Relying solely on social media platforms for your music career is like building your house on rented land. You might enjoy the amenities, but you have no control over the property. Social media platforms can change their algorithms, policies, and even disappear overnight, leaving you scrambling to regain your online presence.
The Short Answer: Yes
Your website is your digital real estate. It’s one place on the internet that you truly own and control. You decide the design, content, and how visitors interact with it. Your website is the hub to all things internet and beyond. It allows you to link all your social accounts, build an email list, showcase your music professionally, sell directly to your audience, and connect with them on a deeper level.
It’s Not All Rainbows And Butterflies
Building a website might seem daunting, but there are user-friendly services and platforms available (Like WordPress or WIX) that make it easy to create a professional online presence without needing to code. By investing in your own website, you’re investing in your long-term success as a music producer.
Building and maintaining a website comes with its own set of challenges.
Cost: Websites are not free. You’ll need to invest in a few things: A domain name, reliable hosting, and potentially a website builder or hiring a developer. Ongoing costs include renewing your domain name, paying for hosting services, and potentially upgrading to premium features for your website builder.
Learning Curve: Even with user-friendly platforms, building and maintaining a website is a commitment that requires time and effort. You’ll need to learn the basics of website design and managing content. Having some basic coding skills is a plus.
Security is a major concern: Just as you would keep your home secure, you’ll need to keep unwanted intruders at bay. Websites can be vulnerable to cyberattacks, which could compromise your personal information and maybe that of your visitors. You need to take steps to protect your intellectual property and ensure your website is secure.
Ongoing Maintenance: Just like your car needs regular maintenance, so will your website. This includes regular software updates, security patches, as well as keeping your content fresh and engaging. The online landscape is constantly evolving, so you need to stay updated on the latest trends and technologies to ensure your website remains effective.
If all this sounds overwhelming, you’re not alone. Forging through this digital world will introduce you to new terms and concepts. There’s a bustling community of web designers and developers that you can call upon to help you along the way or provide a turnkey service.
Conclusion
While social media platforms offer a valuable presence for music producers, they should not be your only online strategy. They are essentially rented land, subject to the whims of the platform owners. In contrast, owning a website is your digital real estate, providing complete control over your online presence. While building and maintaining a website requires effort, it’s an investment in your long-term success as a music producer, providing a stable and independent online foundation for your career.
Ah-hem
I have been building websites professionally for over 20 years. I’m delighted to share my experience in the following perspectives: creative, technical and marketing.