Web Presence
These days, one of the best tools a songwriter can have at his or her disposal is a professionally built Web site. It can be the virtual equivalent of an office, retail store, message center, fanzine, demo catalog, and resume all in one.
Setting up a Web SiteA number of companies offer free Web space where you can build your own site with the easy set-up instructions provided. This is a great way to start. When you get tired of having a Web address that's longer than some of your lyrics, graphics that look like they belong on someone's refrigerator door, and barely enough space for a picture, much less a song file, you might consider spending some money on space and hiring a Web site developer.
Among the things you can put up on your Web site are:
Downloads and/or audio streams so that people can listen to your songs.
Lyrics from your songs.
Accomplishments, reviews, and bio information.
A credit card server or a link to an online store for selling CDs, t-shirts, and other merchandise.
A calendar of gigs where you'll be playing your songs.
A guestbook where people can leave messages or get on your mailing list.
A picture, so people have a better idea of who they're dealing with.
Pictures of your dog, dressed like Kiss's Gene Simmons last Halloween.
It's important to get a domain name with your name in it. It helps make you easier to find in a Web search and reinforces your name to anyone who sees it. If you can't get
CDs use a file type called a “wave” file. In a computer, you may recognize these files by the suffix
Currently, the two major formats used for song files on the Internet are MP3 and RealAudio. Most CD-burning programs have an option for turning a CD track into an MP3 file. Read instructions carefully; there are different kinds of MP3 files and you want to make sure you get the right one for the application you have in mind. Realaudio tracks can be “ripped” from CDs with the Realproducer program.
Some people have begun using Internet song files to pitch songs. Several online publishing houses have sprung up in the last few years. Most of them were immediately bought up by large publishers and closed. The future may see a lot of pitching done via Internet. A DSL, cable, or Broadband connection allows good-quality audio to be downloaded quickly or streamed. As soon as most publishers have these faster connections, look for Internet pitching activity to skyrocket.
