We advertising..wedj.com, diskjockeys.com, knot.com..do these work?

I'm not in WeDJie World for leads.....my benefits are (1) Insurance, saving me $160 per year not having to join ASSociations, (2) Gigbuilder, saves me $100 per year on DJI; and (3) SEO benefits from the hundreds of inbound links, propeling me to #1 in Google (estimated value = $500 per year).

99% of my leads are direct hits on my web site Date Checker*, or phone calls or e-mails off the web site.

*Date Checker is also provided by WeDJ.com

I can speak from experience on The Knot.com... it was a wash. $1200 for a year, and 2 weddings. A couple other leads, but 2 weddings booked.

Also a waste in this area is DiscJockeys.com

I think my paid advertising days are done

No - I have tried them all - This was how I got into SEO back in 1997 - I generated more jobs myself and dominated the San Francisco Bay Area PLUS got nice $$$s too - not quite what some say they make but I sold up for a nice profit.

Do it yourself, dominate and EXTERMINATE your competition

Sounds To Go said:

I can speak from experience on The Knot.com... it was a wash. $1200 for a year, and 2 weddings. A couple other leads, but 2 weddings booked.

Also a waste in this area is DiscJockeys.com

I think my paid advertising days are done

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Justin, you are fortunate because the learning curve is so much quicker for you newer guys! You've got the Internet & Google to depend on.

Us old timers remember when it was common to shell out up to 30% of your gross on YP and BF adverts.

Now, you can put up a web site, do some serious SEO work, and WHAM you're only spending 1% of your gross on overhead costs.....

DJMC, I have to say that you are correct in that it is much easier now to begin and grow a business than it was 10 years ago or more. We did a few parties and events for friends for a few years and loved every minute of it, so we created a new business last year. We only run it part-time as we both have full-time jobs, so we don't work Monday - Thursday and Friday shows have to be local, so Saturday is basically the only day we truly book for. We did 7 events last year and we started the business in October, and this year is looking great for us as well.

As far as marketing goes we do market on websites and we have seen mixed results. We definitely use wedj.com, and pay for a silver membership there. The advertising is great, but the benefits you receive are wonderful.
This is the only website that we pay for, but we try to list on many of the free websites.

Our best advertising is word of mouth, but we booked a few events through wedj.com, and then some of those lead to other events.

Whatever you do, it has to be organic. You can't force it by buying static images and ads and using interruption marketing (TV, PRINT AD, RADIO). Hand to hand combat is the only way to leave a lasting impression with venues, vendors and brides. Of course having a well ranked website helps too.

Dave