Word of mouth and reputation versus advertising

[gazzak]

I would just like peoples opinions on the above, or would you say word of mouth and reputation is the best advertising?

[Penfold42]

I would just like peoples opinions on the above, or would you say word of mouth and reputation is the best advertising?

Word of mouth has been working for me this year.
Did a Wedding last year in Lincoln.....and have managed to get a further 3 more gigs from that one.....all from hear say.

I've also had two customers come back for a quote from my leg slapping gigs. :D

You can't beat it. :)

[PropellerHeadCase]

Word of mouth is the best, but also amongst the least dependable - with an ad, you know it's been placed, you just don't know if past, satisfied customers are shouting your name from the rooftops... actually, you can be pretty sure they're not.

[gazzak]

Word of mouth is the best, but also amongst the least dependable - with an ad, you know it's been placed, you just don't know if past, satisfied customers are shouting your name from the rooftops... actually, you can be pretty sure they're not.

Good point!

[Cheesey 1975]

Word of mouth has been working for me this year.
Did a Wedding last year in Lincoln.....and have managed to get a further 3 more gigs from that one.....all from hear say.

I've also had two customers come back for a quote from my leg slapping gigs. :D

You can't beat it. :)

And did damian have anything to do with the leg slappin ????? :eek: :eek:

[Dynamic Entertainment]

Im a bit of both to be honest, and a lot ove venue recommendations :) (does that count as word of mouth?)

[nigelwright7557]

I get zero gigs from word of mouth.
All mine come from Yellow Pages and my internet presence.

The trouble with word of mouth in my circumstances is it would be family wanting a freebie.

[Excalibur]

I would just like peoples opinions on the above, or would you say word of mouth and reputation is the best advertising?

Yes. Next question please.

Word of mouth is the best, but also amongst the least dependable - with an ad, you know it's been placed, you just don't know if past, satisfied customers are shouting your name from the rooftops... actually, you can be pretty sure they're not.

Either I've misunderstood, or I disagree. :confused:


And did damian have anything to do with the leg slappin ????? :eek: :eek:
Yeah, that's as far up as he can reach on Big Tone. :D :D :D

[Dynamic Entertainment]

:confused: :confused: Just noticed....whys this in the Music forum

[gazzak]

:confused: :confused: Just noticed....whys this in the Music forum

Terribly sorry chaps but I am a newbie after all.

[Jonathan Ford]

All my work comes from word of mouth. I haven't advertised in over ten years, so I'd say it's invaluable.

[rob1963]

Most of my work comes from my internet presence, as I advertise on about 40 wedding & disco listings sites.

The annual cost is little more than what I charge for one gig, but it brings in enough work to keep me out more than once a week in the wedding season (from around April to October).

I call that excellent value for money, although I should point out that I do "smart" advertising. This basically means I monitor all traffic to my website from the various sites where I advertise my business, and keep a detailed note of how many hits comes from which sites.

This way, I can upgrade ads which are working well & cancel those which bring very little traffic to my site.

This monitoring has improved recently, as I'm now also provided with details of the referring site for everyone who sends an enquiry using the contact form on my website, so I not only have information about where the hits to my website come from, but where the people who send actual enquiries come from too.

[Corabar Steve]

I get zero gigs from word of mouth.
Why am I not surprised? :sj:

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I would just like peoples opinions on the above, or would you say word of mouth and reputation is the best advertising?

Word of mouth is the best advertising IMO.


I get zero gigs from word of mouth.
All mine come from Yellow Pages and my internet presence.



Why am I not surprised? :sj:

Beat me to it...;)

[rob1963]

Word of mouth is the best advertising IMO.

It's certainly the cheapest!

[Grahame Case]

It's certainly the cheapest!

word of mouth works well, also an online email newsletter for exisiting clients,

[par6]

Been in the business over 20 years and have never advertised, did 146 gigs last year, word of mouth and reputation work fine for me :D

[rob1963]

Been in the business over 20 years and have never advertised, did 146 gigs last year, word of mouth and reputation work fine for me :D

Out of interest, how did you get your initial gigs when you first started?

:shrug:

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Word of mouth I'm guessing...

[DJWilson]

word of mouth can be the greatest free advertising or could be a booking killer depending on previous gigs you have done

[gazzak]

Out of interest, how did you get your initial gigs when you first started?

:shrug:

I begged and scrounged some Gear for a freebie one off Karaoke at my local Miners Welfare then got asked to do it again and again for a nominal fee and as I bought more kit and upgraded I,ve been getting Birthdays, Weddings and so on by word of mouth.

[PropellerHeadCase]

Word of mouth is the best, but also amongst the least dependable.



Either I've misunderstood, or I disagree. :confused:

I think you've confused me - either you understand and agree or don't understand and disagree with something you don't understand :eek: :confused:

All I was saying was that you can't rely on deliriously happy ex-customers telling everyone they know to hire you, and that those that have been thus told will do so.

[superspindiscos]

i think we all agree word of mouth is the way most of us have got gigs over the years, but building that reputation can be hard and take time. even though i am long in the tooth and have a good reputation this year i have started to look at more web presence - which has got me at least 2 -3 gigs so paid for itself. we should all be open to new idea's and new ways to genreate custom - its bloody hard going at the moment

[rob1963]

i think we all agree word of mouth is the way most of us have got gigs over the years

Errr...no :shrug:

[mark@pegasus]

I think it also depends on the type of advertising your refering to;
word of mouth/reputation vs printed advertising, w.o.m. wins everytime
word of mouth/reputation vs exhibiting i.e. wedding fayres which is still a form of advertising then I think it's a fairly level field as the client gets to meet you and can get a feel for weather they can have a good client/ DJ relationship

[superspindiscos]

lol sorry rob :)

for me personally i could never afford yellow pages adverts and the older skool form or advertising so word of mouth was what kept me in business......

[Twinspin]

I get quite a few gigs from word of mouth, Generally more than what i get from advertising. But either is a good method of picking up work.

I look at these two types of source as old leads and new leads.

Word of mouth is an old lead of bookings. Because your new lead (the original client) networks with their friends and family or even their colleagues. So the lead has turned into an old lead (because the recommendation has been passed on)

Advertising on the other hand generally is a new lead. Because you could be doing a booking for a new original lead who can eventually turn into an old lead by recommending you to their friends family colleagues etc again.

Old leads are the best though. Because people book you because they have had satisfied friends to begin with.

If your not getting any bookings from word of mouth it kind of asks the question as to whether you are doing a good job at peoples functions.

because a satisifed customer will recommend you.

[superspindiscos]

Good way of looking at things twinspin - ....

[rob1963]

lol sorry rob :)


No need to be sorry, superspin...my online advertising only costs a few hundred pounds each year & brings in work worth a five figure sum, so I consider it to be a very good investment.

At the end of the day, I don't think it makes much difference WHERE you get your work from...as long as you DO get the work!

[Twinspin]

Im currently advertising using this advert in the directory and it does bring in a few new leads and enquiries when. Im available to work

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l264/Twinspindj/hwd.jpg

yet word of mouth is still better.

[sleah]

Why am I not surprised? :sj:

I do not know, Steve. please, do tell.:p;):D:D:D:D:D


Been in the business over 20 years and have never advertised,...<snip>... reputation work fine for me :D

Ditto. Although I don't do much these days, but that is through choice as much as anything, being part-time, I'm restricted to what I can do and I'm also not reliant on the income:)


Out of interest, how did you get your initial gigs when you first started?

:shrug:

I'll also answer that...:D

I started doing a weekly youth club disco, which had the place at capacity (250 kids) most weeks after a few months. At the same time I 'hooked-up' with a couple of Pros who I roadied for and eventually they started both passing work to me and asking me to cover gigs in their names... the rest is history as they say.

[Excalibur]

I think you've confused me - either you understand and agree or don't understand and disagree with something you don't understand :eek: :confused:

All I was saying was that you can't rely on deliriously happy ex-customers telling everyone they know to hire you, and that those that have been thus told will do so.

Ok, I disagree vigorously. :eek: You can't beat word of mouth ( Unless you're crap! ) Nothing beats the recommendation of a satisfied customer.

[rob1963]

Ok, I disagree vigorously. :eek: You can't beat word of mouth ( Unless you're crap! )

What a load of toilet!

:Rob James: :D :D :D

[par6]

Out of interest, how did you get your initial gigs when you first started?

:shrug:
I went to an audition for a large brewery who wanted 'personality' DJ's to work in their fun pubs ( 1980's ), in the '80's being a clown was more important than your DJing skills and I got one of the jobs :eek: It was totally using their equipment, and so it sort of snowballed from there.
I must admit I don't know how anybody can book a DJ without a recommendation ? I'd never employ the services of a spark, plumber, brickie etc without asking friends, relatives if they could suggest someone.

[rob1963]

I must admit I don't know how anybody can book a DJ without a recomendation?

It also surprises me, but the vast majority of my clients book me not only without a recommendation, but also without meeting me or even speaking to me on the phone beforehand!

I guess it says a lot for my website & the way & speed at which I answer their enquiries.


I'd never employ the services of a spark, plumber, brickie etc without asking friends, relatives if they could suggest someone.

Neither would I.

Fortunately, when it comes to discos, my clients DO!

[Twinspin]

The thing is if your a good dj and you do a good job for the client of course they will recommend you.

If the clients dont recommend you then in most cases you are doing something wrong. Remember if you do a good job the customer always remembers and will pass you onto their friends.

[nigelwright7557]

The thing is if your a good dj and you do a good job for the client of course they will recommend you.

If the clients dont recommend you then in most cases you are doing something wrong. Remember if you do a good job the customer always remembers and will pass you onto their friends.

Always make sure you give the customer your business card in case they forget the name of your disco.

[rob1963]

If the clients dont recommend you then in most cases you are doing something wrong. Remember if you do a good job the customer always remembers and will pass you onto their friends.

In that case, the people my clients are presumably recommending me to aren't booking me for some strange reason...because my client feedback doesn't suggest I'm doing anything wrong. Just the opposite, in fact.

:shrug:

[DeckstarDeluxe]

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1219632319#/group.php?gid=69661376787&ref=nf

might be interesting seeing how big that group gets

[Bouncy Dancefloor]

9 members, i think ill continue with my yellow pages advert for this year lol

someone said save the trees, i thought yellow pages were made of recycled paper and they even offer a recycling service for the old ones

[PropellerHeadCase]

Ok, I disagree vigorously. :eek: You can't beat word of mouth ( Unless you're crap! ) Nothing beats the recommendation of a satisfied customer.

Yes, nothing beats it - a recommendation is virtually a guaranteed booking, but an ad is guaranteed coverage for a defined period (and if it's online you get views and clicks stats)... so I think you're disagreeing vigorously with the wrong thing, or you're wrong - your choice :D

[rob1963]

9 members, i think ill continue with my yellow pages advert for this year

I never knew you had money to throw away!

[Bouncy Dancefloor]

well with 9 members opposing yellow pages, it looks like its here to stay for another year

[rob1963]

well with 9 members opposing yellow pages, it looks like its here to stay for another year

9 members on that facebook group, maybe...




...but about 90% of people on THIS forum!

[Grahame Case]

9 members on that facebook group, maybe...




...but about 90% of people on THIS forum!

i'm with Rob on this, the Yellow Pages is ideal if you want time wasters phoning around for the cheapest price, that is if you are listed in the "DISCOS-MOBILE" section

as for generating real leads? nope can't see it, unless you have yourself specifically listed in the "Weddings-Entertainers" section, as Brides do refer to that.

but most people just use the internet now, and Yell are running scared.

Fair enough, go pay an extortionate price for some phonebook advertising, i know where i will be investing my money on advertising this year - GOOGLE & Internet related advertising

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink

[Excalibur]

What a load of toilet!

:Rob James: :D :D :D


Yes, nothing beats it - a recommendation is virtually a guaranteed booking, but an ad is guaranteed coverage for a defined period (and if it's online you get views and clicks stats)... so I think you're disagreeing vigorously with the wrong thing, or you're wrong - your choice :D

If you're lining up with Rob, then I'm convinced I'm right. :D :D :D :D

[rob1963]

If you're lining up with Rob, then I'm convinced I'm right. :D :D :D :D

:jawdrop:

Word of mouth may be the cheapest way to get work, but it's also the most unreliable.

I wonder what percentage of businesses do NO advertising whatsoever, but instead adopt the policy "We'll just rely on recommendations for all our work"?

A very low figure, possibly even a single figure, I'd wager.

[gazzak]

I would just like peoples opinions on the above, or would you say word of mouth and reputation is the best advertising?

I really didn't think that this would stir up so much discussion when I posted it but it's all very interesting.

[Excalibur]

:jawdrop:

Word of mouth may be the cheapest way to get work, but it's also the most unreliable.

I wonder what percentage of businesses do NO advertising whatsoever, but instead adopt the policy "We'll just rely on recommendations for all our work"?

A very low figure, possibly even a single figure, I'd wager.

Rob, I never said cheapest, I said best. ;)

Well you can put me down as the first one mate. ;) 991/2% of my work is indeed recommendation. :p How some of it came about is a story for another day, but there we go.
I'm soon going to have a campaign to boost work, and the website is a part of that. I'll let you know how it progresses.

[DeckstarDeluxe]

i had 1k worth of adverts lined up for what was going to be my first year in yellow pages. I then saw how many of the djs on here said about it and cancelled it. Theres so many discos in the directory too and if they are ringing around they are really only interested in one thing, price.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

My advert in the Yellow Pages was a very good deal and one job from it paid for itself. Personally, it's worked wonders for me. I designed the advert myself and it's quite small. I've had it for 3 years now and the price hasn't changed that much even though their 'sales people' try their hardest. It definitely works for me. Whenever I get a call or email enquiry, I always ask where they found me because obviously, I want to see if it works and it does.

Saying all of that though, I STILL think that word of mouth and recommendations are by far the best form of advertising. If for example, I tell a mate that the guy that serviced my van etc was really good and really reliable then he will more than likely go to the same guy as he will trust my judgement and I think that's the case with Discos too.

[rob1963]

Rob, I never said cheapest, I said best. ;)


I guess it depends what you mean by best.

In an ideal world, none of us would spend a penny on advertising & all our work would come from recommendations.

In the real world, recommendations are the most unreliable way to get work, which is probably why most businesses advertise.

If I relied on recommendations to get work, I'd have gone bankrupt ages ago (despite my clients being very happy with the service I provide)!


I'm soon going to have a campaign to boost work, and the website is a part of that. I'll let you know how it progresses.

Good luck with that :)

[sten102]

I've just researched my bookings for the past year to see where all my work came from and I've found it very interesting seeing as a couple of years ago the majority was from Yellow Pages...
Internet (Google/search engines, disco websites) 50%
Recommendation 23%
Yell.com 18%
Yellow Pages 9%

So I don't think I'll be bothering with the Yellow Pages next year!

Mike Stenhouse Entertainments Mobile
Disco, Bristol, UK (http://www.mikestenhouse.co.uk)