Separate website for Weddings only

[Spirits High]

I'm thinking of putting my wedding service onto a dedicated weddings website.

I know a couple of others on here have dedicated wedding sites (Charlie, Mark) and was after knowing how successful it has been to split the event from the normal site.

I'd keep the weddings page on the old site but have it as a click through to the dedicated site.

Would be interested to see the results from splitting it up.

[Charlie Brown]

ATM - Nothing.

It hasn't generated one enquiry but CBE is better than ever (a year after going live). I'm not sure whether it's the ridiculous picture of me on the home page or because it's not doing well in Google yet.

I could ask Martin for some stats, if that helps?

[Spirits High]

ATM - Nothing.

It hasn't generated one enquiry but CBE is better than ever (a year after going live). I'm not sure whether it's the ridiculous picture of me on the home page or because it's not doing well in Google yet.

I could ask Martin for some stats, if that helps?

Interesting....

Do you have a click through from the original site or is completely stand alone?

[CRAZY K]

I'm thinking of putting my wedding service onto a dedicated weddings website.

I know a couple of others on here have dedicated wedding sites (Charlie, Mark) and was after knowing how successful it has been to split the event from the normal site.

I'd keep the weddings page on the old site but have it as a click through to the dedicated site.

Would be interested to see the results from splitting it up.

Could boost your bookings possibly as you can focus peoples attention to their specific requirements, presume you would have a slightly different name?

We do that for Wild West Events as a click through from the main site--the specialist site doesnt need to make any progress on Google searches as its accessed from a high ranking exisiting site.

Certainly proved worthwhile financially--we dont count Internet hits and stats here---just the bank balance :D

[Vectis]

I could ask Martin for some stats, if that helps?

It's a bit soon to draw conclusions, but a quick peek shows the wedding site pulling about one-third the number of visitors of the main site.

Therefore I conclude that it must be the pic :o

[Charlie Brown]

Therefore I conclude that it must be the pic :o

No worries.

Please remove it when you get chance until I get a decent one! :)

[leelive]

I have two websites. My main one lee-live (.com) is for Weddings.
The other website (.net) is for all other events.
It generates a few quotes but it doesn't create any work.
I might have to turn it into a purely corporate website because people who have birthday parties can't afford me.
So in conclusion. I am glad I have website solely for Weddings. It doesn't try to be all things to all people. More importantly it stays very close to the top of Google for Wedding DJ searches.
Lee

[Takeiteasy]

I would build a mobile disco website for each / every type of event as having a number of mini sites can only help you be found & can help with the SEO side of things.

[Vectis]

I've got a great quote squirrelled away somewhere waiting for a topic like this...


Ah yes, here it is:


Just building it doesn't produce exposure.

Therefore just building more doesn't change the amount of exposure you produced... it just exponentially increases the amount of work you must do to gain exposure for all projects.

[Takeiteasy]

Buying up good web domains and using these as mini sites is a very good idea and does work very well.

[JDB Entertainment]

I have two seperate sites.

My dj-hire-birmingham (.co.uk) & wedding-dj-birmingham (.co.uk)

The wedding site has definately produced more enquiries and bookings. In my opinion it just gives the potential client exactly what they need and is a little bit more personal.

[ppentertainments]

I have seperate sites and it works well for me. I offer a completely different package for weddings as opposed to birthdays etc and having a seperate site has helped me to distinguish the difference.

The other benefit is with having a dedicated wedding DJ site I have found less timewasters enquiring for a cheap disco.

I went one further and got a dedicated race night website which increased race night bookings four fold so far this year. Disco's not quite the increase, but have many enquiries for dates already booked and have an increase in bookings for next year (and even a couple for 2013)

[CRAZY K]

I've got a great quote squirrelled away somewhere waiting for a topic like this...


Ah yes, here it is:


Just building it doesn't produce exposure.

Therefore just building more doesn't change the amount of exposure you produced... it just exponentially increases the amount of work you must do to gain exposure for all projects.


I would have to completely disagree with that quote--in my experience ;)

[ppentertainments]

I would have to completely disagree with that quote--in my experience ;)
I have to say I actually agree with Vectis - although use a different strategy.

At the end of the day you don't see larger companies having many sites.

[Vectis]

I have to say I actually agree with Vectis - although use a different strategy.

At the end of the day you don't see larger companies having many sites.

I didn't say I agreed with the quote.

But I broadly do :D

However multiple sites shouldn't be thought of in the context of SEO or attempting to double-barrel Google results....

In some cases, where a business is looking to develop a new venture or perhaps takes a long-term strategy to break away from a traditional marketplace then the 'second site' can be a good way to head off in that general direction.

I have clients for whom the multiple site approach is appropriate and is working well. I have other clients who I've dissuaded from the multiple site approach because they were wanting to do it for the wrong reasons, IMHO.

[yourdj]

I am doing one at the moment for Weddings in the new forest while doing a mini page for each main venue,
with a conclusive list on the top of each page. The way I see it people choose the venue and date and then choose the suppliers.

This is it at the moment, which will completely change next week:
http://www.newforestwedding.co.uk/

My general site: http://www.yourdj.co.uk/

[Vectis]

I am doing one at the moment for Weddings in the new forest while doing a mini page for each main venue,
with a conclusive list on the top of each page. The way I see it people choose the venue and date and then choose the suppliers.

This is it at the moment, which will completely change next week:
http://www.newforestwedding.co.uk/

My general site: http://www.yourdj.co.uk/


And that answers the OP how? :confused:

[yourdj]

And that answers the OP how? :confused:

The OP is:


Would be interested to see the results from splitting it up.

Showing how it splits it up :confused: One for weddings and one for normal bookings.

Gives him an idea possibly what option to take?

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Something I'm going to do later this year hopefully :)

[Charlie Brown]

My argument is this....

I haven't done any wedding fayres, I haven't recently spent a bomb on any marketing and don't get many referrals because I'm only on my first year BUT CBE is doing really well. I presumed the other two sites would do the same and generate even MORE business.

I will email you properly Martin when I get chance but I think it would be good experiment to remove the picture of me until I get one 'properly' taken. We have nothing to loose... :)

At the moment, I look like I've been slapped around the face before I get into the limo for my Year 11 school prom!! Would you trust this kid with your wedding!

[CRAZY K]

I have to say I actually agree with Vectis - although use a different strategy.

At the end of the day you don't see larger companies having many sites.

Yes we operate differently from Marks and Spencer.;)

But we are in a totally different business.

We have a business model which is far more effective and efficient than any large Company you could name--we make people like High Street Banks look like rank amateurs==people are genuinely astounded at the service we give.

Better move on the garden needs sorting :daft:

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I like the idea of a seperate wedding site but I also think that it could confuse people? (maybe it's just me?....probably!).
I have links (like most people) to the various pages on the site and there is a wedding one there too.
What I am going to do is focus on that and add extras to it like Venues I have played at, Recommended Venues etc etc...

It's funny though because my Wedding Booking Stats have gone up year by year. Even if I don't count weddings at residencies or wedding bookings that have come in via weddings I have done previously, they are still improving and I have not done anything to promote them apart from a couple of wedding fayres a year.
This is how it's improved....
2008 - 19 Weddings
2009 - 22 Weddings
2010 - 49 Weddings
2011 - 30 Weddings booked so far.

Maybe a dedicated Wedding site WILL improve it? Maybe it's worth looking at?
Arrgghhhh.....

[sandysounds]

If you look at it from a marketing aspect... your website should be designed with your target market in mind and aimed purely at them for it to be successful. With one website, you're trying to appeal to different target market groups. By having separate websites you can aim them specifically at the right type of people.

I have two sites. One brings in general parties and the other high end weddings. When i just had the one party site, i didn't get many enquiries for weddings in 'nice' places.

From the clients perspective... if they have a decent budget, they are much more likely to be attracted to a dedicated wedding site as they feel they are getting a wedding expert.

Quick analogy... you need a conservatory. If you want a cheap and cheerful one you'd look at Joe Bloggs who does roofing, tiling, extenxions, hairdressing and manicures. If you want a top of the range conservatory, you go to a company that specialises in conservatories. You know you're going to pay more, but as they are specialists they've got to be better haven't they?

[CRAZY K]

If you look at it from a marketing aspect... your website should be designed with your target market in mind and aimed purely at them for it to be successful. With one website, you're trying to appeal to different target market groups. By having separate websites you can aim them specifically at the right type of people.

I have two sites. One brings in general parties and the other high end weddings. When i just had the one party site, i didn't get many enquiries for weddings in 'nice' places.

From the clients perspective... if they have a decent budget, they are much more likely to be attracted to a dedicated wedding site as they feel they are getting a wedding expert.

Quick analogy... you need a conservatory. If you want a cheap and cheerful one you'd look at Joe Bloggs who does roofing, tiling, extenxions, hairdressing and manicures. If you want a top of the range conservatory, you go to a company that specialises in conservatories. You know you're going to pay more, but as they are specialists they've got to be better haven't they?

There speaks a person who understands marketing;)

Incidentally all those who have high ranking on net searches have an opportunity to get a "free ride".

Insert a link---simple.

We get a lot of business ( not enquiries) from a more recently created specialist site that ranks badly on Google--because its linked to a site that does have high ranking.

However more recently its getting improved ranking because its being found regularly by linked enquiries--win win situation.

Well thats my take on it any way;)

Many things on Google and Yahoo ranking often dont make logical sense to me.

[wensleydale]

I kind of went down this route, but essentially changed the name of the business at the same time to focus solely on Weddings.
We still do the odd event that isnt a wedding, and the old website is still running but hasnt been touched for about 3 years.

The change worked well for me, but I acknowledge that I have slightly different objectives to some others.

[Leicester Ben]

I have one Paul and it's great, it brings in loads of weddings. It's actually the second site I ever had made so at the time I just had the disco site and the wedding site.

As you don't really do anything else apart from weddings can you not just make yours more wedding based and make a new one for the general parties etc???

[soundmaster mobile disco]

By having different websites for different services ie one for weddings only and another for all your other services,surely will confuse the potential client.if you search on google,what will the potential customer think if both your websites come up.

on one site you are claiming to be "a wedding professional" and the other site you advertise that you do a bit of everything,

i know if that was me as a potential client i would be confused as to why you would charge a large fee for weddings then on your other site you dont charge so much for birthday parties,

Personally i think it is better to concentrate on having just one excellent website for all your services,rather than various,