Month: December 2015

Calling all Wedding Suppliers!

We want you to grow your business.  Honestly, we do.  We’ve realised that trying to promote your business in the widespread wedding industry can be a daunting and potentially expensive task, so we’re trying to help.

Bridebook has designed an educational series, Wedding Supplier Marketing Bootcamp, specifically to help wedding suppliers grow their business without spending anything on advertising.

We’ve put together detailed overviews and actionable tips that you can start implementing today.  We’ll walk you through a variety of types of social media, what they mean for you, and how you can utilise these tools to grow your business.

By the end of the series, you’ll have better copy written on your website, and you’ll be updating your Facebook and Instagram profiles regularly – continually getting your name and brand out there…which will lead to customers getting in touch with you.

Go ahead, and start your Wedding Supplier Marketing Bootcamp now.  Click through each topic and take notes as you read through.  Try to implement at least one suggestion per day.  By the end of the 8th module, you’ll be well-versed in wedding industry marketing – and you won’t have spent a thing!

• Shameless Self-Promotion
• Maximising Pinterest
• Maximising Youtube
• Maximising Instagram
• Maximising LinkedIn
• Maximising Email Marketing
• Maximising Copy-Writing
• Maximising Word of Mouth Marketing

And don’t forget, as one of your key free marketing resources, always keep your Bridebook profile updated!

Happy Marketing!

What is it?

Word-of-mouth is very important for those working in the wedding industry. Be it positive reviews on a Bridebook profile page or a chat with someone who recently got married, any recommendations can prove extremely valuable. Brides-to-be trust those who have had experience working with a particular supplier and are likely to value their thoughts highly. This is a source of advertising that can easily be harnessed for free (just like Bridebook!). To profit from it, ensure that you nurture your relationship with the happy couples who recently got married.

Why use it?

Various sources indicate recommendations from friends and family are a factor in more than 40% of wedding bookings. This makes them more important than wedding magazines, wedding blogs and even social media. Those who recommend your company must have previously enjoyed their experience and were presumably were good customers. Their friends are likely to be similar- just the type of clients you want to attract!

How to use word of mouth advertising?

Anyone looking to exploit word of mouth advertising needs to get their previous brides to speak about them. Couples who recently got married can be some of your best brand ambassadors. Keeping in touch with them after the big day is absolutely crucial. Do not rely on chance to get couples to talk about you. Encourage them to do so by giving them reasons and incentives to look back on their wedding day with nostalgia. The ideas below will help you to maintain a good relationship with happy couples:

1) Send thank you notes

 Send couples a thank you note when they get back from their honeymoon. Try to personalise it with photos or key memories from their big day.

2) Give brides a gift after the wedding

If you can afford to, send your brides a thank you gift after the wedding. It can be small  such as a photo of them in a frame or a “Just Married” keyring.  It will give them something to remember you by and fill them with happy thoughts about their special day. It might also make them more inclined to help you at a future date.

3) Run a Real Wedding feature on your website

Post a featured real wedding  on your website a few weeks after a couple’s wedding. This will make the couple feel special, it may encourage them to share it with their friends and family, and it will also provide good publicity when other brides-to-be use your website.

4) Get in contact with couples on their anniversaries

Use anniversaries and special occasions as an excuse to get back into contact with couples. Send them personalised emails including photos which will bring back the emotions of their wedding day.

 5) Give brides incentives to refer friends to you

An incentive, such as “a free bottle of champagne” or a “free framed photo” for referring a customer will be an attractive offer.  Brides like free things and competitions just as much as Bridebook does!

 6) Ask for reviews on your website

 Ask couples politely to leave reviews on your website and Bridebook profile.  As a bonus, enter them into a prize draw for a bottle of champagne if they do.

7) And on social media too

If any client leaves a review on a social media, be sure to respond. If they had a fantastic day, say how delighted you are that they had such a good time.

 8) Negative reviews are not a cause for panic

Do not panic if you receive a negative review on social media. These can be turned round. Apologise and explain how you are remedying the issues that they mention. Offer them a free gift or some form of compensation. Brides who see this will be impressed that you are so proactive and may pay less attention to the negative review.

9) Write a newsletter

If you have the time and the resources, write a quarterly newsletter to keep your previous happy couples aware of developments in your business. This will make their wedding day seem fresh in their minds…and hopefully make them tell all their newly engaged friends about their experiences.

10) Use memorable anecdotes to your advantage

Be sure to tell interesting facts and memorable anecdotes to couples. They are likely to pass this information onto friends; in the long-run, this may well lead to more business leads.

Happy Chatting!

Have a look at how to maximise copywriting here!

What is copy?

We know you already have a description of your business written somewhere.  Is it on your website? Is it on your brochures?  Take a quick look at it and decide for yourself if it’s truly the best description it can be. That is your copy- and this article will help you enhance it!

Why use it?

In the back of your mind you need to remember why you are writing this content. Does it help potential clients imagine booking their wedding with you?  Does it vividly highlight your selling points?  Will they read it and immediately pick up the phone to book?  Does reading it make YOU want to pick up the phone? If not, then you’ve got some writing work to do.

What to use it for?

All writing is marketing your business.  From your website’s “About Us” section to your email signature, anything that potential clients are reading about you or from you  – IS marketing.

This might include:

– Brief Description on Bridebook

– Long Description on Bridebook

– Social Media “About Us”

– Website “About Us”

– Advertisement or Flyer Copy

-Interview answers

Etc …

To make the most out of the content you use, follow the 3 steps below:

1) Think about your style

Do your key phrases do a good job of explaining what you’re trying to say? Are they boring?  Will the reader understand the terminology?  Are you using correct grammar?

Try to remember the following tips with your writing:
– Be specific

– Use examples

– Show personality

– Use interesting words

-Use action verbs

-Have a consistent theme

The more interesting and like-minded you sound, the more compelled the reader will be to (1) keep reading, and (2) contact you…which can lead directly to a booking.  It’s that simple.

2) Exercise: Which writing sample is more compelling?

Let’s think about an imaginary florist called Gemma’s Flowers.  She’s written the following two descriptions. Which one do you think she should use on her website or her Bridebook profile?

Gemma’s Flowers – version 1

We provide a range of floral services for your wedding or special occasion.  Established in 2005, we have been offering flowers to the trade and consumers.  We can accommodate all your flower needs from bouquets to table arrangements.  Contact us to arrange a consultation!

Gemma’s Flowers – version 2

Your bridal bouquet will be in every wedding photo for years to come, so let’s make sure it’s looking its best!  Hi, we’re Gemma and Elizabeth, a mother-daughter team who have been creating beautiful floral arrangements for weddings across the South West for over 10 years!  Whether you’re having an intimate garden ceremony or a grand-scale ballroom wedding floral arches, we’d love to help you find those flowers and colours that look beautiful on your wedding…and in your photo albums!

Which of the above two descriptions did you connect with more?  In version 2, did you feel their passion and energy for weddings through the enthusiasm in the writing?  Did you get a sense that they might do a good job at your hypothetical wedding?  It was fun to read, and definitely more compelling than version 1.

3) Your homework: Edit your words!

Your homework now is to go back and jazz up your “About Us” section of your website, as well as your Bridebook profile description!   Give it a go and then ask a friend to read it.  You’ll be surprised how much better it can get by just rewriting a few sentences!

As you continue to market your business whether it’s through your website, flyers, online advertisements or social media, always think about writing copy that will appeal to your clients so they immediately like you and hopefully book you.

Happy Writing!

Have a look at how to maximise Pinterest here!

What is Pinterest?

Pinterest- a social network which allows users to pin photos they want to remember on to virtual pinboards – has proved amazingly successful. It was the fastest growing social network in 2014 and the second largest driver of web traffic after Facebook. 88% of those who pin have purchased a product that they have pinned. These are impressive statistics, but the social media platform is even more exciting when it is considered in relation to the wedding industry.

Why use it?

Most Pinterest users fit into the wedding industry’s prime target audience: over 80% of users are female and the most well represented age group is 25-34 year olds. Moreover, two fifths of brides use Pinterest in the wedding planning process and many young women start pinning pictures onto wedding related boards before they are even engaged.

If you are not a regular pinner, you might not understand why Pinterest is so popular in the wedding industry. As the flurry of wedding magazines, photos and images on Bridebook’s website demonstrate, the industry is highly visual. The Pinterest’s virtual pinboards allow brides to capture their dream wedding in pictures by collecting photos from a wide range of websites. If they click on any photo, they will be taken back to the original website, so they can easily go on to find out more information about the supplier.

What to use it for?

By putting your most attractive images up onto your Pinterest board, you should be able to get more attention from brides and attract more traffic to the website. You could pay to get more pins, ‘likes’ and followers, but we believe that the best things in life come for free (love, friends, Bridebook….) and these tips below should allow your enterprise to make the most of Pinterest at no cost:

1) Set up your profile with care

Ensure that your business page is set up properly. Choose the same photo as your profile picture across all your social media accounts so that your brand is easily recognisable. Be sure to fill in the About You and Website sections so that couples can easily access your information and go to your site. Link your profile with as many of your other social media accounts as possible (Twitter, Instagram, Google+) so you can advertise all your credentials.

2) Create pinboard titles with Search Engine Optimisation in mind

Set up your pinboards carefully. Think about the search terms brides are likely to use (e.g. wedding dresses, vintage weddings…) and use these as titles.  Seasonal titles (Inspiration for Christmas Weddings) can also help to keep your page fresh.

3) Upload your best photos

Upload the best and most interesting photos that you have to Pinterest. Remember that anyone who clicks on a photo will get redirected to your website.

4) Give your photos personality with comments and hashtags

Adding comments and hashtags at the bottom of your picture can really help to boost their views. Given the plethora of wedding photos available, think about what you could say to differentiate your photos.

5) Upload photos to all your social media accounts at once

Fill two needs with one deed. Whenever you add a photo to Pinterest, remember to send it out on your other social media outlets too (and upload it to your Bridebook profile while you are at it- profiles with over 5 photos get 50% more views).

6) Pin little, but often

Don’t pin 500 photos one day, but then ignore your Pinterest account for 1 month. Instead try to put 10 minutes aside each day for pinning any photos which you like. This will keep your followers intrigued and make them want to see what is coming next.

7) Socialise on social media

Pinterest is a social medium. Interact with those who repin your photos- say that you are really pleased to see that they like your photos. Write messages on photos you pin on your board explaining why you like them.

8) Get Pinterest buttons on your website

Ensure that a Pin It and a Follow Me button are included on your website so that anyone who visits it can pin photos onto their own wedding boards.

9) Set up group pinboards

Collaborate with other suppliers you frequently work with by setting up a group pinboard. This way you can support each other’s efforts and you both get twice the publicity.

10) Monitor your efforts

Monitoring what is successful is key to designing your marketing plan. As a first, very simple step, check to see who is following you, what boards interest them most and which photos they tend to repin or ‘like’. Monitor traffic on your website, check to see how much traffic is being redirected from Pinterest.

Happy Pinning!

Have a look at how to maximise email marketing here!

What is Email Marketing?

Email marketing is simply the use of emails to build your brand and spread the word about your business.  You probably send an email every day, but are you using the communication to its fullest?  From initial contact from potential brides to newsletters to thank you notes to past clients, there are many opportunity within each and every email to market and help boost your business.

Sending the right email can be a crucial factor in the success of your business. It may bring a lead to your front door…or, if poorly executed, send them knocking elsewhere.

Why use it?

The first contact that you have with couples is likely to be through email. At Bridebook, we let you know instantly if a bride has sent you an enquiry.  How you react is crucial. Over 90% of brides said that the speed of email responses was important when choosing a supplier.  An accidental typo can be off-putting, while a friendly and welcoming message gets the brides on board instantly.

Email also gives you the chance to contact leads from wedding fairs or other industry events. Those who attend such events are likely to have been inundated with information at the fair, so it is important to follow up with couples so they remember exactly who you are.

And even after a wedding, email has its place. Brides-to-be find word of mouth one of the best sources of information. If you can stay in email contact with couples who have previously used your services, you enhance your chance of getting word of mouth recommendations from them. You can also keep in touch with fellow suppliers via email who may also provide word of mouth recommendations.

What to use it for?

As well as responding to potential leads and following up on meetings after fairs, those in the wedding business should take any opportunity you can to keep in touch with previous brides and suppliers. After all, it is a good way of enhancing your sales, for free! The tips below should help you to do so:

1) See if your email has been received

The first, and most important, step is to make sure that your recipient is actually receiving your email. A tool like Mailtrack (https://mailtrack.io/) (which is, of course, free, but currently only available for Gmail) gives you What’s App style notifications which show if your email has been delivered and read. If they are not, take action immediately!

2) Check your junk mail

Don’t just check to see if your emails are going through to customers. Check that you are receiving all your emails too. Remember to look at the spam filter once a day. There is nothing worse than missing a lead because it ended up in your junk mail box. If the email is not spam, remark it as “Not Spam” so that your mail service learns what to look for.

3) Try different email titles

If your emails are not being read, try out different titles to see what works best and optimise your emails accordingly.

4) Use personal email addresses

Sending from a personal email address, rather than a generic info@… or hello@… can also help to ensure that your mail does indeed get read.

5) Timing matters

Timing your emails correctly is crucial. Sending emails at around the time when people leave work increases the chance that they will get read.

6) Respond to emails promptly

Be quick and efficient in responding to emails. Brides are likely to lose interest in working with you as a supplier if you take more than 24 hours to reply to their emails.

7) Personalise the email

Personalise the body of the email: make sure it is addressed to Laura and Mark, not Sir and Madam or To whom it may concern.

8) Be approachable and friendly

Make sure your email has a friendly and approachable tone. Start emails to couples with “Congratulations on your engagement!”

9) Add links to your bridal brochure

If you have not had any previous contact with a couple, be sure to add a link to your business brochure. This will make your email look more professional and enable couples to see your wares more easily. If you have any wedding advice packs, include these too.

 10) Include reviews, testimonials or quotes in your email signature

Including links or snippets from reviews and testimonials in your emails can also be a good way of showing couples what you have to offer. Upload these reviews on to your Bridebook profile at the same time- couples are more likely to enquire about suppliers who have several positive reviews!

 11) If in doubt, have a look at templates

If you want more help with the content of emails, RocknRollBride has some great ideas for templates. https://www.rocknrollbride.com/2014/01/shed-inbox-guilt-8-email-templates-for-wedding-suppliers/

12) Spell check

Make sure your email is well-written and free from spelling and grammar mistakes. Couples will be concerned about the level of care and attention that will go into their wedding if there are basic errors in emails.

 13) Set up a typo alert!

Typos seem to be particularly common on iPads and iPhones so be extra careful when using them for business purposes. Although this is not a perfect solution, consider changing the message at the bottom of your emails from “Sent from my iPhone” to “Sent from my iPhone; apologies for unintended typos!”

14) Use your signature to the full

 Email signatures are a key way to showcase your online profile. Ensure that you design a signature that includes links to your social media profiles, your website and your Bridebook profile.

15) Use any opportunity to keep in contact with clients and suppliers

Remember that you should take any opportunity to engage with contacts over email that you have. Anniversaries, holidays and special occasions could all prove to be good opportunities to catch up with suppliers and couples who used your services recently.

16) Send newsletters

Sending out newsletters is another good way of ensuring you stay in email contact with suppliers and brides with whom you have previously worked.  Stay top-of-mind by writing interesting and inspirational messages and keep readers up-to-date on your latest weddings and any features or awards that your business has earned.

Happy Emailing!

Have a look at how to maximise Linkedin here!

What is LinkedIn?

LinkedIn is one of the largest social networks in the world with other 380 million users. In terms of monthly unique visitors, it is only just behind Twitter and Facebook.

However, it is not the size of the audience that makes LinkedIn attractive to wedding industry professionals. It is the scope of it. On LinkedIn, you can research your industry, showcase your thought leadership, connect with other suppliers, recruit new employees…

Why use it?

Although the other social networks are primarily useful for building business with brides, LinkedIn is best for nurturing relationships with fellow suppliers. These relationships are extremely useful. While couples will only get married once, suppliers are in the industry for the long haul. If you build relationships with fellow suppliers, they may recommend you for weddings they cannot cover or ask you to work with them on a regular basis.  They may also prove to be a source of valuable ideas, support and even mentoring.

What to use it for?

The focus of your efforts on LinkedIn should be very different from the content posted on your other social media accounts. Provide thought leadership pieces related to the wedding industry rather than photos and real weddings. Use your LinkedIn business profile as the chance to showcase your business philosophy and ideas. Do not completely disregard brides, they may come and look at the site to verify your credentials, but they are not the primary focus of your LinkedIn page. With this in mind, these tips should help you to enhance your networking on LinkedIn:

1) Personalise your LinkedIn URL

Change your LinkedIn URL (on both your personal profile and your business site). This will make your profile easier to find, make your business look more professional and help your Google ranking all in one go. To do so select Edit Profile from the Profile header and then click Customise Your Public Profile URL, change the characters at the end of the URL to your business name and then click Set Custom URL.

2) Use your profile to showcase your business

Enhance your business profile page. Be sure to add photos to showcase your work and include a detailed description filled with relevant information and up-to-date contact details. Remember your target audience on LinkedIn is suppliers so focus the content of your profile accordingly.

3) Post updates on your profile page

Post recent, relevant updates about your business on your profile page so there is something up-to-date and fresh to catch the attention of anyone who visits your page. Adding industry research posts can also help to attract the attention of wedding suppliers.

4) Socialise on LinkedIn

Be interactive, ‘like’ posts from other suppliers and share them too. When you take an interest in their posts, they are more likely to remember you and view you as a valued part of their network. Sharing posts has the added benefit of filling your profile updates section with minimum effort.

5) Use business photos to your advantage

Ask your staff to use a photo of your business as the background photo on their profiles. This will make your team look very professional and united.

6) Put a LinkedIn badge on your website

Add a LinkedIn badge to your company website so that viewers can readily access your LinkedIn profile.

7) Build up your connections

Build up your connections. Every time you go to a wedding fair, be sure to add the suppliers you meet on LinkedIn. Include a nice personalised message when you send the LinkedIn invites, rather than allowing LinkedIn to send out its default message.

8) Download a list of your LinkedIn connections

All the details from your LinkedIn connections can be downloaded. Simply click on the Connections tab, then click on Settings in the top right corner. From there select Export LinkedIn Connections, select CSV and then click Export. This will provide you with an Excel list which is much more manageable than LinkedIn’s directory.

9) Keep in touch with contacts

Stay in touch with your contacts. Using your export from LinkedIn, send all your suppliers Christmas cards or be quirky and send out business Valentine’s Day cards (it is the wedding industry after all).

10) Join relevant industry groups

There are several groups open for UK wedding professionals, such as UK Wedding Suppliers (https://www.linkedin.com/groups/3731919/profile) By joining these groups you will be able to participate in pertinent industry discussion which can provide you with a lot of useful tips. If you actively participate in group discussions, you will get noticed by other industry suppliers who may go on to recommend you to their clients.

11) Use groups to your advantage

Groups have other advantages. Normally you need to have a first degree connection with someone in order to message them, but you can send up to 15 messages to other group members for free.

12) Start your own groups

As the group manager you are allowed to message everyone within the group once a week for free. This is a great way of drawing attention to your work as a supplier and building up more useful contacts. Group managers also have more of a driving force in the group and can decide what content to share.

13) Circulate your research on LinkedIn Pulse

If you do produce interesting blogposts or research, try publishing them on LinkedIn pulse. This will help get your advice circulated to a wider audience.

Happy Linking!

Have a look at how to maximise Instagram here!

What is Instagram?

Instagram is an online photo and video sharing social network. It enables you to share photos with your friends and followers. In turn, you can comment on and share their images. The site is differentiated from other social media networks in that it was designed for mobile phones.

Instagram’s sheer scale makes it a very powerful tool. There are over 300 million monthly active users on the site and they post 40 million images per day. Nowadays over 20% of the world’s internet users have an Instagram account! And of those who have it, over 50% use it on a daily basis.

Why use it?

Despite its phenomenal growth, Instagram is not as inundated with paid adverts and promotions as Facebook and Twitter. This means that businesses looking to use it can find it easier to build up a trusted rapport with their clients. It is often described as feeling more ‘intimate’ than other social networks.

The lack of targeted advertising presents another advantage for businesses looking to take advantage of Instagram. Posts are more likely to be seen by followers; whereas your post might reach just 1% of your followers on Facebook, it might be seen by every one of your followers on Instagram.

The fact that Instagram is mobile-based makes it great for those attending weddings and wanting to catch the emotions of each minute of the day. It is little wonder that wedding photos are so widely circulated and are some of the most-liked posts on Instagram. Kimye’s wedding kiss was the most liked Instagram photo of all time!

Instagram also appeals to the visual nature of the wedding industry. A wedding day is filled with emotions, the bride being walked up the aisle by her father, the first dance, the magical moment when the bouquet is thrown to the bride’s friends. It is a common cliché that a picture is worth a thousand words, but actually photos are very well placed to capture the excitement of these moments. This is why we ask suppliers to put as many of their best photos on their Bridebook profile pages as possible.

Instagram’s users also fit into the wedding industry’s core demographic. 64% of UK Instagramers are female and the millennial generation is extremely well-represented with over 90% of users aged under 35.

What to use it for?

Given Instagram’s demographics, the best way to use the site is to choose and upload photos that could prove inspirational for brides. If a photo catches a bride’s eye, there is a good chance that she might save it. These tips below will help you to create an eye-catching profile and in the long run bring you leads.

1) Build your profile

Before you start actively looking for followers, build your profile up. Make sure you have at least 20 photos loaded- no one will want to follow a blank page.

2) Fill in your contact details

Make sure your details are filled in. Given that you cannot link your website to the photos that you post, the best way of making sure brides come and view your webpage is to have your details written clearly in your profile.

3) Use the 150-character bio field wisely

Use the bio field in your profile page wisely – you only have 150 characters so do not waste a single word. Clearly state what you are e.g. a luxury caterer, a boutique hotel and what you can offer wedding couples.

4) Post little, but often

When you want to start getting a following, be sure to send photos out little but often. Do not bombard prospective brides with photos, simply whet their interest with one or two photos every couple of days.

5) Timing matters

Time your posts carefully. They are most likely to be seen if you put them up at around 5pm when people are just leaving work (or procrastinating at work)!

6) Wednesday’s are the best day

On the same note, it is little wonder that #WeddingWednesday has been such a success. People are most likely to like photos on Wednesday and least likely to engage with Instagram on Monday.

7) Join the festive spirit

Use special occasions as a chance to send out themed images. These should attract plenty of attention e.g. consider uploading a romantic photo for Valentine’s day or a photo of a couple kissing under mistletoe as Christmas approaches.

8) Use your best photos

Upload your best quality photos to Instagram. Remember that Instagram photos are square shaped giving you a good chance to play with symmetry effects. Photos can be cropped or you can use the square setting on your camera to have photos which are instantly ready for sharing.

9) Differentiate your photos with free apps

If you want to differentiate your photos from the other wedding suppliers, try adding quotes in free apps like PicMonkey (http://www.picmonkey.com)or Canva (http://www.canva.com).

10) Geo-tag your photos

Add geo-tags when you post your photos (this option is available whenever you post photos). This will enable potential brides to see where you are based and what locations you have worked at recently.

11) Try posting videos

Instagram also allows you to post videos which are up to 15 seconds long. Try posting one as it may be a more efficient way to showcase your brand. You can learn more about video marketing in this article.

12) Use hashtags

Write hashtags under your photos to ensure that they get the attention they deserve. #weddingwednesday, #shesaidyes and #weddinginspiration are not a bad place to start and should help you to build a good, well-targeted following. Have a look at Bridebook’s Instagram page to build up further ideas on what hashtags to try out.

13) Enable notifications

Enable notifications so you can monitor which photos get the most attention and at what times. Modify your Instagram strategy accordingly.

14) Share photos across your social networks

By changing the account settings, images can be shared across Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Flickr and even Weibo accounts in one go. To do this, click on the rosette in the corner of your profile page, go to settings, then linked accounts and link through to any accounts you choose.

15) Try running a competition

If you are in a hurry and want to boost your following quickly, it might be worth trying a competition- offer a free photo shoot, tour or makeover for the bride. Try following Bridebook to see what exciting competitions we are currently running!

16) Offer special discounts for followers

On a similar note, try offering special discounts to those who follow you on Instagram. It is an amazingly quick way of building up an audience.

17) Socialise!

Social media is meant to be social- follow businesses with similar interests, brides and suppliers with whom you commonly work. Like their photos. Comment on new ideas they are trying out.

18) Follow Instagram’s blog

Instagram regularly tries out new features. To keep up to date with their latest ideas and really differentiate your photos by following their blog.

19) Add Instagram to your Bridebook profile

Showcase all your hard work by adding your Instagram account to your Bridebook profile page.

20) Follow Bridebook on Instagram!

We’d to have you in our wedding community on Instagram!  Come follow us!

Happy Posting!

Have a look at how to maximise YouTube here!

What is YouTube?

You must have watched a video on YouTube. Nearly everyone in the developed world has. Around one sixth of the world’s population uses the service. It is more popular than Netflix…More popular than Cable…and some say it is more popular than Live TV.

But what you might not have appreciated is that YouTube is also the world’s second largest search engine with over 3 billion searches a month. It is bigger than Bing, Yahoo, Ask and AOL- combined!

YouTube marketing is not just a question of having exceptional content, users also need a basic understanding of Search Engine Optimisation (which words and content to use to ensure that your videos are some of the first that appear in searches). This should not worry you – there are plenty of places where you can learn more about SEO.

Why use it?

Video, as a medium, is helpful to anyone wanting to market their goods. It is a common cliché that a picture is worth a thousand words. If this is the case, just imagine what a video must be worth! Uploading videos really does provide an excellent opportunity to showcase your services and we have certainly noticed this at Bridebook. Profiles with videos attached get substantially more enquiries than those without.

Those working in weddings should be particularly aware of the power of videos.  Videos are the perfect way for couples to get a feel for your business, without you having to take the time to explain the business to them personally. They can save you considerable time and effort, and allow you to focus on the most promising clients.

What to use it for?

Videos allow businesses to create a buzz around their brand. Aim for topics that would attract a bride-to-be’s attention.  Educational videos such as how to cut a wedding cake with panache, how to fling your wedding bouquet so it lands on target and how to find your perfect wedding dress might make a good start, depending on the services you provide.

The tips below should help:

1) Produce videos for free!

Producing video content does not have to be an expensive and complex process. Simply film yourself using your Ipad and Iphone. Then use free software like iMovie to edit it. You might be surprised to know that even FTSE100 firms do this!

2) Watch popular videos in your space

Watch clips from popular vloggers (video bloggers) or members of your industry to get a clear idea of the type of content that brides are watching. This will help you get some ideas on what types of videos you can create that are likely to be watched and shared.

3) Be consistent with your video format

When you have found a format for videos that works for you, continue to use it. Being consistent will encourage viewers to come back and see if you have any more similar videos. This will help you to create more of a buzz around your business. Consider a range of ‘how to’ videos, or a series of ‘a year in the… industry’.

4) Personalise your channel

When you begin to upload videos on YouTube, you will need to create a channel. This is a very simple process- all you need to do is add your name and your business name. Your videos will be uploaded within this channel. The channel might initially look a bit bland, so upload photos and add contact information to personalise it.

5) Use keywords to boost your search ranking

Make sure you write a business description on your channel that is filled with keywords. This will boost your rankings in Youtube searches.

6) Link your YouTube channel to your website

This will boost your website’s Google ranking and allow prospective clients to get a good feel for your business.

7) Ask brides for videos of their wedding

If a bride had a videographer at their wedding, ask if you can add their videos to your channel (make sure you get the videographers permission too). This will enable you to fill your channel with minimum effort!

8) Choose video titles carefully

Make sure your video titles are likely to appeal to your target audience. Remember that YouTube is not just a social network, it is also a search engine, so all SEO rules apply here too.

9) Tag your videos

The more tags you use the better, but make sure they are all relevant. As a start, remember to tag your brand or your business and then choose wedding related key words.

11) Write a transcription

Adding a transcription to videos can help with SEO and boost viewer numbers.

12) Monitor feedback

Monitor all the feedback that you receive on all your videos. Replying to compliments might just be a way of getting a new lead! If there is negative feedback, work out what to do to address it in your next video and keep developing your content accordingly.

13) Use playlists

To get more views try including your videos on playlists – a groups of videos which play sequentially. Since the playlist continues without a user’s prompting, videos in playlists tend to get more views. Including videos in playlists also doubles their probability of appearing in searches.

14) Post links to your videos

Along with a relevant comment, post links to your videos in the comments section below other popular wedding related YouTube videos. This should boost visits to your channel.

15) Share your videos

Showcase all your hard work by using Twitter and Facebook to share your videos. Be interactive and ‘like’ and comment on other suppliers’ videos in the hope that they will do the same for you.

16) Add videos to your Bridebook profile

Add your videos to the Bridebook site. We have found that pages with videos get 50% more views!

Happy Video-making!

Have a look at how to self promote your business here!

What is self-promotion?

Self-promotion is a completely necessary way of making sure that your business gets the attention that it deserves. There are plenty of ways to promote your business, awards, reviews, blogs, Bridebook profiles, to name but a few.

Why use it?

Couples like to know that the suppliers they’re considering are reliable and good.  In the absence of a personal recommendation by friends, family or a venue, couples seek validation that OTHERS thought the work was good.

Who are these OTHERS?  They can be blogs, magazines, awards, colleagues, venues, and past clients…essentially anyone else that can say “I’ve seen so-and-so’s work – it’s good and I’d recommend them!”

This external validation can come in many form for wedding suppliers, and couples like it all!  Here are some strategies for building your collection of others who can vouch for you.

Tell the world about your accolades by adding them to your Bridebook profile, posting them on Facebook, and adding them to your website.

1) Get featured in blogs

To get selected, be featured on a blog or in a magazine.  Brides love “As seen in…” anything!

How? Submit your past weddings to the “Real Weddings” section editors of wedding blogs.  Make sure you have permission from the photographer and can list all of the suppliers involved in the wedding.  Take your time to follow various wedding blogs and get a sense of the types of weddings they publish so you can tailor your submission accordingly.  Also remember to follow their submission guidelines and honour their exclusivity requests.

2) Nominate yourself for awards

There are many wedding industry awards within the UK and beyond.  Typically, suppliers will put themselves forward then request votes from their past clients.  Their momentum grows that way and then the judges make the final decision.

Once you’ve been shortlisted (or better yet won!) any awards, be sure to let people know!

3) Show off your credentials

List any credentials and accreditations, as you might include them on a CV.  Some professionals forget to include their credentials, but they can really boost your profile and help reinforce your level of quality and experience.  Include your school, university, and past employers to add credibility to your profession.

For example: Certified Wedding Planner or Former Photographer for Vogue Magazine

4) Ask for recommendations from other suppliers

Mention if you are on a venue’s preferred supplier list, or if you regularly work with another supplier.  In the absence of a recommendation from friends or family, a personal recommendation from a trusted supplier is the next best thing.  It helps reassure the bride that things will go smoothly because you’ve worked together before.

For example:  Sharing that you’re one of the preferred Florists for the Ritz hotel will certainly give an indication of your level of professionalism and quality. You can include these recommendations on your Bridebook profile.

5) Build a list of testimonials from past clients

Build your set of testimonials on your website and comments on social media.

Copy and paste the best testimonials and put them up on your website.  Don’t have any testimonials?  Just ask your past clients for them!

Once you find something to share, be sure to self-promote on your website, social media and of course… your Bridebook profile!

6) Promote your business activity on Facebook (and other Social Media)

Share posts on Facebook that show how busy and great your business is.  If you’re happy about it, tell someone about it!

For example:
“We’re so excited to be nominated for XYZ Awards!  Vote here!”

“Last weekend we worked with the beautiful couple, the Smiths, in Dorset.  The sunset made for some lovely photos, see them here!”

“We’ve just updated our listing on Bridebook.co.uk! Have a look at the link!”

“Thanks to Jenny for writing a review for us on Bridebook.co.uk. Read it here!”

Happy Marketing!

Have a look at how to maximise word of mouth advertising here!