That's It... Web-only from now on

[Vectis]

Well I just spent a couple of hours sorting out my bulging '2007' file and moving all of the 2008 stuff into its own new sparkly file and that got me thinking and researching.

I've looked at all the gigs I've had since relocating about 18 months ago, and the source of the enquiries. And then I had a think back to the gigs themselves and how much I enjoyed them / hated them / over or underpriced them and I've come to the conclusion that customers who come to me by word of mouth or via the web bring the best-paying and most memorable (for the right reasons) gigs.

Most of the less desirable / 'pikey gigs' (as my missus calls them) have come as a result of newspaper ads, cards in shops, mailshots etc..

So I've taken the decision that from now on, I'm not advertising anywhere else except the web and at gigs. Oh, and my free YP ad which will expire at some point and will be cancelled. I'm not going to spend another penny on advertising apart from my hosting fees, stationery and my own time in maintaining my www.

Wish me luck!

[Have a disco]

Good luck if thats what your after remember to leave your free advert in the YP though and keep a record of all bookings made in whatever format as your definite guide to bookings. Would be handy to know after this year how you go?

[PropellerHeadCase]

As an addendum to that, and in line with numerous comments made hereabouts...

If you have to cut your price to get the gig don't bother, the client will be impossible to please and the amount of work you end up doing will in fact be in excess of that justified by your normal charge.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

If you have to cut your price to get the gig don't bother,

I agree. :cool:

[rob1963]

Well I just spent a couple of hours sorting out my bulging '2007' file and moving all of the 2008 stuff into its own new sparkly file and that got me thinking and researching.

I've looked at all the gigs I've had since relocating about 18 months ago, and the source of the enquiries. And then I had a think back to the gigs themselves and how much I enjoyed them / hated them / over or underpriced them and I've come to the conclusion that customers who come to me by word of mouth or via the web bring the best-paying and most memorable (for the right reasons) gigs.

Most of the less desirable / 'pikey gigs' (as my missus calls them) have come as a result of newspaper ads, cards in shops, mailshots etc..

So I've taken the decision that from now on, I'm not advertising anywhere else except the web and at gigs. Oh, and my free YP ad which will expire at some point and will be cancelled. I'm not going to spend another penny on advertising apart from my hosting fees, stationery and my own time in maintaining my www.

Wish me luck!

Good luck, vectis...but I don't think you'll need it!

I think that's an excellent idea.

Since I went full time 3 years ago, ALL my advertising has been online - mostly in wedding directories & mobile disco listings sites.

I've never advertised in any physical directories or the local papers, as it seems those enquirers aren't willing to pay so much...so you end up with less money, and those gigs are normally toilet quality anyway!

In my opinion, If anyone pays for ads in YP or the local paper, they may as well cut out the middle man, by going outside & putting their money down the drain instead!

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

In my opinion, If anyone pays for ads in YP or the local paper, they may as well cut out the middle man, by going outside & putting their money down the drain instead!

Disagree with that Rob - I have a very small box (steady) in the YP just a point of reference for previous clients etc. It costs me £85 a year and just contains basic details and I did take a couple of bookings from it last year.

[rob1963]

Darren,

If it works for you, then great...although if I was spending £85 a year on an advert, I'd be wanting it to bring in more than just a couple of bookings.

My opinion has been arrived at after hearing many negative comments about YP advertising from various members on this forum.

Out of all the times that adverts in YP have been discussed here, I think you're the only person I've ever known to say something positive about it!

[BeerFunk]

It costs me £85 a year and just contains basic details and I did take a couple of bookings from it last year.
£42.50 per booking?

Yellow Pages - waste of trees, this is the year 2007 man :cool:

[rob1963]

If I had to spend £42.50 on advertising to get one booking, my annual advertising bill would easily be a 4 figure sum...instead of about £400 like it is at the moment!

I think I'll pass!

[Mayhem 1]

Hiya Folks,

I would say that most of my work comes from repeat bookings from my existing client data base and word of mouth referrals.

What I have been doing and it might be of some use here especially the chaps that do children's parties is "meet and greet" where I stand by the entrance of the venue and give a card to every adult that comes into the venue with their children and say "here is my card, you might not need it now but you will in the future"

I am astonished how much work I have been picking up doing this approach, try it, it works!!

Remember as well the golden rule - "The more you tell - The more you sell"

As far as YP adverts, I have made the decision that the advert I have got running at the moment is the last time I will have it, YP is dying a death very quickly and the enquiries I get from it are pure "Tyre Kicker Enquires" (Vectisvibe missus calls them 'pikey gigs') I think we are on the same wave length - you know how it goes, before you fully answer the call they are straight in there with "Ow Much do you charge"!! ermmm hang on a moment, when did I become a mind reader to know what - where and when etc.

To close I would say this, get those referrals in, you can never have to many referrals guys.

Ramble Over!

Regards

Mayhem 1

[wensleydale]

£42.50 per booking?

Yellow Pages - waste of trees, this is the year 2007 man :cool:

depends how much the booking is- essesntially it could be less than a 10% agents fee.

[Corabar Steve]

What I have been doing and it might be of some use here especially the chaps that do children's parties is "meet and greet" where I stand by the entrance of the venue and give a card to every adult that comes into the venue with their children and say "here is my card, you might not need it now but you will in the future"

I must admit (IMHO) that comes across as very pushy. I don't think i would use anyone who did that.

Most of our kids parties come from parents of kids who have seen us in action (or parents that have got to the venue to pick the kids up, before we have finished & so caught the last few minutes), a lot of the time we don't even know anyone is interested, until we either get our questionnaire back (we gave your details to others type comments) or until the parent concerned actually contacts us to make the enquiry / booking.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

If it works for you, then great...although if I was spending £85 a year on an advert, I'd be wanting it to bring in more than just a couple of bookings.



I can't believe you're serious about that Rob? I did say it was a point of contact for any old clients trying to find me too. It's £85, not £850!


£42.50 per booking?



Doesn't quite work that way....What if the bookings were £400-£500?


depends how much the booking is

Precisely.

[Mayhem 1]

Good Morning Steve,

It is done with a lot of humour and tounge in cheek mate, I must admit I have always had positive feedback from the adults, a lot have said "Thank You this saves me coming up to you when I return"

regards

Mayhem 1

[CRAZY K]

Darren,

If it works for you, then great...although if I was spending £85 a year on an advert, I'd be wanting it to bring in more than just a couple of bookings.

My opinion has been arrived at after hearing many negative comments about YP advertising from various members on this forum.

Out of all the times that adverts in YP have been discussed here, I think you're the only person I've ever known to say something positive about it!

To be fair I always said I wouldnt advertise in YP ever again--

BUT
this year I picked up a couple of gigs--in my slack period--August--in local areas---so that was good as I usually have to travel--- AND I only advertise every other year on the basis that people keep old copies of YP.

So my cost is minimal and I still get reasonable exposure over a 2 year period.

The downside is all the rate tarts that keep phoning up.

HOW MUCH????????///:eek: :eek: :eek:

CRAZY K

[Corabar Steve]

Good Morning Steve,

It is done with a lot of humour and tounge in cheek mate, I must admit I have always had positive feedback from the adults, a lot have said "Thank You this saves me coming up to you when I return"

Wouldn't it be better to do it at the end?

[Mayhem 1]

Fair point mate, will do it this week end and let you know

regards

Mayhem 1

[rob1963]

I can't believe you're serious about that Rob? I did say it was a point of contact for any old clients trying to find me too. It's £85, not £850!

I AM serious about that Darren! :p

As I've already said, if I had to spend £42.50 in advertising costs for each booking I get, then my annual advertising bill would virtually treble!

Secondly, I think you'll agree that comparing a specific monetary amount to your business & mine is not very fair. Taking into account what we both charge & our turnover, £85 is obviously a lot more to me than it is to you, and I don't think either of us took this into account when making our comments...I certainly wasn't!

I accept that a YP advert is a point of contact for old clients trying to find you, although I wonder how many previous clients would look in the YP to try & find you again...and how many would simply do a search on Google?

On my webstats, I always look at the search engine phrases that people key in to find my site. Is the top phrase anything to do with "Mobile Discos" or "Surrey"?

No...it's actually "Rob James" (by a long way), and fortunately when people Google my name, I'm the second or third result that comes up.

:)