Not everyone is on FaceBook......

[two fingers]

In my experience, traffic on FB is dramatically higher than a web page....dramatically.

My current band has both. Over the last month we've added over 75 new followers on FB....but not one hit on the web site. Not one.

Wow! Has that been your experience with the other bands as well? Geeez. That's crazy.

Well, that makes sense for a band then, I suppose. I would be curious about a bass builder or other product niche market website.

Welp, I came here asking ans got answers, i guess.

Thanks, man.

 

[two fingers]

I couldn't imagine being in a successful band today and not having to use facebook. My group has a website and e-mail as well, but 95% of our booking and promo is by way of facebook. Maybe it's because our fans are in their 20s and 30s and that's how they communicate, but IMO if you're not using facebook then you're shunning a very powerful marketing tool at the expense of being "old fashion" or "disconnected". You don't have to use it for personal uses.

We're an original band; I have a personal page, which you need to host a band page. On my personal page I have about 200 friends, all real life, and almost all who have been to shows before. Those are the ones I invite to the gigs. I don't follow anybody but my wife, so no "news" comes to my feed from them. The only people I follow are large bands who I want to be notified of tour dates (because I want to go see them myself), and local bands and venues who will often post about openings and gig opportunities. I'd honestly have a hard time wanting to hire somebody into our band who wasn't on facebook, because I'd be a little unsure how useful their promotional efforts would be outside of it. All 3 other guys in my band are on it, and in the "events" that we make for gigs I can see exactly how many people each member has invited and how many people have accepted or declined the invites. I don't have a problem calling up member A and telling them they need to put a little more effort into promotion. We do the online promo in combination with more old fashion techniques of flyers, getting into print media, calling local radio stations, etc.

Thanks for sharing your experiences. But I never suggested one NOT use Facebook. I simply was asking about the value of ADDING a website to your e-marketing scheme. It seems for many it is literally worthless with regard to bands.

I would still be interested to read some opinions from bass builders or small pickup shops, etc.

 

[two fingers]

Facebook IMO is a necessity for the freelance musician.

If it weren't, there isn't a chance in hell I'd have an account.

People nowadays use Facebook like they used to use the telephone. More and more people are becoming incapable of even communicating via a telephone. We see it here on Talkbass from time to time, "Why must these guys insist I call them?!?!?". I play lots of shows, with lots of different people, and it's never about exchanging numbers anymore, or handing out cards. It's about friending each other, and as much as I hate to admit it-- Facebook is pretty good for that. It can give a freelance musician lots of exposure they'd otherwise never get. If Joe Schmo has my number that's great if he should ever need a bassist. But if Joe Schmo and I are Facebook friends, anyone and everyone he ever played with gets to see who I am and what I can do if we post on each others page. It's also a lot more impersonal, which makes communication easier for less extroverted.

I also need Facebook for some classes I've been taking, and I'm going to absolutely need it in a month when I release my book who's name I'm finally ready to start putting out there, 50 Things To Do Before Seeing a Psychiatrist. Interestingly, Silencing social media is one of those 50 things, so I obviously have many more thoughts on this topic.

I think Facebook is incredibly damaging in a lot of insidious ways that most people aren't the least bit aware of. It has it's definite upside, but, yeah... too many negative aspects, and definitely not a place the anxious or depressed should be burying themselves in every day. I think that it is also dividing and destroying our society, but that's the subject of yet another book .

You were one of the people I had hoped would chime in when I asked the question. Great post.

Being that you will be selling what I call a "hard good" (something one can hold in his hand), I'm interested in your thoughts as to what you will do with regard to a website. Will you even have one? Will the book be available through it? Or will you stay with primarily Facebook with regard to e-marketing your product?

 

[two fingers]

I've been off 4 years now, since they used my account name to spam all my friends when I clicked what I thought was a message from a friend. Contacted them about it, they ignored me, so I closed my account. Now...if only I could find a non-Google, Microsoft, Apple smartphone (think Ubuntu) I'd be set.

I have often wondered when the Linux phones would show up. Phones are really computers with a phone app (or if you want to get reeeeeeally technical, a two-way radio app). They will hit at some point.

 

[two fingers]

Facebook is a tool of El Diablo. It robs you of your soul, and creates only emptiness in its place. It was created by the worldwide global conspiracy to spy on you, and it will loosen your fillings while finding its way into your wallet. It is pure evil, and must be purged. Or maybe it's the turnips I ate. I forget.

Don't Bogart the turnips, man!

 

[sikamikanico]

It makes sense for businesses and bands, as you get to share and connect with your fans and customers more easily, and it can scale up quickly. That at least seems to be the sales-pitch for social media in general. Whether one can abandon a website, I don't know, maybe. Facebook is very cookie-cutter, which makes it easy to navigate, but hard to customize and make look real nice. So, how important is that? For some, a lot... for others, not worth their time.

For individuals, Facebook is a loosing proposition, imo. It's a time suck, and it's designed to sell you something (or to sell you and your data to the advertisers). I only use it as my online repository of contact info - phone numbers and emails may change, but people tend to keep one Facebook account. I only interact with a few people there.

 

[pedroims]

I only use FB to keep in touch with people that I care, I have less than 100 contacts, all of them are relatives and close friends.

The problem starts when you sent or accept ''friend'' requests from / to everybody. Being selective on whom you choose to interact is the key.

 

[two fingers]

By the way, what triggered the question was this thread.
How to find an affordable P bass with a jazz neck?

I think it was Gamma basses in Jersey that was suggested as a possible builder to make the OP a P bass with a J neck. No website I can find. I gather the guy is here on TB. But that's not the point. If I wanted to buy a bass from him, I would have to "hunt him down" so to speak. I'm not suggesting the guy should build a website on my advice. I was simply asking the question based on my surprise at the lack of any contact info not Facebook related.

 

[southpaw723]

I don't have any social media, other than feeling out of the loop occasionally, I'm happy I'm not attached to something like that where you are looked at as an object with x amount of friends/followers

 

[AaronVonRock]

A Facebook page is pretty essential for a band these days. Doesn't matter if you are a local band playing dumps and dives or a huge mega-band like Metallica. It's one of the most effective ways to reach people. I would think that would apply to small businesses, too.

Personally, I use Facebook Messenger in place of email and texts now. The only people I ever send emails to are my friends who are not on Facebook. All of our band communication is on FB. 95% of my communication with friends who live abroad is with FB. I guess I'm one of the two billion people who actually enjoy using it.

 

[two fingers]

A Facebook page is pretty essential for a band these days. Doesn't matter if you are a local band playing dumps and dives or a huge mega-band like Metallica. It's one of the most effective ways to reach people. I would think that would apply to small businesses, too.

Personally, I use Facebook Messenger in place of email and texts now. The only people I ever send emails to are my friends who are not on Facebook. All of our band communication is on FB. 95% of my communication with friends who live abroad is with FB. I guess I'm one of the two billion people who actually enjoy using it.

Glad it works for you. Thanks for sharing.

What I was curious about, though, was whether or not you guys also use a website IN ADDITION to your Facebook. And I was looking for opinions of those who don't use a website at all as to why.

Not arguing, I promise. Just specifying what my question was.

 

[JMacBass65]

Facebook IMO is a necessity for the freelance musician.

If it weren't, there isn't a chance in hell I'd have an account.

People nowadays use Facebook like they used to use the telephone. More and more people are becoming incapable of even communicating via a telephone. We see it here on Talkbass from time to time, "Why must these guys insist I call them?!?!?". I play lots of shows, with lots of different people, and it's never about exchanging numbers anymore, or handing out cards. It's about friending each other, and as much as I hate to admit it-- Facebook is pretty good for that. It can give a freelance musician lots of exposure they'd otherwise never get. If Joe Schmo has my number that's great if he should ever need a bassist. But if Joe Schmo and I are Facebook friends, anyone and everyone he ever played with gets to see who I am and what I can do if we post on each others page. It's also a lot more impersonal, which makes communication easier for less extroverted.

I also need Facebook for some classes I've been taking, and I'm going to absolutely need it in a month when I release my book who's name I'm finally ready to start putting out there, 50 Things To Do Before Seeing a Psychiatrist. Interestingly, Silencing social media is one of those 50 things, so I obviously have many more thoughts on this topic.

I think Facebook is incredibly damaging in a lot of insidious ways that most people aren't the least bit aware of. It has it's definite upside, but, yeah... too many negative aspects, and definitely not a place the anxious or depressed should be burying themselves in every day. I think that it is also dividing and destroying our society, but that's the subject of yet another book .

There is not a single thing in this response I would disagree with. Very much looking forward to your book Joe.

 

[RoadRanger]

I strongly encourage all my competition to leave or stay off of FB . Best to leave here too before all this useless knowledge ruins your root thumpin' - ain't none of you need them nasty fifths .

 

[Odinbass]

I hate Facebook in the context of bands. It's all about likes and event invites etc nowadays. You feel like an online marketing person instead of a musician.

But not doing the FB game, both for bands and in normal life, puts you out of the loop.

 

[two fingers]

I hate Facebook in the context of bands. It's all about likes and event invites etc nowadays. You feel like an online marketing person instead of a musician.

But not doing the FB game, both for bands and in normal life, puts you out of the loop.

Noted.

However, with regard to your sig....

I would still rather have a handful of wishes than a handful of crap.

 

[gregmon79]

I have a FB account but I dont really use it per say. I'm on it everyday but honestly, I really only go on it to get the little notification number off my screen on my phone. If it's not that I use it watch funny videos or share them and or post pics of my gear on my page or other gear related pages I'm on. I do sometimes use the Messenger to communicate with others in a good way. So I use it, but not like a lot to seem to use it. Like my girl, I'm not talking smack about her, but she's addicted to FB. She can literally sit there for 4 hours without blinking just watching/perusing/sharing on FB. No lie. And she won't get a thing done on her days off.

As far as the band thing goes, IMO, FB is not a good way to promote or get your name out there. It's actually just useless IME. Oh my band has over 2,000 likes on FB!!! Yay!!!..........then we're lucky if we can get 20 people out to a show we play. And that is being generous. Nothing beats personal promotion, putting feet to the ground and handing stuff out. FB is not going to do a damn thing for you band. In some cases, yeah a little. But overall, for bands like mine, it really ain't gonna do much. Doesn't mean we don't still post stuff all the time haha Well, I really don't.

The other thing that kills me is like you said @two fingers, MY GOD MAN!! if you're selling a product GET A WEBSITE!! Or at least a Reverb store or something to that effect! I cannot stand that when a builder only has a FB page and you have to like stalk his page to wait for when he has stock or whatever. It's pretty ridiculous. I get it, you're starting out, you dont have a lot of money, and most commercial web designers charge a good chunk of cash to start a website. But Reverb and eBAy is free to start your own store, why not go that route?

So in short, I do hear what you're saying. I don't think anyone should ever give anyone crap for not having a FB page. To me it's something you can get by without. I mainly use mine for entertainment for the most part and if it wasn't there I wouldn't miss it much. People turned it into a necessity for some.

 

[Odinbass]

Noted.

However, with regard to your sig....

I would still rather have a handful of wishes than a handful of crap.

I can understand that haha

To actually answer your post.... make a website. They are cheap and add some credibility. Sure it's not like 15-20 years ago but it's worth it

I am in the process of making one for my band so I'm following my own advice

 

[gregmon79]

I couldn't imagine being in a successful band today and not having to use facebook. My group has a website and e-mail as well, but 95% of our booking and promo is by way of facebook. Maybe it's because our fans are in their 20s and 30s and that's how they communicate, but IMO if you're not using facebook then you're shunning a very powerful marketing tool at the expense of being "old fashion" or "disconnected". You don't have to use it for personal uses.

We're an original band; I have a personal page, which you need to host a band page. On my personal page I have about 200 friends, all real life, and almost all who have been to shows before. Those are the ones I invite to the gigs. I don't follow anybody but my wife, so no "news" comes to my feed from them. The only people I follow are large bands who I want to be notified of tour dates (because I want to go see them myself), and local bands and venues who will often post about openings and gig opportunities. I'd honestly have a hard time wanting to hire somebody into our band who wasn't on facebook, because I'd be a little unsure how useful their promotional efforts would be outside of it. All 3 other guys in my band are on it, and in the "events" that we make for gigs I can see exactly how many people each member has invited and how many people have accepted or declined the invites. I don't have a problem calling up member A and telling them they need to put a little more effort into promotion. We do the online promo in combination with more old fashion techniques of flyers, getting into print media, calling local radio stations, etc.

FB is one of the worst ways to promote IMO/IME if you are a relatively unknown original act. Maybe it works for you, that's great. But for most in the area I live in, it's not the thing that brings people out to shows. Again, if you are an unknown original band.

 

[bassdude51]

Is there something I'm missing? Or am I fooling myself as to how many people on the planet don't use Facebook?

I'm not on Facebook. I don't want FB and don't need FB. Instead, I have TalkBass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[HubbardsFate]

I spend enough time dicking around on the computer without adding Facebook to the mix. I do see the appeal of it in some ways I guess, kind of a "one stop shop" for people to check in with you, and you with them, but I dunno...I have heard too much about people having drama on there, airing their dirty laundry, posting about every little insignificant thing in their day-to-day lives, that I have yet to be really tempted to create an account. Never say never I guess, but so far I have resisted the urge.