Social Media 101
with your host 360 | 2011-07-20 05:12 | Written By: by AIR
Below is an unedited blog entry that 360 wrote for the this website. He's a master of pop hooks, arguably one of Australia's most exciting MC's and one of the crudest, funniest, most politically incorrect artist we follow on twitter.
You should know that he writes words lik c**t and f**k in it. If you're offended by that then you shouldn't read on...
SOCIAL MEDIA 101
by 360
To give you a bit of background, ever since i was 14 i've been a bit of an internet fiend.. i used to go on rap forums and post my lyrics for people to criticise etc.. in school holidays i wouldn't chill with my mates and party, i'd just go on these websites and write raps and battle people, i lived for it.. i cut down on my internet usage from the age of 16 - 18.. but then came myspace, and my addiction had officially arrived.. back then i wasn't using it for music networking or anything like that, it was strictly to find hot girls who lived in australia.. i used it so much to the point i'd be at a friends house and everyone would be having a good time and then i'd wonder off to go use myspace and look up babes.. it was pretty pathetic. Over time, Facebook came along causing myspace to die in the arse and twitter had made its arrival into the internet world.
The internet has completely flipped the whole music industry on its head, we all know that. A lot will say its killing the industry and its sad to watch, which i understand. Apart from live music it is totally dominating. In a way the pathetic addiction i had as a young'n has come to serve me greatly today. Some artists are capitalising on the social media avenue, some aren't, i'm one that is.
My 360 fanpage has grown to over 50,000 fans now, and im followed by more than 4,000 people on twitter. I think a lot of this has to do with the fact that i don't strictly use my Facebook to promote my music.. i use it like its my personal page. i post random status updates, stupid pictures, links to funny video's on youtube, everything. THERE IS NOTHING MORE ANNOYING THAN SPAM! i see so many young artists trying to capitalise on the whole social media thing, and they really struggle. They put in so much time and effort in posting on everyones wall, sending links to shows, music whatever.. unless you have a big profile, spamming NEVER works. I see a lot of kids going so hard on the social media front when they really should be using that time to make their music good.. Having good quality music in the long run is better promotion than any social media skills someone can have.. not to be a hater but i see too many kids promoting the fuck out of their music when their music is trash. A lot of kids understand that social media is so important these days, which is good, but having social media presence and forcing your music down peoples throats wont gain you fans. in the long run it is all about the music.If you follow me on twitter or are a fan of my Facebook page, you will know i post A LOT. you will also know that i post a lot of politically incorrect, obnoxious, stupid and random shit.. im just being myself. I was asked a while ago by management if i could 'tone it down' a little, cut out using the word 'cunt' etc. I was even asked to start another account under an alias and let management take over my twitter account to strictly post music updates.. fuck that. The whole reason i have so many fans is because i say whatever i want to say. I personally LOVE seeing artists post hilarious, rude and sometimes politically incorrect shit on twitter.. it makes me like them more as a person rather than an artist. Of course it has its pro's and cons.. i have no doubt in my mind i have lost heaps of fans due to me being so outspoken/crass on twitter and Facebook, im cool with that though. with 3 fans lost there are 30 gained. i truly believe me just being myself, no holds barred is what has gained me such loyal following on Facebook. That and constantly delivering music which i believe is quality.
Some people have said that im like a "social media guru" but i don't really see it like that.. everything that has happened is all natural.. my idea to start 'Rapper tag' wasn't a calculated move. Starting this 'Shoosh cunt' (shooshcunt.tumblr.com) trend wasn't a calculated move.. things just seem to catch on.. i have an idea and i run with it, thats it. the important thing is to just be yourself and hope people buy into you as a person as well as an artist, because thats what will gain you a loyal following.
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If you haven't seen rappertag.. check it now. Amazing. What other genre would you see such incredible comeraderie?
Check "Just Got Started" and "Thow it Away" featuring Josh Pyke here.
360 on Twitter
360 on Facebook
360 on the interwebs
