The importance of having your own website can never be stressed enough. This means something like www.bandname.com as opposed to a simple page or two on someone else’s domain. Web-space is cheap and plentiful, if you want to be perceived as professional, you should start with your website. In the process of building your site you will also inadvertently put together the materials you need for your press kit.

Pictures, press clippings and audio are a must. At least one band shot and a few handfuls of free, downloadable, full version songs. Your press should be current; no one really cares if the Osh Kosh Herald wrote a review of your first emo-core band, three years ago. You should also have bio info on the band and its members, a page for posting tour dates and your contact information on EVERY PAGE. Lastly, fans should be able to sign up for your email newsletter directly from your front page.

It is crucial that you maintain your site, add new things to it, and change it around. Tour dates should always be kept up to date and old dates should be archived but viewable. This is your window to the world and when people look in they are more likely to listen to your music if they like what they see and hear right away. If you want to put a music player on your site, you should let the visitor turn it on. Having a music player start up suddenly when surfing at work or in a public place can be annoying, especially if the volume is turned up too loud.

Working in the music industry, you will find that you spend a bunch of your time, copying the same information over and over. When you are just starting out locally, it’s generally not an issue. But when you start putting small tours together, every minute counts. So why should you write down the same information for your contracts, website, press releases and itineraries. Onlinegigs is the only tool that helps cut down on the redundancy in your booking and promotional work flow.

The Automated Tour Date Publisher can update any website on the internet with all of your upcoming performances. Simply place one line of code on any webpage and your tour date information will be viewable as soon as you confirm a gig in your Onlinegigs account. There are a few different layouts to choose from and the text will adopt the style and color scheme of the host page. From any contact record, click on Schedule Performance and then click Get Code.

For more customization options check out: Customizing the layout

If you have ever tried to do your own publicity then you know how daunting it can be - sending all of those packages out into the abyss and then leaving voicemails for despondent writers who can't seem to find your package on their desks. You think of hiring a publicist but it's too darn expensive.

But labels and clubs keep asking you about how you are building up your name (not to mention your press kit?) And …where's your media section on your website? What to do? Here's a solution...

For less than the price of a new CD Review You will get your CD reviewed - 100% Guaranteed - by a real music writer who has experience as a music journalist. And Review You will send the review straight to you.

Check out: Review You