By Al Harris, Mile Maker Images Should you attend a bridal expo? Are they good or bad? This is a debate that usually starts a fire storm. So if you’re against them, quit reading here. But if you are not, read on. We attend any open house, any expo, any event where there’ll be brides. It’s my policy. And I

Eventective. Thumbtack. Respond. Love ‘em or hate ‘em — wedding pros are handing over their hard-earned dollars in the hope of cheap leads. But do they work? Your success with leads from these services will vary widely, but most wedding pros find these to be very poor quality leads. You can expect a response from only about 1 out of

“Need help. My DJ and lighting business has come to a stand still. Seems like leads and inquiries have slowed down. Or maybe I have lost touch with the leads that have come in. Any tips appreciated.” This is a pretty typical example of how our Acceleration members ask for help in our private Facebook group. What makes me prouder

Question: “I don’t understand why I’m not booking anything from bridal shows! “I’m a wedding planner. I get lots of couples entering my contest to win a free iPad (almost 200 at the last show!) so I’m collecting my own leads.  We have a giant photo of a bulldog in a wedding gown at our booth, so they always remember

Guest post by Heidi Thompson Stephanie and Jeff have said it themselves – buying email lists for your wedding business is a craptastic idea. Buying an email list full of dead emails belonging to people who are probably not interested in you so that you can spam them is not good marketing. This is the sort of thing that gives marketing,

Guest post by: Cassie Brewer Everyone loves a good wedding. It’s a magical day that will be remembered for years to come. However, weddings can be stressful for brides (and bridesmaids). It’s natural for everyone to want to look perfect for the photos and attendees. In many ways, Pinterest, Facebook, and social media have put even more pressure on the

Big Changes (and a Penguin!) Are Coming to Google’s Search Engine Results Every business owner wants to see their company name on Page 1 of Google, and if you’re following best practices, Google’s new “Penguin” wants to help you get there too.  Learn more about the history of Penguin updates here. If you only read one article on Search Engine

Landing new clients is like dating – there are some brides and grooms you click with and others you don’t. While turning down work can seem like the kiss of death for your wedding business, there are times when saying “I’m just not that into you” can actually be a good thing.  When you come across couples who trigger the

When couples refuse to answer the phone or return your emails…(even when they reach out to you first!)…how are you supposed to BOOK them? The answer isn’t to keep doing the same thing you’ve been doing. The nature of communication is changing, and if you want to get a response from today’s brides and grooms, you’re going to have to

You’ll find wedding pros arguing both sides on this one.  Some say it’s a waste of money, while others swear it books their calendars solid. It’s not how big your advertising budget is; it’s what it does for your bottom line. Consider these factors before investing your advertising dollars in paid advertising on these sites: 1. Is your target market