Everyday is Valentine's day for you and your fans

Original post from MusicMarketing.com

February 14, was the official Valentine's Day, but you should be celebrating it today, tomorrow, the next day, and every day when it comes to the relationship you have with your fans. Every day, all day.

Way too many bands think of their relationship with fans as a one-way thing-- them broadcasting a certain message to the fans. For a long time, that was great. It worked because doing things any other way wasn't a viable option, fans knew it, and they put up with it, even though they wanted more.

But now, communication is instant. You post a message on Twitter and it goes out to hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, or even millions of people instantly...and they can reply...instantly. Same for posting something on a blog or Facebook.

What are you doing with all the messages that come your way? If you're not using them to build long-lasting, two-way relationships with your fans, you're leaving money on the table.

Communicating with fans is easier than it ever has been. There is no excuse for you to avoid it.

Don't know what to say? The first thing I suggest is letting your fans know how important they are to you...

Here are five ideas you can implement right now to do just that:

Free Show - Send out a free ticket for your next show to everybody on your list, letting them know you appreciate that they signed up. Most people travel in groups, so anybody who comes will likely bring a paying customer with them. This will get people talking about your gig to their friends and start the conversation about how great you are, fill your next show, and make you more money.

Free Drink - Similar to above, but send out a certificate that can be redeemed for a drink ticket at your next gig. Let's say the show is $10. Even if the drink costs you $10, which it won't, that's money going to the bar, which will make the club staff happy and give you a better chance of coming back again.

Meet and Greet - You're a rock star, so act like it. Rock stars have a "meet and greet" to connect with fans. It doesn't have to be formal. Just let people know you'll be at the club a little early, hanging out before the show. This doesn't cost you anything, has a high perceived value, and will help fan loyalty for years to come.

A variation of this is to combine your meet and greet with a free drink. That will really nail down the relationship and loyalty you get from fans.

Free Music - Exclusive "Fan Club" CD? You should be doing several of these per year. The most people consume your music on a regular basis, the more likely they are to support you. Again, something to combine with a meet and greet.

Exclusive Merchandise - People love stuff that not everybody can get. Giving fans a limited edition t-shirt with a design now available anywhere else gives them bragging rights and you'll get some great free promotion from it.

There are a million variations of this idea... A favorite of mine is designing something you throw out from the stage, just to people on the front row who make a lot of noise. This lets everybody know it exists, which makes something rare even more valuable, encourages audience participation, and gives attention to the t-shirt recipient, before the shirt is even worn.

Bottom line here is to let your fans know you appreciate them and to do it often. There is no way to mess this up, so just do something!