I am sure most of you have been told the importance of social media and community building. You may have even heard that content is King, but Do you know the Queen? Videos. Affiliate marketing is touted by marketers online in order to sell their products. So let me ask where is your product? While telling you that the cost of building your own product can be next to nothing.
While researching todays music industry, I found that more than music videos are wanted. So do you have videos answering your communities questions? Videos consisting of your specialized knowledge? The possibilities are limited by your imagination. With any product creation you want to test it why not use Youtube.com for this. You can even outsource the making of these videos via sites like Getafreelancer.com.
Compile your now tested videos into a DVD collection. Include 2 – 4 videos not placed anywhere during testing. Now you have a product and are ready to sell it.
Selling your videos you may want to look into a site like Paydotcom.com. This allows you to set up your fans as affiliates. The way I would suggest doing this is setting your video compilations as a zip digital file. Set the price somewhere above $10, and offer affiliates 50% commissions.
When deciding on a price there are a number of things to consider. Each video should be valued at $0.75. The DVD itself has a value I would say $2.00. Then add in a 20% mark up for the exclusives. With 10 videos and a couple of exclusives this should come to about $12.00.

Looking for 3 podsafe songs to use for a fan made video contest. I will be accepting submissions on a 1st come 1st serve basis with the following priority settings Sellaband.com, Ariel Publicity, Myspace, elsewhere.

The prize will be a $100 shopping spree through netvalar.com

The rules will be simple the contestants chose a song make a video post it on youtube and contact me via youtube.

The most creative and best video will win. More info as the 3 songs become accepted.

Legalese is as follows

Submitted videos will be jointly the property of the creator and the artist whose song is used. Obviously then each party can use the video for commercial purposes. Netvalar will retain a non-exclusive right to distribute the video via online hosting sites in a non-commercial manner.

Start a social network for your blog/site/company. Easy to do at Ning.com or a forum would work too this is for your visitors/customers/clients. Now the rarely part, take time once a year or more often to work with and plan a party or event for these people to get together. You don’t need to attend though it would be beneficial if you did. What this does is adds to the community building aspect of your brand.


Yep the above is the phrase that got Netvalar listed in "Best Kept Marketing Secrets - 100 marketing experts dish their marketing secrets". Later I'll dig up the web address for anyone who wants to take a look.

The key to the above is to build a community around yourself using online sources then taking it offline. It doesn't matter how great social tools get online, real social networking is done in the Real World.

If you haven't heard of Sellaband.com yet then you need to let some sunshine into your life. Walk out of the rain now, but 1st a few words and a video from the sunshine.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yT_P48ClLnk

Here is the short Bio from her website http://www.annemariesunshine.com

This young and full of energy lady comes from Poland. She moved to Holland, where she studies computer science, and left behind all her music projects. However, the future is in her hands!!!

Anne Marie started her music adventure by playing in a major musical in her home city. After that, she was invited to join the band called "The sweet trio". She cooperated with famous polish producers and singers. Now, Anne Marie works on new music projects as well as on her solo album.

You can preorder her album and participate in the revenue for 5 years just buy a part. Of course if you would like to spend time getting to know her or others who may be in the sunshine chat room, link found in her sellaband profile, drop on by. Listen to a few songs on her myspace profile http://www.myspace.com/annemarie85x and tell me doesn't she have a voice of a star.

In 2006 I wrote 2 articles for musicians just staring out and feel they are still relevant. I do plan to revisit Band Formation and starting to build your fan base right from the start. The natural next step in this process is your EPK as such today I wrote up my updated thoughts.


http://blog.timelineonline.org/2009/01/electronic-press-kit-epk.html

1)A bio of your band with title

2)MP3

3)Reviews/Quotes

4)Pictures

5)Graphics

6)Video

7)Live shows

I am looking for reviews and or quotes about timelineonline.org, Me on twitter, or any other aspect of the Netvalar/Timelineonline cyber presence. Graphics or pictures that you may feel fit into the Netvalar/Timelineonline cyber presence. And if anyone feels like doing a video about Timelineonline.org let me know. Any of these will be made public with the exception that I have the right to not accept a submission.

Between now and Jan 31 I am accepting submissions for anyone who wants a free copy of "The 2009 Indie Bible" via E-Mail. Obviously for those musicians out there for the winning song about Netvalar/Timelineonline cyberverse.

I only require that it be podsafe or copyrighted under creative commons. And if you want to do a negative one feel free, the winner will be selected by votes so you could still win.

It is 2009 now and Netvalar needs some goals.

1)Netvalar.com is planning to sponsor 4 musicians wanting to run a contest for their fans this year. You work out the details and I will offer a $100 shopping spree from my web store. Or if you prefer to decide the prizes check out the products and prices with a total upto $100. For the 1st contest I am accepting ideas and information through myspace only. Dream up your own contest idea, be creative and let me know. I'll decide which contest to sponsor and get in touch.

2)In 2008 a great idea was born, and I added a link to it on Timelineonline.org. However the 15 minute tip of the day has not been updated in couple of months. I spent tons of time last month seeing if I could do something similar. As such I plan on doing a tip of the day for musicians (it may turn into more of a social media tips) having it up and running by the end of Jan. granted you will have to read my blog at timelineonline.org to know when it goes live.

3)Early 2008 a great initiative was started called IMP due to outside perspectives it died out before really getting off the ground. Well Music Evolution social network was hoping to work alongside IMp but alas instead we shall work on a similar project for 2009. So if you are a blogger or want to learn to be and enjoy music head on over and join our little group. There is a similar group started for podcasters too. I plan to work a little bit on this idea for 2009, if there is enough interest then I plan to do more work so this one is up to the world at large. After all I can't be in every local music scene around the world.

Of course I would love to hear your thoughts on these ideas and maybe add in your own.

So many terms and phrases that come close to meaning the same thing while being totally different from each other. Being labeled a Social Marketing expert I have both tried to learn enough to maybe qualify (I never will know enough) and find out what that term means in todays world.

Some terms to think of that in todays world comes close

Thought leader - Someone who has opinions that enough people value to make them a micro celebrity

Community Leader - Someone who is trusted by enough people in a community that actions they take will have a drastic effect on that community

Authority Voice - Someone whose online postings are considered highly valuable rather it is due to their opinion or ability to get the facts/information together

These are just a few terms I come across that when someone is called an expert it is one of the above that is really meant. I always thought an expert was someone who actually knew enough about the subject to be correct most of the time. But based on the above in todays world an expert is merely someone who talks wayyyy too much. You can read 1 book and as long as you focus your words on the information from that 1 book and anything else you study around that subject you are considered an expert.

So what I have learned then is that really an expert is someone who is full of SH&*. Well in many ways that fits me IMO.

"Edit" Link to a great article about authority

It would appear that as of Oct 10th Britney Spears is on Twitter. Where her and her team post small little tidbits of info such as

Had a great day! Just put the babies down for bed. We were able to sneak out and get halloween costumes. ~Britney

Posted 14 hours ago. And unlike that other wash out Lindsey Lohan Britney jumped right in 10 days into her new Twitter account. Where as with Lindsey's Myspace profile her people or team or whatever they were handled the updates for months before Lindsey jumped in to blog. I think for Lindsey it was only the politics that got her involved in her own life. Well Britney also has her own social network at http://www.circusvip.com/ talk about taking the social marketing by storm all within the last few weeks.

Too bad I know none of it came from Netvalar but still good to see someone of that calibur using my ideas. Even if they obviously were someone elses too.