Selling points that aren't really selling points

[Benny Smyth]

I was asked to provide some feedback on someone's website today (nobody from this forum, and I won't be providing a link), and there were several examples where I thought to myself "Why would you mention that?" For example, the DJ in question had an 'About' page where he has (as a bullet point) "a keen interest in music." Well, surely that goes without saying? You'd be in the wrong job otherwise!

So what examples have you seen that made you think "Well, that's not a selling point, is it?" Maybe, if anyone here is guilty of such things, it may improve the copy of their website. And to ensure that this is not a thread that focuses on 'negativity', if you can, try and balance it out with an example of something you've seen that made you think "Actually, that's pretty cool." For example, on this particular website there is an awesome picture of the DJ getting a big hug from a bride whilst he high-fives someone who I assume to be the groom. I thought that it perfectly captured the joy of the moment and it was a great landing picture for the website.

[funkymook]

I was asked to provide some feedback on someone's website today (nobody from this forum, and I won't be providing a link), and there were several examples where I thought to myself "Why would you mention that?" For example, the DJ in question had an 'About' page where he has (as a bullet point) "a keen interest in music." Well, surely that goes without saying? You'd be in the wrong job otherwise!

So what examples have you seen that made you think "Well, that's not a selling point, is it?" Maybe, if anyone here is guilty of such things, it may improve the copy of their website. And to ensure that this is not a thread that focuses on 'negativity', if you can, try and balance it out with an example of something you've seen that made you think "Actually, that's pretty cool." For example, on this particular website there is an awesome picture of the DJ getting a big hug from a bride whilst he high-fives someone who I assume to be the groom. I thought that it perfectly captured the joy of the moment and it was a great landing picture for the website.

Sometimes it’s the cumulative effect, no one is going to think a DJ being a music fan is a major selling point, but they will read it and subconsciously it’ll add to their overall impression.

Saying that though ‘a keen interest in music’ is a bit drab, something like ‘a lifelong music enthusiast’ sounds a bit more exciting.

My pet hates are lists of equipment (unless it’s so high end they really are selling points) and out of focus, badly framed party photos, especially when the gallery seems to be all from the same kids party.

But then again what’s stating the obvious to us may be exactly what a potential customer wants to know - I sometimes get asked if I bring lighting (and on occasion if I have my own speakers), we can’t take our common knowledge as being common to our clients.

[ppentertainments]

People buy people don't forget.
Quite often if people 'gel' with you they will book regardless.

[Andy P]

I sometimes get asked if I bring lighting

Snap - I did a large facebook post on my new lights - a person messaged me saying they'd seen my page and wanted to book but did I have lights.

I personally love overuse of the term eclectic

[ukpartydj]

Something which I've seen a lot of businesses in general do which to me suggests a less professional approach is calling yourself "the best", "famous", "No.1" or listing yourself as "my area's premium service" or "the only service that does this not so special thing which somebody else probably does do but you just don't know about it".

There are of course exceptions: "Voted the best by a decent organisation" or if you do genuinely have something unique and you know nobody else has like perhaps a truss column with a mirror ball suspended inside it... although I've never said "The only DJ with a mirror ball inside a truss" because I simply don't know that to be true.

[Andy P]

:p you picking on me lol

[funkymook]

:p you picking on me lol

But now you mention it.....how would you justify it if a client asked?

[ukpartydj]

:p you picking on me lol

Haha... no I promise I am not. I know some very good DJs who say similar things, I've said some silly things on my website before also but I've gotten old and grumpy before my time I'm afraid and I do like to moan about small things.

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

Something which I've seen a lot of businesses in general do which to me suggests a less professional approach is calling yourself "the best", "famous", "No.1" or listing yourself as "my area's premium service" or "the only service that does this not so special thing which somebody else probably does do but you just don't know about it".

There are of course exceptions: "Voted the best by a decent organisation" or if you do genuinely have something unique and you know nobody else has like perhaps a truss column with a mirror ball suspended inside it... although I've never said "The only DJ with a mirror ball inside a truss" because I simply don't know that to be true.



I was the number 1 DJ in my house until I decided to have a DJ competition at my NYE party :D

I was the last one standing at 6 in the morning dropping sigur ros and enigma right enough :beer1:

I find lists of gear to be daft because a. no one cares and b. it's usually a lot of stuff fit for the bin anyway.

I find "Bio's" to be quite ridiculous - you're not in 1 Direction, you don't need a bio and I really doubt anyone cares that your first foray into DJing came when Santa brought you a pretend record player when you were 4 and you've had the bug ever since :daft:

[funkymook]

Just thought of something else that puts me off a website - out of date blogs, feedback and pictures. If they’re more than a few months old it gives me the impression that whatever service it is hasn’t worked since then. Blogs are boring anyway, even if they’re up to date, but they probably have some SEO value.

[Nakatomi]

I was the number 1 DJ in my house until I decided to have a DJ competition at my NYE party :D

I was the last one standing at 6 in the morning dropping sigur ros and enigma right enough :beer1:

I find lists of gear to be daft because a. no one cares and b. it's usually a lot of stuff fit for the bin anyway.

I find "Bio's" to be quite ridiculous - you're not in 1 Direction, you don't need a bio and I really doubt anyone cares that your first foray into DJing came when Santa brought you a pretend record player when you were 4 and you've had the bug ever since :daft:

:agree:

About 99% of punters won't know their Soundlab from their Pioneers - besides which, ANY gear can be prone to fail eventually no matter who made it. Photos showing the gear in action are pointless most of the time too.. even videos of good rigs can look like blazing cacophonies of light.

People say 'We promise to turn up'. Duh. I should blinking hope so. That'd be like a double glazing company saying "we promise your windows won't fall out the day after we fit them". Erm, most if not all customers kind of expect you to turn up as arranged without a darn good excuse. Say you're reliable? Yup. Maybe back it up somehow? Hmmm.

"Satisfaction guaranteed". So, what's this 'guarantee' backed up by? Being chased through the courts until the customer gains satisfaction? Bag that one with "We aim to please". Ah, I'm SO going to book them over the guys who say "We aim to annoy the hell out of you!"

See also, "all guests' requests will be played in a timely fashion"... What? Nah. I can't see that being as positive thing in ALL cases. The woman who asked for a whole Sam Smith album to be played the other week would've caused so much fun with that. Just say "we play requests" instead maybe? I need context for any requests I play - that doesn't make me a 'never plays any requests' arrogant so & so - because I most certainly ain't that.

As for customers asking for information already there on the page plain as day - I had my fill of that running one website. I'll be more likely to be able to tolerate it if it's going to make me money but still.. grrr.

[DeckstarDeluxe]

I was asked to provide some feedback on someone's website today (nobody from this forum, and I won't be providing a link), and there were several examples where I thought to myself "Why would you mention that?" For example, the DJ in question had an 'About' page where he has (as a bullet point) "a keen interest in music." Well, surely that goes without saying? You'd be in the wrong job otherwise!

So what examples have you seen that made you think "Well, that's not a selling point, is it?" Maybe, if anyone here is guilty of such things, it may improve the copy of their website. And to ensure that this is not a thread that focuses on 'negativity', if you can, try and balance it out with an example of something you've seen that made you think "Actually, that's pretty cool." For example, on this particular website there is an awesome picture of the DJ getting a big hug from a bride whilst he high-fives someone who I assume to be the groom. I thought that it perfectly captured the joy of the moment and it was a great landing picture for the website.

But you're reading that all as a DJ yourself so joe public reading may read it and think "a DJ who loves their music". If it isn't there then would you maybe think "maybe they just do it for the money?". I don't think having it there is a negative thing?

I find the photos of DJs with couples 9 times out of 10 slightly awkward and almost "forced". If it's natural then it's pure gold.

[Andy P]

But now you mention it.....how would you justify it if a client asked?

My wife said

[Andy P]

Just thought of something else that puts me off a website - out of date blogs, feedback and pictures. If they’re more than a few months old it gives me the impression that whatever service it is hasn’t worked since then. Blogs are boring anyway, even if they’re up to date, but they probably have some SEO value.

The point of blogs is not to be boring however. They should be interesting topics and regularly updated - if there not they should be removed (until such a time that they are up to date)

I have one and update it purely for the SEO benefits but I do try to keep it readable.

[Benny Smyth]

Blogs are boring anyway, even if they’re up to date, but they probably have some SEO value.

Depends on what the blog contains. If someone does a search term like 'Wedding DJ at [insert venue here]' and comes across that blog, it shows that the DJ has experience of working at that venue (which a lot of clients find reassuring). Throw in a few good pics of how their evening could look if they booked you, and a few words of something noteworthy and that blog can be a very good marketing tool.

[Nakatomi]

But you're reading that all as a DJ yourself so joe public reading may read it and think "a DJ who loves their music". If it isn't there then would you maybe think "maybe they just do it for the money?". I don't think having it there is a negative thing?


Maybe they just do it for the money. So what? All I care about as a punter is whether they care about me as a customer or not. I can say I'm a music lover, but don't jump to the conclusion I listen to everything I play at discos when I'm at home :lol:

[Andy P]

God if I played the songs I liked at a disco there would be a walk out.

[funkymook]

God if I played the songs I liked at a disco there would be a walk out.

Go on, tell us a few...

[Benny Smyth]

Not gonna lie, Andy - I'm laughing at your sig far more than I should be. :lol:

[Andy P]

I'm personally not a fan or Oasis and Paul Weller post style council, or Richard Ashcroft or any people with OTT attitude problems,

I love bassy tracks like forget me notts, goodnight tonight, and most disco stuff and 80's new romantic.

However I listen to all sorts, 80's cheese (but the uncommon ones like Nick Kaymen, Oran 'juice' Jones and other one hit wonders), europop like Falco, then the less popular stuff by queen, george michael, odyssey, rose royce etc.

It not horrific stuff just not really tuned for discos.

[ukpartydj]

Not gonna lie, Andy - I'm laughing at your sig far more than I should be. :lol:

I second that!
Also I think blogs are good for seo and whilst maybe nobody will read them it shows that you are active and you make an effort. I post reviews snd comments from clients with dates which they are posted so clients can see I'm still active and that ive been active for a while.

[Excalibur]

God if I played the songs I liked at a disco there would be a walk out.

Well, last Saturday, I got to play mainly tracks I love, and this Saturday, I'll get to play only tracks that I love, so it does happen. ;)

Mind you, the gigs are a 60th and then a 70th Birthday, so not the biggest shock in the world, eh? :D


Go on, tell us a few...
You Sir are a fine one to talk! When did you last play any current hits? ( And by " current ", I mean post 1980. ) :D

For anyone who doessn't know, Martin has exploited a niche market playing mainly ( in my humble opinion, somewhat obscure ) songs from Yesteryear. I take my hat off to him.


Not gonna lie, Andy - I'm laughing at your sig far more than I should be. :lol:


I second that!
.

Put me down for #3. Loving it.


Funnily enough, young Justin once got a gig where promising to turn up was a contributory factor to getting it! :daft:

[ukpartydj]

Funnily enough, young Justin once got a gig where promising to turn up was a contributory factor to getting it! :daft:

That there comment reminded me of this fine businessman -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chui1k7zu3g&list=PLjfqtP6tZJr486PfeZ6J0umMHwJfUDICW&index=27

[Nakatomi]

Well, last Saturday, I got to play mainly tracks I love, and this Saturday, I'll get to play only tracks that I love, so it does happen. ;)

Mind you, the gigs are a 60th and then a 70th Birthday, so not the biggest shock in the world, eh? :D


You Sir are a fine one to talk! When did you last play any current hits? ( And by " current ", I mean post 1980. ) :D

For anyone who doessn't know, Martin has exploited a niche market playing mainly ( in my humble opinion, somewhat obscure ) songs from Yesteryear. I take my hat off to him.





Put me down for #3. Loving it.


Funnily enough, young Justin once got a gig where promising to turn up was a contributory factor to getting it! :daft:

There's promising you'll bend over backwards to be there or otherwise cover an event, then there's simply saying on your website 'we promise to show up'. There's a subtle difference.

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

Maybe they just do it for the money. So what? All I care about as a punter is whether they care about me as a customer or not. I can say I'm a music lover, but don't jump to the conclusion I listen to everything I play at discos when I'm at home :lol:


I doubt anyone does to be fair but it does make a difference if you know a lot about music and that comes from appreciating a wide range of it.

If you take a booking and someone asks that you play nothing but 80s indie bangers all night, if you know about that kind of music then you're good to go, if you don't pay much attention to different genres except for the ones you personally like then you're in a bit of a jam unless that genre happens to be indie bangers...

It's the one reason I listen to radio 1 and capital when I'm driving around - I prefer the stuff on Smooth, R2, XFM and even the local community station but being able to keep abreast of what is coming out just now comes in really handy because I'm of an age where the majority of wedding clients are and whilst I won't be running out to buy Beyonce or Jason Derulo's latest stuff, a lot of the folk on the dancefloor (who just happen to be potential clients to boot) will be.

[ukpartydj]

oddly enough most of the djs I talk to aren't what I'd call "into music" thinking about it. I probably go to 3+ gigs a year and the occasional festival every couple of years, my girlfriend enjoys different music to me also which means I've seen a great variety of artists: Metallica, nicki Minaj, tom Jones, above and beyond, slayer, the killers, david geutta and every year without fail the wurzels! And this year the week before the wurzels I'm doing a young farmers rally... and if I know young farmers they love the wurzels just as much as I do haha.
None of this is on my site though. .hmmm ,maybe I'm missing a trick.

[Benny Smyth]

One that has been annoying me a lot recently:

"Get in touch to get your FREE quote!"

Thank God - almost everyone else tried charging me to tell me how much they're gonna charge me. :rolleyes:

[Nakatomi]

One that has been annoying me a lot recently:

"Get in touch to get your FREE quote!"

Thank God - almost everyone else tried charging me to tell me how much they're gonna charge me. :rolleyes:

I saw a good one yesterday on a DJ site.

FREE SETUP.

[rth_discos]

And 'now taking bookings for 2020'

What, because if I'd asked yesterday you'd have said you weren't taking bookings for 2020?

[ukpartydj]

One that has been annoying me a lot recently:

"Get in touch to get your FREE quote!"

Thank God - almost everyone else tried charging me to tell me how much they're gonna charge me. :rolleyes:

Yeah, I've never understood that.


And 'now taking bookings for 2020'

What, because if I'd asked yesterday you'd have said you weren't taking bookings for 2020?

Yep, silly people! haha

One that bugs me of recent "I'm fully booked" in December or whenever... No you're just lazy and only work Friday and Saturday nights for which all of them in December you are booked :P

[DJ Jules]

One that bugs me of recent "I'm fully booked" in December or whenever... No you're just lazy and only work Friday and Saturday nights for which all of them in December you are booked :P

I do that, but I do clarify that I'm fully booked "for x and y nights in December". I usually get to the point where I have to do it as I get fed up with the endless last minute enquiries for dates that I'm already booked.

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

Yeah, I've never understood that.



Yep, silly people! haha

One that bugs me of recent "I'm fully booked" in December or whenever... No you're just lazy and only work Friday and Saturday nights for which all of them in December you are booked :P

The free quote one is just stupid - I'd actually refuse to contact a client if they hit me with that bull:Censored::Censored::Censored::Censored:.

As for being fully booked - depends really, I'm limiting the amount of work I'm taking on over the year in total and month by month so I am fully booked for several of those - the nights I'm working are irrelevant.

[ppentertainments]

The fully booked one is a funny one as what do you class as Fully Booked, however I also think (and something I am guilty of) is the likes of "not many dates left"

People don't really care - the only thing that is important is whether you are free or not on their date. Someone with only 1 booking may be booked out on their date, whereas someone with 200 bookings may still have their date available.

[Imagine]

The fully booked one is a funny one as what do you class as Fully Booked, however I also think (and something I am guilty of) is the likes of "not many dates left"

People don't really care - the only thing that is important is whether you are free or not on their date. Someone with only 1 booking may be booked out on their date, whereas someone with 200 bookings may still have their date available.

The "not many dates left" one is in sales terms, trying to force a customer's decision....its all about scarcity.

If someone's thinking about hiring you and they realise that dates are going fast (no matter which nights of the week you work), they're in theory more likely to book sooner in case you become booked should they wait around to make their decision.