cord and a local programme to promote along- cessful. All effort you put into marketing needs
side it. Be helpful to journalists; write your press to be recompensed so consider that.
release for them! Include a photo. Belly dance
adds fun, smiles and something a little different Link in with local carnivals, talent shows, chari-
to the everyday. Exploit this and include all your ties and sponsored events. World Belly Dance
contact details in the press releases. Build up Day offers a chance for groups and dancers all
a press list of useful contacts and personalise over the world to unite in a combined celebration
how you contact journalists, some will interview to raise the profile of belly dance and increase
on the phone, others like to meet or will work participation, opportunity and profiles.
best via email or facebook! Offer journalists a
free class, taster session or show ticket to give Marketing is a big field but relax, use your
them more insight and as a thank you. friends, family and colleagues to help you. Most
importantly do a good job wherever you go. This
Free listings on the range of on-line belly dance is the best marketing and will give you a good
networks such as Wiggle, Arabesque and other reputation and positive results through word of
teachers and dancers sites are useful. Be sure mouth.
to link to other teachers and dancers sites to
honour the gesture. MySpace and Face book ABOUt the AUthOR
are very useful for unexpected contacts, groups,
networking and immediate updates. If you are Guinevere is a certified A-Z belly dance teacher
joining MySpace - join as a musician as this will based in West Wales, She runs Baubo Belly
allow you to list upcoming shows. Dance and a community interest group called
Baubo Moon Room. She runs residential train-
Consider having your own web site too – this ing weekends and AstroBelly workshops. Her
will give you more control over your visual im- book ‘The Belly Dancers Treasure Pack’ is out
pact and how you organise your information and soon!
is available for all to see. Google analytics ap-
plied to your website will bring in great feedback USeFUl cONtActS:
in terms of throughout to your site and where it
is coming from. Some people don’t have a com-
www.doyourownpr.com
puter so send information via letter and by hand.
http://www.worldbellydance.com/
Build up a customer base of names, addresses
http://www.worldbellydanceday.com/world_bel-
and emails. ly_dance_day_dancers.html
www.arabesque.co.uk
Personalise your answer phone message and
www.wiggle.org.co.uk
your email signature. Different belly dancers of-
www.nafoura.co.uk
fer different things. What is it you do? Unless
www.bellydancer.org.uk
people know, how will they buy into it? Is your
http://www.samnara.co.uk/
predominant work classes or are you an events
www.ketisharif.com
organiser? There’s so much diversity within the
www.baubo.co.uk
profession that you need to clarify your strengths
and your unique selling points. Be sure to fol-
low up enquires, conversations and honour your
word. If you can’t make a pre-planned event, try
to find another belly dancer or give good notice
of cancellation. This is good business practice
and will enhance your reputation as a reliable
and thoughtful person to deal with.
Budget how much time and money you spend © 2009 NAFOURA Magazine All rights re-
on marketing. Is it working? Ask how people served
found out about your show, class or event. Re- Copying this article is not permitted unless with
flect on what has worked and what is less suc- written permission by the Chief Editor.
34
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