I actually thought of this a while back but the talk recently of educating clients brought it back into my current thinking

However i'm not going to put here exactly what I am thinking as i'm keen to let people just share their views/ideas, so here is a brief summary:

We as a collective use our wealth of knowledge & experience to launch an impartial website that provides comprehensive information to prospective clients about every aspect of booking a mobile DJ.

I have already secured the website address www.choosing-a-dj.co.uk and have hosting space available as part of my current package.

As an idea it is a blank canvas (although there is a commercial aspect as well that I am sure someone can spot)

Discuss.

I think its a great idea.

If the website can explain in detail to a client what they need to be looking out for when hiring a disco THEN on another link add these PROFFESIONAL DJ'S that are based around thew country that you have talked about, on the condition that they have been vetted some how and all own PLI, PAT. But it must be different website from all the other Disco website searches where any tom,dick or Harry can register this must be through a good source.

I know a couple of people have done something similar - not sure if they are succesful, or even if they got off the ground. Anything that helps the punter and us can only be good. If there was an impartial website then we could all link to it from our own sites to help each other out.

Good point Eskie. If it doesn't benefit him/us directly then is there any point in Ste doing the site at all?

Aha!

Time for me to interject!

In the vision I had there would not be any links to mobile discos on the site.

How is going to make money, or is it just a hobby thing, for the good of the wedding DJ, but no lonks ?

the only way it could work is if all the forums (& associations) actually got together & worked for a common goal & not just b****ing & moaning about eachother (MDJO) anyone?

interesting concept to have a stand alone site covering this subject.

I don't know if i agree that an "independent" site would carry any credibility. Not unless it had already established its independence in other areas.

Like a citizens advice bureau or similar.
does that make sense?

I know my colleagues in the DjA are of a mind that it should be us that establish a STANDARD for DJs to be measured against, but that is easier said than done, and where do you start.

I already offer advice on booking a dj, and frequently asked questions, in my brochure, but then no matter how I may try to make it look impartial, people will always view it with some kind of bias.


I'm just not sure how the prospective clients would find the "Independent Advice" and where would they go to hire the DJ if there was no link or method of accreditation?

Ok let's try and clear this up by giving you my idea in full.

Currently there are several listing sites around where you can choose a mobile disco, but having looked at them closely that is all they are, listings of DJ's.

Many of us have talked previously on this and other forums about educating clients (and venues) about the little details, for example:

* The legal aspect of using copied music.
* Why it's a good thing that the DJ has PLI
* The amount of music on the playlist
* How long it takes to set up

Etc. etc. etc.

Let's look at PAT for example, very few DJ sites actually state why equipment is PAT tested and how that benefits the customer, they just say "our equipment is".

So? Why is that important to me as a customer?

The vast majority of DJ's websites that I have looked at (mine included) list the reasons for booking them but don't actually explain why it's a benefit!

Whenever I make a purchase I always spend a little time on the internet researching what I am buying and getting opinions even if it's as simple as reading feedback on Amazon or on here.

As a customer how can I tell good from bad, experienced from inexperienced or pro from bedroom jock when I don't understand the terminology and all the sites I visit say the same thing?

What excites me is the fact that there is so much knowledge on this forum we could easily put together a simple site that offered some of the following:

* A glossary to explain the terms we use.
* A page to explain the legal aspects that a DJ should adhere to (and venues)
* Information on working with the DJ, choosing music, different types of lighting etc.
* A page to promote all the hard work the DJ does that the client never sees, a justification of the fee if you like, promoting the DJ as a hard working individual and explaining all the work that goes on behind the scenes for a typical wedding.

I could go on.........

What benefit is that to me or you?

Well right now.......er.........none! Because you can't change peoples perceptions over night!

However, with a little clever marketing, a few liaisons with some Wedding sites and some good content we can create a site that is recommended as the place to go to get impartial advice on choosing a DJ.

What you have to think to yourself is, how will a better informed general public benefit me and my business in the long term?

I can't promise anything but it might (with the help of the DJ Associations) be another little weapon in our armoury to drive up prices and to drive out the cowboys.

As far as i'm concerned that is a benefit to each and every one of us.

On the subject of it being impartial I would suggest that it has no direct links to any DJ's site on it's own, but all the DJ listing sites in the UK.

Sod it I'm gonna build it anyway

Here endeth the sermon...I have exorcised the demons!

I think something similar has been attempted at http://www.mobilediscodirectory.co.uk..

I know the guys who run that site post on some of the other DJ forums.. not sure if i've seen them here but might be worth getting in touch with them for ideas / cross promotion etc.

It's along the right lines but there is not enough information for clients and it does not appear impartial to me.

I know what I want it to be like, I think i'll just go and hide away and think about the whole idea a bit more

I think that any venture that promotes DJ'ing as a whole is good in my books.

I agree that the site should not promote individual DJs or agencys for that matter. If it's going to be a resource for the general public and venues to visit, then there is nothing stopping DJs linking to the site if they have nothing to hide!!!

It would promote the 'said DJ' any how!

If an agreed / collective input from likeminded DJs was going to be included on this site, then it should state that 'x' amount of DJs from around the UK / internationally have contributed their advice, service practice, etc.

Give it a go!

Hi

Initial thoughts...

1. This can only work if you have a spot on linking strategy. this would mean that very few links should go out from the site, but as many DJ's and similar sites should link to it. This will rocket link popularity for search engine placement.

2. Revenue is going to be the sticking point as these things cost money to market properly. I'd say getting Pay Per Click and sponsored link placement with google would be a must to amke sure the site is found. You could attempt to get some of that money back by implimenting Google Adsense program on the site. But again you would have to be very selective as to which ads appear.

3. As we've seen from the various threads on here regarding what is good business, what a DJ should charge, who's advice are you going to be using with such a wide variety of opinions?

The main problem, and this is born out from my websit stats, is that when most visitors click on to the DJ's site, they only seem to want to know how much it's going to cost, this is where a public's perception comes into play. they seem to think that we're all the same so the cheapest will do.

That will take a long time to change the mindset.

But, the idea's a great one.

Darren

Sounds like a fantastic idea to me. In theory anyway. But then I'm a DJ, not a price shopping member of the public.

I think like others have said it would need to be totally impartial. You could invite contributions from various DJ's and associations, and state that the information has been gathered on a national scale.

The main problem I can foresee is actually getting people past the first page and actually spend time reading the info. I've no doubt that a lot of people who enter the site are just after a quote from a local DJ.

I've listed my website with a few of the listings sites that have been mentioned, but found that 80% of people who look at my listing don't actually look at my website. Instead they just hit the send E-mail button and, you guessed it, ask how much.
The worst one being an e-mail I recieved wich read " The wedding is on XX of XXX, how much will it be?". That's it that's all it said.
Don't forget that with popular marketing from the likes of Amazon etc.. most people percieve the internet as somewhere to get a bargain!

Finally I think Darren is correct, as ever, with advice on getting the site noticed, for starters we could all link to it, as well as the forums, and the associations collectively.

GOOD LUCK.

And don't forget if you leave off the links to DJ's then the more likely the DJ's are of linking back to you. Let's face it if you have paid for traffic to come to your disco website you want that person to read your site and contact you, the last thing you want is to send that person away again to an external site link, where they may find several other DJs listed in the same area as you. You wouldn't open a small cornershop and tell your customers to go away and check out Tescos first before coming back to you

I find that when searching the 'net people tend to progress forwards through sites or links rather than backwards to the previous site, the only time they click back to the previous site is when there is nothing interesting left to click!.

Who can afford to 'give away' their potential clients?

Keep you site factual, informative, and interesting and leave the links to the other 27,000 Wedding, DJ and Gig Directories

Its a good idea in theory but the client would have to visit your site first if he went directly to a directory listing or a mobile disco site then it defeats the purpose.

Most people I deal with directly including some hotels dont seem bothered about PLI / PAT etc etc, i have both and I havent secured a booking based on the fact ive got these its more peace of mind for me.

As was said in another thread, PLI and PAT are features and not benefits. Marketing should be about selling benefits NOT features. My opinion is that PLI and PAT are benefits for the DJ rather than the client and, therefore, not that important in the sales pitch. I know others disagree.

A site as mentioned can't do any harm, although I'm not sure it will do any good. Actually, unless it looks really good it COULD do some harm. But leaving that aside, my opinion is that we need to think like the clients. Others have mentioned that people just want to know the price. I have no problem with that at all. It doesn't mean they will always choose the cheapest - it means they want to know what it will cost. I don't think we should rebel against this - go with it. Someone arranging a party wants to know what it will cost - wouldn't you? Of course, once they have this knowledge we need to sell them the many benefits of using us rather than someone else, but I'd never use price in this argument - it always sounds like we are embarressed by what we are charging. "Methinks he dost protest too much".

I would stick to telling the potential client what a good DJ will bring to their party. Don't bother going on about what a disaster it would be if they got a cowboy in - let them work that out for themselves. Trust the client. If all they want is a cowboy then they were never going to choose us anyway. Target the right market.

If we have to spend too much of our time persuading clients that we are worth what we charge then we are doing something wrong. Let those people go elsewhere and concentrate on the real market.

Cheers,

Jack.