OK Who belongs, and what are your experiences?

Not as active as Gigmasters, but no commission involved. It allows clients to contact you direct, so unless you ask how they heard about you, you will not be tracking the real numbers. It was worth it for me.

I want keep way ahead of Kyle so I must explore every passive marketing trick in the book. It gives me great pleasure to give Kyle & Kelly my extra bookings.

These things facinate me. I have absolutly 0 personal experience with them but still they are interesting.

Not as many leads on Gigsalad. But it pays in the long run....
The reason why these type of sites work is that they optimize their site to be on the first page for many key words in major city areas.

Hey Al. =) Stay ahead of me? naw.. you are not doing too bad for yourself as it is. =) However, I will take your extra bookings (or anyones) if you got them. hehehe Not complaining there. I have actually looked into gigsalad a few months ago but not done my research. It looks pretty good but not as active or as popular as Gigmasters is. I do like the non commission aspect of it. Just need to figure out how many leads you nromall get in a given time to compare it with Gigmasters. It certainly looks worth it as one gig from it would pay itself off.

Kyle

Danny,
If I remember correctly, you viewed these services as a low bidder gets the gig - type of thing. (If I'm wrong I am sure you will correct me...)

Variety acts - jugglers, magicians, hypnotists, clowns, etc. are very well represented on these services and in many cases that holds true. I'm lucky enough to be in a specialty category with limited "real" competition. That makes it very easy to separate myself and I've won bids with much higher quotes than my closest competitor.

Just like in any other area of business - if you can create distance between yourself and the competition - you stand a good chance at getting the date if the client is worried more about the event than the budget.

Kyle
You practice active marketing, which is why for me to keep up with the Perons I must stay with the state of the art passive marketing. Another thing that I like about the passive marketing is that there are no magic gurues offering me his advise for $100. I am my own guru in a constantly evolving internet market place, and if someone wrote a book on passive marketing it very well could be old news by the time it was published. I have secrets that I have only shared with my web master, because I will do anything to keep from getting a DAY JOB.

Hey Al,

Actually Kelly and I practice both Active and Passive forms of marketing. It is our combination of both methods that equates to our overall marketing plan and strategy each year. We always track everything and evaluate both forms every month and then set goals and change things as we go along. That is what we did the beginning of this year to plan for fighting the economic situation and it worked out very well for us. We are having a great year and no downturn on b-day gigs or our other markets.

I am a strong believer in marketing concepts in general. I study them all and read them all and then change them to fit my own personal needs and the way I want to work my business. The principles are out there and they do work. You just have to adapt them to your marketing plan.

You also really do not have to fork over a ton of money on "gurus" to learn active marketing techniques to apply along side your passive formats. A lot of what I know is from asking people questions, reading stuff on free websites and then directly applying them.

It has worked for us and we are very grateful to be doing as well as we are with an art form we love. =)

Kyle

You can spend money to be listed in these directories, or spend it on mailings, or both. Life is full of choices.

Once upon a time, performers spent money on passive advertising in the phone books. Now, they spend money on passive advertising in online directories (like gigmasters, gigsalad, partypop, etc.)

Plus, of course, whatever money you've invested in your website.

It's still advertising.

- Donald

Kyle
I understand you practice both active, and passive marketing, which is why I keep a couple tricks up my sleeve. I like the fact that ALL of my customers contact me instead of me knocking on many doors for each job. To me there is more satisfaction in doing everything my own way, and thumbing my nose at the gurues.

I couldn't help but notice that you are on my heels in search engine placement, so my job is cut out for me if I want to be the one that sends you extra jobs.

This holds true for smaller events. But usually the "assistant" who is hiring entertainment for a corporate event wants the best within their budget since at the end of the event it is their head on the chopping block. Sometimes the assistant gathers quotes and info to take back to the "boss."

I have had PR reps, casting producers, CEOs, agents, and moms and dads phoning from these type of sites.

Also, I have notice people from Gigmasters and Gigsalad are not too sure if it is AN AGENT or just listings.

I learned not to sell on price, but to sell on budget and myself as a whole from these type of sites.

When I through my mothers 50th surprise birthday party, I google cakes, Djs, and resorts.
So, if I want a magician for my event what would I do? I would google magicians on the internet and start looking.

Curtis
If you googled "magician Philadelphia" you would see Kyle number 10, and me number 11 today.

If learning from an info product is your cup of tea, magician David Farr sells a new product all about websites, SEO, listing in online directories (gigsalad is one of the ones he covers), etc. I'm sure he thoroughly details his approach and his tips.

http://www.trafficsecretsexplained.com/

I don't have this product, I'm just aware of it. I'll be listening to David Farr speak at Eric Paul's event in a few weeks.

- Donald

Donald
You are going to Philly, and not coming to my house for a visit. What's up with that? Did you hear that Kyle is having a party? Did you ever have a cheese steak? My feelings are hurt.

I haven't had a cheese steak. I should try one while there. I already have a couple of other invites while there, I'll have to see if I can squeeze you in.

- Donald

Anyone and everyone is invited to our place. Our door is open to any magician and friend. SOOO if in the area, let us know and we will arrange something for sure. We certainly can have a party at our place.. I do not mind. hehehe There will just be a cover charge. lol

I have actually not checked my rankings this week yet. I usually do that towards the end of the week and track the results.I have been doing a LOT of SEO since the start of the year and tracking results. So far every move has done very wellfor us and we are getting good rankings for multiple search terms and keywords. I am also using Google.com/analytics a lot to get research on what has been working, what has not and tweaking my site accordingly.

I have also seen a tremendous influx of emails and website inquiries frommy forms page ever since the start of the year. It is getting better since the last SEO update so will keep tabs on that also.

GigSalad is just another tool for me in my overall marketing plan and strategy. I like multiple avenues for people to contact us. We have been working on this as well this year.

I still do everything my own way as that is the only way to do it. I stilllearn from the "gurus" and form multiple sources. I am always continuing to learn marketing and applying it and making it work. But it has to workfor US and Kelly and I take what we learn and the principles and we adapt it to what works for us.

Kyle

Kyle,

I'll be speaking, teaching and nagging on marketing success in Philadelphia on Nov. 14, 15 & 16. Do you deliver? (Hehehehehe!)

That can be arranged Dean. I will even wear my new red jacket. hehehe

Kyle

Deano
You too. Are you guys prejudice of Sicilians or something. No one contacts me to come over for some expresso? I have an imported delux fully automatic expresso machine that my wife gave me for my bday. A cheese steak, some veno, a lata, and a canole is what I have to offer, last call.