The soul of a performer is their music but their life blood is their fans. Building a strong fan base not only means a bigger audience to hear your performances but will be the foundation of future financial success and professional longevity. In order to build your fanbase, people have to hear your music.

The first and most obvious step is to create a web site that spotlights your music…and you. The more loyal the fan, the more they want to know about your life as they do your music. So share as much as you feel comfortable but keep the music the star. If you don’t have video of performances, get them made. Provide lyrics, offer ringtones and screen savers. Post information about any upcoming performances. Nothing sells music like live performance.

The next step is to drive traffic to your web site. Put a link to your site on your Facebook and MySpace pages. Send a tweet suggesting people check it out. Every time you update the page, use your social media networks to let people know what you are doing or where you are playing.

Some people are truly musical connoisseurs and love all types of music. Many people, though, tend to gravitate toward one style or genre such as country, R&R or jazz. Music social sites like Flotones, MusoCity, and MOG, enable artists to reach target music fans and let fans search out music by style or by artist.

There is no better or important way to increase your fan base than to perform. Playing music live improves stage skills, sharpens musicianship and offers the opportunity to interact with your fans one on one. The more you play, the better your chance of attracting new fans. The best case, of course, is to get paid for performing. Send demos to local music clubs and try to get a gig. Look for open mike nights and play in as many as you can. If you area has a street fair, sign up and perform there.

The quickest way to reach great numbers of people is on the radio. While Top 40 radio stations only play label releases, look for radio programs that promote new artists. If you get booked, make sure to promote it via your various social networks. Growing your fanbase take time and effort but it’s worth the effort.