Coffee Talk with Wedding Pros
It’s the dog days of summer…you are either swimming in weddings or twiddling your thumbs. It happens to everyone; you have busy weeks and slow weeks. Don’t think that a slow week means a vacation, oh no!! It means it’s extra time to grow your business. You can go play golf or swim afterwards. 🙂
Here are 5 easy actions you can take during slow(er) periods that will give you instant results:
1.) Take a coffee break. Invite a wedding pro (different segment than you, of course) to go out to lunch or grab a coffee one morning. Chat about three things: 1-get to know them better; 2-local wedding trends (share ideas/get ideas); and 3-how you can help the other person. That’s right–make it about the other wedding pro, NOT yourself. He/she will be flattered and will reciprocate (hopefully with referrals!).
2.) Tidy up your desk. It’s true, a clean, organized work-space is easier to maintain, makes you look like you know what you are doing and keeps you laser focused.
3.) Shop your competition. Do you know what your competitors are offering? How they are marketing? What they are doing? If not, you should find out now. Study their websites; read their reviews online. Check out their Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest pages. Pose as a bride and request information via their website to see how they respond, how long it takes them, etc. Document your findings, then do one better (than they do).
4.) Focus on your marketing. Two words: Never Stop. Never stop marketing!! What you do (marketing wise) today pays off in one, three, six, even 12 months down the road. It’s a continuous cycle. Look for new opportunities and continue with those that have worked. Here’s the formula for success marketing!
5.) Update your website. An updated website is not only loved by your clients but by Google as well. Add a blog post (here’s my post on awesome blogging); add new images of your work; add a document that contains helpful info for your clients in regards to wedding planning; make sure your links work and that your contact info is current. You don’t want to miss a lead because your email address was wrong!
**What actions do you do to take advantage of down time and better your wedding business? Please share in the comments below!
It is NEVER slow at Designing Women of Arizona! There is always something to do,,,
Christmas in July/August where I encourage my current clients, and cold call on new clients to spruce up the Holiday decorations instead of waiting until the last minute when there is nothing to pick from and they are then disappointed.
We work on their Holiday parties, helping them with caterers, of course we do the flowers, Music if need, Bartenders, and location if that is also what they want.
We are a Personal Concierge Floral/Event Artists and we personally shop for our clients for their events or design special parting and thank you for attending gifts.
Cold Calling ready does pay off you never know when a client’s wants and needs change! Maybe not today but try them again,,, you might be pleasantly surprised! And YES ask for those referrals! They do pay off
Get out your Christmas Music, crank it up and start designing put those designs in a small corner of your shop, us a decorated ladder, build up hang from the corner ceiling! Your customers will remember you! Don’t forget the pine or cinnamon scents! Set the mood! You will be plenty surprised!
there is more, but that is my tip for today, now, back to work Designing for the Holidays!
Happy Designing!
Judy
Hi Judy! Wow! This is awesome!! You go!!!! Proud of you!!! 🙂
The one that you don’t agree with is posing to be a pride in price shopping other photographers. You shouldn’t be comparing yourself to anyone else, that’s when you lose confidence and uniqueness and that is quite schemey.
Hi Nicole! I agree you don’t want to compare yourself to others (and then copy what they are doing); however, you should know what your competition is doing and offering. This can easily be done just by visiting other wedding pro’s websites.