Hardcopy Marketing Materials

[Ron]

So, based on experience where have you seen more bang for your buck? Between some of the following: Business cards; postcards (like the 5 x7); brochures (tri-fold type); business card size magnets; vehicle magnets or vehicle wrap (paint scheme, etc...); pens; other I know there is usually no way of knowing for sure, so just asking for opinions here. I am setting my budget for these materials this year and want to see if there is a pattern for other DJ's. Thanks in advance.

 

[maestro]

Depends on the target market. For weddings, I like my 4x9" full colour, glossy rack cards. They were professionally designed and are impressive which makes it easy to get the venues to hand out on my behalf. They also fit nicely into those plastic store bought rack card holders. I also had my full color biz cards designed to match which I also coerce the venues into handing out if they prefer something smaller. For schools, whatever is cheap since most of it gets tossed. I am currently having 5000 full color 4x6" postcards printed for school promo as the Christmas week sale was just too good to turn down; new full color school biz cards too.

 

[ahoustondj]

I voted Business Cards but then again not really. Going out and meeting people and setting appointments to visit Venues pay off better for me. When I go to visit a Venue, guess what? They ask for my number and nine times out of ten they put it in their phone.

 

[Jeff Romard]

I've always found business cards the best bang. They are inexpensive and they can start or finish a conversation and give you pretty good top of mind awareness. I also had good response when I had my van decaled a few years back.

I've said it before it's not what you do when it comes to marketing it's how often you do it. be as many places as possible and your advertising compliments itself

 

[rickryan.com]

Business cards are a must-have and yes, they are more convenient. However, I'm expecting my first order of Rack Cards any day now (I do already have biz cards). I'm still a relative new-comer to the Nashville wedding DJ market. I've won over lots of venues, photogs and planners but I went with Rack Cards so I could make a full presentation. We're talking 4-5 photos on the front and a full package rate card on the back. In my case, the aim is just as much towards the other wedding vendors as it is pitching to brides. Whenever a venue/photog/planner realize the value I'm delivering on my large productions they want to tell all their clients about it. Yes, it means I'm under-priced (just a bit) but that will correct itself over the next few years as I slowly raise prices. The point right now is to sink my hooks into those co-vendors deep and the extra presentation space that the Rack Cards afford should do that. I believe it will also help to pre-sell services to the point that when the prospect does contact me, they already know what they want, they've seen the results/proof with the pics, and all that's left is to write the contract and maybe talk them into a few more add-ons. The only thing you can do with a biz card is ask for a phone call.

 

[ahoustondj]

Business cards are a must-have and yes, they are more convenient. However, I'm expecting my first order of Rack Cards any day now (I do already have biz cards). I'm still a relative new-comer to the Nashville wedding DJ market. I've won over lots of venues, photogs and planners but I went with Rack Cards so I could make a full presentation. We're talking 4-5 photos on the front and a full package rate card on the back. In my case, the aim is just as much towards the other wedding vendors as it is pitching to brides. Whenever a venue/photog/planner realize the value I'm delivering on my large productions they want to tell all their clients about it. Yes, it means I'm under-priced (just a bit) but that will correct itself over the next few years as I slowly raise prices. The point right now is to sink my hooks into those co-vendors deep and the extra presentation space that the Rack Cards afford should do that. I believe it will also help to pre-sell services to the point that when the prospect does contact me, they already know what they want, they've seen the results/proof with the pics, and all that's left is to write the contract and maybe talk them into a few more add-ons. The only thing you can do with a biz card is ask for a phone call.

In other words you don't want to sell, you want to be an order taker! Having a chance to sell can gain you much more $$$$$$. Just saying!

 

[steve149]

However, I'm expecting my first order of Rack Cards any day now (I do already have biz cards).

Call them Rick Cards as part of the marketing ....

 

[rickryan.com]

In other words you don't want to sell, you want to be an order taker! Having a chance to sell can gain you much more $$$$$$. Just saying!

We've discussed this before. I work a FT job so I need to minimize DJ time investment. My system is streamlined and very efficient and I sold just shy of 100 dates this past year. I'm shooting for 125 this year. Should I ever decide to quit the day job I'd obviously want to push F2F meetings but even then I'd still want to minimize tire-kickers. I hate those "can you do it for $500?" calls.

 

[Proformance]

Business cards are a must-have and yes, they are more convenient. However, I'm expecting my first order of Rack Cards any day now (I do already have biz cards). I'm still a relative new-comer to the Nashville wedding DJ market. I've won over lots of venues, photogs and planners but I went with Rack Cards so I could make a full presentation. We're talking 4-5 photos on the front and a full package rate card on the back. In my case, the aim is just as much towards the other wedding vendors as it is pitching to brides. Whenever a venue/photog/planner realize the value I'm delivering on my large productions they want to tell all their clients about it. Yes, it means I'm under-priced (just a bit) but that will correct itself over the next few years as I slowly raise prices. The point right now is to sink my hooks into those co-vendors deep and the extra presentation space that the Rack Cards afford should do that. I believe it will also help to pre-sell services to the point that when the prospect does contact me, they already know what they want, they've seen the results/proof with the pics, and all that's left is to write the contract and maybe talk them into a few more add-ons. The only thing you can do with a biz card is ask for a phone call.

It also lets competitors know exactly what your selling limits are and how to respond. The market is never so static. The "pre-sell" that occurs is usually offset by the reply of your competitors. So, beware - that streamlined process of yours is going to need regular reinvention to stay competitive.