New wedding planners sometimes start their businesses because they’re in great demand with family and friends. But, after planning weddings of people they know, they can experience a slow period because they’ve been so busy working that they haven’t taken the time to figure out what they need to do to keep attracting brides.
The wedding planner who asked the question today is a good example of someone who is in this position and needs help getting business flowing again.
Question
I haven’t gotten any clients recently. I started out doing really well, I was surprised to get a few weddings right away, but it’s been months now since I’ve seen any interest in my services. I feel like a failure. Should I quit?
Answer
There will be highs and lows in your wedding planning business. It sounds like you may have recently started being a professional wedding planner so it’s too early to call yourself a failure and, I think, too soon to quit.
Here are 7 tips that can help you attract business again:
1) Take a look at who your brides have been
What ways were they similar to each other? What services did they purchase from you?
Use information about brides who have hired you to find and attract future clients.
2) Review what you were doing that attracted these brides to you
Were you socializing more with family and friends? Were you attending social and business networking events? Were you posting more, or differently, on your social media sites?
Just because you told people once about what you do and how well you do it, doesn’t mean they’ll remember. Stay in front of people you’ve met, both in person and online. This doesn’t mean giving sales pitches, it means talking about the benefits of your wedding planning services and showcasing your expertise online.
3) Do an audit on your website/blog and any printed marketing materials
Make sure you’re sharing the benefits of your services and have testimonials from your recent brides. Also, check that your website/blog is mobile friendly and fully optimized for search engines.
4) Reach out to former contacts
Former clients and wedding vendors you’ve working with may uncover some new opportunities so stay in touch with them.
5) Follow up with brides who have shown interest in your services in the past
Drop them an email or postcard or give them a call, remind them of the benefits of your services and find out if they’re ready to hire a wedding planner.
6) Get out and meet new people
Join a fitness class or gym, start attending church, volunteer, attend meetings of local business people or find wedding and event planner association meetings to attend. When you get out and build new relationships, you increase your chances of getting referrals.
7) Stay positive
I know this is easier said than done but if you start to feel or act desperate, begin to deeply discount all of your services and/or beg people for work, brides won’t hire you and no one will refer you. You need to act professional and confident to be able to attract business.
If being a wedding planner is your passion, hang in, keep promoting and marketing your services and do the work you need to do to live your dream.
And if you have a pressing question about starting or running your wedding planning business, you can send me an email at [email protected]. I’ll answer them on this blog or in my ezine, “Wedding Planner Tips,” which you can subscribe to here.
