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magicguy67 Loyal user mEL.fLORIDA 287 Posts |
I'm thinking about setting up a website but I'm curious as to how many calls for booking and stuff really come through your website. I just imangined mostly magicians visit each other sites to buy merchandise and see when they're going to be in town. Please share.
they thought it was impossible until they met me.
theres no reality in magic did the magician come before the assistant or the other way around. |
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rtgreen Inner circle Portland, Oregon 1322 Posts |
I've never really thought of my web sites as places where sales get closed, but rather as a lead generator and an information source. I will direct people to my web site and when they are there, there is a form to request more information. Once they request the information, I call them and start the process of arranging a show.
Thanks, Richard |
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DerZauberer Elite user Southern California 468 Posts |
It appears that most of my business is generated through word-of-mouth and people who have previously seen me perform. I advertise in the town magazine and I circulate flyers in a lot of local businesses.
I have the luck to live in a small town, so I usually appear in the newspaper for most public shows. I have received several bookings via e-mail and through my website. I notice a lot of traffic on my website – but I think that is for people, who have seen me perform, to look at the photos or learn more about me. I will use all marketing tools available to me – to get my name out and perhaps move my show to larger cities and venues. |
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Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
I vote with Richard. Websites make a poor booking agent. They do create some awareness and give you an easy way to deliver promotional materials in some cases.
I actually advise professional magicians NOT to post their travel schedules. Websites are not useless. But they are not the solution to getting bookings either. The good news is that they are cheaper than an ad in the yellow pages. Without the yellow pages, many magicians can get by with just a cell phone. The best advice for getting bookings is still, "Ask for the job". It's amazingly effective! Good Luck! Bob Sanders Magic By Sander |
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Macbeth Regular user London 129 Posts |
I have never had one advertising me and have not knowingly lost business.
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DanielSteep Inner circle 1409 Posts |
Hello,
I am promoted by word of mouth and people see me do a show and say "Hey, why not get him for our party?" My buisness cards also come in handy. My site is just for my friends when they are curious. Sometimes they like to see what it is I can do. |
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magicguy67 Loyal user mEL.fLORIDA 287 Posts |
Yeah,it seems the web site is just for magicians to check out the videos and buy merchandise, etc.
they thought it was impossible until they met me.
theres no reality in magic did the magician come before the assistant or the other way around. |
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Bill Nuvo Inner circle 3094 Posts or 2742 Posts |
I get about 2 calls a week strictly from my website (out of about 40/week total). I mostly use my website when I am talking to people on the phone. I ask them to go to their computer (if they have one) and go to my site and then we talk options. It is easier when they can see what you are talking about to close a deal.
I also use my website as part of my email leads. I direct them to the website for more info (since I don't want to waste their time with longwinded info that some people won't take the time to read). On my answering message, it also directs them to the website, so they can see info/pricing when no one is there to answer the phone. It doesn't leave them waiting for some info and helps to sell yourself when you're not around. |
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Starrpower Inner circle 4070 Posts |
I've gotten a few bookings off it, but mostly it's a place for people to look for some details AFTER they've spoken to me. Kind of an immediate brochure.
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Chad C. Inner circle 1522 Posts |
I use my website as a promotional piece. When I send out brochures to folks, they are always encouraged to visit the website for more details. This is especially important for school and library shows. I have had several librarians tell me that they loved my outfit on the website and then they emailed me, or phoned about a booking.
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James Munton Inner circle Dallas, TX 1199 Posts |
Interesting responses.
I think a good web site is essential these days. I get about 20% of my business directly from the web site - i.e. from people doing a web search and hitting my site. I also get a lot of work because people go to the web site after seeing an ad. And one of the best reasons for having a site is for people who are waverers. I send them to my site and tell them to look at my client list and comments from previous clients. I manage to convert a lot of waverers because of this. Finally, people expect you to have a web site. I can't think of any big companies that don't have one. To many people, a lack of a web site suggests that you are not a professional. A couple of times I have needed a magician in other parts of the country. I posted here and got several replies. The guys that got the gigs were the ones who had good professional looking web sites. They might not have been the best magicians, but how else am I to tell? Best, James |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
I don't think essential is anywhere near the truth.
If you do lots of shows anyhow you will book most work from work. I don't even have or need a web site and have to turn down lots of shows every week. It depends on your market I guess. Is a child's mom going to look on the web or ask a friend? I don't know for I don't do kids shows. It is a serious question. My market does not need one all. Some others may.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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James Munton Inner circle Dallas, TX 1199 Posts |
Danny,
I think you are in the minority. Are you a full-time magician? If so, I don't know of any other full-timers who do not have a web site. But, hey, if you are turning down all that work, good for you. By the way, that might be a sign you should raise your prices! Best, James |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
James I am indeed in the minority.
Full time? Well 2 shows a night 5 nights a week seems full time to me but you let me know if it is.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
I too use my website a lot. The key is that just having the site does nothing for you unless you actively let your suspects and prospects know it is out there and how to use it. In a sense you teach them and direct them to the site and to use it.
I get a lot of repsonse and requests from my site every week and it has been a very powerful tool for my wife and me. Part of getting them to use the site is by directing them to it. I direct them to the site in every single promotional material I have or send out. My business card has the website listed on it. The promo kit has it on all my information pages. It is even used as part of my siganture for AOL and my other e-mail accounts. I get the word out there to check out my site. I also mention the site in my e-mail responses back to prospects as well as when I am talking on the phone. I encourage them to view it as it may answer additional questions that may have and should give them a better sense for who we are and what Kelly and I have done for others and can do for them. It helps validate further what we do. I also have a "Request Information" form page. This has been a HUGE hit with my site and has worked amazingly well. if you do not currently use one, I would recommend setting one up. This form basically allows anyone visiting my site to request additional information or ask questions regarding anything they may be thinking about. I also get their address, e-mail and information about their event and this gets sent directly to my e-mail automatically. In return, the system automatically sends them an e-mail back saying thanks and that I will be in touch with them ASAP. I get a bunch of these requests every single week and they do indeed often lead to paying gigs. In this sense I am using my site as a marketing tool and not just something pretty for magicians to view. Another key point is that you have to make sure who your intended audience is for your website. Are you doing it as a hobby site just for yourself and your friends? Are you doing it for magicians or are you doing it to get more business and direct prospects to it to get them to become paying customers? Each of these are legit reasons to build a site, but each has their own unique way in which you would want to handle building the site and setting it up. My own site is directly aimed at getting information out there to prospects who are intersted in the family-friendly magic and illusion shows that my wife and I perform. It helps to give them addtional information and for them to see pictures of what we have done for others and a feel for the show. It is indeed a marketing tool that works amazingly well if you go about it the right way. Kyle
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
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James Munton Inner circle Dallas, TX 1199 Posts |
Danny,
Sounds like full time to me! Good for you! I'm intrigued. What kinds of shows do you do? That sounds like a regular gig rather than private parties for different clients. Best, James Posted: Mar 29, 2006 8:04pm Kyle, Great points. I think a lot of magicians make the mistake of just putting up a web site and hoping people will see it. Your ideas about getting their email addresses are spot-on as well. I've been using http://www.constantcontact.com for a while and I love it. Every month or so, I send out an email to my list. It never fails to bring in a few extra shows. You have to be careful with sending out mass emails. The last thing I want to do is become a spammer. ConstantContact.com makes sure my list remains opt-in so only people who want to receive my updates are on the list. It's easy to use too! Best, James |
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magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
James,
Thank you for the kind words, my friend. I think you are right as well when you state that most magicians place a site up and hope people will come running to it. It just does not happen that way. With any serious marketing or business endeavor, you must be willing to put forth the effort to make sure the website is targeted to your target audience. If you want to directly use the site to increase your magic business, then a website with pictures of you with every famous magician you know may not serve you well. The point being that a hobby-based site that looks like a hobby site, may not be the right way to design the site if your intentions are on increased business. I also really GO AFTER the e-mails and my prospects. I take action upon myself to get them to my site and to use my site. I want them at my site so I take the time not to wait by my phone hoping they call me. I actively seek out people and get them intersted in using my site as a marketing tool. With this in mind, I send out periodic e-mails to my clients, past customers and prospects every so often to announce new features of the site or new awards or information posted to the site that they may be intersted in. This gets people to know about my site and I keep it fresh in their minds. I also remind them to use my site for their decision making meetings. If they are deciding on possibly hiring me but it is a group decision, I can send them and the group and direct them to my site so that everyone sees it before they come to their meeting. However, they may not do this on their own. I take action to remind them and to put the website out there for them to use. if you do this, they will indeed use it. My form page works wonderfully and it not only gets them to ask for information in a very easy way, but it is an automated system that in turn gets me all their information that I need to actively take part in the sales process. This is another way in which I have my site working for me. You are also right about spamming. I never send out e-mails to people who have not requested them. Every e-mail I send out comes directly from someone asking for my information from the site or from other sources. I often have an e-mail fan club sign up sheet at my events for people to get on our e-mail mailing list. This allows me permission to send to them information and discounts and website updates through out the year. They can cancel at anytime if they want to. Great info. James. Kyle
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
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magicofCurtis Inner circle Los Angeles 2545 Posts |
I believe the website should be used as to enhance your advertisement. A great place to have clients to check you out, read about the programs, and direct them from ads, and emails. It is a tool, like an ad, and it still needs someone to close the deal.
Curtis Lovell II
http://www.CurtisLovell.com http://www.MagicofCurtis.com www.facebook.com/curtislovellii Los Angeles, California - U.S.A. |
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magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
Exactly. It is yet another powerful marketing tool in your marketing tool box. If used the right way, it can really get people excited about what you do and help sell your services before you even send them an e-mail or talk to them on the phone.
However, it will only work for you as long as you are willing to put forth the effort to design it the right way and to let people know it is out there for them to use. Direct people to your site and mention it often. Use it as a tool to help your prospects and they will indeed use it. Make it an extension of your brand and your marketing. Kyle
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
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RobertBloor Inner circle The Socialist Republic of the USA. 1051 Posts |
I'd use one. I don't get a lot of work from mine (direct from the website).
But almost every person that HAS booked me, has told me they looked through the site. That makes it worth my time and money to invest in it. But as a rule, a website is only ONE PART of the overall marketing and advertising part of my business. Robert
"That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government,"
-The Declaration of Independence |
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