One of the most common questions I receive from bands is "What should I put on my website?"

Each band requires slightly differing materials, but I decided to make a simple list for clients to use when gathering all their assets to start their first (or grow their already developed) website. If you are able to incorporate most or all of the items on this list, your website should have everything you need to properly reach your fans and individuals who may want to work with your band, such as attracting booking agents, artist management, record labels, and publishers. Of course, there is a lot more that can be included and not all items are relevant to you, so please consider what you specifically need and don't need.

Below are some of the basics that I would encourage bands to have available on their website:

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Musician Website 

Home Page 

• Quick Bio (two-three sentences and link to bio) 
• Press Photo 
• Recent Project 
• Get Tickets Link 
• Buy Merch Link 
• Contact Link 
• Show Calendar Link 
• Mailing List Sign-Up
  • Make it obvious and put it on as many pages as possible.
  • For realsies - this one is MEGA important.

Bio Page 

• Long Biography 
  • Keep it concise.
  • Keep it interesting.
  • Don't bore your fan base with too much "influenced by" descriptions.
• Press Photo (Logo embedded in the image) 

Merch Page 

• Physical Content 
• Physical Albums 
• Digital Downloads 
• Mailing List Sign-Up
  • Right on top
  • All purchases and downloads should have a "I consent to sign up for your mailing list" check box or option

Show Page 

• Calendar 
• Ticket Link 
• Past Shows 

Music Page 

• All Official Music Videos (present to past) 
• All Official Lyric Videos (present to past) 
• Highlighted Live Videos (present to past) 
• Fan-Made Videos (if applicable) 
  • Properly credit and thank the creators
• All Music Streaming and Purchasing Links 
  • Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music profiles, Tidal, etc. 
• Built-In Music Streaming Device 
  • Do not have auto play/streaming upon entering the site.

Electronic Press Kit 

• Highlighted Press Quotes 
• All Press Coverage 
• Sample Track (make downloadable) 
  • Or, if uncomfortable with a full track, a sample track of selections of your best work that is downloadable and watermarked
• Sample Videos 
• Contact Information 
• Press specific Contact Submission Form 
  • Name 
  • Link 
  • Email 
  • Message 
• Press Release 
• Highlights of your career 
  • Great shows, tours, shows played, tickets sold, notable venues, notable awards, or anything worth bragging about. 

Contact Page 

• All social media and band-socials links 
  • Bandcamp, Reverbnation, Bands In Town, and Social Medias 
• Phone Number 
• Mailing Address 
  • Consider getting a P.O. Box for home or office location privacy 
• Email Address 
• Contact Submission Form 
  • Name 
  • Email Address
  • Message 
  • Have a "I Consent to sign up to your mailing list" checkbox

Miscellaneous Pages 

• Blog 
• Subscription/Fan Club 
  • Similar to a built-in Patreon 
• Links and Resources

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There are many great website hosting and development platforms available. Many clients have used Wix, SquareSpace, GoDaddy, and any number of valid options. What is important is to consider what you need as a band specifically - many of these platforms are designed for more general businesses - and the cost to handle those needs. Web Sales, Mailing List, Ticket Sales, and file hosting can all cost additional fees, so please consider what you need and what each platform offers.

If you haven't figured out already, I am a HUGE advocate for Bandzoogle. I encourage bands to use this platform as it includes all your needs without any additional costs or withheld percentages, easy to use and update, and has musician-specific design ideas and functions. Lastly, your domain and file hosting is included.

However, whatever platform you decide to use, it should be able to handle all of the functions listed above PLUS has the ability for built-in analytics and website data display. This is the most valuable part of your website, beyond your direct merchandise sales. You can catch my discussions on website analytical data leverage on my personal Facebook Live videos.

Of course, I am more than happy to help bands develop and design their content. Please feel free to reach out to me here if you have any questions.

Mailing List Edits:

Your Mailing List is the last unfiltered, direct contact with your fan base. Though I will go over why this is in a Blog post to come, I assure you, the earlier you start collecting emails (by region), the better. Collect them at shows, from your friends, on every danged page on your website, and any means you possibly can. You won't regret it -