Ohhh man...now I might have to up my membership just for this feature! This is a big big
feature that I can use. I have an album in the works...and wanted to release it digitally and
instead of paying a handful for a different service for download cards...this works perfect.

My question is this...are all the codes the same...or are they randomly generated for each
code?

I love this feature! It makes more of a connection to fans and makes them feel closer to you! I tried one of my tracks and it worked perfect! Each download has its own special code and you can limit the number of downloads! Great!!

Excellent Chris!! A big thanks to you and the Bandzooglites for this brilliant feature!!!

That's amazing. Thank you so much

BeatsForWeeks: they are randomly generated, so you can have as many codes as you want for a single track. Once entered, the track is available for 48 hours with that single code.

THANKYOU CHRIS!

Wonderful idea. So glad i'm already a pro member!

Dude, Chris my man, this new feature is awesome! I'm glad I chose to keep my PRO plan instead of downgrading.

THANKS SO MUCH!!!

One quick semi-related question to this feature: will we be able to see if download codes are "redeemed" by our fans? In other words, will there be a report of some kind letting us know that tracks were actually downloaded so we can track the success/failure of our personal marketing efforts? If I hand stickers or fliers out, I'd like to know how many of those people actually return home with them and use the code for their free download and compare that method to email blasts, etc.

The problem I see with the current Control Panel system when we SELL mp3s is that we don't know if the fan has actually downloaded the track or not- we just see the status of the download link is either current or expired. I've always hated the fact that the download link is "available" for about one week without knowing how many times the mp3 was downloaded using that link. There's no way to stop one fan from buying an mp3 then sharing that same link with dozens of other friends for the week that the link is valid for. Can we please be able to have some reporting mechanism that tells us how many times the URL link was used to download a file? If I see one mp3 purchase with 50 downloads (red flag, someone's sharing the link!), I'd like the option to delete the link before the expiration date.

Just a side thought, but thanks again for this cool Download Code feature. Rock on!

Vivian
Administrator for Michael Bradley Music

Chris wrote:

BeatsForWeeks: they are randomly generated, so you can have as many codes as you
want for a single track. Once entered, the track is available for 48 hours with that single
code.

Awsome...so the code is only valid for 48hrs and can't setup our own time frame? If not then
either way thats still awsome.

that seems to be a great feature, going to check that out right away!

Vivian: I agree that the stats can be improved. We are working on a revised "transaction stats" section in the site traffic tab. That will centralize all the information regarding sales and downloads instead of having them in the album feature page. We'll post more about this when it is launched.

BeatsForWeeks: when you create them, they last forever.

It is only once the fan enters the code that there is a time limit -- the download expires 48 hours after they enter it. We did this to prevent the code being reused by anyone other than the real owner.

We did consider making them expire right after the track is downloaded. But, in our opinion, this makes things less usable for your fans, especially if they have multiple computers (work and home PC for example).

Good stuff right here!!!! I was just about to order this from somewhere else.

Very nice...

thats wasup

BeatsForWeeks wrote:

Chris wrote:

BeatsForWeeks: they are randomly generated, so you can have as many codes as you
want for a single track. Once entered, the track is available for 48 hours with that single
code.

Awsome...so the code is only valid for 48hrs and can't setup our own time frame? If not then
either way thats still awsome.

ayo BEATS, I think the 48 hour thing is that once a code is redemed by a person, they can download the beat or song for up to 48 hours then that code/download doorway espires
i think that's what it means

BRIAN G: yup, that is exactly what I meant!

thats great.......keep it up!

Excellent feature! Love what you ladies & gents have been doing! Keep up the good work!

Thumbs up Bandzoogle!

hello...

this is great, how is it integrated with the mailing list?

is there an easy way to give everyone in the mailing list a code and send them via email all at once?

cheers!

I used it in an emailing today and it worked great. Thank you.

You guys definitly are doing a great job! Looking forward for the CSS editing. Then, I'll stay with you guys forever! Thanks for this great feature.

Seb

Chris wrote:

Starting today, PRO plan member have a new option in the Album feature: Download codes. Download codes let you give away tracks for free, that you normally would charge for. You can print them as stickers and put them on t-shirts or physical CDs, so fans get a free digital album with their purchase. Or save the codes as a file, and print your own (dirt cheap!) download cards.

To redeem their download, fans visit YourSite.com/DL and enter the code. Since it is built-into your website, there is no distractions or ads to get in the way -- just instant access to your track.

But there's more. Download codes are also integrated with the mailing list, so you can send out email blasts with a built-in free track in just a few clicks.

And, unlike some other services, we are not putting a limit on the number of download codes you can create. So, go ahead and post them everywhere!

hey creed - all you have to do is go to the Mailing List tab, click the Email Campaign tab, select your mail template and then you will see the field to choose which track or album you'd like to send a download code for. You can either send the mailout to all your members, or members of a specific group you've set up. Each member will get different download code. It's as easy as that!

The home page shows the downloads that have been redeemed.

michaelbradleymusic wrote:

Dude, Chris my man, this new feature is awesome! I'm glad I
chose to keep my PRO plan instead of downgrading.

THANKS SO MUCH!!!

One quick semi-related question to this feature: will we be able to see if download codes
are "redeemed" by our fans? In other words, will there be a report of some kind letting us
know that tracks were actually downloaded so we can track the success/failure of our
personal marketing efforts? If I hand stickers or fliers out, I'd like to know how many of
those people actually return home with them and use the code for their free download and
compare that method to email blasts, etc.

The problem I see with the current Control Panel system when we SELL mp3s is that we don't
know if the fan has actually downloaded the track or not- we just see the status of the
download link is either current or expired. I've always hated the fact that the download
link is "available" for about one week without knowing how many times the mp3 was downloaded
using that link. There's no way to stop one fan from buying an mp3 then sharing that same
link with dozens of other friends for the week that the link is valid for. Can we please be
able to have some reporting mechanism that tells us how many times the URL link was used to
download a file? If I see one mp3 purchase with 50 downloads (red flag, someone's sharing
the link!), I'd like the option to delete the link before the expiration date.

Just a side thought, but thanks again for this cool Download Code feature. Rock on!

Vivian
Administrator for Michael Bradley Music

Seb: stay tuned; info about this feature is coming very soon....

I am TOTALLY EXCITED about this feature. Marketing is vital to selling and this is just another awesome tool to help gain fans and give them options. THANK YOU!

That was a ferocious addition to email campaigns!!!
Now you can make an EPK right from Bandzoogle!
Way to go!

-Rev. MH

Bandzoogle is the best server on the market!
Thank you for your creative ideas. I have two artists using your service, and they are also on a second website. The "other" is so much harder to make look good and is impossible to give a professional appearance - purely generic. Not to mention the stats are not as detailed and it is difficult to navigate the control pages, unlike Bandzoogle which looks professional (we recieve a lot of compliments from fans) and BZ is a breeze to navigate even for a person with limited IT abilities such as myself.
We are indebted to you, and BZ is definitely worth the cost of doing business!
Sincerly sincere, from Don Roberts.

Wow way to go with the new feature, I can't wait to try it. I would also like to know about the ability of making an EPK. BZ is wonderful, much continued success to your company.

Musically,
Kay

So how do we generate codes for individual songs, without having to go to the Mailing List??

This is huge. Props!

Hey, I'm not sure how to get these codes printed onto address labels. I used the mail merge
option and get to a point where I pick out the csv file. But then it starts asking me to
select the encoding that makes your documents readable. I have no idea what this is about and
can't seem to figure it out. I'm using microsoft word. Any help would be great.

This is amazing! The feature I like the most is being able to check that they have been redeemded!!

When you send a free download to someone that is something you cant check.

WAY TO GO BZ CREW!!!!!!!!!!!!

My header picture is stretched on the download code redeem page. How do I edit it? Love the feature BTW!

Thanks,
Derek Jordan

That's cool. I'm currently trialling bandzoogle but I like what I see so far.

Question: is it possible to provide a free download to fans only after they sign up to the mailing list? So once they sign up they recieve a unique dowload code for an mp3?

This way I can hand out flyers that say "free download on website" and I can place a banner on the website that says sign up to the mailing list to recieve a free download. We all know how important those mailing lists are! This is a great incentive for potential fans.

Derek - if you email us from the Help tab re: the stretched image, we'll be glad to assist you futher.

Thanks everyone for the requests and suggestions to add to the download code feature. We will continue to look at your ideas and try to incorporate them if possible.

Also, we will be providing a Help article in the next couple days that will give step by step instructions on how to setup and print labels in Microsoft Word.

Chris wrote:

BeatsForWeeks: when you create them, they last forever.

It is only once the fan enters the code that there is a time limit -- the download expires 48 hours after they enter it. We did this to prevent the code being reused by anyone other than the real owner.

We did consider making them expire right after the track is downloaded. But, in our opinion, this makes things less usable for your fans, especially if they have multiple computers (work and home PC for example).

I understand that rational, however, if you use itunes or another site of that nature, once you download the song, that's it. Not sayinf that I do not take into consideration our audience/fans, however, if they are concerned about downloading a song on multiple computers, as far as I'm concerned they need to burn it after they download it and then rip it to that cpu.

Is it possible to have options that we can setup where they have a time frame after they enter the code and another option that deletes the link after the 1st download?

okay, so if the codes themselves weren't awesome enough, the mailing list part of this is the bees knees. Thanks

Thank you Allison!

Loves this idea. awesome . . thanks team.

this is bad ass!!!

rockdatruth... this is something we've added to our list to look into for a future update to this feature.

This awesome and couldn't have come at a better time!

Chris! You guys are geniuses! I've been hoping for a feature like this, and it's just in time for my new album Thank you!

How do i access this feature from my control panel

First of all, great feature guys. Now... who's using this? How do you use it and does it really work? If so, it's a lot easier than carrying around CD's that don't sell anyway. Anyone find any viable options for providing the list of codes to get cheap plastic cards printed? Paper ones work but don't scream "Valid, real deal... buy me!"

Some wishes to add to the wish list for this feature that would make it much better: 1) Require name and valid e-mail address when redeeming, 2) Add option for granting "freebie" when joining mailing list, 3) Have option for "demo/permanent" mode code--- so I can print a bunch of "Hey go listen to music" cards and give out for teasers.

I've already used it and love it. I have 2 festival shows tomorrow and plan to print cards to sell and give out there... hopefully will at least cover gas money. :

lastman... In the control panel click the Edit pages tab, then go to the Album Download feature and click the tab that says 'Download codes'.

owenpoteat - thanks for the great suggestions. we will be adding more options to this feature in future updates. To have your codes printed on cards, you can try www.moo.com and also, www.dropcards.com

this new feature. I'm getting a good response from my mailing list.
But can someone please help me, I'm new to the BZ family and I don't know where the
control pannel is or I'm not finding where you can print out the download codes for
give away.

Thanks in advanced!
Kay

this new feature. Silly me I found the control pannel and use it often, I was trying to make this harder than it is. It's really quite simple. Thank you
so much BZ family you all are greeeeeeeeeeeeeeat! I'll be trying these out tonight.

Music For The Soul,
Kay

hottt!!! keeep up the good work!!

that's awesome!

This doesn't seem to be working for me. Is there a step by step guide on how to set these up?

Every time I send a preview email to myself it say "example-code"

I don't want to send this out and have it say "example-code" on the 500+ emails I send out to my list.

Great feature! I just want to make sure I'm doing it correctly

Tim - this is happening because you are just sending a test email to yourself. Once you send the email to your mailing list, the actual code will show up in the mailout.

Something isn't right here. In an effort to test my emails, I signed up for my mailing with my teaching email address. I responded to the confirmeation email and that new address was added to my email list.

I made a specific mailing list group with that new email, and another yahoo account that i use.

I sent a mailing list campaign to those 2 addresses and neither address has received the email.

What is going on?

Frustrated.

It worked! Everything is cool. You guys have a great service going here! I'm so glad I switched from Dynamod.

Thanks again

any chance we can get instructions added to the /dl page. Something that tells people they must add the dash and that it is case sensitive? Some of my people are having trouble.

Adam - thanks for the suggestion. yes, we will go ahead and add some basic instructions to the download page so there won't be any confusion.

Update: We added this text to the download page -

"When entering your download code please make sure to use lower case letters and don't forget the dash! i.e. ab0c-2w3x"

kiararivera wrote:

I love this feature! It makes more of a connection to fans and makes them feel closer to you! I tried one of my tracks and it worked perfect! Each download has its own special code and you can limit the number of downloads! Great!!

Kiara......Checked your site via message on new feature. Best to you and smiles on believing...scram

Thanks so much for adding the text.

This is great. I Knew there was a reason we stayed with this band site. Great feature all the way around. You guys are the best.

This is AWESOME!!! I've wanted to do this for so long! I am definitely getting a PRO plan now!

I THINK AS ARTISTS, WE ALL NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE OPTION OF ALLOWING 48 HOURS TO DOWNLOAD THE MUSIC VIA THE DOWNLOAD CODES...OR NOT. THE FACT THAT SOMEONE CAN GO AND DOWNLOAD OUR RECORD TO AS MANY COMPUTERS OR DEVICES WITHIN A 48 HOUR PERIOD, SHOULD NOT BE DICTATED BY ANYONE BUT THE ARTIST THEMSELVES... I COMPARE IT TO WALKING INTO A RECORD STORE...BUYING A CD. ... COMING BACK WITHIN 48 HOURS AND GETTING ANOTHER ONE FOR FREE, FOR MY BOAT...THEN GOING BACK AGAIN WITHIN 48 HOURS AND GETTING ANOTHER FOR MY COTTAGE STEREO...AND ANOTHER FOR MY CAR...ETC... YOU GET THE POINT...
ARTISTS ARE LOSING POTENTIAL REVENUE. SO I OPT FOR A CHOICE BUTTON... 48 HOURS OR A ONETIME ONLY DOWNLOAD OPTION TO BE AVAILABLE FOR US ARTISTS...PLEASE JOIN ME IN MESSAGING THE POWERS THAT BE, IF YOU AGREE, E-MAIL AND HELP GET THIS OPTION ADDED...WE AS ARTISTS SPEND ALOT OF TIME & MONEY RECORDING MUSIC AND SHOULD BE IN COMPLETE CONTROL OF OUR DISTRIBUTION...AFTER ALL THIS IS AMERICA! AND GOD BLESS IT & STAND FOR YOUR RIGHTS! W. ~ B*S*W*

blackstarwhiskey - We completely understand and appreciate your point of view, however, this isn't an option we will be changing right now. Reason being, it is much more likely that someone who wants to pirate something will just put it on bittorrent rather than share a link. The 48 hours gives your fans time to download the file, and if they mess it up or lose it, to do so again without problems. The goal is to make it as easy as possible for your fans, and giving them a grace period is a way to do this.

blackstarwhiskey, first off that's a cool band name. Second I think Alison has a pretty good point. If someone is going to pirate your tunes
their going to do it with or with out the grace period. Once they have the download they can burn it, rip it, and share it as many times as
they like anyway. In fact that is all easier than coming back for a second and third download.

WE DO! ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO STAND UP AGAINST PIRACY!!! But IMHO the 48 hour window isn't going to hurt our cause any.

I don't know if I might have missed the answer to this question...

Can you set it so that the download codes are sent automatically when someone signs up to your mailing list?

Is there a way to do this and if not maybe someone can share some ideas on how to do this effectively.

Thanks
Sergio/Fallen On September

When people buy and download a track form my player. It is letting them make the purchase, but then is sending them a broken link. Any help is great

It just gets better I see. Awesome!

fallen - Yes, in the Mailing list tab under Email campaign, when you choose a mail template, you will see a place to put your name, email address and then you will see a drop down box where you can choose to send a free download in the mailout. This feature is for Pro plan member.

christina - If you are still having problems with broken download links, we'd be glad to look into it. Just email us from the help tab.