, you'll start to see some local success and the MC might even give you a call to make sure you're on your way to the next open mic.

Also, if your first few performances don't seem to be drawing crowds, have a friend get video of the performances so friends know what they're missing out on.

Get video using your mobile device!

Whether you have an iPhone or a Droid, use it! If you're going to push your talents on to Web for the world to see, then you have to begin defining the character that is the creator of your music. By using video, you can make this, your daily practice time, into a technology-powered PR plan.

Whether you're at a state park or in your friend's family room use the video recorder on your phone to record a quiet, intimate performance. Remember, not every fan is looking for the best quality sound or effects every time they see or here you play. Sometimes a low-quality YouTube video capturing an emotionally charged real-life performance will let your listeners see another side to your music drawing them to pay closer attention to your work.