5 Ways to Get Clients When Starting Your Wedding Business

When you are just starting out in the wedding industry, how do you get new clients?

If you think it will be easy to become successful working lavish weddings straight out of the gate, you may need a reality check. It’s more likely you will need to become great at marketing if you want to build a profitable wedding business.

Here are 5 strategies to implement:

1)    Set yourself apart

Before you begin looking for customers, start by doing a little competitive research. What are your key competitors offering and what are they currently charging their clients? If they charge people more than the average rate do you know why people are happy to pay? Do they offer any extras? What can you do to make your business stand out? The results of your research will make things much easier for you to set your wedding business apart from the competition.

2)    Network with other businesses

Make friends with the right people and you’ll see a lot more business coming your way. The easiest way to start is to network with people who aren’t in direct competition with you. For example, hairstylists speak to dozens of women every day and most likely someone they know is looking for wedding services.  You can compile a list of preferred vendors as service to your potential clients. Just make sure you are only referring someone whose services you believe in and would use yourself.

3)    Don’t be afraid to offer discounts

This one is a little controversial, but when you’re just starting out it can be difficult to drum up business, especially if clients ask about your previous experience. In some areas of the wedding industry you may be able to assist on a wedding to gain experience (for example, acting as a second shooter for a wedding photographer, or assisting a wedding planner or florist).

Yet sometimes in order to build up your portfolio, offering a small discount can help. Don’t work for free, but if you think long-term it can be a great way to get your business off the ground. In some cases it might be the only way you can compete with local companies if they’ve been around forever.

4)    Follow up with leads

As a wedding business owner you need to implement a good lead follow-up system. Most couples planning their weddings are busy and there is a good chance they will forget to get back to you. Make it a habit to always follow up with people at least three times and as long as you’re not pushy they won’t mind.  Not doing so is an easy way to lose clients you may have otherwise booked.

5)    Become an authority

If you don’t have a blog on your existing website, make it a priority to start one! Writing articles and sharing past events, advice and tips establishes yourself as an expert in your field. Prospective clients who come across your blog are much more likely to hire you because they see you as an authority. While this isn’t something that will bring instant results, it can help your business skyrocket in the future.

About the Author:

Nicola Joseph is a freelance blogger, currently writing for Dream Day Limousines, a leading limousine hire service in Brisbane, Australia. She takes keen interest in music and enjoys performing at local charity events. You can also follow her on Twitter @Nicola Joseph.

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