I noticed a post in this forum dealing with "Blogs" for a website. Members seems to discuss it is interesting to use for a website. But what about a page with something similar to "tricks, fun or games?" I was thinking if the page taught a few simple tricks, it will make the website memorable. What do you think is more stronger?...

A. Blogs

B. Tricks

C. Both

Do both and ALL
your website isn't a business card anymore

this isn't the early 90's where your site is supposed to be a extension of your marketing material.. Your site is YOU and YOUR Brand.. It's your chance to entertain, interact, and Impress BEFORE they choose to buy.

If all you have is a ONLINE BUSINESS CARD.. they will keep looking and if your the best CARD you get the gig..

If you interact and have a reason for them to spend time with YOU, because YOUR the AUTHORITY, and they start LINKING to YOU

Your site becomes a resource and not a business card..

MY DREAM (If I can get the time to work on the Entertainers site) is to be "THE GO TO GUY" for ANY Party or Event in Atlanta...
Have even considered Linking Directly to Friends who provide services I don't

I like the idea of becoming a resource, but to be frank, how many regular folks need a magician as a ongoing advisor?

Maybe I'm just under-estimating our longterm value to the average citizen, but in my opinion, most folks look at magicians as the solution to a very specific event
planning challenge.

Sure, we can add insights into party planning, site preparation, and all that, but for the vast majority of folks, they will go to the expert in those arenas for
advice and consultation -- not to the guy with a wand and sponge bunnies.

I create and market multiple websites, each limited in scope, targeted to meeting specific customer requirements. Call them business card sites, call them direct response sales letters -- but this approach seems to work well for me.

The whole matter of creating a long term relationship with your prospects, customers, and friends... that's a different issue than the website that introduces me to the prospect and establishes enough potential value for them to contact me.

Adding a blog is great for SEO, but I'm not under any illusion that I'm developing a huge fan base because of what I write on it. Unless you're bit time famous huge, you are just not likely to have tons of ongoing fans.

Humble the metaphor may be, I see myself just like a plumber. No one thinks of a plumber until there's water all over the floor -- and then he's pretty darn important. But once the problem's fixed, you stop caring about your pipes.

That's how I design my web strategy, for exactly that kind of sporadic usage scenario. We are not like dry cleaners, landscaping, bookkeepers, or any of the many long-term, service businesses. We are plumbers, who may get invited back a few times if we're very good and the need arises.

--Jack

You could post party planning tips on a blog.

You could post beginner magic tricks on a blog. (Keep in mind that some performers came under scrutiny for making a site with teach a trick videos on it.)

You could do customer profiles / features on a blog.

You could do news on a blog, such as upcoming shows, continuing shows, new offerings, etc.

(You can also do these on Facebook, Twitter, etc.)

All of these same things you can do with emailed newsletters, that people can opt in for.

Another idea is a paid newsletter or website.

A kids club is a program that you can set up and run, where you send the kids tricks in a newsletter each month. Some performers run them for free online (site or email), but another way to do it is by mail. Some do it by mail for free, and some do it for a fee.

The reason I mention the kids club, is because it is a more legitimate way to teach tricks. People are opting in, or paying a fee, and therefor not as many performers get upset with exposure.

If you just post tricks and videos on a blog, your website, or on YouTube, you run into the issue of other performers getting upset with you exposing tricks.

Also, be sure that what you are teaching is yours to teach (aka public domain).

I've seen some websites that had a page or two of tricks on them, in addition to the other show information. I've also seen websites that had a page or two of party tips on them, in addition to the other show information.

I don't necessarily see the relevance of driving people to your website or blog to learn tricks, unless you also teach magic classes, etc. Otherwise, I think there are better ways to give them access to that sort of information.

It makes more sense to offer party and event planning tips, as that is more likely what they are interested in at a time when they hit your site, if they are a legitimate show customer.

Is your blog for potential customers, for show fans, or who?

- Donald

P.S. Jack Turk sells Mike Clarke's Kids' Club product.

P.P.S. Mike Clay - one of the magicians in Vancouver started a website that was meant as a database of local performers. He chose who to put on it. He came under criticism for not including certain people (criticism by the performers, not by his customers). So, unless you do everything right in your directory, you might tick people off by trying to do good.

--> Magic Café thread titled... List......ebsites.

Okay, blog is in. I will surely have a blog page. I like Donalds's first line for using a blog. That will be a great idea.

I was thinking a little more about the "trick" section. I will not teach any tricks. It will be better to do a trick on a viewer. A mathematical trick will be good. I was thinking about having it typed on the page. But when Donald mentioned "video", I thought it would be better that way. It will help make a connection with the prospect.

A pretty common trick I've seen on several websites (and in emails) is the princess card trick. This is an interactive performance, as opposed to teach a trick. It can be done in print, or on video.

The viewer is shown several cards, and mentally selects one. Then they are shown the cards again, and their card is missing.

It's not always named the princess card trick on the website.

Google the name of the trick, and you'll find some magician's websites with the trick on it. Then you can see what it is like.

- Donald

Yea, I was thinking about that one too. Another one that will be good is have the viewer pick a card out of the nine cards I show on screen. They would follow my directions in counting a certain number in different directions. I tell them the last card they remain on.

But one day I seen someone on You Tube telling viewers to touch the screen to your computer. Some how touching the screen did activate the video instructions. Anyone knows about that?

Eww new ideas from Jack and Donald.. me likes (=

Umm the main reason I like this concept really is to head the potential client off before they start to look for me..

It's on the list, but I need to figure this out first and BANG there the site is with what they need.. that's why the party planning tips are great..

they start talking and interacting with me before they are looking for a entertainer..

Right now the average life of a client for me is 5 gigs for private (non corporate events) and that I tend to attribute to one of my online blogs..

For corporate clients not sure what the life of them are yet.. not been doing this long enough to know..

Mike, what does (= mean?

I've been around emoticons a long time, not sure how to deconstruct that one.

Donald's post was excellent and offered several useful ideas. Just like just about everything else I've seen from the good Mr. Dunphy... I always appreciate it when he offers some insights.

--Jack

Thanks!

- Donald