If my FaceBook page is dead, am I doomed as an online DJ?

How do you generate an online audience that will faithfully follow you online?

To generate an audience you need to build reach and be consistent in producing content. You need people to talk and sharing your content. But you have to think like a content creator and not like most DJs who are more concerned about posting mixes for self-promotion and showing off their skills (like me – LOL!!). If you’re going for a pure play online approach like a radio station then you have to think like a radio station. Music is your content. I know many peeps who listen to mixcloud or spotify or other streaming audio programs to hear music they can’t find on regular radio.

What I like about DJ Homei’s idea is that he is thinking about his mixes as content. It’s like how a web site would think about putting up stories about whatever. If that’s something his peeps want cool.

How would I build his audience?
1) I would make a simple web site and brand it. There’s tones of free ones out there. This is helpful to be found outside of FB using search to create awareness.
2) Use sites like Mixcloud or whichever to post your music. With Mixcloud you can link your posts with tools like WordPress for example.
3) Create an accompanying FB page. Not your personal one. You need one where people not in your network can find you also. And your listeners may not be interested in your goofy kitten pictures, or where you took your girlfriend last night etc. Again Mixcloud has an API or a way to link content to FB.
4) Start a Twitter account. And link Mixcloud to that too.
5) Spread the word (online or offline).

The idea is to create content on a variety of platforms that will help increase your reach across networks. This way you’re leveraging your friends and your friend’s friends etc.

If this is Homei’s approach he will need to produce content on a frequent basis that his audience begins to rely on it. You can’t post one this week and not post another for two months. People will forget about you. The golden rule to build an audience on YouTube is to produce content frequently and share it.

I could go on. But those are some basics. Like I said in earlier posts it is a lot of work.

Shuga*Foot, post: 33620, member: 2922 wrote:

WORD! The unfortunate reality is that most people live pretty mundane lives. And FB has become this place where people try not to be boring. That’s where social falls apart. So all you see is a stream of garbage where mundane people respond to mundane things. If you want How-To guides to social media and online marketing etc. Mashable.com has a lot of useful information. FB also has help guides for people who want to build pages and grow their audiences. YouTube also has interesting guides for the content partners.

See and thats the biggest issue with sites like Facebook. No one really cares about whats happening…just stuff that really interests them. Having a radio show…while it may be interesting to the select few…is really…REALLLY boring to others. The problem i see with an online radio station…and im totally at fault for this is that If the song that is on right at that moment im not interested in I wont stay on that online radio station. We live in the age of NOW and if we dont like something we change it NOW.

The main thing that really catches me when i listen to online radio/mixes is who its coming from…and more specifically I know that the radio shows i listen to are going to have the most latest songs on it so it is a tool for me utilize so i can add music to my collection.

Listen to In the Air with Morgan Page, In the Chamber with Revolvr, The Lazy Rich Show, and Burn the Fire Radio with Cold Blank…these all are more toward standard radio where songs are announced and it is all Brand new Music that has just been released…complete with Tracklistings so i know what exact song is being played.

Unless you can do something different, and new…maybe something to get the people you are trying to get involved somehow, like guest mixes of local djs, give aways, make t-shirts and have people walking around with them. Stickers, SOMETHING to get the word out to the masses, i fear that you will be putting in a huge amount of effort with very little to show for it.

Oh and yes i am full of piss and vinegar…I’m our companies Pitbull LOL 😀

DJ Homei, post: 33651, member: 5649 wrote: But I really, really, really love internet radio and its poor cousin, online mix streams. There’s just something about having somebody put on a quality selection of music that pleases and surprises you. And thanks to online, I can completely avoid bad commercial music. This really helps me focus when I’m doing some challenging work (In my case, tricky 3D computer animation). It helped me get through grad school. I would put on KCRW and/or ETN.fm listen to it for 6-12 hours straight. It helps me write, too. I can’t be alone in this.

Whats one mans trash is another mans treasure. I understand now where you are coming from. I dont agree with it but i understand. Myself i always have the biggest possible outcome and do everything i can to try and make it happen. I like to aim super high that way when it only ends up being like 100 out of every 1000 i have still at least connected with those 100 people. If you only aim your market at 100 and only 10 tune in, i personally would find it a little deflating.

DJ Homei, post: 33651, member: 5649 wrote:
Especially if I don’t have to lurk around the clubs like Mr. Creepy Old Guy

Well ya see this is where you took things to literally. Im assuming you are around the 40-50s age with the 20 years older comment…so why not find social venues where people of this age hang out? Be social in Martini Bars, Gentlemens clubs, etc. You say you like the lounge music and the laid back stuff so why not go and hit the venues that promote that type of stuff. Dinner clubs, Cigar Lounges, Whiskey Bars, you are in Hong Kong…and you mean to tell me that you cannot get people to connect with you in the place where there are the most people in the world?

Don’t try and stick to strickly under under underground. You say you dont want “those” types of people…but isolating yourself to the .05% isnt really going to get you anywhere and you will be as your OP says “dead in the water”

No im not saying that all people want to get drunk and dance to music…although that is where a large part of the money for the industry comes from. Most artists dont make a ton of money off their songs…but off concerts, shows, events etc. is where the biggest portion of their funds come from. Music is Social…there is no doubt about it. It creates conversations, emotions, and a community. You need to engage the people you want to captivate…and sending a facebook message, or posting stuff on forum boards and peoples walls will just be ignored.

How many of you on here that have facebook…actually read all the stuff that comes through the newsfeed? You may have 3000 friends…but out of those how many actually engage you? How many just hit like on a status and just move on throughout their day. How many of you actually comment something that is useful other than “omg thats so funny” or “LOL i love that cat”

In the end getting a fanbase is a lot like trying to pick up a girl at the bar. Youll probably talk to hundreds…and get maybe 10 numbers…out of those 10 you will be lucky if you get 1 or 2 that actually goes out with you.

If you start doing a radio station let people know on here. Sounds like your really passionate and I’d be interested in listening if / when you start it up. Just do what you enjoy.