Simien+the+Whale+Project


 * Hey Pat,**
 * It seems like you're thinking the basic, routine stuff (FB, Twitter, video) but have no strategy for driving traffic to them. Your efforts here are very anemic, and you need to start moving on this. I see no mind map outlining your plans, no detailed review of what you discussed with them that suggests an sort of strategy or analysis of their issues. —Karl**

Pat Evans LinkedIn

Pat Evans — Simien the Whale Social Media Project

As Simien the Whale continues to claim in recognition within music communities, their music and comical sense of humor isn't reached in the world of fans.

As they reach new heights and prospective record deals, fans are needed for outreach.

I sat down with Tory Peterson and Zach Guy of the band and talked to them about the help we could provide. They need a revamped and updated website, as well as a new Facebook and Twitter plan and execution.

This project comes at a perfect time as they're gearing up to release a music video in the coming weeks as well as an album later this spring.

They have the material that needs to be seen and a healthy backlog of material as well. It's just a matter of executing properly.

Their website currently: www.simienthewhale.com
 * 1)  Blog: []

Their Facebook Pages:
 * 1)  The character: [] (1807 Friends)
 * 2) The Band: [] (521 likes, 700 people reached at the height)

Their Twitter: [|https://twitter.com/#!/Simienthewhale] (224 Followers)


 * update **

Following our first meeting, the Simien the Whale guys and myself, along with Whiskey Neat Productions had a fairly successful two weeks.

The first week following, the Whiskey Neat fellas whipped up a quick teaser for the music video that was shot in November. It's been a while, but the video was shot to be released a few weeks prior to the album. The teaser was a quick video, and was actually footage that wasn't used in the video and from a completely different story line.

Unfortunately the teaser didn't get a lot of play, but it was mostly for the built in fans from years of gigging.

The next week, the video was officially launched on youtube to coincide with the release of the song on iTunes.

Although the video only got about 1,000 views in a week, it was still considered a relative success based on the lack of twitter followers. Facebook should have been more impressive, but a presence of engagement lacks on the site.

Sadly, I was bogged down with basketball until Thursday, but now my focus can shift away from team coverage and traveling to the success of Simien the Whale's social media strategies because I have a vested interest (monetary and to see my brother succeed).

However, since the release of the video, they have been on one Grand Rapids news channel, and an offer for another. So things are looking up.

This week, I'll be posting the video to a variety of sites, such as Stumbleupon, and trying to pump the views up again. I'll also start to engage more on Twitter and Facebook to get followers and likes up. I also need to clean up and update the website as it hasn't been updated in awhile.

It's all in an effort to blow out this summer's festival of the arts and their CD release show.

Their music video that was released this week: []

**Update 2**

I had the chance to go back to Grand Rapids Easter weekend and actually get to have some time with the guys. They've had a really big and we're excited to build on it.

I was able to take pictures at their show at Pyramid Scheme in Grand Rapids and will get those posted shortly. But we're looking at increasing engagement and reaching out to people to get them publicity and followers and likes.

The official music video, though still relatively low with just 1400 views has gotten them pub around Grand Rapids, including this [|Fox 17 segment]:

And this [|half-hour segment on WYCE 88.1.] I accompanied them and made sure to make them mention Facebook and Twitter several times, along with the mascot, Simien Whale. Early in the band's life, Simien was a huge, comical part and started many interactions with people. With the improved music and professionalism, the mystic and humor of Simien can bring back interest to people, so we're going to start working on the blogs and promotion.

We've also started to focus on interaction with followers and influential people on Twitter to increase the followers and hoping to get more shares on Facebook.

The Stumpleupon site has driven traffic up and I'm going to get Pinterest up as well.

We cleaned up their old, less professional Youtube account. So now the only things that pop up is the Official music video, interviews on TV stations and their well-received live video of Kris Kross' Jump. That will make a more professional appearance when finding their live performances on the Internet, a huge factor in music.

This week we're also going to be soliciting the two singles from the new self-titled album Simien the Whale to music blogs. This will hopefully attract reviews and in turn new fans for followers, likes and buys. With links and likely positive reviews, the social media influence should begin to increase as well.

Their main issue is they have wanted to focus on the music, and haven't had time to focus on the social media/press of the band. So with me to take that over is important to them and it's already started to show. Traffic is up and hopefully we'll have positive results from blogs this week, I'll update that soon.