Indie artists are entrepreneurs, building things - songs, albums, videos, community. They are experts in three things: 

STORY:  Artists are creating and telling a story, beyond the music, of how they see the world and move in it.   

They let fans look behind the songs, behind the curtain.  
Allow fans access to the studio experience, dynamics of touring.  
Bring fans into the surprises, questions and near-misses of a music life.  

ENGAGEMENT:  It's not just "likes" on socials.  Real engagement is relationship.    

Artists find their fans at home, work, car - everywhere all the time.  
Create and release multimedia content on lots of distribution channels.  
Allow fans to help promote and fund the project.  

INTENTION:  The world moves faster, attention spans are shorter.  The modern indie artist must be surgically intentional.    

Consider creating and releasing in small bursts - singles and 3-song EPs.   
Keep it interesting with companion video content, LIVE recordings, interviews.  
Make production time and dollars count.  
Know when to DIY and when to find value in professional teams and spaces.