It's not happening!

[Centre Stage Discos]

It's just not happening here.

I have constructed a website with good SEO - and I've done a fair bit of promotion on that. We have a presence on Google and Yell which is showing some results. I've put a Facebook business page together and even spent money promoting it, only to receive a single private message from a lady who simply said "Not interested!" Wow! Talk about kicking someone when they're down. (I am not expecting a lot from Facebook)

I knew this was going to take time and neither of us are expecting miracles, but we are asking ourselves if this is really going to happen.

Apart from one voluntary disco we're doing at Christmas for a group we know, there is nothing. Not a sausage! Not a single enquiry.

There's a good disco here, backed by years of experience, all charged up and ready to go, but it's not happening. I guess this is not the only disco in this situation. A good few of us are effectively starting again from scratch after the last 18 months. We're not done by a long way and we have more ideas up our sleeves, but what a disappointing start.

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Rome wasn't built in a day.

In regards to the website are you getting visitors and no click throughs? or not getting them at the first place?

[Marc J]

I'll keep my reply limited to issues with your website only, after a quick look...

1) I searched for "Centre Stage Discos Lincolnshire (https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=centre+stage+discos+lincolnshire)" and, although I got your "Google My Business" result couldn't see you anywhere in the results page. OK, so I'm in Edinburgh and search results are localised, and I can't be bothered to try in incognito or using VPN right now, but you should have been there since I added Lincolnshire to the search.

2) So, I searched for "site:www.centrestagediscos.co.uk (https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=site%3Awww.centrestagediscos.co.uk)" to see what Google has indexed for you, and there are 3 pages, with not much to them... your home page, then 2 pages which don't seem to be linked to on your actual site any more (as you've gone for a one page site). These two pages are PLI/PAT and your contact form, with no meta description meaning Google has to wing it from what's on the page, and the contact form has the default "PHP Contact Form Script With Validation - reusable form" title. So not good.

3) Your site has no SSL cert (for https://www.centrestagediscos.co.uk) which is a no-no these days. There's really no excuse. Visitors will get a warning, especially when trying to submit your form.

4) I can't see any sign of any analytics in your code, so it's going to be hard for you to tell how well it's doing and what any visitors are up to.

5) How long ago did you push it to live? Give it time.

6) Re the one page site, I wouldn't have gone with that but that's just me. And you need to sort out the phantom pages that Google is crawling and indexing because they're not great to have there. If keeping the one page site then 301 them to the home page.

7) You've obviously done it yourself and know your stuff, so I'd fix the https issue, the 301 redirects for pages that shouldn't be indexed, switch to a multi-page site with good SEO, add Analytics and give it some time. You should also be using Google Search Console (https://search.google.com/search-console/) if you aren't already, for some insights on any potential indexing issues.

EDIT: Getting a lot of errors when checking for speed etc. (using Lighthouse in Chrome Developer Tools), you've got some issues there.

[Centre Stage Discos]

Rome wasn't built in a day.

I'm sure you are right. We can't be the only ones in this situation.



In regards to the website are you getting visitors and no click throughs? or not getting them at the first place?

Yes - and at a good rate too. Everything appears to be working well.

I would spend more on online advertising but the funds just aren't there right now.

[Centre Stage Discos]

Hi Marc.

Thanks for the thorough feedback.

Searching on the internet gives different results for different people, but I take your point. It's funny because my other half can search for the exactly the same thing on her computer as I do on mine in the same office and we often get different results. It all works here though, Google and Yell.

The website is a single page site and there is indeed a second page for the downloading of the PLI and PAT information, which we won't be investing in until we actually have a gig to go to. That seems to make sense. Pointless buying these if we have no work. They *will* be in place before any gig of course and available for download, although we really need to get these organised soon as this in itself could put off potential customers. Again, limited funds situation.

I am done with SSL. Way to expensive for what it's worth. I'll put it on other people's websites but not my own. From my experience, it guarantees nothing. I won't stick my neck out and say it's a complete con, but My hosts now offer a £50 SSL certificate, which is an improvement over £200, but I will not be bullied into paying for this. Just a personal opinion which I know some will disagree with.

The reason for the one page site is purely to keep things simple. Everything is there in one scrollable page with a fixed menu bar. Easy! Yes, I probably need to stick a robots.txt file in for the PLI/PAT download page. SEO is an ever-changing being and one I never feel I should devote too much time to. In terms of SEO and the ability to get a site at the top of the rankings, it always seems to me that such sites who achieve this have been around for a long time. This probably links nicely into the fact that our internet presence is still very new and we may be expecting a lot too soon, so it's back to that "time will tell" situation once again.

[Marc J]

Searching on the internet gives different results for different people, but I take your point. It's funny because my other half can search for the exactly the same thing on her computer as I do on mine in the same office and we often get different results. It all works here though, Google and Yell.
I'm aware of that, and said so in my post. That's why I mentioned using incognito mode and / or a VPN. But the site: search will be the same no-matter who / where you are. Since you're aiming for a one-page site (2 if you include the PAT/PLI), I guess it's a non-issue that it finds 3 pages. Personally I'd make the PAT/PLI just PDF downloads (once you have them) to keep your single page, if that's what you want.


I am done with SSL. Way to expensive for what it's worth. I'll put it on other people's websites but not my own. From my experience, it guarantees nothing. I won't stick my neck out and say it's a complete con, but My hosts now offer a £50 SSL certificate, which is an improvement over £200, but I will not be bullied into paying for this. Just a personal opinion which I know some will disagree with.

See https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2014/08/https-as-ranking-signal (from 2014).

Most hosts should by now be offering free SSLs issued by Let's Encrypt (https://letsencrypt.org/). If yours doesn't, maybe it's time to move ;)

[ppentertainments]

If it is any consolation the past few weeks have been really quiet on the enquiry front, apart from last minutes.

A good ranking website (although something you need) contrary to belief will not bring in a load of enquiries. Everyone knows you can spend a few hundred quid and have a great looking site, and DJ sites generally don’t bring much competition in rankings etc.

What you need to look at is how to get people to your site. No actual figures, but my 2 websites rank really well (often competing against each other), yet I would guess less than 20% of people do a google search, enquire then book. The initial search is normally as a result of other marketing.

I see you are still determined to go ahead with your freebie, despite many words of warning – this will just drag things down even more.

[Imagine]

If it is any consolation the past few weeks have been really quiet on the enquiry front, apart from last minutes.

^^^ This ^^^

OK, I've been busy for the past few weeks, but after this weekend's kids party, I've nothing again until 14th August, then nothing to September.
What? A wedding DJ with only one wedding in the peak month of August? Yup! September and October....I'm gonna be shattered and ALL of those are reschedules from last Summer.

We're still in strange times. My site is busy with visitors, but enquiries at the moment are way down on where I'd expect them to be normally. I did have a little booking frenzy for stuff for next year a few weeks ago, but not a lot since. Speaking to other suppliers at Saturday's wedding, they're in exactly the same position.

Regardless of the marketing and website, there's a reluctance at the moment for people to commit to things. There's still a lot of murmurs about potentially reintroducing some restrictions amongst the general public, and a lot of people still aren't overly comfortable mixing in a crowd yet.

It's going to take time!

I desperately want to go back to full time at this. I'm having to bide my time for now though because (and I'll be called Cassandra again no doubt :p), I can't see this year being a sudden mass of bookings, late or otherwise.

[Marc J]

Just to add to my comments re your site and SEO, the description meta tag is: -

"Professional, established mobile disco for weddings, parties and corporate events in Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Rutland & Leicestershire."

But few of these words actually appear in the text copy of your page... especially "mobile" and none of the counties / locations listed. That is not good SEO. In fact it's quite bad SEO - you'd be better with no meta description (letting Google show a snippet relevant to the search performed) than what Google may see as a "misleading" one.

[rth_discos]

I have constructed a website with good SEO

What do you consider to be 'good SEO'?

Ultimately, it's a one page website, which is very hard to rank on its own again other, more established websites with greater content.

In addition, I also can't see any significant links to your website.

[Centre Stage Discos]

Thanks for the replies and comments. All good advice.

We can agree and disagree about certain aspects of web design. Getting the SEO right is only one part of the battle and very important it is too! Using HTTPS as a ranking tool is new to me. Very interesting! The disco site is now 'secure', admittedly at the expense of one of my other sites not being secure anymore, but that wasn't delivering the goods anyway.

I have always believed that a website is there to show you mean business. It's a confirmation that you really exist and you can point people to it. Hoping that people find your website is a different matter. And this is exactly what pp has said.


Marc J:
I'm not getting huge results from the website so far but then it is still relatively new. It does appear to be working, however. There have been a lot of click-throughs from a Facebook ad I ran over the weekend, which is very encouraging indeed. I'd been experimenting with a new ad which actually produced the highest number of 'engagements' I've ever had from a FB ad, even if it did only produce one rather strange message. My web analytics show a sharp increase in visitors for the duration.


ppentertainments:
Getting people to my site, explained above in reply to Marc's post.

I disagree about the freebies. I'm a beggar at the moment and not a chooser, so compromises have to be made. The fact is, and always has been for my discos over the years, that having a presence on a stage, in a village hall, or wherever, almost always bring about enquiries and bookings, so I am happy to do one or two (Maybe three at the most if it's appropriate at the time) FREEBIES. These will of course be carefully chosen.


Imagine:
"there's a reluctance at the moment for people to commit to things" Indeed! Personally, I haven't heard anything to back this up, but I can imagine that this is absolutely the case. It's been an easy one to overlook for me as, based on what I have learned recently, I was expecting a rush of people eager to get back on the dance floor. This has been somewhat muted by the recent news of virus cases increasing and the government's usual confusing messages telling us that we can all return to normal and then that we can't return to normal.


Marc J & rth:
Again, it's a fairly new site and a work in progress. I keep adding to it. I hope to be taking some photos of the new rig this week now it's all complete. The ones you see on my site at the moment are very old ones and not at all good quality, hence the deliberate blurring, but they were only intended to be temporary anyway. Again, we can all debate what is a good website, etc. I've had no complaints so far, but it could do with some improvements, admittedly.

[Marc J]

There's also something strange going on with your manifest.json file(s), referencing SEDO Parking & IONOS Parking :confused:

[Centre Stage Discos]

If it's anything to do with Ionos then expect the worst.

I don't know if these issues have anything to do with my telephone conversation with Ionos this morning but they managed to (I'll be polite) make a total mess of things with two of my sites while they were making changes. I have been having a lot of trouble with them regarding email recently too. The problems are definitely at their end.

Changing hosts is something I have found necessary more than a few times over the years. It's always been about finding the lesser of all the evils. I have come to expect that they are all as bad as each other. I almost left Ionos a couple of years ago when their ranking plummeted but they did improve significantly. Now they are slipping again. I'm sick of changing. They were great when they were 1and1.

Nothing has been modified in the javascript. This was a fully W3 compliant website at the start. It might have become less so now I've been playing around it but I have only altered the content, not the code.

[Marc J]

I'll host it for you for whatever you're currently paying. If you're in contract I'll host it free until the term is out. I'll give you a free SSL (issued by Let's Encrypt). I'll also be able to iron out the little issues you're having, get it loading fast and maybe even working as a PWA ;)

[rth_discos]

Marc J & rth:
Again, it's a fairly new site and a work in progress. I keep adding to it. I hope to be taking some photos of the new rig this week now it's all complete. The ones you see on my site at the moment are very old ones and not at all good quality, hence the deliberate blurring, but they were only intended to be temporary anyway. Again, we can all debate what is a good website, etc. I've had no complaints so far, but it could do with some improvements, admittedly.

Sorry to be a pain, but you opened your first post with "I have constructed a website with good SEO"

I'm not going to touch on the 'what is a good website' - I'm trying to understand what you believe is the 'good SEO' you have done with the website.

The main thing to consider is 'targeted traffic'... it's all very well having visitors, but how well targeted is that traffic? Only when you have relevant traffic coming to the website that isn't converting do you need to consider your next option.

But just be aware that there are many moving cogs in the process of getting someone to your website and then converting them. Just having a 'good looking' website isn't enough. Subtle changes can make a big difference in the number of (and quality of) enquiries generated. And that ranges from the traffic through to the words and images used on your website - even how easy it is to find a phone number and/or contact form.

[Centre Stage Discos]

Well thanks for the kind offer Marc. I'll have to think about that one.

I know web design has a place in this thread to some degree, but I feel this is becoming all about my website now and quite critically too. I'm not going there. The thread was about "this not working" in an attempt to encourage feedback on how things might be for other forum users in this regard. It seems that I am not alone in my relative lack of bookings, but I hadn't really given a lot of consideration to the current state of play now we have supposedly 'opened up'.

A lot of the success of discos is based on standing the test of time. Becoming established and that old 'word of mouth'. As far as I can see at the moment, the internet has simply over-complicated things. When I placed an ad in one of my local newspapers years ago and ran it for a few weeks, that was it. Bookings every weekend! (and other days of the week) for the next year. Oh, to have those days back again.

For me and me alone, having a website is just a confirmation of an existing business. Yes, it is desirable to get as many people as possible to visit that site and feed them with as much useful information as I can, all presented in a clear and concise manner and get them to make a booking, but that's as far as I am going to push the website. It's a web presence and that should suffice for my needs. I'm not going to go OTT on SEO and stats, I think I can spend that time better by promoting in other ways, but each to their own.

Call me naive, but I have always believed that social media would give the business a good kick-start, then to progress up the ladder to some degree, i.e. to attain more in the way of the kind of gigs I'd rather be doing and certainly getting more profitable ones. I know it won't happen overnight, but I had half-expected a few positive signs by now.

[Marc J]

Well thanks for the kind offer Marc. I'll have to think about that one.
No worries, just shoot me a PM here if you want to go ahead. I'll move it for you if you give me access to the current site. If you're not aware, I host this site as well as a lot of member's websites.


I know web design has a place in this thread to some degree, but I feel this is becoming all about my website now and quite critically too. I'm not going there.
I don't think that's the case. Nobody has criticised your web design, but for things "to happen" you need traffic to your site, and for them to engage. That needs good SEO and no scary "this site is not secure" once you get them there, nevermind submitting their details via the form. So, I think, you've been given some good advice in this thread on the technical aspects... which are easy to fix and not critical of your site per se.

[rth_discos]

When I placed an ad in one of my local newspapers years ago and ran it for a few weeks, that was it. Bookings every weekend! (and other days of the week) for the next year. Oh, to have those days back again.

That was then - now people go to Google to find a disco.

Before, if you weren't in the newspaper, then you missed out on those enquiries.

Now, if you're not on Google, you miss out on those enquiries. And 'being on Google' can be either through paid 'pay per click' advertising or through organic SEO. But both take work, and are a lot more competitive than the old methods of the newspaper (alongside other DJs, you're also competing against some pretty efficient agencies, and even the likes of Bark, Guides for Brides etc who all rank in a Google search results).



Call me naive, but I have always believed that social media would give the business a good kick-start, then to progress up the ladder to some degree, i.e. to attain more in the way of the kind of gigs I'd rather be doing and certainly getting more profitable ones. I know it won't happen overnight, but I had half-expected a few positive signs by now.

'Social media' is a big word. Again, it's competitive, and people work hard to get results from it. Organic social media is very difficult to generate business from alone (I see social media more for providing social proof for someone who has visited my website). Facebook ads and other paid for social media advertising can be very powerful, but again, it has to be set up correctly and optimised to get the best results. Simply 'boosting' a post on Facebook will likely see the results you had last time.

Sorry if it comes across as negative, but there is no simple and quick silver bullet to getting enquiries. It's actually now a lot of work - as those who have achieved it will testify.

Now long term, relying on word of mouth, especially venue recommendations is the 'silver bullet' that can provide a great stream of incoming enquiries at low cost - but at launch you have a chicken and egg situation. Because you're not performing in those venues, then it's hard to become recommended...

I started out using SEO, Facebook ads and Pay Per Click to generate enquiries - and I had to work hard on them (and was lucky I had significant experience in those areas). I used that to get gigs at the venues I wanted to work at. Appearing regularly helped me become a recommended supplier, and that has started to take over much of the marketing work - although I still generate around 50% of my sales outside of the venues I am recommended at, through SEO and Google PPC advertising.

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

I'm not an SEO wizz by any stretch of the imagination so I won't go down that route but I will give feedback. Heads up this isn't meant to squash you when you've clearly put a lot of time and effort into it, I'm purely coming from a point of view of trying to help someone who is clearly passionate about getting themselves up and running on the right foot. You can make of that what you will.

One thing that's always stood me well with the business is to approach EVERYTHING I do in the mindset of the client.


To that end, I don't think it's a very good website on various counts.

- stock pictures are usually a red flag and these ones aren't particularly good quality at that. I know it's difficult if you're not out and able to get real life shots but blurry dark photos don't sell professional. I'd do something about them as a matter of urgency even if it's investing a little in some quality stock photos. I do my own photos because I'm decent with a camera but I know other guys who use paid for stock photos and they're night and day compared to what you've got there. They instantly make your website look old and amateurish when even the dafties out there can knock together reasonably pro looking websites these days.

- On that note, there's nothing there to differentiate it from other disco website in any way at all. If anything the only thing different is that yours has hardly anything on it which isn't good. The scrolling long page with headings is the design du jour just now for a lot of people and if you're going down that route you need to be doing something to stand out otherwise you're just another scrolly website in amongst the half a dozen other scrolly websites they've looked at.

- The lack of pages / links - again it's a tricky one but even linking the venue links to a blog, venue info or something is better than no links at all. To a client they see either a DJ without any experience or a site that doesn't work... DJs want to see photos of rig set ups, clients don't.

- No testimonials. Now I'm in no way suggesting you make some up but if I'm weighing up Centre Stage discos with 0 testimonials and Left Stage discos who has a similar site and price plus a bunch of feedback, I know who I'm going to be booking...

- The fonts could be more cohesive. I'll go on record and say that one thing I've had criticism on my website is about the number of fonts but there's 3 or 4 across the whole site and they largely fall into the same type / family so it's not too jarring to most eyes. You've got a standard texty font for your logo, block fonts for the headings and then scribbly fonts throughout the page, it doesn't knit together very well from a design point of view. It might seem minor but people don't notice what they notice and this is a prime example of something they might not put their finger on but will put them off the site.

- The writing is quite clunky too. I can't put my finger on it and I'm sure it's because it's geared towards SEO but it doesn't read very well and after the first few sentences I was losing interest.


That's the constructive suggestions I can see from a quick glance at it.

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

but I had half-expected a few positive signs by now.

There's the crux of the issue - if you're getting people onto the page in the number you want but aren't converting any bookings then the page is the issue and that's down to what is on it, not the SEO and other tech stuff.

I don't check my stats and I'm pretty sure my landing rates are comparatively small compared to a lot of DJs but I consistently convert and it's all down to my website - the vast majority of these people don't know who we are, haven't seen us or know what we can do so what else are they going to base their judgement on other than the website?

I think if you're not cognisant of that and how a website should be made to work for your business, it's probably going to do you more harm than good having one.

[Excalibur]

I'll host it for you for whatever you're currently paying. If you're in contract I'll host it free until the term is out. I'll give you a free SSL (issued by Let's Encrypt). I'll also be able to iron out the little issues you're having, get it loading fast and maybe even working as a PWA ;)

I haven't understood a word of what's been typed in this thread. The only thing I do know is take him up on this before he remembers he's Scottish. You won't get a better offer or service anywhere.

[Centre Stage Discos]

There's a lot to think about in the last few posts. Thank you all again.

I know your posts were well-meaning and designed to help rather than criticise. A bad choice of words on my part perhaps, but you'll see that I am quite set in my ways when it comes to web design. :)

I must admit that I don't always have time for a lot of this so I hope my posts are coherent and useful. I know I am rushing things at the moment as I am at the start of a house move and free time has become limited. We're lucky in that we can take a little time doing this so time is not that much at a premium.

Any time I design a website I start with a basic template. The reason I do this is because it's all correctly optimised and fully compliant, etc. It always starts out well, but then it starts to fall over. Ever find that yourselves, anybody? I think it still does the job but there is ALWAYS room for improvement and I thank you for your help here. I may often miss something obvious so it's all useful information. I just felt that the discussion was going slightly off-topic with the original subject being about the work just not coming in. It's always good to get feedback and to get to know people.

I am considering buying some stock photos but the danger is finding some which actually look close to the setup as it is. The current plan is to set up the disco in the new property while it's empty and try to get some photos and a video or two for the site.

I have always listened to clients in the past and stuck rigidly to specifications. I have come across so many discos over the years who only ever want to play their own 'toons' and say nothing on the mic., giving little or no regard to the customer. I worked for British Telecom some years ago, as they used to be known, who were regarded as having the highest level of customer care in any business. "The customer is always right." ... which we know is a load of nonsense, but that's the attitude I have always taken. When I was younger (16) and definitely foolisher I might have been different, doing my own live mixing, annoying some of the crowd in no uncertain terms: "Hey DJ, why do you keep chopping off songs half way through?". But that was then. We live and learn (hopefully). I was lucky one night in that I got spotted by a club owner one evening and ended up working in his club doing mix sets. I digress. "Listen to the customer and do as the customer says wherever possible." No question!

Now, testimonials. I have to admit that I have been tempted to fake them. Not to deliberately fabricate appearing in venues where I have never even visited the places. I haven't gong down that route though. I can't do that. My thoughts were to get in touch with old friends and see if they could write a review based on a disco I did for them years ago. i.e. genuine feedback but for a gig from back int he day. I still didn't go down that route, but I have to agree that getting some feedback and recommendations on the site is a must. I'm still thinking about it, but they will be genuine recommendations. I should be able to produce a few.

Yes, that writing is clunky. I'm going to have a look at another template or two. I don't have time to create something from scratch at the moment.

Social media, Google, Yell, website, word of mouth, a card in the local Tesco ... every little helps! :D


I haven't understood a word of what's been typed in this thread. The only thing I do know is take him up on this before he remembers he's Scottish. You won't get a better offer or service anywhere.

You may have convinced me. :) but I don't know him from Adam. Are you saying that Scotsmen can't be trusted? (:eek: I'm going to be banned for being racist now!) Seriously, I have zero tolerance for all things racist. It's just banter. :p

[Marc J]

Are you saying that Scotsmen can't be trusted?
The old git likes to joke that Scotsmen are notoriously tight. But he's from Yorkshire where they really are all tight :Censored:, he's just deflecting and can be safely ignored :D

Seriously, though, if you want to try out my hosting just give me a shout. It'd be a cPanel account and once the domain nameservers were changed I'd install the SSL for you. You can move it over yourself, or give me (FTP) access to your current site and I'll move it for you. I've been doing this for over 20 years with no plans to go anywhere, I host this site as well as many member's sites.

[Benny Smyth]

SEO is an ever-changing being and one I never feel I should devote too much time to.


Getting the SEO right is only one part of the battle and very important it is too!


I'm not going to go OTT on SEO and stats, I think I can spend that time better by promoting in other ways, but each to their own.

So which is it? SEO is very important, or not important enough?

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

There's a lot to think about in the last few posts. Thank you all again.

I know your posts were well-meaning and designed to help rather than criticise. A bad choice of words on my part perhaps, but you'll see that I am quite set in my ways when it comes to web design. :)

I must admit that I don't always have time for a lot of this so I hope my posts are coherent and useful. I know I am rushing things at the moment as I am at the start of a house move and free time has become limited. We're lucky in that we can take a little time doing this so time is not that much at a premium.

Any time I design a website I start with a basic template. The reason I do this is because it's all correctly optimised and fully compliant, etc. It always starts out well, but then it starts to fall over. Ever find that yourselves, anybody? I think it still does the job but there is ALWAYS room for improvement and I thank you for your help here. I may often miss something obvious so it's all useful information. I just felt that the discussion was going slightly off-topic with the original subject being about the work just not coming in. It's always good to get feedback and to get to know people.

I am considering buying some stock photos but the danger is finding some which actually look close to the setup as it is. The current plan is to set up the disco in the new property while it's empty and try to get some photos and a video or two for the site.

I have always listened to clients in the past and stuck rigidly to specifications. I have come across so many discos over the years who only ever want to play their own 'toons' and say nothing on the mic., giving little or no regard to the customer. I worked for British Telecom some years ago, as they used to be known, who were regarded as having the highest level of customer care in any business. "The customer is always right." ... which we know is a load of nonsense, but that's the attitude I have always taken. When I was younger (16) and definitely foolisher I might have been different, doing my own live mixing, annoying some of the crowd in no uncertain terms: "Hey DJ, why do you keep chopping off songs half way through?". But that was then. We live and learn (hopefully). I was lucky one night in that I got spotted by a club owner one evening and ended up working in his club doing mix sets. I digress. "Listen to the customer and do as the customer says wherever possible." No question!

Now, testimonials. I have to admit that I have been tempted to fake them. Not to deliberately fabricate appearing in venues where I have never even visited the places. I haven't gong down that route though. I can't do that. My thoughts were to get in touch with old friends and see if they could write a review based on a disco I did for them years ago. i.e. genuine feedback but for a gig from back int he day. I still didn't go down that route, but I have to agree that getting some feedback and recommendations on the site is a must. I'm still thinking about it, but they will be genuine recommendations. I should be able to produce a few.

Yes, that writing is clunky. I'm going to have a look at another template or two. I don't have time to create something from scratch at the moment.

Social media, Google, Yell, website, word of mouth, a card in the local Tesco ... every little helps! :D

Clients don't want to see rig photos they want to see people dancing and enjoying themselves. In 500+ weddings where brides do care about the aesthetic I've had ONE client ask to see photos of my rig.

If the text is from a template that's why it's clunky, I'd ditch it and do it from scratch - you need to get the website right no matter what. If it's not effective then it doesn't matter how much traffic you get, it won't work for you.

[rth_discos]

If the text is from a template that's why it's clunky, I'd ditch it and do it from scratch - you need to get the website right no matter what. If it's not effective then it doesn't matter how much traffic you get, it won't work for you.

I've always found an irony within the DJ industry, that DJs proclaim to clients that they should get a professional DJ in, as to DIY their wedding music could ruin their special day.

But then insist on DIY'ing their website, rather than getting a professional in to assist with the marketing of their busines...

[DJ Jules]

I worked for British Telecom some years ago, as they used to be known, who were regarded as having the highest level of customer care in any business.

I digress, but which BT were you working for?? ;)

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

I've always found an irony within the DJ industry, that DJs proclaim to clients that they should get a professional DJ in, as to DIY their wedding music could ruin their special day.

But then insist on DIY'ing their website, rather than getting a professional in to assist with the marketing of their busines...

Very fair point. Not naming bodies but when I used to go to association meet ups I'd always leave thinking it really didn't take much to elevate yourself above the token "professional" DJ.

My site is DIY but I planned it for a good 18+ months before I rolled it out away from my old one and I've put literally hundreds of hours into it at this stage building and tweaking it. I had a very clear vision and I don't think I could have had a pro web designer nail it the way I wanted and have managed to create.

I know very little about SEO and next to nothing about the tech side of things but it works for me to the point I'm charging VERY close to 4 figures for evening only weddings. You're not going to get to this point without some serious graft.

[Excalibur]

Clients don't want to see rig photos they want to see people dancing and enjoying themselves.

Now I see that quoted often, but many of my prospective clients ask if they can see pictures of my rig. ( Why they haven't found the dozen on the website, or the two hundred on Facebook, I know not). :confused:

I'm not convinced that pictures of packed dancefloors signify much. At some point during the night, we're all going to have a full floor, so a snapshot of the one time we had more than three people on the floor means little.

I could be wrong here, I freely admit. :confused:

[Imagine]

I haven't understood a word of what's been typed in this thread.

Now look old timer....if I can teach our mutually friendly "local" DJ dealer in a glass house how to run and maintain (and even customise) his own website (which has recently moved to a nice shiny new and faster server) - I'm sure I can teach you some new tricks including the terminology being discussed here 


I've always found an irony within the DJ industry, that DJs proclaim to clients that they should get a professional DJ in, as to DIY their wedding music could ruin their special day.

But then insist on DIY'ing their website, rather than getting a professional in to assist with the marketing of their busines...

Not necessarily true though Gavin :Naughty:

I DIY my own website (OK, I've got years of professional web design experience behind me and indeed developed the first Microsoft.NET XML shopping cart to be used in the UK back in the day. It was for Spearmint Rhino in case anyone's interested ). Does that count as being a proffeshnial too 藍


Clients don't want to see rig photos they want to see people dancing and enjoying themselves. In 500+ weddings where brides do care about the aesthetic I've had ONE client ask to see photos of my rig.
.

And there my Prosecco sipping friend in a hot-tub from a LONG way up North, I have to stop you in your tracks.

I DO get booked on the type of rig I can put out....a LOT. The "rustic" and the "retro" are prime examples. I have a page on my interweb site which shows the setups I can put out, and customers absolutely book me because of the aesthetic.

OK - I'm a bit different from most DJ's that have "an setup" of lights and a booth in that I offer several options to customers. I also go against the grain for the gurus that say that the kit isn't important. Sometimes though, it can make the difference between getting the booking and not getting it if you can be seen to be offering something that no-one else is.

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

Now I see that quoted often, but many of my prospective clients ask if they can see pictures of my rig. ( Why they haven't found the dozen on the website, or the two hundred on Facebook, I know not). :confused:

I'm not convinced that pictures of packed dancefloors signify much. At some point during the night, we're all going to have a full floor, so a snapshot of the one time we had more than three people on the floor means little.

I could be wrong here, I freely admit. :confused:

It's genuinely just something that never comes up for me. If anyone did ask I'd just point them to my intro video where it's in the background at points. If you're touting a retro, rustic or any other kind of rig I can see why they'd care but I'm not.

As for dancefloor pics - I've got probably 200+ pages of video and photos from previous gigs on my site and it definitely is something prospective clients like on several counts .

A smattering of dancefloor pics as you pointed out doesn't really mean much but thousands of them plus hundreds of properly edited videos showing them packed definitely shows it's not dumb luck or really selective shots.

Secondly it's quite rare I can't follow up an enquiry with links to media from that specific venue. People seeing lots of fun and dancing at their venue is a massive selling point if you're the supplier that's able to make it happen.

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Now I see that quoted often, but many of my prospective clients ask if they can see pictures of my rig. ( Why they haven't found the dozen on the website, or the two hundred on Facebook, I know not). :confused:

I'm not convinced that pictures of packed dancefloors signify much. At some point during the night, we're all going to have a full floor, so a snapshot of the one time we had more than three people on the floor means little.

I could be wrong here, I freely admit. :confused:


Personally, I'd say a mug shot of yourself weighs more than rig/dance photos.

People buy people. If they see a natural photo of you smiling with a bit of a bio (not lifestory) I think that helps. Done right their first thought is oh he seems like a nice guy that I'd want at my wedding.

[Benny Smyth]

For almost every venue page/blog on my website, there is (at most) one courtesy photo of the rig, but the rest are of folk dancing. Covers both bases, but emphasises the value of the music making guests dance over the production values.

For the rest of the site, it's dancing pics, with maybe a couple of awe inspiring shots of the rig in the background.

Photos of a rig with naff all else going on looks odd. If you're adamant to get a shot of your setup, at least put dancers between you - that'll show how it looks at a party in full swing.

[Excalibur]

Personally, I'd say a mug shot of yourself weighs more than rig/dance photos.

People buy people. If they see a natural photo of you smiling with a bit of a bio (not lifestory) I think that helps. Done right their first thought is oh he seems like a nice guy that I'd want at my wedding.

One of my clients said they'd booked because of the bio on my website. I think it's fair to say that no one thing is responsible for clients booking us, so covering all bases seems wise.

Re our Scottish friends, my entire digital presence is down to the admirable Marc J, and my website is courtesy of another of his countrymen. Better stop now, before I go into full Blood Donor mode*. :D



* Listen to it. Still funny.

[Shaun]

I haven't understood a word of what's been typed in this thread. The only thing I do know is take him up on this before he remembers he's Scottish. You won't get a better offer or service anywhere.

I'd like to echo young Peter's sentiments. I'd be lost without Marc's help and guidance over the years.

[ppentertainments]

Personally, I'd say a mug shot of yourself weighs more than rig/dance photos.

People buy people. If they see a natural photo of you smiling with a bit of a bio (not lifestory) I think that helps. Done right their first thought is oh he seems like a nice guy that I'd want at my wedding.

Not everyone is as charming and good looking as you though ;););)

I agree, but if you are a multi op (like myself) it doesn't work, and even putting all your DJs bio on can lead to major headaches.

Agree though, rig shots are totally pointless to customers, unless you sell purely on equipment, and one dance photo looks the same as the other. Video is a little better, but if you are anything like me you end up taking video of the same song/s haha

[ppentertainments]

Secondly it's quite rare I can't follow up an enquiry with links to media from that specific venue. People seeing lots of fun and dancing at their venue is a massive selling point if you're the supplier that's able to make it happen.
Third party media is worth it's weight in gold.

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

Third party media is worth it's weight in gold.

They're all my videos. They are however shot on near £4k worth of camera and lenses then edited in Final Cut Pro so not your usual wonky underexposed camera phone takes.

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Just think if you were to hire say, a skilled tradesman?

What would you prefer to see on a site? what would draw you in? Pics of belt sanders and m10 bolts?

[Excalibur]

Just think if you were to hire say, a skilled tradesman?

What would you prefer to see on a site? what would draw you in? Pics of belt sanders and m10 bolts?

Well perhaps not M10, but definitely M12. :thumbs_up:

Sorry Neil, I take your point. Problem is that in my Day Job I have many finished projects I could show off to prospective clients. A patio, a fence or a lawn. The packed dancefloor we had at that wedding is gone, never to be recaptured, and it's tricky to show proof that the pictures I have of it aren't from Wayne's gig the same night?

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

Well perhaps not M10, but definitely M12. :thumbs_up:

Sorry Neil, I take your point. Problem is that in my Day Job I have many finished projects I could show off to prospective clients. A patio, a fence or a lawn. The packed dancefloor we had at that wedding is gone, never to be recaptured, and it's tricky to show proof that the pictures I have of it aren't from Wayne's gig the same night?

Just the same as there's nothing stopping you ripping off pictures of garden work from someone else and passing it off as your own....

I think it's a really good analogy actually. Think about Pro Mobile., If that was on the shelves at ASDA, who would pick it up and give it a second look except for DJs going by the cover photos?

[Excalibur]

Just the same as there's nothing stopping you ripping off pictures of garden work from someone else and passing it off as your own....

I think it's a really good analogy actually. Think about Pro Mobile., If that was on the shelves at ASDA, who would pick it up and give it a second look except for DJs going by the cover photos?

Ah no Jim, you misunderstand. The patios, fences and lawns exist. They are real, visible, tangible and I can get the owners to say who created them. A photo could be anyone's ( cos I don't know how to watermark, datestamp and fingerprint the blasted things). :daft:

[Imagine]

it's tricky to show proof that the pictures I have of it aren't from Wayne's gig the same night?

No it's not! Unlike you, I don't do socially distanced dance floors :ner::sofa:

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

Ah no Jim, you misunderstand. The patios, fences and lawns exist. They are real, visible, tangible and I can get the owners to say who created them. A photo could be anyone's ( cos I don't know how to watermark, datestamp and fingerprint the blasted things). :daft:

Which is why I don't like stock photos because they stick out like a sore thumb and aren't representative of what you as a DJ can do. It's usually quite obvious when photos have been nicked too as they seldom all "work together" so your brain picks up that they're probably from different sources.

All of my couples get a page on my site after the wedding. It has their video, photos, playlist and link to a Spotify playlist with some selected "greatest hits" from the night. Once they give feedback this is added to my testimonials page with links to the couples page and the venues page.

It's time consuming and a faff but my photos and videos all have a certain style and there's hundreds of videos and thousands of photos across the site so there's absolutely no one going to look at my site and think any of it is misrepresentative, not my photos or not real testimonials.

[rth_discos]

Ah no Jim, you misunderstand. The patios, fences and lawns exist. They are real, visible, tangible and I can get the owners to say who created them. A photo could be anyone's ( cos I don't know how to watermark, datestamp and fingerprint the blasted things). :daft:

My photos often include pictures of me, often include my rig in the background, and more importantly, are representative of the venues I enjoy working at.

There is so much more to a photo than just a few people dancing.

A picture tells a thousand words is very true.

[Excalibur]

My photos often include pictures of me,
Ah. now here we have a couple of issues.
Firstly, unless you've slipped the Tog a fiver, cajoled a guest, or got a tripod and timer, I find it hard to get myself in shot. :(

Secondly, I'm not sure I'm much of an USP. :o:o:cry:


PS. Wayne: :Naughty: Your card's marked son, ah say your card's marked.

[rth_discos]

Ah. now here we have a couple of issues.
Firstly, unless you've slipped the Tog a fiver, cajoled a guest, or got a tripod and timer, I find it hard to get myself in shot. :(

Secondly, I'm not sure I'm much of an USP. :o:o:cry:


PS. Wayne: :Naughty: Your card's marked son, ah say your card's marked.

A fiver! Never paid that much for a photo from the tog lol!!

Here's one of my favourite ones...

18922


And this one was taken by a guest...

18923

[ppentertainments]

Just to throw a spanner in the works regarding photos, especially of people dancing.

A lot will expect THAT photo to be replicated at their wedding. A full dancefloor shot of people with their hands in the air will be difficult at a wedding where nobody will dance.

I have even heard of a photographer getting a complaint as they were working with me again at a wedding, the bride saw an amazing photo I had, but the photographer didn't take that same photo (yes it was the same photographer too).

Personally I think photos are something which we will never get right as so many different needs and situations. Probably why 99% of DJs simply take rig shots.

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

Just to throw a spanner in the works regarding photos, especially of people dancing.

A lot will expect THAT photo to be replicated at their wedding. A full dancefloor shot of people with their hands in the air will be difficult at a wedding where nobody will dance.

I have even heard of a photographer getting a complaint as they were working with me again at a wedding, the bride saw an amazing photo I had, but the photographer didn't take that same photo (yes it was the same photographer too).

Personally I think photos are something which we will never get right as so many different needs and situations. Probably why 99% of DJs simply take rig shots.

I've 200+, possibly 300 client pages with photos on my site and I've never once had someone say the photos / night didn't meet their expectations. Unless literally no one is dancing then there's always ways and means to get good shots of people enjoying themselves.

Flip it the other way:

Bride is considering me and DJ x.

We have similar prices, experience, rigs, feedback, communication and service.

DJ x has loads of rig photos, I have loads of people dancing photos, who is the bride going to book the vast majority of the time?

[DJ Jules]

Now we're just getting silly.

DJ's put rig shots on their websites because they're too focused on gear and completely forget about why they're actually at the party or wedding in the first place. There are probably a few who do genuinely sell themselves on having something unique about their rig where showing it does highlight how they're different to the competition, but for the majority that's not the case.

If you're telling me I shouldn't put photos of people dancing on my website just in case I do one gig where no one dances, then that's just wrong.

Likewise, the photographer may have missed the shot you took, but the rest of the shots they delivered should have been a sufficient standard for that one shot not to have been an issue.

Julian

[Excalibur]

Right folks, :hijack: :ontopic:

And as I'm one of the guilty ones, I'll severely reprimand myself. :o

Can we apply ourselves to getting John on the road to a full diary please? At this stage I must ask John, have you looked into Add to Event or NaD? Both are currently sending out leads at a rate of knots, and they're not all bargain basement.

I know that until you get feedback, work is harder to come by, and the vicious circle is that without work, you don't get feedback, but we all have to start somewhere.

[Imagine]

Right folks, :hijack: :ontopic:
Both are currently sending out leads at a rate of knots, and they're not all bargain basement.


Been a member of NaD for 3-4 weeks now, very few filters and only one lead 😂

[Excalibur]

Been a member of NaD for 3-4 weeks now, very few filters and only one lead 

What do you expect, living in the wilds as you do? :p Between two and five a day from NaD and A to E is a constant stream. Granted, I've got my distances set near maximum on there, but they don't seem to have grasped that I automatically decline anything over 80 miles driving.

[Nakatomi]

What do you expect, living in the wilds as you do? :p Between two and five a day from NaD and A to E is a constant stream. Granted, I've got my distances set near maximum on there, but they don't seem to have grasped that I automatically decline anything over 80 miles driving.

I peek in on addtoevent occasionally. Not much doing in my neck of the woods.

[ppentertainments]

I peek in on addtoevent occasionally. Not much doing in my neck of the woods.
Plenty of birthday parties in a club on the third floor from 2pm till midnight with a budget under £200

What you complaining about ? :D:D:D:D

[Excalibur]

Plenty of birthday parties in a club on the third floor from 2pm till midnight with a budget under £200

What you complaining about ? :D:D:D:D

And even more with all sizes of budget, just saying Leeds, Newark, Nottingham etc. :mad: There are places in Leeds I wouldn't ever go near, and there are others I'd gladly return to, particularly the one where you park three paces from the function room door, and ten paces from the granite DJ Booth! :D

Seemingly, also a lot of Garden Parties, with very few details. I'm led to believe that many folk want to book the party, but haven't actually got a venue yet.

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

re: helping our man get some gigs under his belt. It's not something I've ever done but I know some guys who have had really good success with paid Gumtree ads. Not great high paying fancy wedding / corporate gigs but if it's just to get the ball rolling them it's maybe something to consider...

[rth_discos]

re: helping our man get some gigs under his belt. It's not something I've ever done but I know some guys who have had really good success with paid Gumtree ads. Not great high paying fancy wedding / corporate gigs but if it's just to get the ball rolling them it's maybe something to consider...

When I started back up, I started with nothing (when I took my first bookings, I didn't even own any equipment).

I ran paid Facebook ads, and signed up to NeedADisco. The two got me my first 6 months worth of events before that gave me the funding to branch out in to other marketing avenues. Of course, I had to be pretty flexible with my rates - I was on average going out for between £295-£395 a night in the early days, but I didn't have any reviews or any photos. It got me those first, important events, which I used to get those photos and reviews. I worked really hard to win the gigs at the venues I wanted to be at. I shouted about those events, and kept the community centre ones quiet - good for bringing in some cash to pay off the equipment, but not the standard I wanted to set for future gigs.

So the key thing is, think about the purpose of each gig in the early days - what do you need from it help you get the next one.

Once I had photos of me at certain venues, it was much easier when I had enquiries at those venues come in, and I could send photos and testimonials from a past event at that venue.

Make a 12 month plan and break it down to what assets you need from every event.