Steps

Setting up a network is fast and easy.  Figuring out which features make sense for you, and moving or linking to any other content you have on the web, might take a while but is something you can do in phases and complete over time.  Here’s what to do:

1. Go to Ning.com and choose a name for your network, probably just your band’s name or your name.
2. Sign up for an account — you’ll use this login for when you make changes or want to make more social networks for your other projects.
3. Describe your network, add a tagline, keywords, etc.  Make the network public so that anyone can join and they don’t need an invite.  (You wouldn’t be that snobby would you?)
4. Add the features you want into your layout.  Be sure to click on the link that shows all the features.  For now, only drag over stuff that is relevant — you can always change it later.  For example, if you don’t have any videos leave it off until you do.
5. Choose a theme and change the colors are you see fit.
6. Once it’s launched, click on the “Manage” menu item and make sure all your settings look ok, as well as offer some basic promotions like a Facebook widget.  The “Track Statistics” link will allow you to add Google Analytics to see who’s on the site.  It’s free and could give you an idea of how many people are using this network and what parts of the world they are coming from.
7. Find the “Badges & Widget” section and customize the widgets (including your music) that will be available to your fans to put on their own blogs and profiles.

What’s Next?

Start populating your pages! Add your music and videos and start a blog.  Use the RSS feature to pull in all the other things you’re doing online.

Definitely use the “Events” feature if you have any gigs coming up.  For that matter you can add “special appearances” to that calendar, like “going to be at the coffee shop reading the newspaper on Tuesday morning” and your fans can RSVP to them.  You can even put a link to more venue info or a map.

Throw in a text box and put links to your other locations on the web, like your myspace profile or your t-shirt store.  While you’re at it, why not throw in a link to an Amazon wishlist set up for your music related stuff?  Finally, allow your users to create groups within your networks so that you can get a better idea of who your fans are and what they like to do when they aren’t listening to your music.   This is a social network you know.

Now start telling your fans, friends, family, neighbors, associates, attendants, sugardaddies, and anyone else who has an internet connection, and get them to sign up.  Encourage them to invite others they know as well as put your “badges” (widgets), including your music, on their own blogs or other social networks.

Remember to keep your content fresh by writing often, putting up pictures after a show, etc.  You want your fans to keep coming back to checkfor any new stuff and keep you in the front of their brains.  What’s nice about having your own social network though is that your fans will take up the slack when you’re too hung over to blog, and add their content about you as well.

Also check out our review of Ning.com