Getting a wedding business up and going, no matter which specific genre you choose, can be a stressful experience. Unfortunately, getting it set up is only part of the process you must follow. Without customers, your business will never get clients, which is where marketing comes into play.
The problem you may run into is that so many companies are advertising their services that it may be hard to stand out from the pack. It is possible, though, depending upon your business’s direction, such as if you plan to specialize in wedding planning, so let’s take a look at some super easy ways to market your wedding business without blending into the crowd.
- Website – In today’s marketplace based upon the internet and online platforms, you need to have an excellent online presence. The only way to do that is to have a website that can be linked to through blogging, articles, YouTube videos, or anything else you have planned to place around the internet. If you are not familiar with building a website, you can always get one set up through one of the free sites, but you are much better off spending the money to have a professional get one up and running that is different than the rest.
- Email Lists – Collect as many emails as possible so you can start sending out newsletters. Remember when doing this that you are not trying to hard sell everyone on your list. That is actually a great way to lose potential customers. You want to send them weekly newsletters that show new trends in the marketplace, offer advice to couples preparing weddings, or anything else that may be of interest to your email contacts. You will want a link or two to your website somewhere in the newsletter, but do not clutter the writing with links.
- Partners – To be successful, you will need to partner with some companies that will help you along the way. For example, suppose you are specializing as a wedding planner. In that case, you will want to have a few people to work with that are set up in remote, gorgeous settings that can take on a wedding. The Grange Chateau has all of your wedding venue needs, so that would be one of the best to get a good working relationship with, but always have a few options because your clients will have different budgets and different ideas of the perfect wedding.
- Referrals – This will not help you get your first couple of clients, but once you have had a few jobs ask them to refer you to their friends and family. One simple way to get their help is to offer some kind of incentive, such as money if they refer a person that ends up going through you for their wedding needs. Referrals are the best way to get good clients because they are already familiar with what you do. But always remember that referrals are also the best way to lose business, so center on having excellent customer service to your clients and prospective clients.
Marketing your wedding business does not need to be complicated, but it will take some effort on your part. The more you market, the better your chances are of keeping a steady stream of clients. When marketing directly to clients, make sure you think outside the box. You need to stand out above all your competitors when starting out. After you make a name for yourself, it will be much easier to secure jobs. Until then, you just have to be patient, put in the time and money, and always act like the professional you are.
