Should I promote my Website like this?

[KimJay]

Hi Everyone! I'm new to the thread but have been lurking for some time. I love this forum!

I am in the process of creating a website. It will be a nightlife directory for my city and surrounding areas. I also own an entertainment company where we put on special events. I would like to market the website along with my company. Is this a good idea? I'm worried that people will not find my website credible and think that I will mainly be promoting my own events on the site. This will not be the case of course.

Here are some of the marketing techniques I am considering.

My web designer suggested I do a video intro to my site, where I talk about why I created the site.

I currently throw a New Years Eve party. We print up about 5,000 flyers. I want to say that my website and my company are presenting the party.

Should this website be anonymous? The problem with this is I'm sure people will find out I own it eventually. Should I just get the conflict of interest portion out of the way by addressing it in my intro video?


Any help would be very much appreciated!

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

I don't see a problem, especially if you are having the site available to all entertainment companies.

 

[KimJay]

Yes. Other businesses will be able to purchase premium space on the site as well as ad space. I just don't want the perception to be that I will be unfairly marketing my events when other's will be paying to be on the site. I also don't want the publics perception to be that this site is going to plug my events more so then others.

 

[arohan]

What is wrong with "unfairly" marketing your own events?

When the website is successful, the premium that you will charge other companies to advertise their events on your site will need to offset the opportunity cost of not promoting your own events. Just be fair about it and let other companies outbid yourself to place their ads.

If you are too worried about the conflict of interest part, may be you can organize a separate corporation for the website and keep the relationship between your two companies strictly business. Maybe you can work out a model where the ad space is auctioned to the highest bidder

 

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[KimJay]

I am worried about the conflict of interest part. However, Friday I begin a campaign to co-promote my site and a NYE party I am throwing. I figured that would kill two birds with one stone. I think in this case I will just have to show and prove that I didn't create this site just to market my own events..but so that every business in the industry can benefit from added exposure. I do know of another event promoter that also owns a nightlife website (in a different city) and he says he keeps the two brands separate....but I see alot of co-mingling.