GETTING MORE BRIDES

[conelson]

What is the best way to get more brides?

I started in September, 2003 but still trying to get more brides.
Every place I look, you have to pay to be a member to receive leads.

Anything would be helpful.

Thanks.

Colette
Exquisite Elegance Weddings

What is the best way to get more brides?

I started in September, 2003 but still trying to get more brides.
Every place I look, you have to pay to be a member to receive leads.

Anything would be helpful.

Thanks.

Colette
Exquisite Elegance Weddings

Sorry to bust your bubble, but getting more brides requires you to get your name out there, and thus its advertising, and advertising coast.

For any site to send your hits or leads it cost them money; for the website, the SEO, hosting, bandwidth, the advertising to get brides to come to their website, employees(If they have them), and more... As you can see no one would just give you free advertising when the money is coming out of their pocket. Web sites work just like a magazines, you can’t get printed in a magazine for free.

The best way is to find directories like www.onewed.com that have low prices for advertising. You can also try your hand at Googles Adwords, and Overtures PPC programs.

Hope that helps! :wink:

[conelson]

Thanks for the information. I am published in The Perfect Wedding Guide. I guess it just takes time.

Colette

Thanks for the information. I am published in The Perfect Wedding Guide. I guess it just takes time.

Colette

Publishing can take months to see results. Just keep on throwing your website link up on any wedding site you can find. Work on your advertising that you place by your links on wedding directories. When I was a full time wedding photographer I would look at other wedding advertising to see what was getting the most clicks, then combined them and make them fit with my wedding business advertising. That worked rather well for me as in about four months I was doing over 10k in business per month.

At this point Im seeing a price war going on in the wedding business, the top performing advertisers are advertising that they have the best or lowest prices with top quality service.

Cheers :wink:

[weddinman]

Thanks for the information. I am published in The Perfect Wedding Guide. I guess it just takes time.


Am I allowed to say that the Perfect Wedding Guide was one of the most expensive and least effective methods of advertising I tried? I broke the contract after 3 months. OneWed.com has been much more productive at a very affordable price.

But, then I'm using a saturation approach for my advertising .. it's just that PWG won't ever be part of my program, because it didn't saturate much of anything! They just soaked me!!! :roll:

The WeddinMan

[Littlebuddy]

I agree about the Perfect Wedding Guide I stuck it out for 3 issues, but haven't seen hardly any results. It isn't worth what there charging. You have to be very selective and don't sign any long term contracts until you know that it will work for you. There isn't one thing that works great, you just have to get your name and information out to as many people as possible how ever you can.

[bcphoto]

... jus' a suggestion, but:

Identify your market niche

Are you a totall 'newbie'?
Are you at 'entry level' or 'mid-level' ... honestly!
Are you re-locating an established practice?

Find the potential clients who fit your demographic - da people from the market niche ya wanna serve
Having found said people now is the time to make them aware of your existance, tarketting your niche market is potentially more effective ... more bang for the buck
Participating vigorously in community events is a high profile/labor intensive but generally effective means of self promotion, all it costs is your TIME 'n' a few thousand business cards ... good excuse to own a journalism camera rig too!
Depending on your PR budget utilize whatever suitable additional means to make your presence known, yellow pages, local major newspaper, yada, yada, yada ...

... now you've found 'em 'n' you're making them aware of your service(s), if you're any good for that particular market niche, then hopefully you'll be able to be represnted by one of the BEST PR rep on the planet ... the Happy 'n' Satisfied previous client(s).

8)

Amen... Great post man! :D

[erinerskine]

I don't know, the PWG seems to be doing me at least some good in my market (Minneapolis) - the leads program is fairly robust. I got a good price for my ad, though, since they just started locally here and I got in on the first issue.

As for the "free" referral sites, TopWeddingLinks.com is good, as is AllTimeFavorites.com.

A question to the original poster: Do you have a website? These days, brides won't do business with anyone who doesn't have one.

I get the vast majority of my business from wedding expos.

Erin Erskine

[bcphoto]

These days, brides won't do business with anyone who doesn't have one.



Although that might be true of those brides who shop online, fortunately not all brides are shopping for vendors on the web ... at least not yet

8)

[erinerskine]

When I want to find out more about a company, I look for their website. If they don't have one or if theirs is lousy, I tend to look elsewhere.

A lot of first-time brides in my market are of the age where they've got an entry-level office job and they do a LOT of wedding planning while at work, looking for ideas online.

I know not every corner of the country is "wired up" yet, but that day will come soon.

Having a good website is the best, most cost effective advertising you can do, providing your web designer doesn't rip you off. I do my own, but I'm sure there are decent templates out there (frontpage? I've never used it but I hear it's easy). I'd be happy to help design a page for anybody who's not in my area!

:) Erin

[bcphoto]

There's a construct in statistical analysis called, 'sampling error'.
You're making the assumption that ALL middle income, recent college grad, entry-level brides are shopping on the web based on your contact with those that ARE shopping on the web ... sampling error

-> They're not ALL shopping on the web, even in areas like this one that are relatively well covered by DSL/Cable web access.

I'm in podunk, but I've been on a BabyBell aDSL connection since I've lived here, and the majority of my clients are either on DSL or Cable connections, however they didn't find me on the web.

The web isn't the BEST marketting tool, it's just another tool, if it's your personal best, then it's the the best for YOU.
It being the best for you *might* also have to do with your implimentation of it and/or your dependence on it within' your particular opperation.

For me the best marketting tool is going outside to events within the community where those who can actually afford my rates congregate 'n' introducing them to my wares. I already KNOW they can afford my services, I leave it to them to decide IF they want to utilize them.
I prefer personal interaction with prospective clients tho' ... YMMV

8)

[neeni13]

I still think word of mouth is always good. I have had a MK business for a number of years. I always check back with my past clients to see if i could be of service to them in any other way. They almost always refer me to someone else. Some times with the Holidays coming up, I send little reminder notes of my business or an updated business card.

[831Photography]

Ahh...Getting More Brides....the eternal dilemma!

I agree with BC. You need to find your niche and market the heck out of it! When I started, I did 3 weddings my first year (all friends and family). Then I threw as much money and time into it as I could, did a bridal show, did some internet advertising and we moved to 14 weddings in 2003. A vast improvement over the previous year. Then we added to our bridal show campaign (went with a magazine ad, stuff it's at the bridal show that go in each bag the bride's get, 2 shows a year, commercial on the big screen before the fashion shows, and ad in the program at the shows.) This cost a lot of money and I am still giving it time to get results from it, but I will tell you that we did 42 weddings in 2004, and we have already booked more for next year than we had at this time last year, so 2005 is looking busier.

The key is to FOLLOW UP with whatever method you choose for advertising. If you do bridal shows, follow up with the lead list that you get (you would be surprised how many vendors do not call the brides on those lists), when you meet with a bridal, follow up with her until she books you or tells you that she booked someone else, but don't be a pain in the butt!

You just need to find out what works best for your area. Internet works great for where I am, but it isn't the only thing we do. The more places that brides see your name, the more credible you will look to them.

And Word of Mouth is ALWAYS the best form of advertising. (As long as you are good enough for your previous clients to say nice things about you. LOL :D )

I hope this helps and that you have a very prosperous 2005!

Steph

[mrsmatrimony]

Something that ahs worked for me is p/r.
I dedicate a good amount of time every week to developing press releases for local regional and national media sources.
Not everything gets published but a good bit of it does and people enjoy reading about me and want to work with me.
It's all a part of teh media mix, but all it costs me is time. The media uses me for stories and quotes because they recognize my name.
I have done radio interviews, received national coverage in industry mags and tons of local coverage. I just have to consistly create something to hype about my firm, it might a neat new service or a special or a partnership announcement or a seminar I am giving. Anything 'can be news".

[wedbyjean]

Get to know the other vendors in your area. Some will probably let you leave your business cards in their shop.

Steph has an excellent point with
The key is to FOLLOW UP

Couples get so caught up with life that they can forget what they read, misplace a phone number or literature and although they would like to talk to you, they just don't get around to it. So it is up to us to contact them. There is a "Rule of Seven" in marketing. Basically it says that a potential customer has to have your name infront of them 7 times before they go, "hey, yeah I need to talk to them" and actually make that effort. We get our name infront of them with series of ads, literature at bridal shows, follow up postcards, follow up phone calls . . .

Jean Neuhart
Weddings From The Heart

[Charity]

I would say that the majority of my clients come from referrals/word of mouth (#1) my local bridal magazine (#2 - not PWG) and having my info online for Brides to find when they are searching.

I do agree with the person who said a lot of Brides are online, and doing their online searching while at work! The majority of hits to my web site happen during what seems to be lunch time hours! :D

In our area, we have a very reputable bridal magazine that has been around for a long time (okay, I'm biased, I work there) but we have companies that have been advertising with us for 15 years! It doesn't work for everyone, but it is definitely worked for me.

Business cards are wonderful things, but being good at your job and getting good referrals from people you have worked with is priceless.

[As You Wish]

How much can you really expect to make from wedding shows? There is one every weekend in January here with booth prices from $750 to $1200. It seems like a lot to ask. How can you determine if it is worth it or not?

[plansofengagement]

I agree with the old saying you have to spend money to make money.
I have found setting a budget on marketing and advertising helps.
Later down the road you can ask clients where they recieved your information and weed out the uneeded cost.
I have found ******* as a very effective form of advertising.

[As You Wish]

My problem has been that my current advertising budget is so small I only want to use it where I KNOW it will work. I suppose I need to accept that failure is the path to success and just get the dollars I do have out there working.

The joys of advertising! There is no guarantee that what works for one company will work for another. I have heard people say that the phonebook is the best, and at the same time other say never advertise in it.

When marketing your company you have to find the style of advertising that works best for you, by trying different type of advertising.

Advertising is about sales! When selling your product you have to hit the market that will have the budget for your services, and have the sales pitch that will convert prospects into clients. I focus most of my marketing into projection of what people will get with my services, why its better, price(sometimes), etc..

I recommend reading up on sales and marketing technics, and I highly recommend Zig Ziglar’s books and CDs on getting a good understand on how to take hold of it.

Best of luck!

[wedbyjean]

Advertising, in pretty much whatever form, is a gamble. We have to pay money in advance, and hope that we get a decent enough return for our dollars to make it worthwhile. I definitely agree with setting a budget on marketing and advertising helps It's too easy to come across some new place of advertising that, in and of itself is relatively cheap, but we all know that $50 here, and $35 there, and $25 there. . . adds up to hundreds and thousands of dollars.

How much can you expect to make at wedding shows? Depends somewhat on your specialty (ie. wedding cakes, photography, or in my case, consulting). I no longer participate in the local shows because I've found that the brides don't want to talk to me, since they have access to all the other vendors. They don't realize what all a WC can provide.

A majority of my brides find me on the web, (I'd say around 75%), the rest are divided between referrals & the yellow pages.

I also purchase a Brides-2-Be mailing list. You get to choose which zip codes and the number of names you want. For more information on this contact Kim Strauss at gowns@ix.netcom.com

Jean

[ndsimm]

I'll try not to make this too long, but rather than give advice, I'll give a testimony:

Back in 1996, when I started getting serious about doing this as a business. I was in the same boat. How do I get my name out there and I'm broke? I son realized that waiting for people to come to me was not going to work so I went to them. I went to Tux shops and handed a stack of business cards to the Manager and told him that every wedding he referred to me, I would give him $50.00. I would attend weddings at my Church and bring my camera and take shots of the bridesmaids and groomsmen and give them my card to contact me for a copy. I would go to different companies and volunteer my services for their corporate events (banquets, parties, etc.) and then get called back when one of the employees needed something.

As time went on and I got a site, I exchanged links with everyone who would let me and year after year, increased my ad budget and raised my prices. I have a few paying sites that I buy leads from (and I just found onewed so I haven't started paying for leads through them yet). This year is the 3rd year I raised prices and I have been busier this year than any other year. The bottom line is to not wait for them to come to you but you have to get out and find them.

[preciousweddings]

Something that ahs worked for me is p/r.
I dedicate a good amount of time every week to developing press releases for local regional and national media sources.
Not everything gets published but a good bit of it does and people enjoy reading about me and want to work with me.
It's all a part of teh media mix, but all it costs me is time. The media uses me for stories and quotes because they recognize my name.
I have done radio interviews, received national coverage in industry mags and tons of local coverage. I just have to consistly create something to hype about my firm, it might a neat new service or a special or a partnership announcement or a seminar I am giving. Anything 'can be news".

hi there , i wonder do you have any tips on press releases ? i want to attempt one but i havent a clue where to start.

# The Headline: In about ten words -- or less -- you need to grab the attention of the editor. The headline should summarize the information in the press release, but in a way that is exciting and dynamic; think of it as a billboard along a highway -- you have just a few words to make your release stand out among the many others editors receive on any given day.

# Opening Paragraph: Sometimes called a summary lead, your first paragraph is critical. This paragraph must explain "the five Ws and one H" of the story -- the who, what, when, where, why, and how. This paragraph must summarize the press release, with the following paragraphs providing the detail.

The opening paragraph must also contain the hook: the one thing that gets your audience interested in reading more -- but remember that the hook has to be relevant to your audience as well as to the news media. A hook is not a hard sell or a devious promotion -- it's just a factual statement.

# The Body: Using a strategy called the inverted pyramid, the body of the press release should be written with the most important information and quotes first. This inverted pyramid technique is used so that if editors need to cut the story to fit space constraints, they can cut from the end without losing critical information.

# The Closing Paragraph: Repeat the critical contact information, including the name of the person, his or her phone number and/or email address.

From: stetson.edu/~rhansen/prhowto.html
You can search Google for 'how to write a press release'. :wink:

[preciousweddings]

i shall have a go now tomorrow , you never know i may get featured!! :-)

i am in a uk national wedding magazine , they reguarly feature me and i do reader offers too so i can get interest in the business.

thanks again for that !!

[iluvweddings]

As a both a bride and a vendor. I can recommend a few things.
Like some of the other posts recommend, get your name out there and I notice that word of mouth works better than any advertisement (unless you are a company that is well-known). A happy customer speaks wonders!!!
I specialize in custom - designed stationery and receive most of my work via past clients.
Another thing that you can do is to "sponsor" couples. Once a month I sponsor a wedding, baby shower, or some type of events and provide 50 invitations free of charge, and simply print my company information on the back of each invite (sort of like how vistaprint does).
That really impresses people and my name really gets out there.
Also, I keep a file of all past clients. For example, if I had a wedding on June 6, 2004 I send them a coupon and a new brochure in February '05 to see if they may be interested in an Anniversary party, or if they are expected,etc. I also send them a gift card on their Anniversary and you don't understand how much small gestures mean to people. Customers enjoy personalized service!!
Just a few things I know that work well for me.

GOOD LUCK!

[WebLady]

I only skimmed through this thread so forgive me if I say things that may have been mentioned before ...

Here are some tips that might help:

Tip 1: Look for a few low-cost ways you can enhance the perceived value of your products or services. Like a free engagement sitting for photographers, or free maid of honor bouquet for florists, etc ... Take a look at what your successful competition is doing and match it or do it better.

Tip 2: Limit your prospects decision making to either 'Yes' or 'No'. Often you risk losing them by including too many choices. The more options you offer, the more likely some customers will procrastinate ... causing you to lose a sale. You can always offer additional or customized options later.

Tip 3: Show how affordable your products and/or services are by breaking down the price to a lower amount. For example, 'All of this for less than a dollar a day' (for something approx. $345 a year).

Tip 4: It helps to add a little unexpected bonus to your sales, just before closing the sale. This helps to prevent any last minute second thoughts.

Tip 5: Mail marketing: Make up a postcard and mail it to prospects in your area. Postcards are usually cheap to make and cheap to send. Many brides that would ignore other types of advertising will read a brief ad when on a small postcard. Follow up with a phone call or email.

Tip 6: Network with other local shops and vendors. Get on their 'preferred vendor' lists. Think of where the bride goes first and try to get in with those shops ... i.e. Jewelers, Bridal Shops, and so on.

Tip 7: If you don't have a website, get one! So many people are shopping online these days, you are shooting yourself in the foot not to be a part of that!

Tip 8: Once you have a website, you have to market that too and that is a whole 'nother article.

Tip 9: Take your prospects questions seriously ... most of the time if they are taking the time to ask detailed questions, they are probably close to buying, so take advantage of this. Don't just answer their question; add a reason to buy as part of your answer and tell them exactly what to do to sign up. (here would be a good place for the bonus)

Tip 10: Try to come up with something that sets you apart from your competition and use that to your advantage ... whether it is more personal service or some unique or special feature. But remember, never talk bad about your competition, that will only make you look bad to the bride and to other vendors. You should be able to sell yourself without having to bash your competition, if you can't than you may need to look at making some changes.

--- end tips ----

Hope this helps!

WebLady :)