This post was written for Bandzoogle, a website platform for musicians. Bandzoogle is a Montreal-based company, founded and run by musicians, and has every tool a musician needs for their website. Visit Bandzoogle.com to take the tour or get started right away and build your band website free.
7 Twitter Bio Tips for Bands
Twitter gives you 160 characters for your profile’s “bio”. Here are some quick tips on how to maximize the short amount of space you have to make that first impression count:
1. Don’t leave your bio blank
It might not seem like a lot of space, but you can make someone curious about your music and give them a real sense of your personality within those 160 characters. Take advantage of it, because leaving it blank could cause someone to simply move on to another profile.
2. Include a link to your own website
Twitter allows you to enter a website that will appear under your bio. Many artists link to other profiles like their MySpace page, ReverbNation profile, Sonicbids EPK, or Bandcamp page.
There is only 1 link you should have, which is a link to your own website. Send people to your website where you can entice them into signing-up to your mailing list, where they can read your blog, watch your videos and shop at your online store.
Give yourself the traffic and potential upside, not a social media site. If they want to connect with you on Facebook, ReverbNation, etc., they can always go to those pages once they’re on your website.
Note: One of the most unfortunate things I’ve seen are bands putting a link to their Twitter profile in their Twitter bio. I’ve seen it more times than you would think. All it does is refreshes the page when you click on the link, a wasted opportunity.
3. Make it personal, not 3rd person
Tell people about yourself as if you were talking to them in person, not like your bio reads in your press kit. So instead of
“Dave Cool is an awesome artist who sounds like...”, make it more like
“Hey, I’m an awesome artist, I kind of sound like...”. On Twitter, you’re talking directly to people, and that includes your bio.
Make it personal and speak directly to the person reading it.
4. Include your location
Twitter gives you a field to include your location. Use it.
Fans often want to know where a band is from, and not only that, if another band/artist stumbles on your profile, it’s a
great way to network with artists in your area.
5. Don’t use a fake verified account
When bigger name artists/bands/celebrities use Twitter, they get a blue check mark that signifies that it’s a verified account, i.e. that it’s actually them.
Some bands have started putting a fake “verified account” check mark in their bio to make it seem like they’re a big-name act. Please don’t do this, it’s really cheesy.
GOOD:
BAD:
6. Update your bio regularly
Just like your artist bio,
your twitter bio should be updated regularly. If you’ve won an award, or were recently featured in a high-profile interview, be sure to add a quick sentence about that in your Twitter bio.
Always be aware of your Twitter bio and whether it still reflects who you are as an artist.
7. Be genuine
It can be tough to give people a sense of your personality in 160 characters, but it can definitely be done. Be funny, be dry, be serious, be over-the-top.
Whatever your personality is and whoever you are as an artist, make sure your Twitter bio is an extension of that.
This post was written for Bandzoogle, a website platform for musicians. Bandzoogle is a Montreal-based company, founded and run by musicians, and has every tool a musician needs for their website. Visit Bandzoogle.com to take the tour or get started right away and build your band website free.
