As far as the Nigerian music space is concerned one of the most popular websites to download free Nigerian music is www.NotJustOk.com .I have received questions from some people asking me what it takes to set up a website like this from Nigeria, in this post I am going to discuss how to do exactly that.
A Case Study Of Notjustok.Com
How Was It Created?
When I first heard of the website ,I expected something like a www.download.com look alike for Nigerian mp3 music download but was shocked when I noticed it was an ordinary WordPress blog. Meaning it is something anyone can create . If you don’t know how to setup a WordPress blog or website you should read my 24 hour website E-book product .Setting up a website or blog is now very easy and cheap. My e-book shows all the steps to be taken with well annotated images to guide you. In less than 24 hours at a cost less than N5000 you will have a website/blog up and running.
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How Do They Get Content?
The content found on NotJustOk.com are words, YouTube videos and images. All these include Information on album launches ,singles , rumors in the Nigerian music industry, gossip , music videos , and all kinds of Nigerian music industry related gist. The get most from free sources online .Maybe they do also have some kind of connection with people close to these Celebs so they can get inclusive information, maybe not . but having this kind of access to these music stars and celebs will give you an edge if you want to start a website like this.
You can get information from these celebs and music stars by following and befriending them on twitter, facebook and their YouTube accounts. This is a little secret.
What Of Their Marketing /Promotion?
The reason why NotJustOk.com is very successful and popular is because they got their marketing and promotion right. The single , simple and most effective way this website promotes itself is adding that annoying audio signature you hear when you play songs downloaded from the site . The words “not just ok dot com” is added as an audio signature on every track downloaded from the website.
This is very effective and simple.
So whenever a track downloaded from NotJustOk.com is played in the clubs, in the dance bars , in the parties you are advertising the website.
You MUST do the same if you want to create a fast growing Nigerian music download site . In fact every kind of online and offline business can copy this technique by making sure anything it produces and gives away has the brand vividly advertised on it. This can be done on an e-book , an audio download, video or any physical item.
How Do They Make Money?
NotJustOk.com makes money in 3 ways.
- Adverts
- Mp3 music download for sale
- Payment to upload mp3 files for download
These are just 3 online business models used by the website to make money.
Let me discuss them in details.
Adverts
The adverts placed on this website is from Google Adsense. I don’t know if they provide direct adverts placement service on the website . This would be another good way to make money.
Mp3 Music For Sale
They sell mp3 download of latest music albums etc. This is a very viable online business model. I have always said you need to sell something to make money online.
These mp3 files are sent to them before their audio signature is added and later upload on their website . Generally these 4 websites allow Nigerians to upload and sell digital products online.
You can also sell mp3 music downloads of these artists if they are on Amazon.com as an affiliate.
Pay For Upload/ Download Link
It is also possible that people that want their free music to be shared and downloaded on this website may pay some money . I don’t know if they do this but it is another viable business model. Just imagine that the charge N1000 for every download link and they have 20 download link a month. Imagine if the increase the price per upload to N2000 , N3000 or N5000.
Some Issues With NotJustOk.Com
When I visited the website for the first time I noticed it was difficult to actually find the free mp3 files to download. There was no page ,category dedicated to it. If they have it ,it was not well showcased.
This is something anyone who wants to start a Nigerian music download site should seriously fix.
Steps To Take In Creating Your Own Nigerian Music Download Website.
1. Get A Good Domain Name
The domain name NotJustOk.com is just ok…because it is easy to remember. It has a ring to it and is very simple. This is a good rule of thumb to follow when choosing and buying a good domain name from Nigeria. I buy my domain names from NameCheap.
2. Get hosting
Web hosting can be gotten locally in Nigerian at syskay or from FatCow. I host everything now on FatCow hosting service because it is cheaper when you want to host many sites.
3. Install WordPress
After you have setup and linked the hosting account and domain name together. You should install WordPress on it. You can read my article on how to install and create a WordPress blog or website if you have no idea how to do it.
My 24hr website product explains in details how to create , install and set up a website using WordPress on a domain name .It comes with well annotated pictures .
4. Create appropriate pages and categories on website
After installing WordPress create important categories and pages that will help people navigate and use your website well.
For example ,make sure you have a dedicated page or category that showcases latest mp3 files to download. Something like a download directory. This is what NotJustOk.com does not have so do it.
5. Start building content and get information
After setting it up start getting information to post on your website. I will suggest you start gathering first all the download links to popular Nigerian songs .Either that or you get the audio files uploaded to free file hosting sites like www.RapidShare.com or www.4shared.com or straight on your website. Don’t forget to add the signature tune of your website URL on the audio file. This can be done using the free audio software -Audacity found on www.audacity.com .
6. Ask Friends To Help Promote /Use Other Media
If you have friends on facebook ,twitter ,2go and other social networks you can share links to specific mp3 files or the website and ask them to help share and promote the website for you.
You can use offline means like newspapers ,radio and TV to promote the website as you keep building links to mp3 fields people can download.
Don’t forget to use this 9 ways to build free traffic and promote you blog or website. I have some traffic products that can help you here too.
7. Contact Labels And Recording Studios And Individual Artists
For you to get mp3 files like other Nigerian music download websites you need to contact recording labels and artist and inform them to send tracks to your site too. If you have friends close to people in these labels you can ask them to help.
You can contact artist and recording studios individually using email , facebook , twitter and other social networks.
8. How To Make Money On It
Use the same online business model used by NotJustOk.com . that is adverts and selling mp3 music and getting paid to upload files to download.
Warning : I will strongly advise you forget about asking for money before mp3 files links are uploaded on your website until when it becomes very popular. Rather Upload all the links for free till people start doing so out of impulse.
I would also suggest you try selling CDs and music related items found on Amazon.com as an affiliate.
Tips To Beat Or Compete With Notjustok.Com
If you want to start a Nigerian music download website you will be competing directly with NotJustOk.com and others hence you need to do things to give you an edge over them. You can only achieve this by doing something better or doing something different from them.
Here are a few things to do.
Consider Music Producers
NotJustOk.com does not consider music producers much . You can create a category for them on your website. Get in touch with producers in the country via adverts offline or online and ask them to set up a profile on your website for free or for a fee.
By the way: This is a good idea for a new website and business on its own…go figure
Consider Upcoming Artists
NotJustOk.com considers only big artists and stars you should also consider them too and small upcoming artist too. This will help grow your website till the big dogs start noticing it.
Consider Having A Dedicated Download Category Or Page
NotJustOk.com does not have a dedicated page or directory for Nigerian artist . You have to search around to files music files to download. Make it easy for people to find files to download. let it be like a dedicated Nigerian music download directory.
Consider Having An Link Suggestion Page
Make it easy for readers to suggest or link to a Nigerian music download files found anyway online. Even underground Nigerians artist can use those to suggest a link to their own tracks.
Consider Free Nigerian Beats
I mentioned stuff on considering Nigerian music producers earlier. Along with this you should have free Nigerians music beats people can download for free. These free beats should come from these producers .
Build A List
NotJustOk.com does not have a list of subscribers. They have a RSS feeds and twitter followers but don’t have an e-mail list which is more effective.
You need to build a list with your own website. Use MailChimp to get started. Whenever you post a new download link , send out an email informing your email list subscriber about it. Here is another reason why you need to build a list.
Finally , I know doing all these may seem very daunting but all you have to do is start . Don’t forget to check out my products to get the knowledge needed to make all these work.
Thank you.
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