I will not publish, no worries..Thanks!
Mine is www.amsentertainment.com/albany
Feel free to critique, etc..
Mine is www.amsentertainment.com/albany
Feel free to critique, etc..
Weddings Pricing on your web site?
- Thread starter Capital Disc Jockeys
- Start date
In my area and according to my research and looking at their web sites, there are about 5 DJ services that post some kind of pricing. Most of them, are not full time. They hold a day job or have retired from their day jobs and do the DJ thing as a side side, so to speak. So they have nothing to lose.
The bigger multi ops, with 8 or more DJs (subcontracting services) do not post theirs, although I know their pricing...
I know AMS - They suggest not too. They don't tell me to do or not..My choice. The yearly meeting will be in Indiana in 2 weeks and it'll be a topic of discussion.
The other franchise, respectively, puts out $695 on their site.
So, it all depends on whether you want the world to know. Your competitors, friends, neighbors, etc..Now if I put down starting at $595, I am shunned because we are trying to raise the bar, not lower it.
If I put down starting at $895, I'm like everyone else...The $895 is the norm around here. Unless you can convincingly explain to the bride why you are $1200..
Does it matter if you use the Bose, have computerized music, dressed in a tux? Show up a day early? No.
You get my point...
I recently did a poll with females only...Past clients and personal friends...Out of the 20 people I asked, only 1 said that price wasn't an option to book. It was the quality of the web site that was most important. The other 19 said that a starting price was nice to detemine if they can afford us..15 said packages were convenient, but not neccessary.
The bigger multi ops, with 8 or more DJs (subcontracting services) do not post theirs, although I know their pricing...
I know AMS - They suggest not too. They don't tell me to do or not..My choice. The yearly meeting will be in Indiana in 2 weeks and it'll be a topic of discussion.
The other franchise, respectively, puts out $695 on their site.
So, it all depends on whether you want the world to know. Your competitors, friends, neighbors, etc..Now if I put down starting at $595, I am shunned because we are trying to raise the bar, not lower it.
If I put down starting at $895, I'm like everyone else...The $895 is the norm around here. Unless you can convincingly explain to the bride why you are $1200..
Does it matter if you use the Bose, have computerized music, dressed in a tux? Show up a day early? No.
You get my point...
I recently did a poll with females only...Past clients and personal friends...Out of the 20 people I asked, only 1 said that price wasn't an option to book. It was the quality of the web site that was most important. The other 19 said that a starting price was nice to detemine if they can afford us..15 said packages were convenient, but not neccessary.
It's actually in Muncie, where another AMS is located. They are hosting it. It's always a great time! They do a killer business. Slade Smith and company. We are expecting most of the franchises to come. It is not mandatory. I choose to go.
I put my prices on my site last year. I took them off last week.
I discovered that the number of bookings I was getting was down.
Sorry to say, but a lot of people in this area shop for price. At least when you have a chance to talk to them you can tell them the benefits of hiring you not based on price.
I don't like the Yellow Pages. However, people in this area have not caught onto the web "thing" yet. (lol) Especially the parents who are paying for the wedding. They like the good old fashioned way of the phone book.
I discovered that the number of bookings I was getting was down.
Sorry to say, but a lot of people in this area shop for price. At least when you have a chance to talk to them you can tell them the benefits of hiring you not based on price.
I don't like the Yellow Pages. However, people in this area have not caught onto the web "thing" yet. (lol) Especially the parents who are paying for the wedding. They like the good old fashioned way of the phone book.
Abbey, thank you for your honesty. I have done this a number of different ways. Right now, it's starting at $795. When people call and ask, I explain to them what includes at that price.
My personal price is $995. My personal highest is $1495.
Yeah, I didn't even bother with DJs that didn't list price on their website after the first two. I called them, they were out of our price range, but suddenly it was like being in a car dealership with them trying to "sell themselves" to me. Blah. If I want high pressure, I will talk to a car dealer. I had to hang up on both of them. After that I would only talk to DJs with prices listed.
Just a little outside POV.
Mike
Just a little outside POV.
Mike
Mike..
Everyone is different. The females I spoke to are todays clientele. This is the 21st century, people want to be informed. But at what length?
Everyone is different. The females I spoke to are todays clientele. This is the 21st century, people want to be informed. But at what length?
Mike has it right...at least in my book...same deal with planning our wedding, no price = no calling for info.
People around here will call everyone in the phone book, not stop at the top five. Even if you give them the best sales pitch/information.
I've had several people call me, go onto the next DJ and then call me back saying they what to book because I "talked" to them, even though my price was higher. Strange eh? They even tell me who they called and how much they were charging.
I've had several people call me, go onto the next DJ and then call me back saying they what to book because I "talked" to them, even though my price was higher. Strange eh? They even tell me who they called and how much they were charging.
I look at it two ways.
1- personally, I think if you post a price, clients will tend to make you stick to it, and then bicker over adding extras and extending the time.
sure, you can add a "disclaimer" ...but anytime you bargain with a client, you are taking the chance of annoying them and losing them.
2- professionally, I write radio commercials, and was always taught to NOT spill all the beans in an ad. (which is what a webiste is) If you answer every question, explain every detail, every price point, and every unique thing you have to offer...people will have no reason to call you. No call = no sale.
it was explained to me as being like a girl in lingerie...
for some reason, it's a whole lot more exciting than seeing EVERYTHING
1- personally, I think if you post a price, clients will tend to make you stick to it, and then bicker over adding extras and extending the time.
sure, you can add a "disclaimer" ...but anytime you bargain with a client, you are taking the chance of annoying them and losing them.
2- professionally, I write radio commercials, and was always taught to NOT spill all the beans in an ad. (which is what a webiste is) If you answer every question, explain every detail, every price point, and every unique thing you have to offer...people will have no reason to call you. No call = no sale.
it was explained to me as being like a girl in lingerie...
for some reason, it's a whole lot more exciting than seeing EVERYTHING
I look at it two ways.
1- personally, I think if you post a price, clients will tend to make you stick to it, and then bicker over adding extras and extending the time.
sure, you can add a "disclaimer" ...but anytime you bargain with a client, you are taking the chance of annoying them and losing them.
2- professionally, I write radio commercials, and was always taught to NOT spill all the beans in an ad. (which is what a webiste is) If you answer every question, explain every detail, every price point, and every unique thing you have to offer...people will have no reason to call you. No call = no sale.
it was explained to me as being like a girl in lingerie...
for some reason, it's a whole lot more exciting than seeing EVERYTHING
Yeah, but really, if I want to hire you, I will hire you. I don't want to be pressured or be talked into hiring you. I want a contractor to answer my questions, give me the information I want, in the quickest way possible and then leave me alone to make a decision.
I had several DJs I emailed insist on getting my phone number. That took them off my list right away.
If your website is impressive enough, your equipment it good, and your price is right, then I will follow up. Without that information, no way.
It was the same when we bought a car. If they wouldn't give us a price over e-mail, we did not go to the dealership.
By the way, what is wrong with asking a contractor to hold to a price? If you want to charge more or less, then put an hourly rate on the website.
Mike
I'm not saying that every call has to be a hard sales pitch. I'm just saying that people interested in me, can find out more about me on the site. With an emotional decision like a DJ for a wedding, I want them to want ME. That creates a "need" and they are most likely to accept the price, because they have already decided. Cars are not an emotional decison. A Ford Taurus is a Ford Taurus at every dealership, so the only difference is the PRICE! The problem (as I see it) is much like the advertising we do here. We do not mention a price, unless the price is REALLY FRIGGIN AWESOME! This eliminates people from NOT calling you, because they already know all they want to know. And your price may be reasonable to one bride, and over-priced to another. Would you rather the second bride NOT EVEN CALL to discuss it? Wouldn't you at least want the chance to explain why you charge what you charge? The website should not replace your sales technique (no matter what your technique is). The website gets your phone to ring or your email to increase. YOU have to take it from there!
As far as rates, I do in fact charge by the hour for that reason. I was just thinking that some clients may think that a price that is in writing on a website is for every reception and every situation.
No wonder your prices are on your site.
If you explain to the client why you either use or not use any of these. And what difference it makes from the next guy then the answer is yes. Just as you explain what you do better or more of than the next guy. Everything you offer creates the entire package.
I just checked every site that I could of those who said they post their price and it seems to be a trend that if your prices are low you post them on your site. Makes sense really. Higher prices need an explanation, lower prices are the selling point and need no explanation.
That would be true if one was selling a product that is similar to others. Although there are many who purchase based on price there are those who understand a low price does not always equal quality. Kind of "you get what you pay for". The only way for clients to find this out is to do their own investigation. Learn the track record of the companies and then choose which one will work best.
I personally don't sign clients until 1. They are absolutely positive I have what they are looking for. And I never sign at the first meeting. 2. They have checked out other DJ's in their price range and then point them to number 1.
Selling point, sometimes, more information for a client definitely. Posting our price on our website allows the potential client to determine if they can even afford us to start with, at that point if they're interested they'll call or drop an e-mail. Let's put it this way, it prevents both us and the potential from wasting each other's time.