You’ve got the perfect band name and a growing discography that you’re proud of — but without a great website, you could be stifling your band’s growth and success. Whether you’re looking to revamp an existing site or build a band website from the ground up, here are a few tips and best practices to keep in mind.
Secure a Domain
An excellent band website begins with the right domain name. You can use a domain name search tool to check for available domains and register the one you want. Ideally, you’ll want to choose something along the lines of [YourBandName].com. However, if that’s already taken, you might consider searching for a .net or similar option.
Pro Tip: Secure similar domain names (like .net, .band, or your country’s TLD) to protect your brand and prevent confusion.
Use a Website Builder
Once you have your domain name registered, it’s time to start building your website. While you could hire a web designer to do this from scratch, the easiest (and most cost-effective) solution for anybody with even a little tech-savviness is to use a band website builder like WordPress, Squarespace, or Shopify.
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These user-friendly website tools make it easy to choose a template, customize it as needed, add different themes/plug-ins, and keep your site running smoothly. Costs can vary, but for a basic site with hosting, you can usually expect to spend under $50 per month for a WordPress or Shopify subscription.
Extra Tip: Look for website builders that have music-specific templates or plugins, such as built-in audio players, event calendars, and e-commerce integrations for selling merch.
Keep Your Band Branding Consistent
When it comes to selecting things like color schemes and fonts for your band website, it’s important to keep things consistent and to ensure that your choices reflect your band’s overall feel and vibe. Consider, for example, using your band’s logo (if you have one) at the top of every page — as well as integrating any colors from your latest album release. You might even consider syncing fonts from your most recent album and adding any professional photos of your band in action to your site.
Consistency Checklist:
- Use the same logo, colors, and fonts on your site as you do on your social media.
- Feature high-quality press photos and images from recent gigs.
- Consider adding a background or theme inspired by your album artwork.
Showcase Relevant Content
What kind of content should you offer on your band website? While it’s important that your site includes as much relevant information for your fans as possible, you also don’t want to overwhelm them with content or make your site too cumbersome to navigate. With this in mind, it’s generally best to stick with such basic pages as:
Essential Pages Every Band Website Needs:
- Homepage: The landing page for your visitors. Feature a bold intro, your latest release or video, upcoming shows, and social media links. Use engaging visuals and clear calls-to-action (CTAs), like “Listen Now” or “Buy Tickets.”
- About Page: Tell your story! Share your band’s origin, member bios, musical influences, and milestones. Include professional photos and even a downloadable press kit for media or promoters.
- Music/Discography Page: Allow fans to stream, buy, or download your music directly from your site. Embed Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp, or SoundCloud players. Provide links to all major platforms.
- Event/Tour Calendar: Make it easy for fans to see your band play live with an up-to-date event calendar that includes any tour dates, release dates, and other special events. Include ticket links and RSVP options.
- Merch Shop: Sell your music, t-shirts, posters, and other branded merch. Integrate e-commerce options using Shopify, Bandzoogle, Big Cartel, or even print-on-demand services like RedBubble or Teespring.
- Gallery or Media Page: Showcase high-res photos, live videos, music videos, and behind-the-scenes content. Visual content helps fans connect with your personality and brand.
- Contact Page: This may be a direct contact to the band’s email address or even a link to your management for any booking inquiries. Either way, make sure people have a way to get in touch with you. Many bands will include links to their social media pages in this section, too.
- Press/EPK (Electronic Press Kit): Make it easy for journalists, bloggers, and promoters to find your bio, hi-res images, and contact info in one convenient place.
Engage With Your Fans
Even once your website is designed and built, your work isn’t quite done. After all, you want to make sure that your site has the potential to reach as many fans (and prospective fans) as possible.
Build an Email List
One potential way to do this is to offer visitors to your band’s website the chance to sign up for an email list. When users provide you with their email addresses, this gives you a reliable and easy way to get in touch with them regarding new releases, new merch, and other important announcements. Consider adding an option to join your band’s mailing list directly on your homepage, as well as at the bottom of every other page.
Tip: Offer a freebie — such as an exclusive track or a discount code — in exchange for signing up to your list.
Start a Blog or News Section
Another way to engage with your fans through your website is to create and maintain a blog. Share updates from the road, stories behind your songs, behind-the-scenes content, and news about upcoming projects. This keeps fans coming back and gives you more to share on social media.
Blog Ideas:
- Recaps of recent shows or tours
- Recording session stories
- Announcements for new releases or music videos
- Fan shoutouts and testimonials
Optimize Your Band Website for SEO and Mobile
Your site needs to be easily found by new listeners! Try these three tips to get started:
- SEO Basics: Use keywords like your band name, genre, and location throughout your site. Write unique meta titles and descriptions for every page.
- Fast Loading: Optimize images and avoid heavy plugins to keep your site speedy.
- Mobile Friendly: Most fans will visit from their phones. Choose responsive templates and test your site on multiple devices.
Track Your Results
Install Google Analytics (or similar tools) to monitor your website traffic, see where your fans are coming from, and find out which content performs best. Use these insights to improve your site and focus your marketing efforts.
Grow Your Career at Musicians Institute
There’s a lot you need to keep in mind when you build your own band website. From choosing the right hosting platform to deciding on what content to include, knowing how to build a band website that engages your fans can help your band grow and reach new heights of success. With these practical tips in mind, you’ll be well on your way to a polished site that you can be proud of.
Looking for further insights to advance your career? Musicians Institute offers a number of programs to suit your needs, including an Associate of Science in Music Business and an Artist/Producer/Entrepreneur Certificate.
Get in touch to learn more or apply now!