UK Academy of Wedding and Event Planning

As we count down the days till Xmas it means that Black Friday is just around the corner and in my world the prepping for what we'll be offering has already started. And the wedding industry is no exception to this shopping frenzie.Just because most people are shopping for holidays & Xmas pressies during this time, don't forget they'll also be looking to get some amazing deals on their wedding too. From dresses, stationery, cakes, photography and even deals on services like wedding planning, styling and venue dressing. Many businesses are offering deals to engaged couples during this time.In this episode I'm going to be helping you to prep for a fantastic Black Friday sale to help boost your profits. And remember, behind every good idea is a solid plan. A well-planned Black Friday will help you earn more with less stress. So let's dive in.In this episode we'll be covering:Why Black Friday is such a great opportunity for your wedding business.What Black Friday will look like in 2021?Why you need to plan ahead if you want to stand out from the crowdHow to put together a Black Friday package that packs a punch7 Black Friday ideas you could use in the wedding industryWhat to do if you don't have a product or service to sell yetWhen you should start talking about your Black Friday offer or dealsWhen and how to promote your offer to your audience Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/weddingceo)

How many times do you wish there were more hours in a day? Or wish you could have achieved more than you did within a certain timeframe? I'd say most of us have experienced this at one time or another. There are so many things that hold us back from getting things done but the worst, the most common culprit, is procrastination. This is the thing that stops us from taking action and getting things done.My guest today is a time management and mindset expert so I hope you're ready for this because it's time to kick procrastination to the curb and start getting productive.In this episode we'll be covering:How to stop falling foul of shiny idea syndromeThe biggest time and energy mistakes to avoid in your businessHow to set realistic goals you'll actually achieveWays to keep the balance in both your business and your lifeMindset exercises to stop procrastination and encourage actionTop tips on how to be more focused and avoid distractionsWhy ‘done is better than perfect' is the best motto to live bySupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/weddingceo)

We all want to know how to convert more leads into clients. It's the holy grail of any business. Afterall, without any clients all we have is an expensive hobby.The big question is how? We'd all love to be connecting more with our leads, making them feel special and building relationships daily.But we only have so many hours in a day and being a busy coach, course creator or service provider most of us want to spend our time working with our clients and using our amazing superpower.So how can we put all this on autopilot whilst still retaining that personal touch and building real connections with our audience? In this episode we'll be covering:What your 'Fab Factor' is and why it's so important for your wedding businessHow to use your 'Fab Factor' to build an emotional connection with your clientsThe 5 Steps to 'Getting More Clients' using your personalityHow to discover your very own 'Fab Factor' to share with your leadsSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/weddingceo)

Did you know that the hottest lead magnet in 2021 is a quiz? I mean who doesn't love a quiz?But I'm not talking about the Buzzfeed type of quiz telling you which Harry Potter House you're in or what type of cocktail you might be. I'm talking about a results based personality quiz that not only brings in clients on autopilot but allows you to segment your audience so you can do very targeted marketing. Plus, the cost of the leads on Facebook are insanely low. So if you've ever thought about doing a quiz for your wedding business then you're going to love this episode with my quiz funnel guest expert Helen Munshi.In this episode we'll be covering:Why quizzes are the MUST HAVE lead magnet right now and what makes them so popular?The different types of quizzes you can use and how would they work for the wedding industry?Strategies do you for coming up with quiz topics?Why you should start with the quiz results first and not the questions.The main elements of a high converting quiz funnel.Is there an order in which you should create your quiz?What sort of conversion rate can you expect from a quiz.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/weddingceo)

If I told you I had 7 Easy SEO Tips that would see you getting found in organic search results would you implement them?We all know that SEO isn't the sexiest subject around. It's something we push to the bottom of our ‘To Do List' because it's not fun.However, we're all fighting for airspace in a competitive industry so we need to what we can do to get noticed.And SEO is a HUGE part of this.Who wants to spend their time writing amazing blogs posts only for nobody to find them? I know I don't. I work hard on my posts and I want people to read them.I'm sharing 7 SEO tips I've learnt over the last 25+ years of running my own business.In this episode we'll be covering:How to come up with an SEO blog post titleWhy size matters...when it comes to your imagesThe importance of internal and external linksHow to sex up your copy to ensure it actually gets readWhy Meta Descriptions & Alt Tags are important and how to use themSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/weddingceo)

So many of us in the wedding industry have a love hate relationship with marketing.  We know we need to do it because we need traffic, leads, bookings and sales. At the end of the day without any couples to fill our diaries all we have is an expensive hobby.But how do you keep up with it all? The constantly growing and evolving platforms that seem to multiply at an alarming rate. Keeping up with them can be a full-time task.But what I'm about to share with you right now will make mastering the marketing of your wedding business so much easier. And together, we'll figure it out. One platform and one idea at a time, so I hope you're ready for this because I am and I'm ridiculously excited.In this episode we'll be covering:What marketing is and the 1 Page Marketing Plan by Allan DibThe difference between publicity, sales and marketingHow to overcome the marketing overwhelm with the support you needThe four learning phases of marketing successThe Wedding CEO Club Marketing MembershipSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/weddingceo)

How often have you been guilty of thinking about your competitors as the enemy? Maybe you've stalked them on social media to see what they're doing and then got a case of the green-eyed monster when it looks like things for them are going swimmingly whilst it's all quiet on the western front for you? Sound familiar?I know I've certainly been guilty of that in the past but then I discovered the power of collaboration. Not just collaboration with my peers but collaboration with my competition. My guest in this episode is an expert on this very topic and is going to share her top tips and strategies for growing your wedding business by embracing your competitors. In this episode we'll be covering:Why your competitors are actually your ally rather than your enemyHow collaborating with your competitors can help you to up your gameWhy your tribe isn't going to be your competitor's tribe and how to leverage thisHow to use the competition to motivate and inspire youStrategies to help you grow relationships with your competitorsSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/weddingceo)

How do you make your blog posts work harder? That's the million dollar question.I don't know about you but sometimes it feels like all I do is create content for my business. It's a hamster wheel that just keeps going around, and around, and around.As wedding business owners we wear so many hats and content creator is just one of them. But what if I told you that you that by generating one piece of meaty content you could produce 20 or 30 other pieces of content?Well stick around because in today's episode I'm going to show you 9 ways to make your blog posts work harder for you.In this episode we'll be covering:What repurposing is and why it's so importantHow one blog post can create 20-30 other pieces of contentWhy breaking your blog posts into 5, 7, or 9 points helpsHow your blog post could be the perfect lead magnetHow to get off the content hamster wheel and make more of your existing contentResources and Links mentioned:Episode 33: How to Supercharge Your Productivity & Get MotivatedVideo Course: Video Visibility ChallengeInterview with Tyler J McCall: How to Grow Your Business Using Instagram StoriesPodcast List: Top 50 Wedding Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021 More from KylieWebsite: www.kylielang.comYouTube: @fabfactorformulaQuiz: Take the quiz to find your Fab FactorHow can I subscribe?Listen using your favourite App by clicking one of the links below or listen right here on the site:Subscribe with iTunesListen on SpotifyListen on Google PodcastsListen on Amazon MusicLeave a reviewI'd absolutely love it if you could take 2 minutes to leave me a review on iTunes by clicking here. It will really help to elevate the show and let others enjoy the knowledge my guests have to share.Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/weddingceo)

Do any of these sound familiar? I don’t seem to have enough hours in a day. I’ve got lots of ideas but not enough time to do anything about them. I get really easily distracted.As a creative entrepreneur I know I have some days that are more productive than others. And I think that’s true of most people. However, I also know that I’ve learnt a thing or two over the years about productivity. Every week I hear from so many people, both those just starting out in the wedding industry and those that have been in it a while, who think they are time poor. The truth is we all have the same amount of hours in day, it’s what we do with those hours that counts. In this episode I’m going to give you some tried and tested strategies to supercharge your productivity. In this episode we’ll be covering:How to use your time wisely and get the most of your 24 hoursWhy the first hour of your day is the most important oneHow planning tomorrow the night before helps productivityWhy creating routines will help with your efficiencyUnderstanding Parkinson's Law and how it dictates your productivityUsing the Pomodoro technique to get more done in less timeWhy getting dressed and exercising help to motivate and simulate youTop tips on getting more done in the 24 hours you have each daySupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/weddingceo)

Fear of Failure has to be the biggest thing holding people back from moving forward with their wedding business. Nearly every day I receive an email from someone asking me how to get over that crippling fear of failure. And I can tell you right now it plagues us all.There’s no one size fits all answer here I’m afraid. One thing I will tell you though is that without failing you can’t move forward. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve made mistakes, done something wrong or simply screwed up. But the key here is that I learnt from each and every mistake. I didn’t think of them as failings I thought of them as opportunities to grow. If we don’t fail, we stand still. Embrace failure don’t be scared of it.In today’s episode we’re going to tackle those limiting beliefs that stop you moving forward in your career. I hope you’re ready because this one’s a rollercoaster ride with some straight talking to help you move forward.In this episode we'll be covering:How to overcome the fear of failureThe power of a mindset shiftThings you can do to stay positiveWhy failure is an opportunity to growLessons you can learn from musicals and moviesSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/weddingceo)

Can I ask you a question? Do you know the difference between marketing and advertising? It doesn’t matter if you don’t because that isn’t a fair question. Advertising is actually a component of your marketing and not something that sits separately. It’s just as important as posting on Instagram, creating a Lead Magnet, blogging consistently and emailing your list.Why then, when it’s that important, do so many wedding pros ignore it and pretend it doesn’t. exist?I think in some part it’s due to lack of knowledge and experience and knowing where to spend our hard earnt pennies. So my guest in this episode is going to demystify the whole advertising process and spill the beans on the best places to get the biggest bang for your buck. So stay tuned.In this episode we’ll be covering:Where to invest your marketing dollars to get the biggest bang for your advertising buckWhere advertising sits within your marketing plan Advertising options that don’t include Wedding Wire and the KnotWhat sort of questions should you be asking before taking the plunge and investing in any type of platformSetting expectations and knowing when to call in the experts to help youSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/weddingceo)

How many times do you sit down to write a blog post, or anything that involves writing copy, and draw a complete blank? Or worse still you write the post and then have no idea how to come up with a title? If you want to get clients to invest in you, buy into what you do and become raving fans of your wedding business you need to be able to create great content that your ideal client wants to consume. But who has the time for that?In today’s episode I’m going to show you an easy way to create content that will go off the charts. There is a recipe formula I’m going to share with you that will take what your copy from average to amazing.In this episode we'll be covering:How to determine the topics that are going to pack a punchWhat goes into creating content that will go off the chartsThe importance of sharing and how it affects your contentThe recipe formula for creating your contentThe top considerations to take your content from average to amazingSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/weddingceo)

Slowly but surely the world is starting to open up again one tentative foot at a time. But the playing field has changed. Since Covid we’ve all started to consume media in a different way. The goals posts have moved, our values and what’s important has shifted and the way we do business is changing with it. And this has a direct effect on our marketing.My guest today is without a doubt a guru in the marketing world and she just so happens to specialise in the events industry. In this episode she takes an in depth look into the type of marketing we as wedding pros should be looking to incorporate into our marketing plan moving forward. As you all know I love marketing and this episode is one you won’t want to miss.In this episode we'll be covering:The biggest challenges wedding pros face when it comes to marketing their wedding businessThe new normal as far as marketing is concerned post pandemicWhat wedding pros be doing right now, as far as their marketing is concerned, to prepare for the return of weddingsHow wedding pros can harness the power of community to recover strongerAdvice and tips for those with Pandemic burnout and who are Covid weary Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/weddingceo)

This episode is all about Instagram Reels which clearly aren’t going anywhere fast. After just over a year in lockdown entertainment has taken a different turn – the average person has turned into a star of the small screen and personally I love it. I really enjoying seeing people’s personalities shine through in their business life.But how do you make it work for your wedding business? Is it really all lip synching and pointing or is there more to it than that? My guest in this episode makes producing Instagram Reels look easy, and who doesn’t want that? Not only are her Reels hilarious but she’s nailed the formula of Engage, Entertain, Educate. So I hope you’re ready because you’re about to go on a rollercoaster Reels ride.In this episode we'll be covering:How to get comfortable doing Reels for your Wedding BusinessDifferent types of Reels you can do that don’t involve you doing what they do on TikTokHow to incorporate the three E's of content into your Reels - Engage, Entertain & EducatePlanning out your Reels efficiently into you content calendarHow much is too much when you’re describing your reelsShould you use hashtags and if so how manyTips & tricks for getting the most out of posting your Reels

First impressions count and as the old saying goes you only have one chance to make a first impression, so you better make it count. But how much attention do we pay to first impressions as wedding pros? We’re so busy worrying about whether our logo is the right shade of pink and whether the image we just posted on Instagram really reflects our brand that we often forget about that all important first impression. When we do get to sit down in a consultation with a potential client how long do we have to wow the pants off them? 10 seconds? 5 seconds? A minute? Well my guest today is all about first impressions and how they can help you close the sale, so I hope you’re ready.In this episode we'll be covering:The one thing that makes first impressions so powerful How wedding pros can stand out in a crowd and make themselves unforgettableHow to recover from a not so great first impressionWhere persuasion plays into first impressions How wedding pros can practice being more persuasiveWhy first impressions are also important for pre-qualifying leads

Be honest, does the thought of attending a networking event where you don’t know anyone send you running for the hills? You know these events are important, and you want to meet new and exciting vendors to collaborate with in your wedding business, but you just can’t get over the nerves and everything that goes with the idea of attending any type of networking event.Well as of the time of this recording attending a physical networking event isn’t possible for many people, dependent upon where you are in the world and what your social distancing rules are like.And that’s why I’m excited to speak to my guest about how you network effectively whilst adhering to social distancing.In this episode we'll be covering:Things you can do to network virtually rather than in personHow you can network on a more personal levelWays to come across as genuine and authentic rather than someone just out for businessSpeed networking and the benefits to attendingTop tips for networking effectively in your wedding business

As Wedding Pros, we are our brand due to the personal nature of what we do. I know it’s hard to put ourselves out there and let people in and show them the person behind the business. It’s so tempting to hide behind our logo or business name and not show ourselves to the world. But embracing who you are, quirks and all, is going to help you build that all important know, like, trust factor that will not only win you clients but build a base of fans that love you and what you do.My guest today is an absolute star and powerhouse in the wedding industry. She pulls no punches and she’s going to show you the power behind embracing who you are and how that has a direct impact on the connection you make with your potential clients.In this episode we'll be covering:How to define your personal brand and questions to askWays to grow and develop your own signature styleHow to ensure your brand is a completely authentic representation of who you really arePersonal branding pitfalls to try and avoidHarnessing your personal brand to help your wedding business grow

The phrase Passive Income deserves to be named phrase of the year for 2020. I’ve lost count of the number of times I heard wedding pros talking about it last year. And with good reason.It took a pandemic for many of us to realise the importance of diversifying and finding additional sources of income. We’ve all heard that saying about putting all your eggs in one basket – well my Mum drilled that into me from a very young age.So in today’s episode we’re talking all things passive income. We’ll look at some ways to help you come up with some viable options for adding new revenue streams to your wedding business. In this episode we'll be covering:Why you need to add passive income to your wedding businessThe digital marketing trends that showcase the rise of DIY WeddingsThe pros and cons of online courses and membershipsThe popularity of live wedding planning workshops for couplesHow to become an affiliate of other people's productsWhy a partner program might be perfect for youSelling templates to couples on your website

The wedding industry, like so many other industries in 2020, took a huge hit. For many this has not only affected their financial stability but their mental stability as well. It can be so very hard to stay positive, believe in yourself and your own unique abilities during a time like this.My guest in this episode calls them your Success Saboteurs. Those saboteurs are voices in your head saying things like: “You’re not good enough to call yourself an expert in the wedding industry.” “You can’t possibly charge that; nobody will pay those prices!” or even "The wedding industry isn't going to recover for at least the next two years so I may as well give up."I’m pretty sure at least one of those will sound familiar to you, I know they do to me. So today’s episode is a slightly different one from my usual marketing based episodes. Together with my guest, Natasha Bray, I want to help you find your Success Saboteur and know the steps to take to overcome them so you can move onto a successful 2021.In this episode we'll be covering:The power behind transformational healingHow by unlocking your your inner demons you can achieve success across ALL areas of your lifeWhat 'Success Imprinting' is and how it can help you move forward in your businessThe different types of Success Saboteur Archetypes™ and how to identify which one you are5 key steps to ensure you can get rid of the voice in your head telling you that you're not good enough

Have you ever heard the saying ‘Done is better than Perfect?’ Well my guest today is living proof that this is a saying you should take seriously. As with so many wedding businesses in 2020 Samie had to pivot quickly if she was going to survive. Procrastination was a luxury she couldn’t afford. In 6 short weeks from idea to conception Lovestream was launched and within just under a year, and during Covid, has done 250+ weddings. This is a story you won’t want to miss so stay tuned.In this episode we'll be covering:Why you should launch now and worry later.The importance of knowing your ideal clientHow not working with your ideal client can have a huge impact on your businessWays in which your ideal client can influence your businessA horror story of what happens when you don't work with your ideal client.

How many times do you put something out there as part of your marketing and wonder if anyone has actually seen it? Is anyone even listening, reading or watching what you’re doing?I think we’ve all felt that worry that our marketing is falling on deaf ears and that nobody is interested.Then of course there’s the big question of is my marketing actually converting into paid clients or people buying products? And this is a very real question you should be asking yourself on a regular basis. Conversion being the key word here. Because with all the best marketing in the world if it isn’t converting it isn’t working.My guest today just so happens to be an expert on all things marketing and conversions and she’s spilling the beans with her top tips and advice on supercharging the marketing of your wedding business in 2021. I can’t wait for you to hear this.

Have you ever wondered how trends are decided upon? What higher power deems A or B to be trending now? Perhaps you’ve thought about becoming a wedding trendsetter and what that might do for your business and brand.Love them or hate them trends are an integral part of the wedding industry. And not just the visual trends our couples want to know about but business & marketing trends too.Being able to predict the ways your couples are going to be looking for you, what platforms they’re on and what apps they’re engaging with is what will help set you apart.If you want to be on the sharp edge of your wedding business in 2021 then stay tuned because I’m sharing my insider secrets on how to become a trendsetter.In this episode we'll be covering:How to become a TrendsetterWhere trends come from and how to predict themTrend examples and places to look for trendsWhere to find trend inspiration in the wedding industryTop three wedding trend picks from the International Wedding Trend Report 2021How you can get your FREE ticket to Wedding Trend Report LIVE Summit

I want you to be honest now. How many of you have looked at TikTok as a Wedding Pro and thought, nah this isn’t one for me? I don’t need to be on there it’s for kids doing silly dances. Well it’s certainly what I thought. In fact, I’ll let you into a secret, I’ve never been on and I have absolutely no idea how to use. But luckily for you, my guest today knows a lot about it. In particular, he knows exactly how to manipulate it for his audience and has literally gone viral. He’s going to be sharing his secrets and strategy with us today so I hope you’re ready.

For most wedding pros, unless you have a bricks and mortar store, your website is your shopfront. It’s the virtual equivalent of your retail space in a shopping mall. So what you do with it is beyond important. First impressions are everything and you want your first impression to be a standout one.Over the last 20 years I’ve had many different websites and I literally shudder at just how dreadful some of them were. Of course, I thought they were absolutely wonderful.I’ve made many, many mistakes when it comes to websites, but I’ve also learnt a lot too and I know there are so simple things you can do to make your website work harder for you and convert ideal couples into clients.My guest today is going to give you the inside scoop on exactly how to do this, the do’s and don’ts and of course some actionable steps you can take right at the end of this episode.

As wedding pros we are the CEO of our small business and we wear a ridiculous amount of hats. We’re the accountant, salesperson, receptionist, marketer, personal assistant, FB expert, IG Queen, chief cook and bottle washer. So how on earth do we not only find time to blog but know what to blog about, how to write our blog posts and more importantly make sure people are actually reading them?Well my guest today is a blogging expert in the wedding industry. In fact, she blogged daily as the founder of uber successful wedding blog B.Loved. And today she’s going to be sharing her top tips and insider secrets on exactly how to catch the eye of a wedding blogger, write engaging posts and everything in between.

As wedding pros we work incredibly hard to get our names out there and get booked by our ideal couples. What we don’t do on a regular basis is make our lives easier by working smarter instead of harder. We’re so busy doing ‘all the things’ that we forget to implement strategies that are going to help our workflow and ultimately save us time and stress.Whether we like it or not managing our clients is still part of our marketing because this is how we create an amazing client experience that has people shouting about us from the rooftops.My guest today has the concept of streamlining workflows absolutely nailed and will be sharing some ways you can make this happen in your wedding business so stay tuned.

We all know 2020 has been a challenging year, that goes without saying. I don’t believe in wasting my time or energy stressing over things I have no control over. However, my mindset is one thing that belongs to me, one hundred percent. A positive mindset is in the DNA of successful creative entrepreneurs and there are many things you can do to help with this.Vision boards combined with strong goal setting strategies can make all the difference. And contrary to popular belief this isn’t just some airy fairy dream it and it will happen kind of thing.Definitely not. In this episode my guest teaches the Power of Vision Boards and how to use them to achieve your goals and beyond using Vision Boards and in today’s episode she’s going to be sharing some of her strategies.

It’s no secret that I absolutely LOVE video and it’s completely changed the trajectory of my business. But I also know that a lot of wedding pros just don’t know where to start with it and the very thought of getting in front of a camera sends them running for the hills.Well it’s time to get over all that. Why? Because video is key in helping you to build that all important know, like, trust factor. There’s something about actually seeing someone versus looking at an image they’ve posted that just allows you to connect on a deeper level, more than any other medium. If a picture is worth a thousand words a video is worth a million. And the statistics don’t lie. Video outperforms every other social media platform. Your ideal client is consuming more video than anything else. Especially at the moment during the time of Covid. And platforms like FB and IG prioritise native video content over everything else. Plus, YouTube is the second biggest search engine in the world – I arrest my case.So it’s time for some lights, camera and lipstick as I show you how to get visible with video.Here's what you'll learn:Why video is THE medium to use right now to connect with your couplesWhere and how to share your videos7 easy content ideas you can use to create video for your wedding businessThe importance of using video on your Thank You PagesHow to use video FAQs on social media to get more engagementWhy storytelling is more important than anything else in your video

It’s common knowledge that wedding pros love Instagram and so do their couples. Newly engaged couples will spend many happy hours scrolling through their feed drooling over wedding images. But how do you turn those browsers into actual paying clients?I think we’re all guilty of spending an hour or so creating just one post for our gorgeous feeds. We then spend another hour trying to figure out what to put on our stories and then getting imposter syndrome when we see all the other wedding pros apparently killing it on there. Well my very special guest today is known for helping his clients do just that and has some very big names on the list. So stay tuned to find out how you can implement some of his great strategies.How to stop obsessing over the numbersWhy having a smaller, more engaged audience is key to successHow to attract the right type of followers to your business through InstagramHow often you should be posting on your Instagram feed versus posting StoriesStrategies for incorporating reels in your overall Instagram planWhat content you should be posting on your StoriesHow to track the success of your Stories

We’ve all heard these words before, ‘you need to target your ideal couple in everything you do’. But how exactly do we do that? How do you target your dream couple online? Sometimes it feels like the holy grail of marketing your wedding business. Luckily for you, my guest today is an absolute expert on this very subject and she’s going to be sharing all her secrets on how to make growing your business feel like a walk in the park.In this episode we'll be covering:Why targeting your ideal couple online is so importantHow you can discover exactly who your ideal client is Strategies for being more successful at targeting couples onlineThe biggest mistake wedding pros make when it comes to targeting their dream coupleWhy Facebook Ads and Funnels should be incorporated into your marketing plan5 Steps to targeting your ideal couple using Facebook Ads

It’s no secret that the wedding industry has been hit hard because of COVID-19 and many wedding pros are left scratching their head wondering how they’re going to survive. How on earth can they really create that relationship with their ideal couples that will get bookings? How can they build that know, like, trust factor that is such a big part of getting clients? Well my guest today has the answer.We’re going to take a deep dive into what she believes is a gold mine for wedding pros and is the answer to helping you build those all-important relationships that will fill your diary with clients. Yes we’re talking Facebook Groups.In this episode we'll be covering:Why Facebook Groups are so important for Wedding ProsDifferent ways you can use Facebook Groups in your Wedding BusinessHow to treat industry Groups versus couple facing GroupsThe biggest do’s and don’ts when it comes to Facebook GroupsThe mistake wedding pros make when it comes to Facebook GroupsHow to get leads or bookings as a wedding pro by being part of a GroupPosts that engage and get your leads interacting with you

They say a wise man learns by others mistakes and a fool learns by his own. I’m not sure I agree with that 100% but there’s definitely some truth in it. Some things you have to find out for yourself whilst some you can absolutely learn from others. After over 20 years between my wedding planning business and the Wedding Academy I’ve made a tonne of mistakes. I’ve also learnt from some of the best in the business so in this episode, I want to share some of those mistakes with you to help you get the results you’re looking for faster. And to allow you to move ahead in the marketing of your wedding business with more confidence.So I hope you’re ready for this because I’m about to share my top 7 marketing mistakes and of course, how to avoid them.In this episode we'll be covering:Why focusing on your niche can quite literally triple your bookingsHow to become known for something in your nicheWhy not all marketing is good marketing and why being picky is goodHow to find your own sweet spot of excellence to enjoy successKnowing when to turn down an opportunity and why that's importantThe curse of inconsistency and how it will hurt your businessWhy ignoring the power of email marketing will come back to bite you on the bum

Do you kind of switch off when you hear the word SEO? Is it something you wish you knew more about but don’t know where to start? Well love it or hate SEO is a really important piece of your marketing puzzle and can be a huge factor in whether or not your amazing wedding business gets found by your ideal client. My guest in this episode is sharing 5 simple steps you can take to start implementing an SEO strategy right now. I hope you’re excited because I know I am.In this episode we'll be covering:Why 'Google My Business' is the answer to getting to No 1 on GoogleThe importance of blogging for SEO and how to make it work harder for your businessHow to choose SEO friendly page names for your websiteWhy a slow loading website affects your SEO and how to improve your page speedThe biggest changes and trends to SEO in 2020 and what they meanHow to get up and running with SEO in 5 simple steps

If I told you that I had a marketing tool that would allow you to convert more customers and do less work what would you say?Oh, and I almost forgot, I can pretty much guarantee that most of your competitors won’t be using this yet.Got your attention yet?My guest today is going to open up a whole new world for you and trust me when I say you’ll want to jump on this fast and be an early adopter because in our post Covid world you need something to make you stand out from the crowd. I hope you’re ready for this one.In this episode we'll be covering:How a chat bot can help you generate leads and get couples booking or buying from youWhy automation is your friend and can still allow for the personal touchHow as an average wedding pro utilise messenger marketing simply and easilyThe do's and don'ts of setting up your own chat marketing systemThe way Facebook ads and chat marketing go hand in handWays to use chat marketing to help you stand out from the crowd

Like so many other industries the wedding industry has been hit hard by the Covid 19 pandemic. What should be one of the happiest days of people’s lives has become one of uncertainty and in the UK certainly, as at the time of recording this episode, absolute confusion and devastation. In today’s special ‘What About Weddings’ episode we’re focusing on the UK and what we can do to help our industry get back on its feet again quickly. Couples are confused. Are they allowed to have smaller weddings of up to 30 or aren’t they? Should they cancel? Should they postpone? What should they do? And as for all those Wedding CEOS, those small businesses struggling to keep afloat my heart goes out to them. Our industry is made up primarily of solopreneurs who have it seems been forgotten by the government. If something isn’t done soon the industry as we know it will cease to exist. Those amazing creatives who help create magical memories for their couples will have to close their doors and try to make ends meet in some other way.How would you feel if that was you? Through no fault of your own watching your hard work, dedication, blood sweat and tears go down the drain because the government have deemed the wedding industry to be irrelevant.My two guests today, Annabel Beeforth from Love My Dress and Nina Beer of Occasion Queens, have been working tirelessly with a team of unbelievable wedding pros to try and move things forward and help our struggling industry to get back on its feet again. You can help too! Listen to this episode to find out how.

The word ‘inclusive’ is a buzz word right now. This one word is being amplified around the world and rightly so. Today it’s also the one and only focus of this episode.A change in the wedding industry is needed and never more so than now. But how do we make that change? What can we do to make our wedding businesses more inclusive and continually strive for improvement in this area?Well my guest today is going to help you with that by giving you some strategies you can use to make your marketing more inclusive on an ongoing basis.In this episode we'll be covering:The difference between tokenism and inclusivity Steps you can take to avoid tokenism in your marketing How can we re-evaluate our ideal client so it reflects inclusivity Ways to make sure couples see themselves represented properly within your imagery 5 key steps to ensure ongoing inclusivity

Do you know how to create content that will attract your ideal couples? Content that doesn’t just get them double tapping or hitting the like button but actually makes them stop and take the time to comment, click on the link in your bio and feel like they want to know more? Most people don’t. They struggle with knowing what to post, what to say and how to engage in a way that makes their target audience connect with them. In this episode I’m sharing 10 content ideas that will make your audience want to know more and build that all important know, like, trust factor. Plus, the secret ingredient behind being successful on social media. In this episode we'll be covering:How to let people in without sharing everythingHow to use personal and business content bucketsQuestions to use on social media that spike engagementWhy your blog posts are so powerful when it comes to social mediaWhy attracting and repelling is key to your social media success12 Prompts to set your Instagram on fire3 Things you can do today to start getting engagement

Does this sound like you? I couldn’t possibly send my website live because it isn’t perfect yet? Or perhaps this. I’m not ready to launch my business yet because I’m just not good enough. I’m pretty sure you can relate to one if not both of these. So many of us stop ourselves and our wedding businesses from moving forward because of a little thing called imposter syndrome. My guest today, Helen York, is a mindset and confidence coach and she’ll be sharing some simple exercises you can do to help shift your mindset, build up your self-belief and make you feel more confident.In this episode we'll be covering:What causes imposter syndromeHow to project confidence even when you're not feeling confidentThe difference between analysis paralysis and imposter syndromeHow to overcome 'failure to launch' in your wedding businessTricks to beat imposter syndrome once and for allEasy ways to build your confidence over timeThe mindset of 'fail fast and fail often

If I asked you if you’d like to double your website traffic without actually spending any money I’m pretty sure your answer would be a big fat yes. Well in this episode my guest is going to show you exactly how to do that for your wedding business by breaking down the basics of getting started on Pinterest.This one platform now generates over 70% of her traffic and that’s not all, the traffic she gets is good traffic that’s engaged and looking to book her.In this episode we'll be covering:Why Pinterest is the most powerful tool in your marketing toolboxHow Pinterest can quadruple the traffic going to your websitePinning your own images versus repinning the images of othersHow many times a day is the pinning sweet spotHow to play the Pinterest game and understand the algorithm easily5 action steps to get you started quickly on Pinterest

Have you ever wondered how you go from being a wedding pro who submits stories to journalists to being the wedding pro who journalists call for advice on a story? Well my guest in this episode has some top tips to share with you on exactly how you can do this and how you can become the ‘go to expert’ for all things in your wedding niche, so stay tuned.In this episode we’ll be covering:What modern day PR looks like in the wedding industryHow to refine your brand elevator pitch so it’s media readyWhat gets editors interested in your story so they want to feature youHow to become the ‘go-to expert’ in your wedding nicheHow to develop a series of media pitches that illustrate your experienceHow to recognise the elements of a newsworthy story

Are you sitting there scratching your head wondering what on earth you can do to market your wedding business effectively over the next few months, post Corona Virus? If you are, you’re definitely not alone. In this episode I’m covering 5 marketing ideas you can implement right now to keep you top of mind with those couples who are busy planning their weddings online for 2021, 22 and beyond. Plus, some idea on how you can pivot your wedding business, so you stay in business. In this episode we’ll be covering:Why your wedding business needs to be more like Madonna5 marketing ideas you can do today to start getting more bookingsHow giving value and showing up consistently is the keyThe best platform to get bang for your buckThe importance of leveraging off your vendor network How to take an old idea and put a new spin on itUsing the virtual world in new and innovative ways

In this pre-launch episode it's 'get to know each other' time. I'll be introducing you to the podcast, what you can expect from each episode and more importantly what you'll learn.I also breakdown exactly what marketing is and how it fits into your wedding business. At the end of the day this podcast is all about marketing. I'll be inviting you to take a deep dive into the world of marketing where everything is broken down step by step as I introduce you to brand new concepts and ideas. No topic is off limits.During this episode I also mention Allan Dibb's book The 1 Page Marketing Plan. I love the simplicity of how Allan breaks marketing down and it's an excellent read. CLICK HERE TO VIEW ON AMAZON

In this month’s Business of Weddings Podcast I talk to Kristin Banta about branding and how as consumers we all have relationships with brands and what that means to us as wedding professionals. With an extensive background in fashion, entertainment, and event production, as well as experience in catering and interior design, Kristin creates unforgettable celebrations while bringing a fresh perspective to the mix. Known within her community as a long-standing advocate for marriage equality, she is passionate about helping her clients find their own voice for their wedding day. Her events, from society weddings in exclusive locations to progressive film and music industry soirees, are as unique and diversified as her clientele, which range from Fortune 500’s to multi-platinum recording artists. What you'll learn in this podcast: What branding means to a wedding business and how to apply it to your own business How to make your brand stand out How to relate your brand story to your ideal client How to identify where your ideal client is socializing

Anne Chertoff is one of the most sought after consultants in the wedding industry. As an editor at various wedding websites, Anne has created a wide range of successful wedding planning, etiquette, style and inspirational content as well as interactive tools. In addition to her many editorial positions, she has been featured as a wedding expert in major news, lifestyle and bridal outlets. She has also served as spokesperson for companies looking to gain national exposure in weddings. In this podcast we chat to Anne about using social media effectively in your wedding business. From pinning to tweeting we need to understand the difference between the channels available and how to use them to our advantage.

For those of you who don’t know Sage Wedding Pros help those in the wedding industry create financially viable businesses. They have a fantastic product called the Simple Plan, which most simply put is business planning made easy. In this episode I had a very frank conversation with Michelle Loretta of Sage Wedding Pros about marketing plans. Everyone talks about creating their business plan and some people do it and some people don’t, but it does at least get talked about. Marketing on the other hand is often the poor relation, so we want to give it an airing and really get into the nitty gritty of what a marketing plan is and how it will help you to take your business to the next level.

Wendy Dahl has worked with couples from around the globe to create unique celebratory experiences that fit each couple perfectly. She has successfully turned the wedding visions of her clients into realities at some of the most exquisite venues in Southern California. On top of this Wendy is also a Speaker, Business Coach & Marketing Strategist and has influenced hundreds of individuals through her teaching, coaching, speaking and masterminding programs to create a clear path to profitability and build sound businesses that can withstand any economy. In this interview Wendy talks to us about understanding the different types of luxury bride, how to create an experience for a luxury bride and how to thrive in the luxury market.

Debbie Orwat runs a website called Planner’s Lounge a community for wedding and event professionals which shares practical information, design basics and business tips written by Debbie and other professionals in the industry. Planner’s Lounge also features news about upcoming wedding industry conferences, business resources, workshops and speakers. In this podcast I talk to Debbie about blogging, how to manage a blog, finding content and why you should be blogging.

In this episode of the Business of Weddings Bernadette Chapman, one of the founding members of the UK Alliance of Wedding Planners, chats to Kylie about what it takes to run a successful wedding planning business and shares her knowledge and tips on how to take things to the next level.

In this episode of the Business of Weddings Podcast Series Anneli Marinovich gives some great tips and advice on how to get the most out of your styled shoot and how to ensure the weddings you plan and style are editorial worthy. Before taking up photography full time Anneli came from a marketing background so also shared some great marketing tips on how she has been so successful on social media.