September Topic - How to Promote Yourself

Started by Danny the Idiot, August 27, 2008, 07:35:53 PM

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Danny the Idiot

So,

How do you promote yourself?

Personally, I have agents and also belong to the wonderful Balloonatic group which employs me.

Danny
Danny Schlesinger
Balloon Excellence Award Winner
https://dannytheidiot.com
https://www.CircoRidiculoso.com
Follow me on Twitter at @danny_the_idiot

seanmcd51

#1
It's funny that this is the topic. Allen Stay (Swifty the Clown - Swifty Bags for those of you that know them) is coming to visit a relative in New Hampshire next week. We planned to get together while he was local to make some balloons - I suggested we find an event to work so that we don't just throw the balloons away - and maybe make a few bucks.

Now where to find a balloon gig - mid week no less - in a town where I have NO contacts.

I drove over to Peterborough, to the chamber of commerce. Open 9 - 5, but of course they were closed for the day at 3:30. I saw on a pamphlet Peterborough Farmer's Market Wednesdays 3-6.

I drove over, asked for the person in charge. Talked to her for 5 minutes. We now have a gig for $40 plus tips next Wednesday.

Although this is not the way I typically promote myself, it is definitely A way to promote yourself.

mandy

#2
Hi, ive been mainly doing pr work. Its amazing what respect you get when you say youve helped to raise funds for this or that cause. And being part of a major event, say the town carnival, gets you in the local press.
Its early days so i still got a long way to go, but i have many cunning plans aha ha ha ha  :twisted:

daveandrews

#3
Up to date, I have used the usual newspaper ad, and now have a website that gets 'pushed' at the parties, etc. that I do.

When I have done line-work with balloons, I hand out my leaflet.

I have never been keen on the idea of mailings (just not the pushy sort) but am going to try one with a view to Xmas bookings and beyond.

Contracts were also alien to me, but I think this is also another way of promoting yourself - in addition to being a bit more 'professional' about things, especially in the age we live.

Dave

//http://www.partymagic.org.uk
https://www.partymagic.org.uk/

Winner \'People\'s Choice Award\' at KIDabra International Conference
for family and children\'s entertainers in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Graham Lee

#4
When I started out many moons ago I advertised in the local paper that had regularly 15/20 children's entertainers advertising every week with plenty of work to go around for everyone it seemed. The cost was sensible but then they got greedy with the prices & now no entertainers are in the local paper.
At the party I would hand out badges with my number on & colouring posters with number & web address etc to the children & a A5 full colour 160 gram quality flyer to any adults that asked for details.
I also send out confirmation letters for bookings to make the client feel comfortable that the party is booked & that I will be turning up. So many have been let down in the past, it's embarrassing how many so called entertainers take a booking & then for whatever reason let them down. The letter also promotes the added extras that are available.
Yellow pages has always been a good place to advertise up until recently, I used to have a extra large box approx 12 cms deep which was worth the cost of the add but over the last couple of years IMHO yellow pages has declined especially when they split the entertainer section into two to try & get double the revenue from everyone. If you advertised in two books you would get a large discount but if you advertised in twp sections of one book there were no discounts. I think this has back fired with yellow pages as the books are noticeable thinner with far less advertising in both the entertainers sections.
I just have the smallest box which is only 1.5 cms deep.
The website seems the place to advertise with plenty of specialist entertainer sites to promote your own website on.
Magic week, Children's party specialist etc.
Netmums is good but I don't think you can advertise on it, the mums just give you a plug if they feel you're good.
There are some good & numerous children's publications around, but I've always found the response considering the cost of the advert to be poor the only one that I found that did get results was, oh dear forgot the name as I've stopped advertising in it but it was the free paper that went into nursery schools & I always found the results were good. Over the years have tried numerous other expensive publications for the working mums etc with poor results.

The best advise I can give is to get a website up, if you look at http://www.magicact.co.uk which is a cheap & cheerful template the cost of that was from memory £120. You can even get it cheaper with fewer pages, contact details, a bit of blurb plus a few pictures and you're away.
Busking in your local high street is good as you can get the kids laughing & the parents will want to take note & ask for your details while giving you some money for the creation you've just made for little one.

Will give this some more thought & update, off to have some dinner........................................
"Lets Improve Our Art"
Balloon Excellence 2012 Award Winner
For Services to the Balloon Community.
https://www.balloonartwholesale.co.uk
http://www.sempertexballoons.co.uk

Danny the Idiot

#5
it depends what your market is...

Kids Parties, corporate entertainment, council events, schools, bars and restaurants, street entertainment at festivals or weddings. These are all slightly different markets and require different promotional techniques.

I'm not saying I know the answers but I do realise they are different and require alternate methods/ways.

 :geek:
Danny Schlesinger
Balloon Excellence Award Winner
https://dannytheidiot.com
https://www.CircoRidiculoso.com
Follow me on Twitter at @danny_the_idiot

daveandrews

#6
Graham, just looked at that link.

What shameless self-promotion.

Maybe that makes me sound jealous, and I shouldn't have said it.






But I am  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

Someday, someday  :roll:

Dave

PS Got the apron, Graham, many thanks. It is so fetching, I may get a bigger one from you at Kidology. Never thought I would say anything like that!
https://www.partymagic.org.uk/

Winner \'People\'s Choice Award\' at KIDabra International Conference
for family and children\'s entertainers in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Graham Lee

#7
I only put that site up as it was a cheap & cheerful one to show that for a sensible price you can get a reasonable website up although those with the technology can build there own sites or perhaps for a small fee those on the forum that have built there own sites might have the time to help others out or even trade for there time in building a site.

Graham Lee
"Lets Improve Our Art"
Balloon Excellence 2012 Award Winner
For Services to the Balloon Community.
https://www.balloonartwholesale.co.uk
http://www.sempertexballoons.co.uk

mandy

#8
ooh that would be great for us technophobes  :idea:
Quote from: "Graham Lee"I only put that site up as it was a cheap & cheerful one to show that for a sensible price you can get a reasonable website up although those with the technology can build there own sites or perhaps for a small fee those on the forum that have built there own sites might have the time to help others out or even trade for there time in building a site.

Graham Lee

Danny the Idiot

#9
I'm one of those here who builds their own site. I use Moonfruit. You type your words in and upload you photos, save it and it is live on the internet.

have a look here:
//http://www.circoridiculoso.com

and here //http://www.moonfruit.com. They have different packages depending on your needs.

hope that helps,

Danny  ;)
Danny Schlesinger
Balloon Excellence Award Winner
https://dannytheidiot.com
https://www.CircoRidiculoso.com
Follow me on Twitter at @danny_the_idiot

Danny the Idiot

#10
So how do YOU promote yourself?

Do you have....
Business cards? Any other promo material? when do you give them out?

Website? Let us have a look! Do you do it yourself or have a web designer?

Do you email and ring people? Cold calling?

Adverts? Where? When? How often? Does it work?

Your vehicle - do you advertise on your car/van? Show us a photo!



Top tips for promotion - what are yours?
Danny Schlesinger
Balloon Excellence Award Winner
https://dannytheidiot.com
https://www.CircoRidiculoso.com
Follow me on Twitter at @danny_the_idiot

Chris Tennant

#11
I am currently working on a new site //http://www.tennantmagic.co.uk (small plug!)
it is not running properly as of yet however it has cost me only £9 (plus VAT so about £10.58? tops).  I used to when I was younger design forums for a small income and found them a great way to promote myself (for doing more forums I did not do magic at the time) as I placed affiliate bars on all of them so everyone with a site would be plugging each other and communities would grow.
I use Dreamweaver for my site and I recommend using Invisionfree for forum design (again I am willing to help with set up but I no longer run forums on peoples behalf, only create and fix problems).
If anyone wants any help then feel free to contact me via e-mail anytime they want.

Chris
\'Think inside the box, everyone else is too busy thinking outside theirs\' - De\'Vo

Danny the Idiot

#12
Hi Chris,

even on your holding page while you develop your site, you should put a contact number if you want bookings!!!

But so far - so good!! Good clear image and text!

 :)
Danny Schlesinger
Balloon Excellence Award Winner
https://dannytheidiot.com
https://www.CircoRidiculoso.com
Follow me on Twitter at @danny_the_idiot

Chris Tennant

#13
Ah thanks for that I shall do so immediately.
\'Think inside the box, everyone else is too busy thinking outside theirs\' - De\'Vo