Let's be real: your Linktree is doing a lot of heavy lifting right now. It's fine for directing Instagram traffic to your latest Spotify release, but let's be honest about what it looks like to an industry professional. When a festival booker in Mumbai or a music journalist in Delhi wants to learn about you, sending them to a list of links feels a bit... amateur.
In 2025, having a dedicated, professional website—a real ".com" with your name on it—is an instant credibility booster. It says you take your career seriously. The problem? Most artists think building a website requires coding skills or hiring an expensive developer. Not anymore. AI website builders have gotten incredibly good, fast, and cheap. Here is how you can build your professional home base in under an hour.
1. The "Rent vs. Own" Debate (Why you need a site)
We talked about this in our guide to building a fanbase on WhatsApp and Email: social media is "rented land." Algorithms change, platforms die, and your content gets buried. Your website is the only corner of the internet you truly own. It's your 24/7 headquarters where you control the narrative, the visuals, and most importantly, the data.
2. The 60-Minute AI Build Process
Forget dragging and dropping boxes for hours. Modern AI website builders (like Hostinger AI Builder or Wix ADI, which are very popular and affordable in India) do the heavy lifting for you.
The process usually looks like this:
- The Interview: The AI asks you a few questions. "What is your site name? (Your Artist Name)." "What category? (Music Artist)." "Describe your vibe. (e.g., Minimalist indie folk, dark electronic, vibrant desi hip-hop)."
- The Generation: Based on your answers, the AI generates a complete website structure with relevant images, placeholder text, and a color palette that matches your vibe. This takes about 2 minutes.
- The Customization: You spend the next hour swapping in your own high-res photos, pasting in your professional bio, and connecting your streaming links.
It’s less like building a house from scratch and more like decorating a house that's already built for you.
3. The Essential Indian Indie Checklist
Don't overcomplicate it. A cluttered site is worse than no site. Here is exactly what needs to be on your homepage:
- The Hero Section: A killer, high-resolution professional photo of you and a clear headline (e.g., "New Album 'Monsoon' Out Now").
- The Music: Embed Spotify or Apple Music players so people can listen right there without leaving the page.
- The "Pro" Section (EPK): Create a dedicated "Press" or "EPK" page. This is where you put the professional bio and press releases you wrote using our AI PR guide, along with downloadable high-res photos for journalists.
- The Money Makers: A clear link to your merch store and a list of upcoming gig dates with ticket links.
- The Connection: A simple form for people to sign up for your newsletter and a clear email address for bookings.
4. Budget Breakdown: Indian Context
This is the best part. It's incredibly affordable now.
- Developer Cost: ₹10,000 - ₹30,000+ for a custom site.
- DIY AI Cost: Hosting providers popular in India, like Hostinger, often run deals where you can get hosting and a free domain name for the first year for around ₹149 - ₹299 per month.
That's less than the cost of one fancy coffee a month to look like a legitimate professional to the entire industry.
When you email a venue booker or a playlist curator, having a custom domain email (like info@yourbandname.com) that links to a slick website immediately separates you from the hundreds of artists sending emails from "coolband123@gmail.com" with a Linktree in the bio. It's a small investment for a massive upgrade in perception. Take an hour this weekend and get it done.
Once your site is live, make sure to add the link to every single one of your social media profiles, which you should be running efficiently using our AI social media guide.
