SEO - Search engine optimization

[ppentertainments]

I know SEO techniques have been covered previously but I am interested to know what members do in order to publicise their website. Do you use google adwords, listing in directories, are paid directories better than free ones, which sites are best etc etc. The reason for asking is that I am developing my website (loads of glitches at moment !!) and am suprised to read about how many bookings some members get though the web. I have had a couple but to be honest lucky if I get more that 2 or 3 enquiries a month through the internet.

[Spirits High]

For me personally, I only advertise on the web both in paid directories and free listings, google adwords is something i'm pondering but not taken the plunge yet.

Did have an ad on the "Brides" magazine cd-rom of entertainment but no takers from that at all

[ppentertainments]

Thanks Paul. I have also tried a couple of wedding magazines and hotel wedding brochures. Found them expensive and apart from 1 hotel brochure get nothing.

[rob1963]

I know SEO techniques have been covered previously but I am interested to know what members do in order to publicise their website. Do you use google adwords, listing in directories, are paid directories better than free ones, which sites are best etc etc. The reason for asking is that I am developing my website (loads of glitches at moment !!) and am suprised to read about how many bookings some members get though the web. I have had a couple but to be honest lucky if I get more that 2 or 3 enquiries a month through the internet.

Hi ppentertainments,

I advertise my website on a load of online directories, half of which are free & the rest are paid (anything from £2 a year to £115 a year).

You ask if paid listings are better than free ones. In terms of getting hits to my website, yes...much better. After all, if the free listings sites were really successful & they could get away with charging for listings, they would!

I have a few free listings which haven't produced a single hit to my website in nearly a year, let alone a booking. However, they are still worth having...partly because you can't complain about free adverts, and partly because their links to your site all help to improve your Google rating.

As for which sites are best, this seems to vary a lot between different people, and also between different areas of the country. The ones which work the best for me are a standard listing on http://www.discoagency.co.uk and a premium listing on http://www.hitched.co.uk

I'm amazed you only get 2 or 3 enquiries a month through the internet, as I rarely go for more than a couple of days without an online enquiry.

It might be useful to go to the website help forum, post a link to your website & ask for comments, suggestions & ideas for improving it.

I did the same thing last year, and the information received was invaluable.

Hope this helps.

:)

[ppentertainments]

Cheers Rob - I realise how many bookings you get online so your advise is appreciated. As soon as I have my website finished will ask for comments.

[Spirits High]

Hi ppentertainments,

As for which sites are best, this seems to vary a lot between different people, and also between different areas of the country. The ones which work the best for me are a standard listing on http://www.discoagency.co.uk and a premium listing on http://www.hitched.co.uk

:)


I had a listing with Hitched and didn't get a thing from it:(

After having alook at Disco agency thought id punt £25 on it see what happens.....

[KaraokeDJ]

I'm amazed you only get 2 or 3 enquiries a month through the internet, as I rarely go for more than a couple of days without an online enquiry.

Hi Rob. Sorry to raise an old thread from the dead but I am pulling my hair out trying to work out how some DJs get calls every day when some struglle to get any.

I am lucky if I get a call per week at the moment. I'm on numerous directories, mostly paid adverts, list reasonably well on google for mobile discos in my area, but still have had an extremely poor last few months.

I can honestly say I have not had a serious enquiry for about 3 or 4 weeks and other than bookings for previous customers, have not sent out a booking form for nearly a couple of months.

I'l lost for what to try next.

[theoloyla]

Referrals from previous satisfied customers are the best and most productive source of work in my opinion.

[KaraokeDJ]

Couldn't agree more Theo. But you can't depend on repeats and referrals alone to keep the diray full.

[CRAZY K]

I know SEO techniques have been covered previously but I am interested to know what members do in order to publicise their website. Do you use google adwords, listing in directories, are paid directories better than free ones, which sites are best etc etc. The reason for asking is that I am developing my website (loads of glitches at moment !!) and am suprised to read about how many bookings some members get though the web. I have had a couple but to be honest lucky if I get more that 2 or 3 enquiries a month through the internet.

Google ads look interesting and I understand you have to make an offer for the cost per hit, if you bid highest you get to the top, if not you are pushed down the order by people who are willing to pay more.

I have noticed some of my competitors do this, varying the times of day that they are showing--I understand you can do this with a monetary limit for each day.

Mind you its only a hit so unless your site looks interesting enough the punters move on.

I have read that unscrupulous operators keep on hitting their competititors Google Ads to use up their daily allowance and remove the competitiion
although I believe Google were trying to stop this:eek:

It would be interesting to hear from someone who has actually used Google ads?

I have just answered my own question--if I Google Mobile Disco Northampton

A1 Discos ( Tony ) are showing at the top of sponsored links:D

Over to you Tony;)

CRAZY K

[KaraokeDJ]

I tried google adwords over a year ago just to see what difference if made after launching a web site and it brough a few people in to the site, however I wasn't impressed. It was costing me about £30 worth of clicks to get an enquiry. The advert has to be right, the choice of keywords has to be right, and there is NO WAY that google can stop your competitors from clicking your link. They can stop people from clicking the same link more than once, but they couldn't stop someone, or a group of somones, clicking it once.


Mind you its only a hit so unless your site looks interesting enough the punters move on.

That is so so true. You could have millions of hits but if your web site does not grab attention and state the right message right away, it may as well be selling soggy meat n potato pies!

[rob1963]

Hi Rob. Sorry to raise an old thread from the dead but I am pulling my hair out trying to work out how some DJs get calls every day when some struglle to get any.

I am lucky if I get a call per week at the moment. I'm on numerous directories, mostly paid adverts, list reasonably well on google for mobile discos in my area, but still have had an extremely poor last few months.

I can honestly say I have not had a serious enquiry for about 3 or 4 weeks and other than bookings for previous customers, have not sent out a booking form for nearly a couple of months.

I'l lost for what to try next.

Hi Karaoke DJ,

I don't mind you raising an old thread, but I'm afraid I don't know what to suggest.

I still advertise on about 35 listings sites as explained earlier in the thread, and I still rarely go for more than a few days without an enquiry.

Maybe it's something to do with my website, as that always gets very positive comments from people when I talk to them.

:shrug:

[KaraokeDJ]

Maybe it's something to do with my website, as that always gets very positive comments from people when I talk to them.

Rob, I think you may be right - your web site is so quick, so uncluttered, so straight to the point. I'm starting to question mine.

[Marc J]

Rob...your web site is so quick

That'll be the server it's on :D

[KaraokeDJ]

That'll be the server it's on :D

That may be so, Marc. But the content is quick loading by being simple and not waiting for a clutter of images etc.,

[ppentertainments]

Me again, due to recent poor google results am revamping my website this weekend (in between 2 gigs, 2 kids parties and a wedding fayre).

What I am wanting to know is - what are your strong keywords for people searching, and finding, your site.

I realise this is maybe giving away a bit too much info so will respect people who do not wish to disclose this information ;)

Thought it more appropriate to tie in with this thread as opposed to start a new one.

[Pe7e]

What I am wanting to know is - what are your strong keywords for people searching, and finding, your site.

I realise this is maybe giving away a bit too much info so will respect people who do not wish to disclose this information ;)
.

Visit your rivals web site, on the home page 'right click' and 'view source' all will be revealed., it's the same for the other pages too.