problem with reputation is it only goes so far.
And if there were 10 DJs in your town, great - but google DJ and you'll get 40 or more.
Maybe YOU Have heard of them but typical client has not. Thumbtack and oterhs exist for this reason - 'don't know who to call? come here and we'll get them to send you bids!' In such a situation they don't know anyone to call - so don't know your rep.
And as you'd expect, nobody says they're anything but the best..so how is a person to decide?
On another forum it was said don't send clients to 'go see my reviews on wedding wire' as you're sending them to 'the other djs advertising there' which is true, but if YOU were looking for reviews would those on my website or some third party site be more reliable? Or fair..I'm not going to post mediocre reviews on my site...and you won't post them on yours either. So how much of a sales benefit is it?
IF everyone has glowing reviews on their sites..does that influence the prospect?
I did a photobooth at a wedding with a DJ that I'd heard good things about, and he talked himself up quite a bit before the event to me when we talked.
And then...disappointment.
MC? hardly.
Customer service? He was supposedly a family friend of the bride and never not once mentioned her name on the mic 'can the bride come to the dance floor for her first dance' - didn't even get up to go get her (as in he sat all night).
Music choice? Dance floor? I've seen worse and I've scene a whole lot better. Don't know what the bride wanted..but doubtful a 22ish bride wants the first 30 minutes to be doo wop car cruise music. Or the twist played twice during that time.
Maybe wedding's aren't his thing and this was a favor. Just been a very long time since I've been to any event where the dj puts his speakers on the floor and not on stands.
To MOST prospects a DJ is a DJ until they learn otherwise - and even then I'm not sure it matters.
I did a few dances last year at the school - got asked back, paid more, rave reviews. Chaperones and principal were impressed kids dance as they told "kids never dance at these things"... yet I didn't get asked to do their dance last night.
MANY factors go into choosing where to buy something, loyalty, price, convenience, quality, repuation, past experience, WOM, marketing, timing and probably more.