--- title: "Create a Musician’s Website" description: "It's important to have a hub fans can check for new music, upcoming tours, and merchandise. Below we cover important web hosting tasks for getting started with the BoldGrid content management system..." url: https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/website/musician-site-boldgrid/ date: 2019-05-29 modified: 2023-10-17 author: "InMotion Hosting Contributor" categories: ["Website"] type: post lang: en --- # Create a Musician’s Website It’s important to have a hub fans can check for new music, upcoming tours, and merchandise. Below we cover important web hosting tasks for getting started with the BoldGrid content management system (CMS) and many resources to study afterwards. [Music](#music) [Video](#video) [Security](#security) [Analytics](#analytics) [Optimization](#optimization) [SEO](#seo) [Merch](#merch) [Social](#social) ## Customize BoldGrid 1. [Use an **inspiration**](/support/edu/wordpress/boldgrid/beginner-guide-boldgrid/) that fits your style. 2. Set up your [Staging site](/support/edu/wordpress/boldgrid/how-to-create-wordpress-staging-site/). 3. [Create your first blog post](/support/edu/wordpress/boldgrid/boldgrid-website-builder/) telling fans how excited you are to have reached this milestone and a page for your bio. You can [change the default editor](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/edu/wordpress/boldgrid/boldgrid-website-builder/) if preferred. 4. [Customize BoldGrid](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/edu/wordpress/boldgrid/using-the-boldgrid-customizer/). ## Embed Music ![audio spectrum and musicians openclipart](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/images/stories/social-media/musicremix.png) **Embed your music from popular platforms**. Whether you publish directly to SoundCloud or via [distributor / aggregator](https://aristake.com/post/cd-baby-tunecore-ditto-mondotunes-zimbalam-or) – e.g. [CD Baby](https://cdbaby.com/) and [Horus](https://www.horusmusic.global/) – there’s likely an easy way to embed audio from it. This allows three things: 1. Listeners can easily demo songs and follow/like instantly 2. Viewers stay on your website longer 3. You can prioritize a specific platform 4. You earn royalties if using ISRC and UPC You can easily embed Spotify, [SoundCloud](https://help.soundcloud.com/hc/en-us/articles/115003568008-Embedding-a-track-or-playlist-), and [YouTube](/support/website/website-design/add-youtube-video/) in BoldGrid using their native guides or our [WordPress embedding guide](/support/edu/wordpress/how-to-embed-content-into-wordpress-using-oembed/). **Embed smart links** using [Link Fire](https://linkfire.com/#/) or [SmartURL](https://manage.smarturl.it/) to enable listeners to easily choose their preferred music platform for listening to your art or redirect them to specific platforms according to their country / region. ## Video and Photos ![guitar player openclipart](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/images/stories/social-media/guitarist.png) **Embed videos to help keep listeners’ attention.** Even if your music is distributed to a [auto-generated YouTube topic channel](https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2579942), uploading a video to your own YouTube channel and embedding it invites listeners to follow you there. ### Images **[Add images](/support/edu/wordpress/boldgrid/boldgrid-website-builder/) to show personality** and allow listeners to relate with you. These can be pictures of music gear, live shows, and everyday life. You may get more ideas from our [photographer guide](/support/edu/wordpress/how-to-use-wordpress-to-create-a-photography-website/). **Install [WP Accessibility](/support/edu/wordpress/how-to-install-wp-accessibility-wordpress-plugin/)** to add *alternative text* for disabled users. ## Security **Install a [security plugin](/support/edu/wordpress/plugins/recommended-security-plugins/)** to fight malicious activity. We recommend [WordFence](/support/edu/wordpress/plugins/wordfence/). **Enable the [Total Upkeep](/support/edu/wordpress/boldgrid/boldgrid-backup-auto-update-settings-2/) plugin** and download your backups regularly. **Enable [AutoSSL](/support/website/ssl/auto-ssl-guide/), the free SSL that’s auto-enabled forever, in the Account Management Panel (AMP)** to improve web security. We recommend a [paid SSL](/support/website/ssl/auto-ssl-guide/) once you add an online store. **Fight incoming spam and having emails marked spam** with our [email authentication guide](/support/email/strengthen-overall-email-authentication/). ## Analytics ![computer analytics openclipart](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/images/stories/social-media/computer-chart.png) **Use an [analytics web application](/support/web-analytics) to learn your audience**. While [Google Analytics](/support/website/google-tools/creating-google-analytics-account/) is most popular, some prefer [Matomo](/support/edu/wordpress/plugins/matomo-analytics/) for in-depth customization or [Clicky](/support/web-analytics/clicky-analytics) for basic usage. ## Optimization **Make your website faster with a [caching plugin](/support/edu/wordpress/use-wordpress-cache-to-speed-up-your-site/)**. You can also use a content delivery system (CDN) such as [Cloudflare](/support/website/setting-up-cloudflare/) for better performance world-wide. Later on, you should learn more advanced methods for [speeding up your site](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/website/why-is-my-website-slow/). ## Search Engine Optimization (SEO) **Configure [Easy SEO](https://www.boldgrid.com/support/boldgrid-easy-seo/) for better visibility in [search engine results](/support/website/seo/seo-getting-started-guide/)** related to your brand and genre. Advanced users may prefer [All in One SEO](/support/edu/wordpress/plugins/all-in-one-seo-pack/) or [Yoast SEO](/support/edu/wordpress/plugins/yoast-seo/) instead. You can check such SEO results with [SEO Centro](/support/website/seo/seo-centro-seo-checker/) and other online tools. Some advanced SEO tips for an improved online presence: - Add accurate names and descriptions in file names and alt text (with [WP Accessibility](/support/edu/wordpress/how-to-install-wp-accessibility-wordpress-plugin/)). - Check out [Bandzoogle’s in-depth guide](https://bandzoogle.com/blog/how-to-optimize-your-band-schema) for in-depth advice. on schemas like [MusicGroup](https://schema.org/MusicGroup). - Consider adding your discography to the [MusicBrainz](https://musicbrainz.org/) and/or [Discogs](https://www.discogs.com/) databases. ## Merchandise **Install [WooCommerce](/support/edu/woocommerce/how-to-install-woocommerce) to sell merchandise** or install an [e-commerce CMS](/support/product-guides/softaculous/list-programs-softaculous/#e-commerce) – e.g. [PrestaShop](/support/edu/prestashop/) or [OpenCart](/support/opencart-3/) – on a [subdomain](/support/edu/cpanel/creating-a-subdomain/). ## Social **Add social media accounts** using the [BoldGrid Customizer](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/edu/wordpress/boldgrid/using-the-boldgrid-customizer/). **Use a [social media management tool](/support/website/social-media/social-media-management-tools) to manage multiple accounts from a single dashboard**. [Buffer.com](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-to-buffer/) has a plugin to schedule posts directly from your WordPress dashboard. **Create a contact form with [weForms](/support/product-guides/weforms/how-to-add-a-form-to-your-wordpress-site-using-weforms/)**. Advanced users may prefer [Contact Form 7](/support/edu/wordpress/secure-contact-form-7-form) for more customization and security. **Create a [Mailchimp mailing list](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/edu/wordpress/plugins/mailchimp-wordpress-plugin/)** to easily update fans. **[Blog](/support/live-broadcasting/), [podcast or vlog regularly](/support/live-broadcasting/)** to update fans. Tell us what tasks from above you’d like to see us cover in-depth below.