Okay, I’m sooo late in getting this next installment to you, but that’s because I’ve been in New York for three weeks, during which time I had the extreme pleasure of meeting with Ariel Hyatt, the author of “Music Success in Nine Weeks”

I swear, this woman has revolutionized online PR for musicians. She’s created a software system that allows her clients to know at any point in time who is writing about them, downloading their music or leaving comments or reviews. I’ll be writing more about HOW CyberPR works and why, if you’re serious about your music career, you may want to hire Ariel now.

But on to the task at hand…

How’s your website working for you? Is it allowing you to attract new fans, build a huge email list, sell your music and promote your gigs?

Week Three of “Nine Weeks to Music Success” is all about optimizing your website so that it initiates and nurtures a two-way relationship with your visitors and fans. Because if you’ve still got a cool-looking but static site that does nothing more than act as a brochure for who you are, then you’re missing the boat, my friends. As Ariel says, your website needs to be an interactive and engaging website that pulls people in at first and makes them want to come back often.”

She then offers 6 steps to optimizing your site.

1. Add your pitch to your homepage.
Have I added mine yet? Uh, no. I’m still wrestling with writing one I like. I may ask you all to help me with this one.

2. Make sure your site loads in less than 3.5 seconds.
Check!

3. No flash intros!
My entire site was originally built in flash. And it was gorgeous! But it not only loaded like frozen molasses but it repelled search engines. AND I couldn’t update is myself without becoming a flash or html expert. I had the whole site rebuilt JUST to get rid of the flash.

4. Have a consistent look and feel throughout the net.
This means you should use the same color scheme, fonts, logos for EVERY presence you have online. So, your MySpace and Twitter page should have the same look as your website.

5. Give away an exclusive, free mp3 or video!
Why? Because it’s a great way to 1) get visitors to your site, and 2) capture their email address while they are there, and 3) make your new and old fans feel special, like they have something not available anywhere else. Giving away something free AND exclusive is a great way start an ongoing relationship with your fans.

But you need to make sure you set it up so that your fan MUST enter his or her name and email in order to get the free download so you can send your e-newsletters and announcements to that fan. BE SURE TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT BY SIGNING UP THEY WILL BE GETTING EMAIL FROM YOU!

Which is Ariel’s 6th Step:

6. Make it clear and set them at ease.
As I said, you want to let people know that by signing up and downloading their “gift” you will be sending them stuff from time to time. Also, be sure to state, next to the opt-in box, that you will never, ever share their information with anyone and that you are dead-set against spam in any form.

This week’s chapter is pretty short, sweet and direct. BUT as I thumb through Week Four… oh, my! There’s about 9 weeks worth of information crammed into that one chapter. Since it’s so dense, I may break it up into two posts. Either way, stay tuned for… Week Four: Musician’s Web 2.0 Guide.

And if you haven’t written your pitch yet, go do it!

Goals are easy.
Accomplishing them…not so much.

In Ariel Hyatt’s book “Music Success in Nine Weeks,” the first chapter, which covers Week One of this 9-week journey, is devoted to setting goals… and writing them down with projected dates of accomplishment. And not just your music goals, but your financial and lifetime goals as well.

Now, a lot of what’s in Week One is nothing you haven’t read before. And because of that, it may be the weakest chapter in this book. BUT, from what I can tell, the intention of all this goal-setting is to get you mentally prepped for the rest of the book which is a lot more demanding of your time, creativity and willingness to step outside of your comfort zone.

What I do like about this chapter is that Ariel not only stresses the importance of getting your goals written down but she also hands off some tips on HOW to get those goals accomplished. Because, let’s face it, that’s the tricky thing about goals; they don’t complete themselves while we’re watching “Live at Abbey Road” or dreaming of our next big break.

For instance, “Goal Achieving Tip #4” (on p. 17): Make One Happen ASAP. Ariel advises that you start with the easiest goal on your list and just do it! Or, rather, give yourself a reasonable deadline and then just do it! By accomplishing at least one of your goals, you are more likely to feel motivated to dig into your other goals which aren’t quite so easy. Like calling the guy who books the venue you’d love to play. Or writing your pitch, which Ariel explains in Week Two.

Interestingly enough, since I read the Week One chapter thinking, “Ah, this is just more goal setting stuff. I already know this,” I didn’t actually DO what Ariel suggested. I didn’t write down my music goals. They are always floating around in my head so I figured, why bother?

Well, as Ariel states in the book: “3% of all people have their long-term goals written down and it has been proven that by simply writing down your goals you are ten times more likely to achieve them.”

So… don’t be a fool like me. Go write them down! But first, read Ariel’s “Before You Get Started” Section on pg. 15. There are three excellent suggestions on HOW to write your goals. Oh, and be sure to put a target completion date next to each one!

Okay. I’m writing my music goals down right now.

1. Create a pitch I love — Jan. 1, 2009

2. Complete Phase One of my website re-design by May, 2009.

3. Create budget, timeline and promotion plan for February Show at Jackson Theater — Dec. 31, 2008

4. Create budget, fund raising plan and promotional plan for new CD by March, 2009.

5. Finish new CD by end of June, 2009.

6. Book a show in New York City for April/May 2009! — February 10, 2009.

Wow. My heart is pounding.

While these goals have been in my consciousness forever, I’m surprised by how scary it is to actually write them down WITH DATES NEXT TO THEM. It becomes clear that if I’m going to meet the deadlines I’ve set, I better get a move on. Now.

Next episode: Week Two of “Music Success in Nine Weeks” where Ariel coaches you on how to write your pitch. THIS is where it starts getting really good.