Indie artists almost revel in their obscurity. They merchandise minimally. They rarely post on social media. If they put out a new album, it’s not even on vinyl—it’s on a cassette. The message is clear. This person is an alternative to the bone.

Of course, it’s not necessarily all an act. Developing an online presence and decent merchandise takes money. For indie artists, that’s cash better spent on a high-quality recording. Is it worthwhile for musicians who aren’t Taylor Swift to have a website?

It’s important to be visible. Having a digital location to collect and nurture your audience can be worth every penny—if you do it right. In this article, we make the case for why musicians should have their own website.

It’s Not As Expensive As You Think

WordPress, Wix, and Squarespace, all have affordable entry-level packages that will allow you to get up and running right away for under $20 a month. Fair warning—there will be some extra add-on purchases in the beginning. For example, you might need to pay a few extra bucks for your domain name or to snag a feature that isn’t included in the basic package.

Even with extras, it’s not the sort of purchase you need to take out a loan to cover. For the price of pizza night once a month, you can have a solid online presence.

It’s Not That Hard

It’s also not especially difficult to make a good website. Most website-building platforms have a drag-and-click option that will allow you to get the look you want without coding or graphic design skills.

Some even integrate AI to further streamline the process. Wix, for example, has a generative interface that allows you to describe what features you are looking for and have a basic site made in minutes.

It’s An Easy Way to Add Credibility

Having a tasteful website shows fans—and possibly even industry types—that you are serious about what you do. Spotify, YouTube, and Instagram are all full of aspiring musicians. If you can find even small ways to pull ahead of the pack, you should do it.

Remember that it’s not necessarily—or even typically—the best song that winds up on top. You need to be as good at branding as you are at music if you want longevity.

It Gives Your Fans a Next Step

You can’t build a following just by playing awesome shows, or even releasing a dope recording. Fans wishing to support you need to be able to follow a clear progression of steps. They won’t go to too much trouble to do this. If they can’t find a website where they can join your email list, or maybe even send you a few dollars on Patreon, they’ll move on to someone with a more developed web presence.

What To Do With Your Website Once You Have It

Think of your website as a centralized hub where fans can find anything and everything related to your work. Link to your social media accounts. Put up a small online storefront where they can buy shirts. This, incidentally, is another easily added feature that may not even add to the price of your subscription depending on what platform you choose.

Put up new songs and videos. Maybe write blog posts documenting your journey. On the internet, content is king. Your website is a platform from which you can build a brand. Simply having one is not necessarily enough. You need to populate it with information that will be interesting to your audience.

Can You Make Money From Your Website?

Absolutely. In two ways. You can make money from your website directly:

• Fans find your Patreon page through your website and donate to it.
• They purchase merchandise from your storefront.
• They buy tickets to your next show.

You can also make money from your website indirectly:

• Curious Internet browsers discover your work and slowly become fans. They aren’t spending money today, but one day they might.

Of course, having a good website does not make success inevitable. You need to be consistent with how you maintain and refresh it. You also need to make sure that when people find your music online, it’s worth their time.

Help yourself out with a great recording. At Pop Rehearsal, we specialize in providing artists with budget-friendly recording spaces full of top-of-the-line equipment. Book your session today.