The Art of Classical Music Blogging: Insights and Tips for Success
Discover the key differences between a website and a blog, learn why Frances Wilson started The Cross-Eyed Pianist blog, explore how to get started with your own blog, and find tips for creating engaging content and increasing readership. Get started on your blogging journey today!
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THE ART OF CLASSICAL MUSIC BLOGGING Frances Wilson AKA The Cross-Eyed Pianist
What is a blog? noun 1. a website containing a writer's or group of writers' own experiences, observations, opinions, etc., and often having images and links to other websites. 2. a single entry or post on such a website Origin: a shortened form of weblog
Differences between a website & a blog Website Most content is static. Formal/professional. Interactivity is usually limited: typically, there is only one-way communication. Communication tends to be about products and/or services. Almost everyone has a website. Blog Content is regularly updated. Less formal in approach and tone. Interactive readers can leave comments. A blog is more like a magazine or journal.
Why did I start The Cross-Eyed Pianist? I have always enjoyed writing about music I wanted to find a way to record my thoughts about the music I was playing and hearing at concerts Maybe other people would find what I was writing interesting ..
How I got started Before The Cross-Eyed Pianist there was Demon Cook .
Getting started Choose a blogging platform Wordpress, Blogger, Tumblr, Live Journal Choose the right design Eye-catching, attractive and appropriate to the content Accessible don t overload the reader with information Easy to navigate
Content Try to develop a consistent online persona or voice Keep content fresh and regularly updated Include pictures, video and soundclips to enhance and vary the content Consider including guest posts to add greater variety
Increasing the readership Don t expect overnight success! It can take several years for an online profile to grow Use categories and tags (key words that people may use in search engines like Google) to enable better Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) Stream your posts to other social media networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn (SEO is improved through referrals from other popular sites that reference your blog) Add a blogroll of links to other related sites & encourage others to link to your site Allow readers to comment and interact with them (but always have the option to moderate comments to avoid spam and trolling)
What can a blog achieve? Enhanced profile and promotional opportunities A chance to offer insights into your work & share with readers your thoughts and opinions on: Repertoire Practising Teaching Performing Touring Recording Audience interaction Your day to day working life Opportunities to connect with others in the profession across the world
How has blogging helped my career? Blogging has put me in touch with a wide range of classical musicians and music professionals The quality and frequency of my content has given me an enhanced profile in the UK classical music world (and beyond) which has led directly to: Invitations to review and write for other music sites, including Bachtrack.com, HelloStage, The Sampler, Musical Orbit and InterludeHK Press invitations to attend concerts, CD launches and other music-related events
The Stats To date, the Cross-Eyed Pianist has 570,000 views c4,000 followers (blog subscribers & followers via social media) 990 published posts, including over 150 Meet the Artist interviews Most popular post: Describing Music in Words and Sound Most popular Meet the Artist interview: Stephen Hough
Further reading. Stephen Hough s blog in The Telegraph http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/culture/author/stephenhough/ Graham Fitch s Practising the Piano http://www.practisingthepiano.com/ Boulezian (Mark Berry) http://boulezian.blogspot.co.uk/ On An Overgrown Path http://www.overgrownpath.com/ Susan Tomes pianist & writer http://www.susantomes.com/
www.crosseyedpianist.com www.franceswilson.co.uk Twitter @CrossEyedPiano
