and post updates. A professional looking, mobilefriendly website is also a must, as people are most likely to discover us on a mobile device now. This is our main storefront, where people need to be drawn in to buy from us. A few months ago, I attended an Instagram masterclass workshop.
Not only did this help me learn how to use Instagram effectively, but it also opened my eyes to just how many people use Instagram to seek out potential wedding suppliers, rather than good old Google. I think that in the future we could see more enquires coming through Instagram, particularly as the ‘younger generation’ grow up and start getting married. In terms of branding and marketing, how have you gone about promoting the JN Sounds brand? Our website is massively important to us, and we get good feedback about it.
We make sure this is updated regularly, particularly on our blog page. Not only do our blogs offer clients tips and advice for planning their wedding entertainment, they position us as experts in our field. Our website is redesigned every few years, which helps keep our brand looking modern and fresh. We use WordPress, but there are lots of cool content management systems out there.
We also make sure we optimise our content to give us the best chance of being discovered through Google search results. As mentioned, social media is very important to us. We regularly populate our Facebook and Instagram feeds with posts and engage with our audience, which has proven very beneficial from a business perspective. We have also dabbled with paid advertising on Facebook, but you need a decent budget and proper strategy to get the best results from that approach.
Then, of course, there is the tried and tested method of word-of-mouth. If you are doing a good job, the word-of-mouth from previous clients will increase over time and referrals are, in my opinion, the best promotion you can get. How do you go about securing bookings and what tips would you give to DJs who are starting out? Responding as quickly as possible to enquiries is a must.
If a prospective client has sent an email to five companies at the same time, the first one to reply is most likely to get the gig. The content of your response email is also vital. My friend and fellow wedding DJ Terry Lewis has given me invaluable tips on how to craft an awesome response email. The key elements to include are your USPs, links to testimonials and photos (if appropriate).
We also include the next steps for if they want to arrange a meeting but above all we explain how we will make their event amazing. Where possible, especially for weddings, we always try and meet with potential clients at their venue – it is neutral ground and it can be handy being in the venue where everything will be happening on the day. Essentially, it helps them paint a mental picture of how their day will unfold. When you meet a couple like this, my advice is don’t just sell them the items you offer – explain how what you do will benefit their day; generate emotion and be likeable.
If the meeting goes well, and they like you, the booking is pretty much in the bag. My other piece of advice is to keep your pricing package as simple as possible. This will help to avoid confusion and make it easy for the couple to decide what they want. What would you say to other DJs about the importance of having specialist DJ insurance?
Do it – it’s a no-brainer if you want to continue playing live and building your DJ business. We have our equipment covered with Insure4Music, who offer extremely good rates, even for large amounts of kit. The thought of having an expensive item lost, stolen or damaged is a bit terrifying. Our business would come to an end without our equipment if we didn’t have the right cover in place, which highlights why specialist DJ insurance is so essential.
