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How a Discord community can grow your artist brand and why you should start one now

How a Discord community can grow your artist brand and why you should start one now

By Maxence Pepin
22 May, 2023

As artists, building an online presence has never been more beneficial. Online communities, such as those hosted on Discord, are a great way to engage with fans and build up your artist brand. With these communities, you can interact and form connections with like-minded individuals, which helps to promote yourself and secure more gigs or deals. Read on to learn more about the benefits of Discord communities for artists and how to create, maintain and grow your own Discord community.

The Benefits of Having a Discord Community

Having an online presence is becoming increasingly important for artists, and creating a Discord community can be an effective way to establish your brand. A Discord community will create a home for your fans and their interactions, allowing them to connect with each other. As an artist, this can be invaluable for both networking and gaining recognition in the community. Online conversations can also lead to collaborations or opportunities for networking with other artists. With a dedicated Discord community, it’s easier to reach out and interact with potential fans, collaborators and peers.

Having a Discord community also allows you to create a space for your fans to discuss your work and share their thoughts and opinions. This can be a great way to get feedback on your work and to get to know your fans better. Additionally, having a Discord community can help you to build relationships with other artists and industry professionals. You can use the platform to share your work, collaborate on projects, and even find new opportunities.

Finding the Right Audience for Your Artist Brand

In order for your Discord community to be effective, you’ll need to be selective when choosing who to invite. To do this, start by looking for fan groups or channels related to the type of music or art you create. You’ll need to have an understanding of the types of people who would be interested in your songs or art and target these individuals specifically. It’s also important to be familiar with any established fan groups or Discord channels, as these can provide great resources for building an audience.

You can also use social media platforms to reach out to potential fans. Utilize hashtags and keywords related to your music or art to find people who may be interested in what you have to offer. Additionally, you can use influencers to help spread the word about your artist brand. Reach out to influencers who have a similar audience to yours and ask them to promote your music or art. This can be a great way to reach a larger audience and build your artist brand.

Multiple letter boxes spelling "DISCORD" together

Setting Up Your Discord Community

Once you’ve identified your target audience, setting up your own Discord community is relatively easy. All you need to do is create a server, which involves a few simple steps. Once the server is set up, it’s time to go through the customization process. This includes changing the server name, icon, channels and roles. Additionally, it’s important to set up rules for the server, such as preventing malicious content or harassment. This will ensure that the server remains a comfortable and inviting space for all members.

It's also important to promote your Discord community to ensure that it grows. You can do this by sharing it on social media, creating a website, or even advertising it on other platforms. Additionally, you can reach out to influencers or other communities to help spread the word. With the right promotion, your Discord community can become a thriving hub of activity.

Utilizing Your Discord Community

Once your Discord community is set up, you’ll need to find ways to keep it active and engaging. Presence is key here; you need to ensure that you interact with members on a regular basis in order for them to stay committed to the server. You can use the server ‘voice’ and text chats to communicate directly with members, answer questions or communicate updates on your work. Additionally, offering rewards or exclusive content to members encourages them to remain active on the server. Encouraging collaboration also helps foster a sense of community within the server.

You can also use your Discord community to host events or activities. This could be anything from a virtual game night to a Q&A session with a special guest. These events can help to keep your community engaged and excited about the server. Additionally, you can use polls and surveys to get feedback from your members and learn more about what they want from the server. By utilizing these tools, you can ensure that your Discord community remains active and engaged.

People casually chatting and hanging out

Interacting with Your Audience and Building Connections

When interacting with members of your Discord community, it’s crucial that you approach the conversation as if you were talking directly with one person—even if the conversation is larger in scope. This creates a sense of familiarity between yourself and your followers, which helps build trust and encourages further engagement. It’s also important to make sure that you create a safe space for members to voice their opinions without fear of recrimination or attack.

In addition, it’s important to be mindful of the language you use when interacting with your audience. Avoid using language that could be seen as offensive or inflammatory, as this could lead to members feeling unwelcome or uncomfortable. Instead, focus on using language that is respectful and inclusive, and that encourages meaningful conversations.

Generating Revenue from Your Artist Brand through Your Discord Community

Having an active Discord community can also provide an avenue for generating revenue from your artist brand. You could offer exclusive content or services in exchange for monetary compensation. For example, you could create merchandise featuring your logo or allow members to book private lessons with you. Additionally, you could use your Discord community as a platform to promote gigs and other events you may be participating in, as well as any upcoming releases.

Making the Most of Your Discord Community to Grow Your Artist Brand

From an artistic standpoint, having an active Discord community can help you develop more meaningful relationships within the artistic community. Networking with other artists can lead to more collaborations or opportunities for global recognition of your work. When hosting events or producing artworks, you can reach out to members of your Discord community and market them towards other active members in order to generate more engagement.

Multiple hexagon's with icons displaying important aspects of connecting a community

Tips for Managing and Growing Your Artist Brand with a Discord Community

Discord communities are highly customizable and require dedication in order for them to be successful. Here are some tips to help you manage and grow your artist brand through your Discord community:

  • Keep content engaging: Offer interesting content that keeps members coming back.
  • Engage with members often: Responding quickly to messages and comments helps build relationships.
  • Post regularly: Offering new content encourages followers’ interest in your work.
  • Set expectations: Clearly communicate what type of content will be posted on your Discord channel.
  • Invite others: Reach out to influencers in the artist community who may be willing to provide additional support.

The Future of Discord Communities and Growing Your Artist Brand

As the music industry continues to expand into the digital sphere, having an active presence on platforms such as Discord can become increasingly beneficial. Having a dedicated Discord community provides an avenue for connecting with potential collaborators, gaining insight from fans and promoting yourself as an artist. Taking the appropriate steps to create, manage and grow your own Discord community can help take your career to the next level.

Maxence Pepin profile picture
Maxence has amassed over 50 million streams as an independent artist before working as a business development manager for an indie dance record label.
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