Marketing on "Myspace" - The New Buzz
or "What's it all about & How to get started"
Written by Mike Bohatch

Well if your like me, you've found your way to this page because you've come to realize a new Buzz that's sweeping the nation. Your a "Myspace"user and you want to learn more about its potential or you've just entered the world of profiles and online communities.

I'll admit, when I was first made aware of its existence, I really didn't get it. People would say "oh, you've GOT to get a "Myspace" space!"... and my response was why? I mean, it's no different than any other message board or social meeting place right? I would hear things like... "Oh, I've sold so many CD's or my website's hits are have increased dramatically". Of course my response was "I don't need that. I've already got a web site, that looks better and people know about!"

So I went ahead and added my profile, entered in some basic info and let it sit. That way if asked I could say yes, I've got one now, but please check out my "main web site, My "Myspace" is there just as a portal or reference page.

Well months went by...I was officially on Myspace, and pretty much ignored it as what I originally thought to begin with. I mean, I really didn't have the time to socialize, I wasn't setting it up to meet chicks, and I would rather be emailed per my main site than logging on to get emails. It all seemed pretty logical to me. In fact, at first I really didn't even understand how to enter in all the information needed it called for or as we call it now "our profile". It seemed like alot of trouble. Although it was free, so who was I to complain.

OK, so the story goes.... like everyone else who was made aware of its potential.
It is something to be taken seriously!
Having a strong interest in Marketing, it was definitely something that couldn't be ignored. When I started seeing all the emails with "Myspace" signatures, magazine reports, and the media frenzy news coverage... I realized it was time to get up to speed.

Why?
Because "Myspace" didn't JUST represent a social gathering. It became overnight, the hottest marketing tool on the Internet! All of a sudden magazines, record labels, bands from all walks of life, artists, filmmakers and you name it, had a "profile"... Yep, you weren't in the game if you you didn't have a profile. It was a new means to contact and interact.
Imagine that!
Now I was the one going...dude you DON'T have a profile yet?... what's up?

So you've made it that far. You've realized the potential. Your ready to dive in head first....
now what?

2 important things:
1) You've got to hack your "Myspace" code a bit to make it look cool (or custom).
2) You need friends to make friends to advertise to more friends...

Now when I say "hack" I'm referring to Myspace's ability & support of customization to present your profile in a way that best represents you. Customizing your page to to identify yourself and who you are. Note: (Newbies are usually quickly identified by their default white information only profiles)

ISo what do we call this? advertising, socializing, promoting, or buzz-chasing...
it's in sense all the same thing.
Marketing!... your marketing yourself, your product, your profile, your popularity ...almost like being in high school again. (or on a different arena)
Yes, congrats - you now have a new web presence!
Your web profile.
You have an address, a photo gallery, and a source for information. (yep, it's all still free.)

Better yet, you can't be spammed the traditional way, because you have no real email address (your email is a function of your profile). No pop-ups, no AOL bills, just a small ad banner that floats across the top, sweet huh!

OK, so moving along .... back to the "look cool" problem.
It's a pretty good guess that a majority of the users AREN'T html CSS hacks and never thought they would ever need to be.
Well, there is a solution! I won't bother adding all the links to various help sites, but what I recommend is typing in "Myspace codes" into Google to find various sites that offer free advice, free software and help to help you format your profile with all the bells and whistles.
That's the way to learn! Most of this stuff has been already figured out.
You can always read the source code on a profile you like and figure out how to tweak it, but much of that might just look like nerd-speak that wont make much sense..

(Unfortunately, I took the hard route and studied the codes to tweak my profile, but if I'd only have looked first I might save myself the time and headache. )

You will find that your javascript days are over with Myspace's javascript restriction (that's why you don't get 1000 pop-ups coming at you while viewing pages) and that CSS hacks are the way to go. So with that being said, that's the basis of it and soon you'll be on your way!

As a hint, most of your CSS codes are pasted into your "About me" area when you edit your profile. Also its a good idea to have a website site sitting somewhere that you can store your images and graphics that show up in your profile hacks, so that you can reference them through traditional html callouts. Meaning........ those banners you see on sites and photos exist on some other server somewhere.

What More?
Well, if its friends you want to add in a relatively short time, there is all kinds of software now available out there to do that.
Again "Google" a search for "Myspace friends adder". What these packages generally do is send requests, per scripts just as you would per doing each one by hand. The advantage is it's alot faster, and you can target profiles you want rather than just random. The plus to these is "time". Your still limited to "Myspace" rules, and restrictions but not everyone wants to invest hundreds of hours adding common interest profiles.... though, just a suggestion. In fact, its no surprise that Myspace apps are popping up all over to make your life smoother in your new community. So in a sense, it created a software market as well (go figure)

A SOLUTION!
I've found that this package below to be one of the better, but don't take my advice...spend your money on the others who will charge you separately for each addon.

Prediction - The Time is NOW!
My prediction is with Myspace cracking down the time to make your online friends is now, and increase your marketing audience! Soon these tools will be coded out once they catch on and you'll have to go back to 1 click at a time! - Do you have that kind of free time? I sure don't.

So what are we really talking about?
Marketing - a new form of advertising yourself and your offerings to millions of users and consumers who otherwise might have never been aware.
If its socializing your only interested in then there is plenty of that as well .

Potential advantages?
The essence of Myspace has been its all-encompassing architecture. In other words, once your in its environment you can travel to and fro to other users without leaving. This has presented a unique spin on the internet experience. For one, now there are faces to emails and information about the sender. It's a step in the direction of a virtual experience. I'm sure at some point, it will go even beyond that to offer small videos of the users.... The reality of the "Jetsons" future has begun!

Potential to Bands / Music?
If you haven't noticed, music acts have flocked to put up pages almost overnight. The record companies have woken up and realized the immediate advantage to having a music group profile complete with adverts, sound, announcements, gig dates and a virtual way for fans to be in immediate contact with there favorite group!
Imagine that!... Now you are an official friend of Marilyn Manson or Korn. So what is the backlash of that?... Will magazines start to loose leverage, will adverts start to dwindle in printed materials?.... Only the future can tell. But the unique thing about it is, music acts can be heard. No more fiddling around for reference sites, mp3 downloads, or streaming audio links that haven't been configured right. For new acts, it's like a virtual demo tape..

Potential to models, movies, magazines?
Models pretty much caught on right away. There is no shortage of beautiful images to pursue profiles for hours on end. Are they really looking for an online correspondence? Not really, it's just another point of visibility to capture the attention of mags, filmmakers and so on. The industry is all relative. Those who can stay visible and make a name can cash in on that and move forward into many other opportunities.

Magazines?... what next? Will your Myspace offer a portal for more subscribers or will it motivate to include content that contains the viewers long enough to make advertisements feasible? Or yet, say you want to connect with horror users? Would the "Rue Morgue Magazine's" Myspace offer an environment of "friends" with like-interest? Would being a friend of "Maxim Magazine" increase a model's chance for consideration? Would "Pit Magazine's Myspace" increase its visibility to more music acts who would like to correspond?

Movie's?
These have seem to be the last on the chart to get it, but I guarantee not for long!
Films represent one of the largest financial money makers in the world. People flock to see them and move-makers bang heads trying to cash in on the new cinematic waves. Get ready for the presence of film marketing. With Myspace having users adding on in the millions.... the opportunity for more visibility is SURE to escalate.

My Perspective?
In 3 weeks time, I've increased my inquiries, visibility and exposure per the above suggestions to record numbers. It's still not as cool as what you can do to your own site, but it does present a opportunity to spread the word to a new audience. This raises the question, what next?
With oodles of dollars being invested into Myspace, a current head count of 45 million users, what do they have in store down the road?
I can tell you, that kind $ is not invested without a solid purpose and plan.
While we sleep, empires are being built right under our feet.

The rules are changing folks! .....Get with it or move over.


Here is a link to an awsome Myspace Video Tutorial

MySpace Social Networking Secrets.
Stop MySpace Predators In Their Tracks... Fast!


If you found this information useful or of interest, feel free to stop by MY profile below or just check out my site. (That is my non-profile old school traditional site ;) and I hope you like the pictures........ oh, ya and feel free to "add me"..... (words that have taken on a new meaning)

My - Myspace
www.myspace.com/mikebohatch_eyesofchaos