How much information do you give away on your website?

[funkymook]

It's no good getting them into the shop if you're " out of stock " ( ie double booked. ) And why do duplicate enquiries come along like buses? None for ages, and then loads together.

If you're out of stock offer an alternative - I've had two clients change the date of their party recently because I was already booked.

[Excalibur]

Shaun, Martin: I know when I'm beaten.

[Shaun]

Shaun, Martin: I know when I'm beaten.

Nothing to beat. Just offering a different perspective.

[musicology]

How about listing your booked dates as I have done. That way you're not showing all the empty dates. You will also see that I describe the gigs so the customer can see the type of work I am doing http://www.musicologydisco.com/gigsbooked.html
As for the photo, it's not very "showbiz" is it. Your comment about age..forget about it. Many of us on here are MUCH older! Most clients require someone experienced anyhow and you certainly don't look weird or anything. Just the clothes and setting need attention.

[DJ Jules]

Some really interesting perspectives on this thread. One thing I was going to mention is that I used to have full online booking on my website (availability check and then right through to booking) and people would typically only check availability and then contact me. With commodity goods (Car/Home insurance, electrical goods, etc) people just buy because the product or service is well understood. With high priced goods - and that includes Disco's (especially once you get out of the commodity disco/price based market) people look for more interaction before they buy. They have more questions and want to know that the seller is listening to them.

On the point that the website is just the shop window, note that even traditional bricks and mortar stores that have also got a strong online web presence are now adding "click and reserve" functionality to their sites. So, while people are using the web to find the best deal, the sites are capitalising this by getting them to commit to their purchase (psychologically, if not financially - e.g Argos) prior to visiting the store. The further down the road of purchasing you get people to go on your website, the more committed they are to making a decision in your favour.

Obviously for some operators in some markets (e.g. specialist genres and name DJ's where there is no real competition and customers will change their arrangements to get the operator in question), they have the customers from the word go. In this instance the website is less about setting out the stall and more about giving customers a contact point. If the customer is already so committed to the decision that they'll plan their whole event around one supplier then there really is no "sales" involved. This is the best place to be

Julian

[ukpartydj]

Not entirely sure I like the list of dates on availability (not clean and modern enough for me) however having a think about it the search function whilst it isn't really my cup of tea would allow me plonk in the customers face -

I'm Available - Request a Quote, Book me and talk to me please!!!
or
I'm not available check availability of my other DJs / contact me for recommended DJs

which hopefully would retain some customers who otherwise may have disappeared.

[yourdj]

I see things differently. I want them getting in touch even if I am booked. It's better if I can refer them to another DJ and open up a good two-way networking relationship. If they look on my website and see that I'm booked and go elsewhere, then that valuable networking opportunity is lost.

I have not ever had an availably checker either and neither agree or disagree with it.
Having said that all enquiries say "are you available" so I may have let work out to people who have that instant "yes"
I have always had a full calendar so have never implemented it.

However I am more expensive than the average so it is less of a commodity and may not perhaps warrant the "buy it now" kind of mentality perhaps? i find people want to secure a meeting with me rather than try and see availability and book it now kind of approach.

Having said that I run a multi op so it makes no difference if I am busy or not.

[Parkboy]

As an observation "Availability" is spelled incorrectly on your calendar.

[ukpartydj]

As an observation "Availability" is spelled incorrectly on your calendar.

Thanks, I'll sort that out later - my inability to spell availAbility is a problem I am well aware of and it's unfortunate that it's a word I use a lot, you could probably do a treasure hunt on my website to find how many times I've incorrectly spelt it!