It’s important to have a hub fans can check for new music, upcoming tours, and merchandise. Below we cover important web hosting tasks for getting started with the BoldGrid content management system (CMS) and many resources to study afterwards.
Music Video Security Analytics Optimization SEO Merch SocialCustomize BoldGrid
- Use an inspiration that fits your style.
- Set up your Staging site.
- Create your first blog post telling fans how excited you are to have reached this milestone and a page for your bio. You can change the default editor if preferred.
- Customize BoldGrid.
Embed Music
Embed your music from popular platforms. Whether you publish directly to SoundCloud or via distributor / aggregator – e.g. CD Baby and Horus – there’s likely an easy way to embed audio from it. This allows three things:
- Listeners can easily demo songs and follow/like instantly
- Viewers stay on your website longer
- You can prioritize a specific platform
- You earn royalties if using ISRC and UPC
Embed smart links using Link Fire or SmartURL to enable listeners to easily choose their preferred music platform for listening to your art or redirect them to specific platforms according to their country / region.
Video and Photos
Embed videos to help keep listeners’ attention. Even if your music is distributed to a auto-generated YouTube topic channel, uploading a video to your own YouTube channel and embedding it invites listeners to follow you there.
Images
Add images to show personality and allow listeners to relate with you. These can be pictures of music gear, live shows, and everyday life. You may get more ideas from our photographer guide.
Install WP Accessibility to add alternative text for disabled users.
Security
Install a security plugin to fight malicious activity. We recommend WordFence.
Enable the Total Upkeep plugin and download your backups regularly.
Enable AutoSSL, the free SSL that’s auto-enabled forever, in the Account Management Panel (AMP) to improve web security. We recommend a paid SSL once you add an online store.
Fight incoming spam and having emails marked spam with our email authentication guide.
Analytics
Use an analytics web application to learn your audience. While Google Analytics is most popular, some prefer Matomo for in-depth customization or Clicky for basic usage.
Optimization
Make your website faster with a caching plugin. You can also use a content delivery system (CDN) such as Cloudflare for better performance world-wide. Later on, you should learn more advanced methods for speeding up your site.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Configure Easy SEO for better visibility in search engine results related to your brand and genre. Advanced users may prefer All in One SEO or Yoast SEO instead. You can check such SEO results with SEO Centro and other online tools.
Some advanced SEO tips for an improved online presence:
- Add accurate names and descriptions in file names and alt text (with WP Accessibility).
- Check out Bandzoogle’s in-depth guide for in-depth advice. on schemas like MusicGroup.
- Consider adding your discography to the MusicBrainz and/or Discogs databases.
Merchandise
Install WooCommerce to sell merchandise or install an e-commerce CMS – e.g. PrestaShop or OpenCart – on a subdomain.
Social
Add social media accounts using the BoldGrid Customizer.
Use a social media management tool to manage multiple accounts from a single dashboard. Buffer.com has a plugin to schedule posts directly from your WordPress dashboard.
Create a contact form with weForms. Advanced users may prefer Contact Form 7 for more customization and security.
Create a Mailchimp mailing list to easily update fans.
Blog, podcast or vlog regularly to update fans.
Tell us what tasks from above you’d like to see us cover in-depth below.
