Marketing

Becles

I run a small mobile disco business with my husband. We're keen to learn marketing and wondered if anyone could advise on books we could read to teach us how to promote the business.

At the moment most of our work comes through guests taking cards at disco and our website. The seems to be working well.

We've got a free listing in Yellow Pages which hasn't generated anything so we are loathed to pay for a bigger ad. We've had free ads on various wedding websites which haven't generated anything. We paid to go on a promo CD-ROM of wedding suppliers that went out on an edition of UK Brides magazine, which generated nothing. We did a mailshot to local hotels which produced nothing, although they may have kept our details on record. I'm planning on contacting all the 6th forms and student unions in the area once the autumn term starts and hoping to get some Christmas parties from that.

Any books or other suggestions welcome.

Fran

Have you checked your local business help centres locally? Near here there are places that will answer questions and also courses to go on which are free in some (all?) cases, one of ours is marketing, perhaps there is such a centre in your area? Perhaps your local jobcentre can advise?

Edinburghlass_2

Try the PTA of all the local schools. The father of one of my daughter's school mates ran all the discos for the school and also got a lot of work doing private birthday parties in the local hall afternoons and evenings from when they were about 6 years old. The kids loved it as he added in games and magic with music for the little ones and the parents loved it as all they had to do was lay on some food and prizes

nearlyrich

The very best marketing tool is a satisfied customer, how about having a referal scheme where ,when someone gives you a name of new customer who books a disco, they get a bottle of wine (or champagne if the profits will run to it). I have quite a few marketing books I will have a look through them to see if any would be suitable to recommend to you.

elisebutt65

Marketing - Concepts and Strategy - Dibb, Simkin & Pride
Principles of Marketing - Brassington & Pettit
Principles of Marketing - Kotler, Suanders & Wong.

& so on etc etc

These are all extremely expensive books - I got mine 2nd hand from Uni Library at about £11-16 each + loads of others.

I would recommend going to your local library and there will be a section on management etc - look under 658 (library number on spine of book) There will be some books on practical marketing.

Don't forget that advertising is only a small part of marketing - there's also P.R., Sales Promotions and Personal Selling.(above the Line)

I'm doing a Tourism degree, most of which is marketing - let me know if there's anything you want help with - we just had a live client last year and they took up some of our suggestions so must be doing something right - LOL

Becles

Thanks - we do our school discos for free as our contribution to the PTA, but I never thought of contacting other schools in the area.

I like the referral idea too. It wouldn't cost much to print up some vouchers to send out with bookings.

I don't know where the local business centre is now, as the building they were in, is currently being turned into retirement flats! I will try and find out where they have gone though.

Thanks for the book titles too

mbamick

Hi Niall,

Also try thinking "as a customer" rather than "the business". By that, I suggest you put yourself in the shoes of someone in County Durham who wants a Disco.

I went straight to Google and searched for "Disco County Durham" and got a raft of hits including https://www.weddingdurham.co.uk, https://www.mobilediscodirectory.co.uk, https://www.uk-disco.co.uk, https://www.touchlocal.com, and https://www.kidsparty.com to list but a few. They all appear to be directories, which I suspect may cost an upfront charge and/or a commission for putting business your way.

But it may be worth a look at a few of them; after all, there will be plenty of people that want a disco that may not have "word of mouth" to work to. And, if nothing else, it gives you an idea of the competition that you are up against. You may even be able to negotiate a First 3-months free type trial.

If you don't have your own website, there may be merit in paying a few bob to get one set up.

Just a thought mate. Good luck.
Mick