Sponsored by
Everybody knows Google. But what is the impact of Google? How does it affect you? Vast fortunes are being won by people who are leveraging the power of Google. Here are a few Google-centric ideas for your magic business.
Sponsored links (think local)
For local entertainers the best advertising value was the phone book. Now it’s becoming Google. However, few people really grasp this. For many people the first place they look for anything is Google. If it’s Suzy from Tulsa’s birthday next month and she’s a big magic fan, chances are Suzy’s mom is going to Google “Tulsa magician†(or more likely “Tulsa magiciansâ€) into the search box. If you’re a magician in Tulsa, don’t you want to be either the first result or the first name on the sponsored links? Is it worth paying a dime every time someone clicks on your link?
Search results (still think local)
Buying your way to the top of sponsored links is the easiest way to get noticed on Google. The theoretically cheaper (but not easier) way is to have a site that gets to the top for your chosen search criteria. I wouldn’t pretend to be for even a moment an expert on this. The secret to Google’s algorythm is one of those mysteries in life. What does help is having a site that provides enough information for the Google search spiders to index you and to have other sites link to you in that context. If your site doesn’t mention that you’re a “Tulsa magicianâ€, Google isn’t as likely to make that connection either. So that’s a place to start.
Google Maps
The most obvious use for this is to find out how far away your gig is and how to get there. Here’s a couple more ideas: Got a morning school show? Use Google maps to see if there’s a nearby school that is willing to book you for an afternoon show. Want to knock on doors and see about doing a close-up gig at a restaurant? Use Google Maps to find a cluster that will allow you to hit several at a time. Looking for a place to perform? Map out all the theatres nearby. A small theater near a busy restaurant district might be a better venue than a big one in a part of town that’s dead after nightfall.
Research, research, research
How many nice restaurants are in your town? Google knows. How many private schools are in your town? Google knows. How many theatres are available for rent in your town? Google knows. What’s the nearest neighborhood with a median income high enough to afford you for private parties? Google knows. What’s the name of the local reporter most likely to do a story on you? Google knows. What’s on that video cassette I have stashed away in my safe? I’m not telling.
The biggest problem I have noticed with magician’s websites is that they fail to tell you where they are from and they don’t include a map of the area(s) they are willing to travel and consider local (no additional travel fee). I have been to many sites where I can’t even tell what state the magician is from and I have to guess from the area code on the phone number. You don’t have to put your street address on your site (In fact, I advise that you don’t) but at least mention your town and state (or province or country!).