The importance of SEO and SEA for the music industry
SEO and SEA are two of the most underestimated parts of online marketing for musicians and record labels. Over the past decade, we’ve seen a shift toward advertising on social media instead of other ads giants like Google. Let’s take a closer look at how the music industry can contact a stunning 95% of all internet users.
So what does SEO stand for?
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. It is the process of changing content on your website in order to appear higher on search engines.
And what does SEA stand for?
SEA stands for Search Engine Advertising. Where SEO is about improving your website, SEA is all about placing ads on search engines and partnering websites. For example the Google Search Engine, YouTube and its partners.
Websites: who needs them anyway?
Why focus on optimizing your website if you don’t use it in the first place? The most used media of artists are Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and of course YouTube so why spend time generating traffic to your website. These media are all easily accessible for fans (they are already scrolling Facebook so they might as well check out your message) and used by billions of people.
There is, in fact, a downside to focussing on social media instead of your own website: the content on social media is not yours. Media on your website is yours to post, control and monetize. Modern websites can have data collection tools: big data and customer relationships are key to online marketing success. Social media come and go; your website is yours to control.
On the other hand, using a website is brilliant internet marketing whereas blog posts and good content help to build links.
Why should I promote my website?
An artist’s or label’s website can be the focal point in online marketing activities. Smart tools can be used to collect data from fans (with their consent of course) and growing a solid relationship with your fanbase. Promoting your website makes sure that fans find your website and of course your YouTube channel, which has all your music videos, as YouTube is part of Google.
How should I promote my website?
Apart from social media ads, Google offers a wide display of advertising tools. The best way to promote a website is by using Google tools instead of Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. It is an easy-to-use hands-on advertising tool with limitless possibilities.
SEA: the tools at your disposal
Let’s focus on some Google ads tools here:
Search
Ads are available on Google Search Engine, partnering search engines and YouTube.
These are text ads, made up of information about your website or product, site extensions and descriptions of services.
Display
Image and video ads on all websites connected to Google’s worldwide network and of course including YouTube. In-video ads, normal video ads and images of your brand. Various targeting methods and strategies are available including spreading awareness of your brand.
Shopping ads
Your products displayed on Google and its partners, displayed next to other products or search results. For example merch, CDs, DVDs and concert tickets.
How to win at Google Ads
One of the best ways to start doing Google Ads is to use an SEO reporting tool. It offers insights into how you can improve a website to rank higher on Google. Kwettr SEO tools also show you paid search campaigns of competitors, keyword research and inform you on how search engines work.
Piggybacking
Another important online strategy to use is piggybacking. It basically means using the success of your competitors to improve your own marketing strategy. It sounds like something intangible, but we can help you do this.
