Bark

[DJWilson]

Hi,

I've joined bark.com and have had a load of enquires be sent to me. I'm yet to buy any credits to contact anyone yet.

Has/does anyone else use these and are all the requests genuine/worth while?

Thanks in advance.

[Imagine]

Jury's out on that one. Many seem to think it's a con (especially the price of the leads and the fact it's rare to hear back).
I believe our own Peter had a pop at one a little while back and hasn't heard anything since....

Personally, it's too rich per lead to even look at where there's potentially no gain. What worries me is that with other lead generation sources, you'll see the same gig appear in multiple places (i.e. it will appear on NaD, ampDJ and AddToEvent)....I've yet to see one of the Bark leads do this.

[rth_discos]

I'll echo what Wayne has said about the jury being out.

My research has shown that I too am not convinced by the quality of the leads received.

I've recently been looking at AddToEvent, and that on first appearances seems to have a slightly higher quality of lead.

The main benefit to you is these 'pay per lead' websites get a lower response from DJs compared to a NeedADisco lead, where you can be in competition with 20+ DJs.

So if the lead is high quality, you have a greater chance of winning.

Be conscious that these type of websites typically (but not always) attract budget conscious shoppers, so tend to have a low success rate for premium DJs.

[Imagine]

I've recently been looking at AddToEvent, and that on first appearances seems to have a slightly higher quality of lead.

That's what I thought....until this one came through this afternoon. I'm sure somebody will do it (because it's better than sitting at home doing nothing....innit).

Services requested:
DJs, Mobile Discos
Location:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date:
xxxxxxx
Estimated time:
1:30 PM
Duration required:
11 Hours
Estimated number of guests:
80
Early set up requested
Yes
Desired budget
Less than £200

REALLY????????
Where DO people get these silly numbers from????

[Benny Smyth]

REALLY????????
Where DO people get these silly numbers from????

Assuming one charges £199.99, that's just over £18.00 an hour for pushing a play button a few times. Perfectly reasonable fee for such an easy job that an iToaster can do.

[Excalibur]

Less than £200

REALLY????????
Where DO people get these silly numbers from????

Exactly.


You'd never get that round here!

[rth_discos]

That's what I thought....until this one came through this afternoon. I'm sure somebody will do it (because it's better than sitting at home doing nothing....innit).

Sorry, when I said higher quality of lead, I meant that they seemed more genuine.

Typically, a lead generation website will often attract price shoppers, because the attraction is that they'll receive a large number of quotes, where they can simply 'pick' the most suitable one for them (often the cheapest).

But that's not always the case - I have had the odd lucrative gig from these websites. But they are very much the needle in the haystack.

[simon1969]

I've used bark add to event and have got two jobs off add to event and a few jobs off bark.
Need a disco hasn't produced many leads in the Nottingham area.
It is a bit of a rip off on bark but need a disco that seems a big waste of money at the moment.

[Isobel]

That's what I thought....until this one came through this afternoon. I'm sure somebody will do it (because it's better than sitting at home doing nothing....innit).

Services requested:
DJs, Mobile Discos
Location:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date:
xxxxxxx
Estimated time:
1:30 PM
Duration required:
11 Hours
Estimated number of guests:
80
Early set up requested
Yes
Desired budget
Less than £200

REALLY????????
Where DO people get these silly numbers from????

What I have found with these lead gen sites is you get a lot of people who were just interested in what something would cost - they aren't aware that each person is paying to make contact with this
 them. So the lead itself can often be very lukewarm!

[Excalibur]

What I have found with these lead gen sites is you get a lot of people who were just interested in what something would cost - they aren't aware that each person is paying to make contact with this
 them. So the lead itself can often be very lukewarm!

Absolutely correct Isobel, and one reason why so many requests not giving full details don't get replies. No point paying to respond to an enquiry which may easily be on a date that's not available.

Good to have you here from across the pond, could I ask you to pop across to the Newbies section and introduce yourself please. We're a sociable lot here, and like to know a bit about who we're typing to. Thanks.