Image via WikipediaOne of the great parts of the internet is the massive volume of people looking for information and looking to spend money at the same time. Given this environment, it didn’t take too long for people to start incorporating advertising into web pages and emails. This, in turn, brought about a staggering bulk of online advertising companies that range from banner ads, pay-per-click, video, contextual, pop-up, pop-under, and about a million other ways to cook the same egg.

I have had the distinct displeasure of learning that a nameless person wanted to start pulling money in for their band by adding Google AdSense ads to the website and/or possibly adding a “non-intrusive” banner. BAD BAD BAD!! …well, I said it in a slightly more tactful way. The point remains, however, that this is the last thing any musician would EVER want to do. Maybe.

The problem with advertising on your website is that as a musician, you’re already using that website to advertise yourself and your art. On a base level, you don’t want people distracted away from your page or from paying attention to you or your message. The larger problem has to do with branding yourself. Advertising looks inherently cheesy if it doesn’t serve a purpose. If you are a blogger or have a content-based website and happen to recommend a product, getting paid for your opinion and review is just fine. The tackiness comes when your website is all about your music, tour dates, merchandise, etc. and you see that your description of “hard rock” has triggered an ad for how to gain a rock hard body part without the hassle of weights and pills, it sort of detracts from your ultimate goal. It also gives the impression that your audience suffers from poor sexual health/image, perhaps paint the picture that your band attracts an older crowd, and a host of other guesses can be made. –none of which would have been done by just leaving out the ads.

Truth be told, you probably won’t make any money off your site with ads unless you can get thousands or tens of thousands of people to your website each month… at which point you will be touring nationally, be signed to a major label, and have national radio play… and not need crappy click ads.

Here are some exceptions to the rules and are okay in my book:

• You are partnering with a company, venue, or event and are advertising a short-term thing.
• You are advertising your own products –CD, merch, etc.
• You are a non-profit and you are showcasing a sponsor/donor
• You are being paid to endorse a product –though people see through this and tend to see you as a sell-out.

All in all, it’s generally bad policy for musicians to stoop to these levels; but as seen in the list above, there are a few exceptions.

DON’T: get distracted by trying to nickel and dime your way to profit
DO use your music, talent, energy and creativity to come up with a good strategy to promote your music, merchandise and CD