Best way to advertise?

[ronedjs]

Hello again,
My company is now approaching its first year in business and well we haven’t had that may paid bookings. We did a lot of free discos at the start for family and friends, charity events and the police. We have had a few return bookings but not many. I have sent out over 50 letters to local schools and have had no reply. I have handed out lots of publicity at all the events that we have done and was just wondering if I was going down the right track with advertising or if not what they best way was.

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated

Thanks
Elliott

[A1DL]

Hello again,
My company is now approaching its first year in business and well we haven’t had that may paid bookings. We did a lot of free discos at the start for family and friends, charity events and the police. We have had a few return bookings but not many. I have sent out over 50 letters to local schools and have had no reply. I have handed out lots of publicity at all the events that we have done and was just wondering if I was going down the right track with advertising or if not what they best way was.

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated

Thanks
Elliott


do you mean your company has been trading for nearly a year, Elliott?
...just I can't find it listed at Companies House :confused:

or by "approaching your first year in business" do you mean the company has not yet been formed, but formation is approaching, in the same way that Christmas is approaching?

[gaza]

do you mean your company has been trading for nearly a year, Elliott?
...just I can't find it listed at Companies House :confused:

or by "approaching your first year in business" do you mean the company has not yet been formed, but formation is approaching, in the same way that Christmas is approaching?



I think he means that his business has been trading for a year, as it is not a company as in ltd.

[gaza]

Oops sorry, i dd not look at his signature.:bang:

[Vectis]

In my experience,

#1 is word of mouth or past experience, unless you're not very good in which case it's not #1
#2 is your own website (if well optimised and attractive)
#3 is referrals via web directories (Rob will be along to advise which are best)
#4 is local advertising (rag, YP, newsagents window)
#5 is mailshotting / cold-calling

With even a well planned and executed mailshot, you'll be lucky to get a 1% response rate, even less conversions.

With word of mouth, unless you say something to change their mind, they'll book you. Conversion rate should be >90% assuming you're free on their date.

Sounds like you've been doing plenty of #5 and some of #4 and not getting very far.

[A1DL]

Oops sorry, i dd not look at his signature.:bang:

Exactly... more incorrect terminology.

Business Lesson No.1:

If you are a sole trader in business (working for yourself), you are a Proprietor

If you are in a business partnership with one or more other people, where a Partnership Agreement has been drawn up, you are a Partner

If you are the main shareholder and "head cheese" (Daz's terminology :p ) within a Limited Company, you will probably, but not necessarily, be a Director of that Company.

If you are a youngster with a big ego, irrespective of any of the above, you will most likely be a Managing Director. There's lots of them out there.

Hope this is helpful :)

[rob1963]

If you are a sole trader in business (working for yourself), you are a Proprietor

Or in MY case, a business owner...as I think that sounds better! :D

[A1DL]

Or in MY case, a business owner...as I think that sounds better! :D

No Rob, you're just Arthur ;)

[rob1963]

No Rob, you're just Arthur ;)

I assume you don't mean yearly, monthly or weekly!

:jawdrop:

[Have a disco]

To be honest mate keep plugging away till your established this can take upto 3 years.

Allow about 10% of your income to go on advertising if your feeling brave alot more but some guys here only outlay 0.5% of therey're income. Advertising is not cheap find every free way of advertising you possibly can, before the expensive ones like Yell.com

[Excalibur]

Vectis is, not surprisingly, absolutely bang on in his thoughts. Word of mouth is the best.

[nigelwright7557]

To be honest mate keep plugging away till your established this can take upto 3 years.

Allow about 10% of your income to go on advertising if your feeling brave alot more but some guys here only outlay 0.5% of therey're income. Advertising is not cheap find every free way of advertising you possibly can, before the expensive ones like Yell.com

If I took up ever offer of advertising I would have lost my house by now and I currently own it !

You have to ask yourself how you would look for a disco.
For me that would be Yellow Pages, BT phone book and a web search for disco Carlisle.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

How would you look for a disco in the phone book then Nigel? Do they have business listings now?

[ronedjs]

Ok thanks for the business lectures I am fully aware of all the business terminology. I am a youngster with a HUGE ego, so what, it looks better on the business card the partner. How does this help with advertising?

Thanks to those who have answered the question.

[DazzyD]

How would you look for a disco in the phone book then Nigel? Do they have business listings now?

Actually, Daz, up here The Phone Book does now have a business section, a bit like a mini-YP directory, at the front. Theres also a section for businesses listed alphabetically (like the old Thomson Local Directory) and then, at the back, the residential listings.

So, to answer your question, yes The Phone Book does now do business listings.

[Corabar Steve]

Isn't the red one the business directory?

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Actually, Daz, up here The Phone Book does now have a business section, a bit like a mini-YP directory, at the front. Theres also a section for businesses listed alphabetically (like the old Thomson Local Directory) and then, at the back, the residential listings.

So, to answer your question, yes The Phone Book does now do business listings.

Now you come to mention it, I was vaguely aware of it, but it was a serious question to Nigel - I wasn't being sarcastic (for a change!)

Having said that, I still can't believe that many people look in the phone book for a business.

[rob1963]

#3 is referrals via web directories (Rob will be along to advise which are best)

I will try to find my previous post detailing all the online directories I use & will post a link to it.

Edit: Here it is http://www.mobilediscodirectory.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=248423&postcount=3

I seem to remember Darren saying that a few of the sites are no longer active, but most are still around, so I hope this helps.

:)

[Vectis]

Having said that, I still can't believe that many people look in the phone book for a business.

If I were running one of those companies that produces the phone books I'd be sure to do my market research to prove they were still viable before going to such expense to produce, print and distribute them. I guess it's entirely possible that the business case is only positive because of ad revenue from organisations who haven't worked out how to get the best bang for their buck, but I'm sure it's something that's reviewed regularly by these folks.

So as long as they exist, chances are they're still used by Joe P.

[PropellerHeadCase]

Tied in with the word of mouth thing is approaching venues and offering to meet with them and supply to them within their guidelines - venues are very often asked for DJ names, so if your name is front of mind at the venue...

[soundtracker]

Exactly... more incorrect terminology.

Business Lesson No.1:


If you are in a business partnership with one or more other people, where a Partnership Agreement has been drawn up, you are a Partner



Actually, even if an agreement hasn't been drawn up, if you are working with others to a common end, you are in partnership under the terms of the Partnership Act 1890

[soundtracker]

Ok thanks for the business lectures I am fully aware of all the business terminology. I am a youngster with a HUGE ego, so what, it looks better on the business card the partner. How does this help with advertising?

Thanks to those who have answered the question.

You'll find that you get more help if you don't get arsey with people!

[ppentertainments]

Tied in with the word of mouth thing is approaching venues and offering to meet with them and supply to them within their guidelines - venues are very often asked for DJ names, so if your name is front of mind at the venue...

good advice.
Just do not try and speak to venue owners/managers whilst packing up after a gig. I used to get this when in the hotel trade and there is nothing more annoying. Basically at the end of a night they want you to pack up and go so they can get to bed. What I have found to be worthwhile is giving the venue a ring the next day if you have had a good gig and chat to them. Has worked well for me.:D

[501damian501]

they arnt no best ways to advertise to be honest, having a decent website helps, maybe afew listings on the internet, cheers

[Dragonfly]

word of mouth really realy is best ... but when i got my website i sat for 3 days solid ....... 9-4pm as the school i was working in at the time decided they didnt really want or need me there a week before the end of term ... and trawled the net for free sites to put a link on and sites that only cost 10 or 20 quid there is loads if you just take time to find them .

as i said it took me 3 full days non stop and most you will never get any work from but a link is a link. and i believe it helped my ranking and quite quickly.

yellow pages i ditched 2 years ago and had no down turn in business i also have a rather sly way (thanks to a mate) of advertising that im not putting on a public forum although .... no ..... it is not in any way illegal.

:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

[501damian501]

advertise in local shops, send letters out to local businesses and pubs also schools, maybe offer an discount to pubs if they book you 2 nights or more, get listed on that maybe will help, rule 1 stand out from the rest, try to be the best !

[A1DL]

advertise in local shops, send letters out to local businesses and pubs also schools, maybe offer an discount to pubs if they book you 2 nights or more, get listed on that maybe will help, rule 1 stand out from the rest, try to be the best !

I imagine these means of advertising are only likely to attract bottom-end business, where price is key. IMHO this type of advertising is unlikely to yield many lavish country house or marquee weddings.

[501damian501]

marquee weddings, advertise on wedding sites, have a good website which sells, but then agian you can have the best website, but if your customer service is rubbish, then they will look else where

[ppentertainments]

marquee weddings, advertise on wedding sites, have a good website which sells, but then agian you can have the best website, but if your customer service is rubbish, then they will look else where

You go on about websites yet no-one seems to be able to find yours !!

[501damian501]

because mines still in draft, will be ready jan or sumtime.

[Penfold42]

advertise in local shops, send letters out to local businesses and pubs also schools, maybe offer an discount to pubs if they book you 2 nights or more, get listed on that maybe will help, rule 1 stand out from the rest, try to be the best !


I imagine these means of advertising are only likely to attract bottom-end business, where price is key. IMHO this type of advertising is unlikely to yield many lavish country house or marquee weddings.

:agree:

[A1DL]

because mine's still in draft, will be ready jan or sometime.

In which case, that is a rather bold claim you make in your signature on this forum!

[ppentertainments]

In which case, that is a rather bold claim you make in your signature on this forum!

:agree:

And I have to add, I have not been able to find your company anywhere Damien. To be a national company you must have excellent word of mouth leads as advertising seems to be very low.

[Rowleys]

best way i found and got loads of gigs is make some cheap paper flyers and post loads throw doors..

give the kids in the around little money to post ..

now im full and all got my self a booking every Sunday 6 - 10 in pub and they have all the own equment so all i bring is laptop and karaoke stuff lol

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

:agree:

And I have to add, I have not been able to find your company anywhere Damien. To be a national company you must have excellent word of mouth leads as advertising seems to be very low.

Funnily enough, I couldn't find anything either, as I'm interested to find out the kind of thing Damian does.

Not a link, listing or mention anywhere, not on any website, directory or listings site. :confused:

[A1DL]

I'm interested to find out the kind of thing Damian does.

Not a link, listing or mention anywhere, not on any website, directory or listings site. :confused:

He does this kind of thing..... :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsxUkE-fByw

[501damian501]

:D word of mouth, afew vists to pubs, ect

[nigelwright7557]

:D word of mouth, afew vists to pubs, ect

I got a few gigs by undercutting the regular DJ at a pub.

[ppentertainments]

:D word of mouth, afew vists to pubs, ect

D.Cornell Leisure No.1 For Professional Entertainment & Leisure - Nationwide Coverage.

You must be really good as I said and must visit a lot of pubs and do a lot of travelling to justify the above statement in your signature. Any clues as to which pubs you play in. I suppose its curiosity but you claim to be so good and busy yet no-one knows anything about you.

[Danno13]

There's nothing to stop anyone saying they offer nationwide coverage, just because they haven't done gigs all over the country, it doesn't mean they wouldn't if they were offered them.

[A1DL]

:D word of mouth, afew vists to pubs, ect

:BS:
Does "a few visits to pubs" really earn the status of "No.1 For Professional Entertainment & Leisure"?

9 out of 10 times, "Professional Entertainment & Leisure" and "pubs" in the same sentence are oxymoronic.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I got a few gigs by undercutting the regular DJ at a pub.

:bang:

[501damian501]

the pubs i play in, remain as unknown, thats my business what i do and where i go and how i go about getting gigs, sumthing which i dont want to share with people, please dont take offence to this, yes i would be more than happy to travell if the price is right.

[Corabar Steve]

throw doors..http://www.nbc.com/Heroes/novels/downloads/HRS_PeterDoor2.jpg


I got a few gigs by undercutting the regular DJ at a pub.How have you got the balls to come on here & say that?

I can't even find the words to sum up my feelings on this!


the pubs i play in, remain as unknown, thats my business what i do and where i go and how i go about getting gigs, sumthing which i dont want to share with people, please dont take offence to this, yes i would be more than happy to travell if the price is right.
because mines still in draft, will be ready jan or sumtime.
You really ought to start thinking about backing up some of your claims with facts, you are beginning to appear more & more like the boy who cried wolf with every post you make. By the way, the words highlighted are SOMEthing & SOMEtime, sum is used correctly in my last paragraph above & is also what you get when you add something to something.

Oh & England starts with an upper case E.

[theoloyla]

How have you got the balls to come on here & say that?

I can't even find the words to sum up my feelings on this!




He has been dj'ing for years and still has to resort to cheapskate tactics like that to get gigs. Draw your own conclusions.