Mobile Bartenders: Discover Social Media Now
January 24, 2010
Watch the Video Below to Discover How You Can Effectively Use Social Media for Your Bartending Business Right Now!
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7 Highly-Effective Ways to Attract New Clients
January 21, 2010
I have been receiving email after email from students of mine asking how they can get their FIRST client, or get MORE clients so they are bringing in MORE business and more money.
The following is a list of the 10 MOST effective ways that I am using to attract new clients and how YOU can quickly do the same without spending a lot of money at all so that you are booking bartending gigs quicker than ever before.
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7 Ways to Book Bartending Gigs NOW:
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1. Vendor Directories
Get your phone number and website listed in Online Vendor Directories. This is important because these big sites will have better SEO (search engine optimization) than your website. When someone searches “Dallas Bartender” and the directory pops us, you want people to find YOUR business information. The largest directory is www.PartyPop.com-make sure you are on it. There are a ton of other directotories for party planners and weddings out there as well. You can also add your business to Google AND Yellowpages’ directories. But here is my ONE RULE: Don’t PAY to have your website/business listed. It is NOT worth it!! If you an get a F.R.E.E. listing, GREAT, if not, don’t do it!
2. Craigslist.org
Here is a big SECRET for you: I have put WEEKLY listings in my local Craigslist and the listing itself would rank HIGHER in Google than my website! Pretty Cool! I have a GREAT Craigslist script for you to use on my website. http://www.bartenderforprofit.com/bbbstep6.html
3. Website & SEO
If you don’t have a website/blog, than no one will take you seriously! Your “web presence” is your virtual storefront where people can “check you out” and learn more about you and your company. EVERYONE is using the Internet to search online now, are they going to find YOU or your competitor? I highly recommend just getting a Wordpress Blog and using a blog theme that looks like a standard website. With Wordpress, you don’t need an expensive website designer! Once you have a website up, people searching Google (70% of Search Engine Traffic) can find YOU on the first page for your keywords (if you are performing the proper Search Engine Optimization techniques), and THAT is free advertising!
4. Google Adwords
Without SEO, you can actually pay Google money on a “per-click” basis to get on the first page of Google’s search engine results page. This is a GREAT way to get started when you are brand new with your business because the minute your website is live you can INSTANTLY drive traffice to your site and start getting phone calls. If you get TOO MUCH business, you can simply turn off the ads whenever you like…pretty cool!
5. Preferred Vendor Lists
This is a POWERFUL Step! Whenever I hear my students complaining about not get any business, I suggest this step right here! You must keep this in mind: you are starting/running a business, that is no easy job, it takes a little work! So let’s do some work! Let’s hustle a bit! Start calling caterers, party-planners, DJ’s, etc and get them to REFER you business. When I’m calling up another party-vendor, I tell them a ton of my clients are looking for a DJ, and I have no one to recommend, can I recommend YOU? The DJ always says YES, and automatically returns the favor and starts to give me business! Create these powerful synergistic relationships now! ALSO, you want to get on the Perferred Vendor lists for any 3rd-Party Venues in your area…so stop making excuses and start calling them up!
6. During-Event Promotions
Don’t forget! Your biggest way to promote your busines is DURING your event! Simply having IMPECCABLE service is enough to spread the “word of mouth!” BUT pass out your business cards, collect contact information and mingle with
the crowd. The better you do at your existing event, the more gigs you will book in the future because of that one party!
7. Social Media
Social Media has taken us by storm in the past two years and as we go into 2010, I am MAKING all of my students use it! (Don’t worry, I will be posting plenty of future articles on how to use Social Media for your business soon!) For now, get on Twitter, Facebook & Linkedin and start connecting with other business professionals, past cleints, friends/family etc. Spend 10 minutes using Social Media a day and see what comes of it! At the very least, Social Networking sites are very SEO friendly and you can be found in the FIRST few results on Google’s search pages…not bad!
I hope you enjoyed these quick strategies for Client-Getting! For some, I know these simply serve as a reminder for stuff you already know. for others who are new and less experienced, hopefully you will take at least one of these techniques and implement it RIGHT NOW in your Bartending Business! Make the effort, take the action and see the change! Thank you so much for taking the time to read this, please email me or send me your comments!
Taking Your Bartending Biz to the Next Level of Professionalism
January 11, 2010
If you have read any of my teachings in the past,you know that I am BIG on PROFESSIONALISM.One of your goals is to separate yourself from the “sloppy college kid” who is bartending parties on the side, and show your clients just how professional you are. When you do this, you get to charge more and people will gladly pay it!
I also stress that increasing our PROFESSIONALISM in our business should be simple and easy and NOT cost us a large investment! Well, here is another Professionalism Tip…
I found a GREAT resource that I want you to check out called GRASSHOPPER!
What is GRASSHOPPER?
Essentially it is a digital phone service that turns your operation into a BIG company by offering a call center feel for just $10 a month!
Imagine showing off an 800 number on your website & business cards that takes customers to a professional voice greeting instead of going to your cell phone where you pick up and simply ask, “hello?”
Professionalism increased 100%!!
To check out this AWESOME resource that I myself am implementing in my business, click the link below:
It is just $9.95 a month, AND that link I give you waves the $25 activation fee. I do NOT get any referral fee for sending you this link, I just think you NEED t be using this service!
So, go click the link, sign up and come back here for some quick, practical advice on how to set up your new virtual phone system
Your NEW Phone System (Tips!)
Here is a simple script to use for your Welcome Message. When people call your new number, this is the message they should read:
“Hello and thank you for calling Pour Service Bartenders, Orange County’s PREMIER Bartending Service. If you know your party’s extention, you may dial it at any time. For booking your next event or inquiring about our services, Press 1. If you have already booked an event with us, and you are calling with questions about your upcoming party, please press 2. All other questions and concerns, please press 3. Thank you very much, and have a great day!”
Simple, right?!
Here is the best part, you can then decide which phone those extentions are forwarded on to. AND, you can also receive FAXES through your new phone number!
IN CONLUSION…
I truly hope you enjoy this resource and that you implement it into your business immediately! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask! Thank you & have a great day!
Are You Using These Social Media Tactics To Get Bartending Clients?
November 9, 2009
Social Media is a HUGE buzz word right now! But WHY?! and more importantly, are YOU using it in your marketing strategy?!
I know your business is offline, BUT you need to be marketing it ONLINE if you want to be successful! Some of my clients are already using sites such as Twitter & Facebook to connect and find new leads, but I am here to give you that final shove into Social Networking!
Benefits of Social Media for Your Bartending Biz:
- It doesn’t cost a dime!
- You can connect/search for people quickly and easily
- You can drive traffic to your website
- You can create BACKLINKS which increases your SEO (Google rankings)
- Your competition is doing it (and probably wrong too!)
- And its FUN!
So Where do we Start?!
Hopefully you already have a website up and running to promote your bartending business! That is step #1! BUT from there, I suggest targeting the FANTASIC FOUR: Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin and Youtube.
The first step is to simply sign up and start following/adding friends, family and past clients. You want to connect with people you already know so that you can GROW your “sphere of influence.” Each of these sites will allow you to add links BACK to your website which is very important!
From there, it is all about connecting, networking and sharing. Social Media is a big TIME investment…it takes some work before you can see an immediate reward, but TRUST ME, you might as well get on now…before its too late!
What Are Your Questions?!
What I would like to do is see WHO is using social media and where they are having questions/problems etc so I can help! Submit your questions in the comment box because I would like to address them. As I work on an updated version of Bartend-4-Profit (Version 2.0) for 2010, I will be including step-by-step instructions for a PERFECT Social Media Strategy to promote your biz and book new bartending gigs!
So send me your comments and questions so I can address them! THANK YOU
Cheers,
James Wedmore
Mobile Mixologist
