Referrals are one of the best ways to get new clients. When a bride contacts you as a result of hearing about you from someone you know, they already understand that you are good at what you do. It usually takes less time and effort for you to prove to them that you are the wedding planner who can meet their needs.
Good quality referrals, ones that end with you getting a new bride, don’t happen by accident. If you’re not getting the referrals you want, you may need to make some changes in what you are doing to attract referrals.
Answering these 5 questions might help you determine why you might not be getting the referrals you want and what you need to do to change:
1) Are you referable?
People refer wedding planners who are reliable, easy to work with, and good at what they do.
Make it a point to always act professionally by being on time, keeping your commitments, and treating people with respect.
2) Do you clearly tell people who you want as a client?
I’ve often found that new wedding planners, eager for business, will tell say they plan weddings then also list every type of event and party they can think of. They end up getting asked to plan small parties for very low pay because people are confused about what they really do.
If you want good quality referrals, tell people the type of brides you want, the services you offer to them, and the benefits they’ll get when they hire you.
3) Do you make it easy for people to refer you?
When people offer to refer business to you, give them some business cards to distribute. Or, to really stand out, you could also give them wedding planning tip sheets or checklists, with your contact information, that they can give to brides who may need your help.
4) Are you staying visible?
Stay in touch with people both online and offline. Follow fellow wedding vendors on Twitter and Facebook and “Retweet” and make comments on their posts. Attend social and business events and local chapter meetings of wedding and event planner associations to stay in touch with contacts you’ve made and to widen your circle of friends and business partners.
5) Are you giving referrals?
One of the best ways to get referrals is to give referrals. Spend time developing a network of wedding vendors and those who offer personal services that brides use. This way, when one of your brides has a need, you can easy refer her to someone you know gives the same high-quality customer service that you do.
When you do get a referral, be sure you express your gratitude. A handwritten thank you note is best, but a phone call or email is fine also.