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Styled Shoots – how do they help your wedding business? We asked Heather Benge, Founder of Styled Shoots Across America, to answer this questions for us.
Build your portfolio and attract new clients by showcasing your creativity in a styled shoot. What does this mean exactly. As wedding professionals, we have access to content from our couples weddings. However, when a client is paying for your services, you are at the mercy of what they want. Sure they probably choose you because you are good at what you do. However you still have to use their colors, their style, etc. Styled shoots give you the freedom to show off your own style and create whatever it is that YOU want to create. Further you can create new trends – be a trendsetter! A lot of my branding clients tell me that they would love to create something out of the box, bigger or better than they’ve ever done. But they just can’t get anyone to hire them for it because they have no previous experience or images to show that they can do it. Therefore, this is your chance to try something bigger and better to show clients that you can make it happen!
Styled shoot created for the cover of an I Said Yes! magazine. Photographer: PB and J Studios / Planner: For The Love of Events / Dresses and Tuxedos: All Brides 2 Be / Cake: Morgan Hunter Desserts / Linens: Over The Top Rental Linens / Rentals: Orlando Wedding and Party Rentals / Floral: In Bloom Florist / Venue: Art and History Museum of Maitland / Hair & Makeup: Laura Reynolds Artistry Hair and Make-up
When you do a shoot, you can choose to do them in colors and styles that match your brand. That is to say, use it to your benefit and get the most out of it! Consider this, what do you want to show off on social media? Or are you tired of not having a diverse client base? Further are you ready to showcase some new skills? Certainly you will attract your ideal client by showing off your ideal work. In fact, it is the best recipe!
For example, the photos above are from a styled shoot created by The Event Company. The owner had been dreaming of a way to use her company colors. See the entire shoot in this Remarkable Moody Romantic Wedding in Orlando blog.
Contributing wedding professionals – Wedding Venue: D’Space Orlando / Photography: Tracy Townsend Photography / Planning, Design and Tabletop Rentals: The Event Company / Floral Designer: Atmospheres Floral & Décor / Bridal Gown: Ivy Bridal Shop / Hair & Makeup: L. Santana Designs / Cake and Mini Cakes: Sugar Dreams by Dessy / Stationery and Signage: Bare Lettered Designs / Love Letters: Stationery For Lovers / Event Rentals: Clermont Party Rentals / Linen & Charger Plates: Longwood Weddings and Events / Videographer: Dreamscape Photography / Mobile Bar: Bubble Buggi
Ceremony Officiant: The Ginger Officiant
How can you refer another wedding professional if you’ve never actually worked with them? In this situation, turn to styled shoots. Unquestionably they are a great way to work with someone so that you can refer each other! Similarly, I highly suggest that no matter what you contribute to the shoot, you should absolutely show up on the day of. Assuredly I have met some of the best creatives at shoots. This is a time to get to know each other, see others work/workmanship in person and build relationships.
Consider turning a networking event into a styled shoot. For instance, Mission Inn Resort & Club Weddings hosted and I Said Yes! Networking Event with a throwback to the 70’s. They worked with their sponsoring vendors and scheduled time before and after the event to turn this into a styled shoot. This allows the sponsoring.
Contributing wed pros – Venue: Mission Inn Resort & Club Weddings / Planner: Bella Sposa Events / Floral: Greenery Productions Inc / DJ and Lighting: Soundwave Entertainment / Cake: Le Petit Sweet / Rentals: Dishie Rentals / Photography: KMD Photo + Film / The Van Cam / Calligraphy & Hand Lettering: Wild Ivory & Co
Maybe you are a photographer who struggles with shooting in harsh sun. Then a styled shoot in the sun is a perfect way to experiment with your camera settings and gain some experience in a less pressured environment than a real wedding day. Likewise, embrace rain or darkness. Whatever the case maybe, it will only help you learn to adapt to these conditions. In the same vein, maybe you’re a cake baker and you need to see what kinds of frostings or designs will hold up in certain heat condition. By participating in this styled shoot, you can now be comfortable when consulting with a client on cake placement and timing at their wedding. Same with flowers. No doubt, you don’t want to find out on a client’s real wedding day that hydrangeas don’t do so good out of water in a bouquet for 5 hours in the hot Florida heat.
The good thing about styled shoots is everyone knows everyone’s credit information. Activity breeds activity. In this situation, TAG EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING, EVERYTIME. All it takes is one image from a shoot to hit social media and all of sudden thousands of eyes are on your work.
People ask me all the time how I book weddings in other states. My answer is always the same. You have to be seen in those states. That is to say, you can’t just hashtag #newyorkweddingplanner on a random picture from a wedding in Texas and hope someone will book you. For this reason, you need to get out and go to the destinations you are wanting to be seen in. Next explore the area and take pictures of the surroundings. Further do a styled shoot. Indeed do anything to get yourself noticed in the local area. For example, I did a styled shoot in Hawaii and I’ve gotten at least 5 different inquires for Hawaii weddings since then. It works if you put in the work
See images from the gorgeous past shoots – Follow Styled Shoots Across America on Social Media
Submit your styled shoots for publication on the I Said Yes! Wedding Inspiration Blog.
Some of the published styled shoots on the I Said Yes! Blog:
A Remarkably Moody Romantic Wedding in Orlando
Ways To Design An Amazing Classic Florida Wedding Reception
Celebrate Love and History with a Wedding 226 Feet Above the Ground
Blog your wedding business blog butt off. No, seriously, if you don’t do another thing to grow your business in 2022, add a Blog {or, Journal if you wanna be fancy} to your business website!
Blogging might be one of the most underrated, underutilized ways to market your business, and it’s way easier than you might think
Technically speaking, ‘blog’ is short for ‘web log,’ it is an ongoing journal entry with the most recent posts found at the top of the page.
What started out in the Mid 90s as a personal record of day-to-day activities, travels and hobbies, has grown into an easy and efficient way to engage businesses’ potential customers.
In the wedding and events industry, we have a ton of potential information to attract new clients. Undoubtedly it can easily be used in a wedding business blog.
ABSOLUTELY! Do a simple test – go to your favorite search engine and search for your business. Obviously not by your business name because most potential clients don’t know you by name. Search for your business by service category and location just like you would if you needed something for your home. Search for something like Orlando plumber or Central Florida landscape service.
Does your business come up on the top of page one or consistently on the first few pages? If so, the next test is, are those rankings due to paid ads? For most businesses, those top listings come at an ever-increasing price tag.
The goal of the blog is to send traffic to your website, where {hopefully} you connect with readers, showcase your expertise, and get them to take the next step to book your services.
There’s an old {old} joke that goes, “A man stops a stranger on the street in NYC and asks ‘How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” and the stranger responds, “Practice, Practice, Practice.”
As corny as it sounds, it’s really true – especially with blogging. Consistency is key. You’re not going to be amazing when you start out. You might not even be really good for your first thirty blogs. But consistency is key. You’ll grow and get better with time – you’ll get more knowledgeable and you have to start somewhere. And, a few okay blogs are way better than zero blogs. So blog your wedding business butt off and feed the beast!
Search engines are a beast, they need to be fed, and they need to be fed consistently.
Search engines have a mechanism known as web crawlers. They search the internet for content that is then cataloged and listed by topic and content.
The more you publish blog posts, the easier it is for web crawlers to find your website and catalog your content. The more times they catalog your content, the higher you begin to rank on search engines.
The reality is that ranking well on search engines doesn’t happen overnight. Much like getting Followers and Likes on social media, it’s a slow build. You need to pick the right keywords to get a search engine’s attention and write content to engage the people who find your site.
One of the keys to writing well is remembering that each page is a unique entity – and not just for search engines. Write like it is the only page of information on your business they can see!
Whether it’s a search engine finding your blog content to catalog it or someone who sees you on a search engine and clicks the link, the principles are the same. We need to treat them as if they know nothing about us, and they need to know who we are, what we do, and where we do it.
Always try to include your business name, not an abbreviation. Too many people use short cute, acronym abbreviations for their business name, and no one is searching for those terms. Duplicate your social media name, email url name, and business name, which should all be the same, with-in your blog. Recognition and consistency.
Including the location tells people they are in the right place. If you don’t include Orlando, Daytona, or Tampa along with DJ, you are now in the same search engine pool as every other DJ in the entire world. Including your location narrows the field from millions to a few hundred.
Too often, we read blog posts about a business, especially when they showcase real weddings, and have ZERO idea what the product or service that company offered in the wedding. Tell the story of the wedding day from your own point of view. You want to highlight the things your team did on the wedding day.
Another important part of blogging is hyperlinking. You always want to build community. You want to give credit where credit is due, and none of us can do this alone. But, just as importantly, web crawlers pick up on those links to other websites and add to your ranking. Additionally, give yourself a little love. Be sure to link back to some related articles on your website. Anything from weddings at the same venue to other weddings and pieces showcasing the same design style, colors, or ethnicity of wedding can all add search engine value.
Blogging for your business might seem like there is a huge learning curve. But, if you know how to use a search engine, you can add value to your blog posts pretty quickly. Creating a content schedule, much like any other social media, makes the process of coming up with new content easier too!
Blogging helps you control your narrative and is one of the most affordable ways to market your business. You own your story, what you promote, and how search engines find you.
Content provided by guest blog writer:
Mark Kingsdorf is the retired owner of Wedding Ghost. A boutique content creation and coaching business previously located in Saint Petersburg, Florida. As one of 47 Master Wedding Planners globally and with more than 30 years of experience in weddings and events, Kingsdorf worked exclusively with small wedding businesses.
Find more wedding business tips, tricks and advice on the I Said Yes! Vendor Blog. For instance, How To Get More Leads With A Small Marketing Budget.
Cover photo by: Bellamore Studios
Get more leads is the topic of today’s blog. Subsequently we will dive deep into the many effective ways to generate more leads, convert these leads into actual bookings. Further, who will then refer you to all of their friends & families. Content provided by guest blogger and expert adviser, LeadClicks.io.
Every single wedding vendor needs a legitimate way to increase the amount of people who inquire. We all know that sales is a numbers game. Due to this, it’s important to have a full pipeline of potential clients.
However, even if you had a million potential leads; if no one is actually converting into a booking, it is useless. So it is equally important to effectively convert a good amount of leads who inquire.
This is why we created a simple method to getting as much traffic as possible. Then being being able to convert your online visitors into an inquiry. Of course then turning that visitor into a real paying customer.
There are thousands of ways to skin a cat. But we’re going to narrow it down to the (number) ways you can get more online visitors to view your products & services (For Free).
Who knows much about SEO or even what SEO even means? Search Engine Optimization. That is to say, you’re trying to rank higher when people search for your service. Why exactly?
First Page Search traffic clicks reported to be as high as 92% in recent years. Second-page results are far from a close second coming in at below 6% of all website clicks.
Easily put, you need to be first on Google when someone searches for your services. Even more easily put, if you’re not first, you’re last
For all those reasons, the most effective way to do this is through online listings. Online listings make it easier and more convenient for consumers to find vendors just like you.
Here are our recommended online listings for vendors:
Top Wedding Vendor Directories Ranked
Everyone knows that you’re supposed to be active on Social Media as a small business, but nobody really knows how to actually create sales from it.
The end goal of your social media platform is to drive traffic to your website. So how do you actually turn these likes & followers into real customers? Here are some step-by-step instructions that you can start today in order to generate more website visitors from Social Media.
First, remember you don’t need to be on every single social media platform that has ever existed. Assuredly, it’s more important to learn where your ideal customer is hanging out. Certainly then be extremely active on that specific platform. For example, if you are a photographer, Instagram is most likely the best platform to showcase your work. In contrast, if you are a wedding planner, Pinterest is a great way to share your ideas with other newly engaged couples looking for inspiration.
You should treat your Social Media like the face of your business. As a rule, make sure that you have a business profile on whatever platform you are on. Assuredly, make sure it is set up with the right size dimensions for your profile picture and banner backgrounds.
Not only that, but ensure that the content that is posted is of the highest quality. This will gain the trust of your followers and potential customers. Remember, if your content is low quality, they might assume that your product or service is low quality.
For some it can be unclear what content is appropriate for your viewers, and what actually gets people to engage. This is why we came up with a rule of thumb for all Social media posts called “V.E.S.T” which stands for the following:
These are the biggest reasons why most people decide to view your post, follow you, and or share your content.
VALUE: If something brings someone value, they are most likely going to want more, ask more questions, or share it with other people. Examples of giving value are offering good tips, advice or important information.
ENGAGING: To make a post “engaging” you want to ask engaging questions, or give them a call to actions like these –
STIMULATING: Anther reason why people engage with your content is because it’s stimulating. Maybe your posts are about delicious food you cater. For the most part, this will attract a log of people to your channel. Because in today’s world, you possibly have only .3 seconds to grab someone’s attention while they are scrolling.
TRENDING: One of the biggest reasons why Social Media gets shared, is because it’s a TRENDING topic of conversation. Consider a new video of a celebrity getting married, or a new dance move that everyone is doing. The more you share trending topics, the more up to date you will seem on Social Media. Accordingly, people will follow you because you are in-the-know.
Don’t forget to use Hashtags! How do you use Hashtags properly? Let’s keep this simple. When you post on Social Media, at first you want to use as many hashtags as the platform will allow.
Following this will increase the amount of people viewing your posts. For example, if you are a DJ, using hashtags like #DJ #Music #Party #Remix #Dance will help you attract more of the right viewers for your page.
Let’s say you’re getting more & more people to visit your website; how do we actually get those online visitors to inquire? Remember, we’re looking to get their name, number, and email address so we can continue to follow up with them later.
Now you ask what’s the secret to getting people to give you their most precious information? The simple answer is making sure your image online looks legitimate, and this starts with your biggest online asset, your website.
Your website is the hub of your entire internet marketing bubble. Everything you do should be centered around getting people to land on your website. So, we need this to be extremely legitimate.
Here are a few components to what makes a website GREAT.
Great websites are clean and professional. Especially, make sure your website is built with your ideal customer in mind and is extremely user-friendly.
By spending time on the design, ensuring its high quality, site visitors will be able to better understand your offer, and be able to inquire easier.
Great websites are simple and user friendly. Singularly, visitors must find everything they need quick and easy. If users have to wander around the site trying to find what they need, they will get frustrated and leave.
A good stock image is okay to use if it’s relevant to your business. However using original content of your products & services will gain the trust of your visitors. Particularly being extremely transparent of your previous work, your results, and your products will result in more sales.
Having a low-quality website will only make people assume your service is low quality. Unfortunately, that isn’t the truth. Above all, first impressions are extremely important. What exactly is a high-quality website? We’re talking about high-definition images, accurate and compelling ad-copy, branding, and clean layout. If people see you take your website seriously, they will only be able to assume you take everything else seriously. As a result they will inquire.
If your website is extremely slow, your online visitors will end up leaving the website before everything loads. Unquestionably it is extremely important for your website to load INSTANTLY. People’s patience on the internet is extremely slim. Therefore if your website isn’t loading fast enough you will lose out on so many people who intended to inquire. Don’t overload your website with useless content that will slow down the website.
An interest funnel is a contact form that allows the lead to give you their information. When you create interest forms, make sure your forms notify your lead that a form has been submitted and that you will reach out to them shortly. This form should also notify you, and or your team members to get in touch with the new lead. Similarly these forms should also be integrated into a CRM, which we will get into.
So, you have a great number of potential interests in your products or service, now what? You need a method of managing these interests and potential customers. Hence, every single potential customers information should be saved in some sort of software or sales database. This is exactly how you never miss out on any potential interests.
For this reason, you need a Sales System that helps you track and manage contacts, and tracks what part of the sales cycle you are in.
This is a key factor that most small businesses, vendors, freelancers, and service providers never execute on. Consequently, without a sales system, it is extremely easy to let a lot of leads slip through the cracks.
Every business needs a system to understand how many leads they actually have, all of their leads contact information, the last time you called, emailed or texted your leads, and how much the sales could be if closed.
In order to properly manage leads, you will need a Sales Database, or CRM.
Of course, make sure you are familiar with certain sales techniques. We recommend you call, email and text every single lead until they give positive contact (this is when someone answers with positive intent to learn more or sign up). Also make sure you’re not being too pushy. But remember to encourage them to sign up for your services.
Although down the road, investing into Digital Advertisements like Search Engine Ads, or Social Media Promotions could potentially be beneficial, it is way more important to establish a strong web presence with your website, online listings, and social media first.
Here at LeadClicks.io, we hyper-focus on helping you turn clicks into real customers. Our Marketing Values include Lead Generation, Lead Conversion & Full Transparency. We hope you got a ton of gold nuggets from this blog! We would like to thank I Said Yes! FL for giving us the opportunity to help their audience continue to grow bigger & better!
Read similar blogs on this topic on the I Said Yes! Wedding Pros Blog.
Yes, you are a salesperson. In fact, you are the best sales person for your business! And why is that? Because you are the person who is the most passionate about it.
As an owner operator of a small wedding business (or even as the member of a large company), you have to sell your product or services. In turn it will grow your business, put more events on your calendar and money in your pocket. Of course there are many blogs, articles and courses out there to help you be successful. And recently in our perusal of the internet on this topic, we found a great blog by Hubspot. Thus we had to share some of our favorite highlights.
Look, I’ve been in sales for 25+ years and I understand what you are thinking…”I feel like I’m being too pushy”. I know you are worried that you called too much, or emailed too much. No doubt you are taking their lack of response as a negative. In some instances, that is true. However, let’s put you on the other side of those emails, calls and texts.
Here’s the scenario – you are looking to get your roof re-done. First, you research different companies and kinds of roofs. Second, you request information through a roofing company website, or two. Next, you start to receive emails and phone calls from the roofing companies you contacted. Meanwhile, you aren’t ready to make the decision. Consequently because you are waiting on your tax refund (aren’t we all). Therefore you ignore said phones calls and emails. Because one of these roofing companies understands their client, they consistently email and call you. Finally, you get your tax refund and you get the phone call from the roofing company – AGAIN. But wait, you answer it. Why, because now you are ready to buy.
Consider this, why did you buy your roof from that company? Assuredly because they consistently stayed first of mind and they didn’t quit contacting you. According to Hubspot’s recent sales statistics research, “17% of salespeople think they are pushy compared to 50% of prospects.”
Now flip back and sit in the roofing companies chair. I guarantee you that they are glad they kept contacting you.
As you can see, sales is a process. Clearly its more than one email or one call. Undoubtedly it takes time to hone your sales skills. But consider the stats above and remember that you have to work your sales to make your sales work for you. As a result, you will find greater success and greater reward.
So in the words of Mortimer Duke, get out there and Sell, Sell, Sell!
Closing the deal is the next step. That is to say, getting that engaged couple to sign the contract and choose you as their wedding vendor. The team at I Said Yes! has been hearing the following statement from many Orlando wedding professionals, “We are getting so many inquiries, but they are slow to close/sign/commit.” For this reason, we suggest getting face to face with your potential clients and close the deal.
Buying decisions are emotional. Especially wedding buying decisions. Particularly now, as couples have waited and waited to have their perfect wedding day. Because we know these are emotional decisions, it’s important that a personal connection is made between the vendor and the engaged couple. These connections are easier when you are face to face. As a result you see smiles, or happy tears, or hesitancy in your couples. Then you can react and respond accordingly. In the same vein, your potential client sees your passion in your face and your mannerisms. Further, you are displaying examples of your work, which couples can physically touch, smell, taste and try out. For example, rentals, photo booths, florals, and cake and catering samples. Subsequently you begin to make a personal and emotional connection. Also they have, in person, viewed your product or service. In turn, making it easier for you to make the client fall in love with you as their next wedding professional.
The I Said Yes! team has been producing wedding expos for years and one thing we have learned is that summer is for closers. That is to say couples are more prepared. Consider this, engagement season is November through Valentines Day. So when you see these couples in January, February, March they are all giddy and excited, but they are not informed or prepared to make decisions. Your involvement in winter and spring wedding shows is your first opportunity to be first of mind and provide them with researchable information. By the time summer wedding expos come around, couples have settled down and gotten serious about the planning. Generally speaking, they are now ready to sign and close the deal. By attending a wedding show in the summer you can take advantage of a number of ways to help your couples choose you.
For most wedding expos, you should receive a vendor badge to share on your social pages, website and emails. Often it also includes a code for discounted or free tickets. USE IT. That is to say, use it to your advantage. Send an email to all of your pending clients with the vendor badge or code for tickets. Include a note that says you will be there and you would love to have them stop by your booth. Certainly include that you are running a show day only special if they sign their contract that day. Now prepare for your couples. Create an amazing booth that shows off your style, professionalism and creativity. Allow those couples to see you interacting with other show attendees, again seeing your passion for what you do. Lastly, be sure you have contracts available to hand to your potential clients. Therefore, if they have decided that you are the perfect wedding vendor, they can sign now. Remember, you are offering a show special to help entice them to sign. Above all smile big, you are closing the deal.
Learn more about the summer and other I Said Yes! Wedding Shows and I DOs and BREWS events.
Read more Wedding Pros Blogs.
Photos in blog by Press Play Entertainment.
As a wedding expo exhibitor, you have to work your booth to make your booth work for you. That is to say, you have to work your booth with a purpose. You have to plan for success. To sum up, you have to show up ready to win.
I recently had the opportunity to join Brandee Gaar on her morning Clubhouse “The Morning Show for Wedding Pros” room. The topic was How to Win with Bridal Shows. During this conversation we discussed the Do’s and Don’ts of Wedding Expo Exhibitors. If you weren’t able to join us in the Clubhouse room, I have compiled this easy list to help you get a win at your next bridal show.
Read more about winning at wedding expos with our Easy Wedding Lead Follow-up blog. Become a wedding expo exhibitor at the next I Said Yes! Wedding Show and I DOs and BREWS event.
Photos by Dreamscape Photography
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