New Artist Website Research - One Direction

One Direction is the latest up-and-coming boyband. Having just released their first single, which rocketed to the #1 spot in the chart, what better than to take a look at their website and get ideas of what to include in the website of a new artist and any interactive/purchasing opportuntities.

Interactive Opportunities

• First thing you see is a massive video of their new single, promoting the single and possibly the music video...this leads to links to purchase it from iTunes, Amazon, HMV and Play.com
• It's been uploaded on youtube and is therefore full of interactive opportunities, including embed, share and also links to similar videos
• The actual website has an interactive banner accross the top including News, Music, Events, Photos, Videos and of course the Shop.
• There are Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Syco (record label) links at the bottom of the page which help create a wider appeal to the band and give variety, for example a fan can follow One Direction and get instant access to all their tweets
• There is LOTS of news in the News section, fans are literally bombared with all One Direction's latest appearances, etc...
• There is also a latest news tab on the side of pretty much every page
• The Events page helps advertise the band and also shows when each individual member is having their next birthday
• There are Photos of absoulutely everything, broken into individual photos, the band as a group, press photos and fan art (huge interactivity). Fans can comment on these and tweet them.
• There are also various videos in the Video section. 
• Fans can sign-up for a One Direction newsletter, which provides regular info on the band and any purchasing opportunities
• The website also has the possiblity to include different languages, however at the moment it's just Great Britain.

Purchasing Opportunities

• On the front page you get the opportunity to purchase the single from iTunes, Amazon and HMV (plus Play.com later on)
• There are LOTS of links to purchase the single which is massively important for the start of the bands career
• One Direction have their own phone (cheap Nokia)...which is an example of endorsement/synergy and could prove a huge success with Christmas shoppers
• They also have their own book (journey to X Factor/success) and their have been book signings
• The shop includes; personalised prints, T-Shirts, Hoodies, Various Accessories and Posters
• There is the option to view each item individually
• The user can make an account with the One-Direction shop, which would advertise special offers and new products
• The user can choose which currency they would like to use (global appeal), including Pounds, Euros, Yen and Dollars