Getting Started
Stereofame allows you to post a free Web page called a "Profile," which includes music files, photos, videos, etc.
After you set it up, you can invite anyone who has access to the Web to visit your page to play your music and cast a vote for each of your songs. You will earn points for each thumbs-up vote you receive.
Set Yourself Up
UPLOAD MUSIC
Once you complete the registration process, your profile page will be created with various content areas that you can easily populate. The first content area presented is the Music Upload area. Follow the instructions to upload 5 songs. The system currently only accepts MP3 files. Once your MP3 has been uploaded to the server, you will be able to enter your song details, including track title, lyrics, download status, etc.
ADD PHOTOS
Just below the music upload area is the photo upload component. Stereofame allows you to have one main photo on your profile's main page, and an unlimited number of photos in the Photo component area. Click "Browse" to locate the photo on your computer that you would like to publish on your page. Double click the file and the photo will automatically upload to your page. Wait briefly while the data refreshes in the area, then a thumbnail of the photo you uploaded will appear. Click the thumbnail to add a caption and crop the image, then press save. You can select which photo you want to be your main profile picture by clicking the "Make primary" link under the corresponding photo. If you do not select a photo to be "primary" your profile picture will be randomly selected from your gallery and change with each page load.
Complete & Customize Your Profile
After you have successfully uploaded your music and photos, click the "Home" link located just below your Artist Name. Here you will see an "Actions" area that allows you to manage the components that are visible to users on the site. Click a component like "Embed Video" and you will see the video component added to the bottom of the page where you can add content to it. To remove a content area from your page, simply click the "X" link on the upper right corner of the component.
BILLBOARD
The Billboard component on your profile page is meant to be a freeform area for artists. You can use it to post your band bio, tour dates and news. The area is customizable so if you are HTML savvy, you can add basic styles to customize it and add images from the web.
While Stereofame allows you to have an unlimited number of photos in the Photo component, some members choose to add photos or web banners to their billboard area as well for increased visibility. If you want to embed additional photos onto your billboard area, you can use a free hosting service like Photobucket.com, which provides you with HTML tags to paste into your profile's code. Keep image file sizes small — no more than about 350 to 400 pixels wide for photos appearing in your Billboard area. Oversized images can make the page take longer to load and may get cut off if they are bigger than the content area.
VIDEO
You know what they say... "people sometimes hear better with their eyes". Showcasing your videos on your profile is a great way to build an audiovisual connection with your audience. Click on the "Embed Video" link in the Actions area and the video component will load on the page with a form to submit your YouTube video link. Currently members can display one video on their profile page, but feel free to change it as often as you like. If you don't have a professionally shot video, consider uploading clips from your live shows or your studio sessions to YouTube, then embed the URL into your Stereofame video component.
SONG HISTORY
The song history component will display to the public all of the music you are listening to on Stereofame. Displaying this component is optional, but recommended as it is a great networking tool.
TAGS
Tags are keywords or phrases that help identify music, bands and labels by genre or subject (80s, hip hop, Sunday drive, etc.), but the possibilities are endless. In this area insert tags that describe your music.
Get Signed
Once your profile is complete, it's time to put yourself out there and get signed. The best way to jump-start your presence and rack up points is to get your current fans involved. Let them know that they can support your band and earn points for free stuff when they sign you to their virtual record label on Stereofame. It's totally free for them and they can literally earn enough points in 1 day to bid on free prizes in the Point Store.
Start by clicking the "Forward to a Friend" link in your Actions area. Use the form to tell your friends about your new profile on Stereofame. The message will automatically include all of the benefits of Stereofame, so it's quick and easy for you.
You can also advertise your profile outside of Stereofame. Put your profile address in your email communications and email signatures, and on your main website, gig flyers, business cards, CDs, T-shirts, and anyplace else you would advertise your traditional website address. Stereofame offers code for a customized player widget and promo banners that you can copy and paste onto your website, blog and MySpace page. Click the "Spread the Word" link to see all of the options.
Each fan you refer to Stereofame earns you 100 points. And... every time you successfully refer 10 new members to Stereofame, you'll get a 1,000 POINT BONUS.
Promoting Yourself
Now that you have support from your current fans and friends, it's time to maximize your presence and get signed. There are many Stereofame Labels on the site ready to listen to your material and consider you for their Label. Visit the Browse page on the site and click the Label tab to sort through all the Labels. Take some time to discover Labels that are into your type of music by looking at the artists they already have signed and the type of music they have shown in their Listener history. If it looks like a good match, then click the "Submit Music for Label Review" link in the Label's Action area. When submitting your music, be sure to send a personal message describing your work and give reasons why the Label should sign you.
Comments
After submitting your music to a Label for consideration, follow up with a comment on their page thanking them for the opportunity, reiterate why you are interested in having them represent you and invite them to check out your page. By placing a comment on other profiles, you are subtly inviting anyone that sees it to visit your profile as well. Doing so is a great way to expand your visibility.
Make new friends
Visit profiles of other artists in your genre. Listen to their music, cast votes and leave feedback in their comments area. If you like what you hear, add them as a friend. While you are there, see which Labels have signed them. Then send those people Label Consideration Requests or emails to introduce yourself and invite them to hear your music. A sincere, friendly email can make all the difference in how the recipient responds. Write something like, "Hi, I saw your label page and the artists on your roster are incredible picks. I'd like to invite you to take a look at our profile as our sound and vibe is similar to a lot of the artists on your label. I sincerely look forward to your reply and comments on the tunes."
The Key to Greatness
Maintaining your buzz on Stereofame requires consistent effort. Labels are in search of artists that regularly log into the site and participate in the game. The benefits are two-fold for you; as you play the game networking with labels and discovering new music, you earn points and the more you network the more footprints you leave for Labels to follow and sign. You are also getting exposed to new and active fans of music from around the world that may have never discovered you by any other means.
Anytime you have you have a question, check out the GAME RULES page or just hit the Feedback tab at the top of the screen. We're here to help!
Labels: Artist.Toolbox, sterofame
