Advertising????

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T

Thomas

DJ Extraordinaire
Apr 14, 2009
900
76
56
Hamilton, IL
www.pulse-audio.com
I have been thinking about doing some more advertising. I advertise via facebook ads, handing out cards, and word of mouth right now. And business is doing great for a part-time company. But I am wanting to do it more. I have no pipe dreams about being able to do it full time in such a small area, but a little more would be nice.

What would be the recomendation on the best spent money.

I have thought about ads in the local paper, the bonnie buyer(basicly all classifieds), radio and TV.

Some of the options get pretty cashy, which would be fine if they provided gigs. I just don't want to spend on the money I am making now on frivilous ads instead of gear.:sqbiggrin:
 
I have found that print advertising doesn't work for DJ's. I have advertised in the newspaper and got little results. I have watched other DJ's in my area run bigger ads then me with the same results.

I have advertised on radio with zero results.

My main advertising is the telephone book and bridal shows. Both bring results.

I also have my name on my vehicle with lots of lookers.

If you're in a small town put your name on your vehicle and they will be able to put a face to the name for future reference.

I am thinking about advertising on Facebook and Google. Your comments would be appreciated.
 
Abbey Lane said:
I have found that print advertising doesn't work for DJ's. I have advertised in the newspaper and got little results. I have watched other DJ's in my area run bigger ads then me with the same results.

I have advertised on radio with zero results.

My main advertising is the telephone book and bridal shows. Both bring results.

I also have my name on my vehicle with lots of lookers.

If you're in a small town put your name on your vehicle and they will be able to put a face to the name for future reference.

I am thinking about advertising on Facebook and Google. Your comments would be appreciated.
Click to expand...

I haven't done any advertising with google yet.

With face book I have booked 2 gigs, both right after I started running the ad. For about the last month or so it has been pretty flat though. I still get a few hits, I have added fans, but no bookings. It may just be normal for this time of year, I don't know. I have a few ads I have been rotating, as they suggested.

I missed all the wedding expo's this year. I had never been to one, so I didn't book any. I went to them to see what I needed to do for next year.

I looked in our phone book, it covers about 15 towns in the area, and there are only 4 DJ's listed so that might be my best bet.
 
I work in radio, and I wouldn't suggest it for a Mobile DJ.
We are out to grab a VERY specific audience, so choose advertising that appeals directly to brides-to-be and/or party groups.
If you do print, choose a local bridal magazine...
If you do newspaper, tie into their wedding section or engagement section...
But I agree with Abbey on the bridal shows.
but the big shows may have too many DJ's, so you'll get lost in the crowd
and the smaller shows only have a limited number of guests.
the vehicle advertising is good, IMHO...
just remember that a Mobile DG logo on a vehicle, is like saying,
"LOOK INSIDE THIS VAN FOR LOTS OF EXPENSIVE STUFF TO STEAL"
so watch where you park it!
 
We get quite a bit of business off free internet ads (Yahoo!, Google, Wedj.com, WeddingWire.com, etc.) and we have never bothered with newspaper, television, or radio. In fact, the only advertising we pay for is the local bridal shows. We do the 2 main shows each year. Between the internet presence, the bridal shows, and word of mouth, we keep fairly busy.

Where you don't charge a whole lot for events, you may wish to stick with these inexpensive options. Like you said, you want some money leftover for new gear. ;)
 
You can also check the web sites of any close TV and Radio stations. Sometimes some of them will have a free Classified ads area as a public service. If they do make up a nice looking ad and replace it every week or so to keep it close to the top.

Check your local Post Office to see if they have a Board to thumb tack a few cards on.
 
You're better off spending the money on the relationships you have with other vendors in your market. AKA, netWORKing.

How are your relationships with the venues? Top photographers? Cake Makers?

Do they all know you by first name? Do they feel confident referring you to their clients?

Nothing pays better than direct referrals from vendors that trust in you enough to refer you to their clients.
 
Booms said:
You're better off spending the money on the relationships you have with other vendors in your market. AKA, netWORKing.

How are your relationships with the venues? Top photographers? Cake Makers?

Do they all know you by first name? Do they feel confident referring you to their clients?

Nothing pays better than direct referrals from vendors that trust in you enough to refer you to their clients.
Click to expand...

This is the golden goose here!! Don't spend the money, get out and talk.

Pull your phone book out and make a plan. Create a promo kit for your company (you can do this yourself, just get some of the 5 cent folders from walmart, and put in your card, a nice intro letter, and some type of brochure/flier). Then just go to all your florist, tux places, banquet halls and anything else to do with weddings. If you want to do schools, the same thing, create one catering to schools and hit up every school in your town.

I am creating mine now for the new company and next week we will be doing nothing but hitting every single place in the three towns we are looking to market in. For under $100, it will bring in more business than any print, radio or net adverting you can do.

As has been mentioned already, I would highly suggest a gold listing on Wedj if you want to spend money somewhere.
 
patrickrlewis said:
This is the golden goose here!! Don't spend the money, get out and talk.

Pull your phone book out and make a plan. Create a promo kit for your company (you can do this yourself, just get some of the 5 cent folders from walmart, and put in your card, a nice intro letter, and some type of brochure/flier). Then just go to all your florist, tux places, banquet halls and anything else to do with weddings. If you want to do schools, the same thing, create one catering to schools and hit up every school in your town.

I am creating mine now for the new company and next week we will be doing nothing but hitting every single place in the three towns we are looking to market in. For under $100, it will bring in more business than any print, radio or net adverting you can do.

As has been mentioned already, I would highly suggest a gold listing on Wedj if you want to spend money somewhere.
Click to expand...

I am actually working on a promo package now, but my artistic and lay out abilites leave a lot to be desired.
 
badblood70 said:
I am actually working on a promo package now, but my artistic and lay out abilites leave a lot to be desired.
Click to expand...

Don't really need those abilities.

Just a nice letter with a list of your packages and some business cards. I think sometimes we put way too much effort into flash and over look substance.

Our little promo kit we will be taking into places is nothing more than three sheets. The first sheet is a quick intro letter. The second is a brief description of the services we offer (and we add the pricing too it as well) and the third is a brief bio on each of us. This with biz cards.

Nothing fancy or flashy. It's more the personal face to face effort and interaction than anything.
 
patrickrlewis said:
Don't really need those abilities.

Just a nice letter with a list of your packages and some business cards. I think sometimes we put way too much effort into flash and over look substance.

Our little promo kit we will be taking into places is nothing more than three sheets. The first sheet is a quick intro letter. The second is a brief description of the services we offer (and we add the pricing too it as well) and the third is a brief bio on each of us. This with biz cards.

Nothing fancy or flashy. It's more the personal face to face effort and interaction than anything.
Click to expand...

I like that idea. I have been thinking about producing a pricing package. I go back and forth on it. Up until now I won't quote unless I meet the customer. Most times you can get a feel of how much of a pain they are going to be and price accordingly.

With the expansion of my lighting. My set ups will become a little more standardized. A little easier to price out.
 
Radio works
Spend your money in your local entertainment section
Yellow Book
Whereever you go..keep your name at the top of most of your convos.

Network any which way you can. Do not leave any stone unturned.
 
The best money I ever invested was in the websites. I only advertise via organic results from Google and WOM.
 
DJMN said:
Radio works
Spend your money in your local entertainment section
Yellow Book
Whereever you go..keep your name at the top of most of your convos.

Network any which way you can. Do not leave any stone unturned.
Click to expand...


Maybe where you live... down in Philly, I TRIED to advertise on the radio, and they don't even want DJ services on the air. They want you to list on their websites, at a cost that is about 100x the cost of google. :sqerr: And I am not kidding. It was absolutely nuts, the cost of website advertising. It was even more expensive that "some" of the stuff we aired on TV.
 
Papa Deuce said:
Maybe where you live... down in Philly, I TRIED to advertise on the radio, and they don't even want DJ services on the air. They want you to list on their websites, at a cost that is about 100x the cost of google. :sqerr: And I am not kidding. It was absolutely nuts, the cost of website advertising. It was even more expensive that "some" of the stuff we aired on TV.
Click to expand...

I checked with a local TV station about an ad. I got the same deal, the wanted me to have a promo on their website. The little commercial they play before you get to watch the news clip. For a couple hundred a month. I think I will pass.

I called Yellowbook and Yellowpages a couple weeks ago. I want to have a yellowpages ad and a link on their website. They still havn't called back.

Right now the only advertising I am doing is word of mouth and handing out a few cards here and there. Business is doing well, I just want it to do better. I have more gear I want to buy, NOW!!!!
 
The ONLY true way to advertise is WOM. If you can get "warm" leads from people you've worked for, and from people that have been at one of your events, they will be pre-qualified and easier to sell.

You should get letters of reference from EVERYONE you work for and with.

Good luck,

Dave
 
badblood70 said:
I have been thinking about doing some more advertising. I advertise via facebook ads, handing out cards, and word of mouth right now. And business is doing great for a part-time company. But I am wanting to do it more. I have no pipe dreams about being able to do it full time in such a small area, but a little more would be nice.

What would be the recomendation on the best spent money.

I have thought about ads in the local paper, the bonnie buyer(basicly all classifieds), radio and TV.

Some of the options get pretty cashy, which would be fine if they provided gigs. I just don't want to spend on the money I am making now on frivilous ads instead of gear.:sqbiggrin:
Click to expand...

Geez, doesn't anyone LISTEN???

OK, you're looking for the bestadverstising bang for YOUR buck.

How's about the best bang for someone ELSE'S buck- paid to YOU???

Work at least one night per week in an upscale restaurant/bar. You get the type of leads you want, exposure, contacts, your card s out there...and instead of paying, you get PAID for this free advertising- better than the net or the yellow book or anywhere else.

Keep in mind: Got a website? SO WHAT. If your potential customers KNOW you already through seeing you work, they have your card/contact info. If they don't, they will scroll through all of your competitors sites before they see yours- swell, huh?

Find a high end restaurant gig at least once per week. trust me.
 
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