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.
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.
Professional client communication skills are a key to building a successful wedding business. However, it can at times be a difficult skill to navigate. For instance, at some point during your career as a wedding professional you’ve probably been blindsided by a person trying to tell you how to do your job. These interactions can range from an individual who sincerely wishes to assist you. Then to one who thinks they know the situation better than you. (Right?). We invited Dr. Kay Julien of Strombreaker Conflict Coaching to join us as a guest today on the I Said Yes! Wedding Pros Blog. As a result she is sharing five do’s and don’ts for professional client communication during emotional moments. They are not applicable in every context. But will be useful additions to your communication toolbox as you serve your clients.
To start, don’t immediately start talking or become defensive when approached by an unhappy person. Additionally, do not tell them to ‘calm down’. Certainly do listen first and collect information. You may think you know what that person is saying. However, there is a good chance you don’t.
First, ask questions. Furthermore, repeat to them what you think they’re telling you. This will help them clarify what they want from you. Next, make sure you are both defining the matter the same way. In return, your response will effectively hit the target.
Second, don’t delay addressing a troubling situation because you think you do not have time to deal with it. So do tackle tough issues early. Certainly, where there is smoke, there is fire. Indeed simmering problems won’t magically go away. Assuredly they will only get bigger. Dr. Kay Julien says, “Slow down. Make the time to resolve difficulties as soon as they come up. If you put them off, you can be sure it’ll cost you more time in the long run.”
Third, don’t dismiss the person coming to you because they’re not your direct client. Undoubtedly, your client will hear the story one way or another! Instead, do value them as an appreciated participant in the couple’s big day. Further, be inclusive in your manner with professionalism and kindness. Also be attentive. Acknowledge what they are presenting to you.
Dr. Julien suggests the following option if you feel they’re overstepping. Say something like, “Thanks very much for your input. Let me run this by (your client) and get back to you.” Following up with your client will also give you additional time to determine how you want to handle the circumstances.
Fourth, don’t get into a power struggle. Particularly when you encounter opposition. Do remain focused on the specific wedding concern at hand. That is to say, a power struggle will divert you from addressing the wedding subject. Continue by resisting to follow the tangent. Therefore, be direct and bring the conversation back to the specific topic. Say something like, “For now, let’s figure out the answer for . . .”
Fifth, don’t have tunnel vision when you are asked to make a change. Instead, do adopt the perspective that there is more than one way to slice that pie! After hearing about a desired change. Zoom out. Then come up with a few creative solutions. Following this, invite those involved to choose the option that best fits their desired resolution. This action will allow your expertise to continue to guide the process, and keep them involved in the decision-making.
As we finish up with this helpful information on professional client communication. We leave with a note from Dr. Kay Julien, “Cheers to you – skillfully being a pro!” She is passionate about helping not only you as a wedding professional, but also your engaged couples. To help your engaged couples with conflict resolution, have them contact Dr. Kay Julien to schedule an appointment.
For more do’s and don’ts for your wedding business. Go to the I Said Yes! Wedding Pro Blog.
Cover photo provided by Steven Miller Photography.
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