Being busy planning weddings all summer is a dream come true but unless you keep marketing and promoting your business you won’t have any brides to work with at the end of the season. Here are 4 tips on how to stay visible to potential clients and referral sources while you’re planning weddings.
Question
I recently started my business and I’ve been doing very well, I’m planning some weddings now and it’s been going great. However, I’m worried. What happens when these weddings are over?
I don’t have any brides lined up and with the weddings I have, I don’t have time to keep up with my marketing, I haven’t even used Facebook or Pinterest in weeks. I’m hoping I’ll get referrals from the brides I’m working with.
What else can I do?
Answer
Congratulations on doing well and for thinking ahead to when the weddings you’re planning are over.
You may get some referrals from brides and the wedding vendors you’re working with now. However, you can’t depend just on referrals from them, you still need to market your business.
Here are 4 things you can do to keep marketing when you’re busy:
1) Dedicate at least 30 minutes of each work day to promoting your business
During this time, follow up with brides you’ve met in the past with a call or an email. Do your online marketing by writing blog posts, scheduling your Facebook Page posts, Twitter tweets and Pinterest pins for the day.
2) Attend at least one wedding and/or event planner association meeting or social event every month
Stay visible to fellow wedding vendors and make sure you continue to meet new people to widen your network and get even more referrals.
3) Hire an assistant to handle administrative tasks
Have someone keep your client files up-to-date, schedule meetings, do your billing and make follow up calls to vendors who are working with you and your brides. This way you’ll have free time to meet with new brides and do some initial consultations.
4) Take advantage of this busy time and use it to create online content
Take photos and short videos of your team and you “in action,” hard at work in the office, meeting with vendors or overseeing the ceremony and reception set up. Post, or have your assistant post, these on your blog, Facebook page, Instagram and/or set up a “Behind the Scenes” Pinterest board and pin them there.
Remember, while it’s important to do your best for your current brides, it’s just as important to continue to promote your business. This will help your business remain successful for years to come.
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.
