At my most recent workshop for wedding planner newcomers, we addressed a variety of topics from building your packages, pricing, and contracts, to marketing and networking. One of my attendees, a woman branching out to her own wedding planning business, asked a very important question. She knows how invaluable social media is for showcasing one’s business, but when you don’t have events to show yet, how do you showcase your talents and get potential customers to engage and be interested in you?
Here were my suggestions:
You have to create the content as you go (and heads up: this never really ends, even when you have weddings and events you can talk about and showcase).
You may not have a lot of events (or any), but anything you do is a story waiting to be shared. For example, at the workshop, our location hosts: Ventura Rental had several stunning displays for review. Taking photos of these and then sharing on social media what inspired you or what you learned is a great way to start the story-telling of how you see things and who you are. Anything is material for inspiration. Walking down the street and see a great window display that inspires you or makes you laugh? Share it. Talk about it. When applicable, tag the other event partners associated with your photo/story so their audience is drawn to you , too.
Make your social media campaign part of your networking campaign. When you are going for site visits to visit new venue managers, having lunch with colleagues, take photos, talk about the people you met, what you love about their service. Take photos of their property, talk about what you like. Go to industry events, take photos, get talking on social media about concepts and visuals you liked.
If you have the funds to hire event partners or can work out some kind of trade, creating, producing and/or collaborating on a photo shoot is another great way to get images for your marketing and image. Sometimes event partners will go in on an investment together
Get “personal” on business social media.
All marketing and social media studies show that customers like an inside view to who you are – what you stand for. It is recommended that even if your business and personal social media accounts are separated (highly suggested), that even on your business social media, you weave in (occasional- don’t go too heavy) little stories/photos/snippets of what life is like as you. Your unique journey. How you see the world. The majority of photos should not be of selfies, but occasional glimpses into your personal life. Behind-the-scenes work photos are always especially popular, too.
Stories in business are mission-critical to successful marketing. Consumers crave personal connection. That is why strategic narrative is so important as part of a marketing campaign. It ties into the DNA of the business to broadcast what makes it unique and stand out. Engaging Inspiration helps all kinds of wedding & hospitality business clients develop a successful marketing plan which includes solid strategic narrative, and welcome the opportunity to help you, too.
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