Last year, I surveyed over 1,100 wedding professionals (yes, you read that number correctly!) from all over the country with a few other people. We were interested in learning about their wedding business — from how they ran their finances to how they execute their marketing strategies.

The outcome was outstanding (see the number of participants again 😉)! We received answers from a wide variety of wedding professionals — including wedding photographers, event planners, wedding videographers, hair and makeup artists, and more.

The team and I combed through all the answers, and we noticed many of these entrepreneurs struggled in similar ways. And so today, I wanted to share the most common pain points we noticed and some tips on how to alleviate them.

Even if you don’t have a wedding business, you’ll want to stick around because these tips are applicable for any type of business. And hopefully, after we’re done, you’ll have a good idea of how to take your business to the next level.

Ready? Let’s discuss three ways you can grow your business.

Wedding Pro Tip 1: Raise your Prices

The first common theme we found is that many of these entrepreneurs want to attract their ideal clients more often. And usually, this also implies having a higher-end clientele. This is a common theme in my own clients as well. Too often I hear that they want to attract their ideal client, but don’t know how.

So, how does this happen? One of the most effective ways, and one that I commonly suggest to my clients, is to raise your prices.

By raising your prices, you’re showing potential clients that you believe in your services and you will provide a valuable experience or product. Essentially, you are demanding your worth.

If you’re having trouble knowing how to price yourself (let’s face it — this can be kind of an awkward and uncomfortable situation), consider hiring a business coach, accountant, or a marketing specialist. Any one of these professionals can help you through that process by analyzing your brand and finances.

As a personal example, I hired an accountant in 2020 and can confidently say that was my best investment for my business. Every month, we can review CarryLove Design’s finances and it’s helped me pinpoint where we can grow. If this sounds like something you need for your business, but you’re having trouble finding an accountant, check out my free resource for accountants that I always recommend to my clients.

So, in essence, wherever you feel like you need the help, go take that leap and invest in your business. You’ll find that your business will start making strides in the ways you are looking for.

Wedding Pro Tip 2: Grow Your Confidence

In the survey, we asked the participants, “what marketing are you most confident in?” And an overwhelming majority said… nothing.

This is unfortunately all too common with other entrepreneurs I talk to. And I get it: We can be our own worst critic. Not to mention imposter syndrome is so real and can get it the way of you feeling confident in some aspects.

But chances are, you want to run a successful business. And whether your goal is to run a 100K business or half a million dollar one, it’s in your business’s interest to assume that position right away.

This might take some time getting used to, but once you can manifest confidence in yourself and believe in your abilities, you’ll see that confidence carry over to other aspects of your life, including your business.

Wedding Pro Tip 3: Invest in Marketing

I may be a little biased, but not investing enough in marketing was a common struggle that we saw from the survey. In fact, an overwhelming amount of people said they spend only $100 or less on their marketing.

This also explains why many of the wedding professionals said they are ready to reach people who haven’t heard of their brand yet but struggle with growing outside of their circle of family and friends.

Unfortunately, in this era, word-of-mouth won’t be enough to achieve that. This is why allocating some of your budget towards marketing is going to be key if you also want to expand your audience.

Marketing strategies will differ from business to business depending on how you operate and what the response is. If you’re starting with a blank slate when it comes to your marketing strategy, I suggest dividing your marketing budget into several different areas to see where your business thrives the most. This can include investing in SEO services, your brand and website, print advertising, digital advertising, etc.

And to go back to tip number one, if you hire an accountant, you can keep track of exactly how much you can spend each month and year.

Pro-tip: When it comes to marketing, make sure to keep track of your results. One example of how to do this is by adding the question, “Where did you find me?” on your contact or inquiry forms. This way, you can collect data from clients and become more efficient in how and where you spend your marketing dollars.

Ready to take your business to the next level?

Hopefully, you’re now equipped with some new knowledge so you can take that next step for your business.
And if you’re ready to invest in a brand and website after reading this article, don’t hesitate to reach out! Visit our contact page to book your free brand discovery call — I’d love to chat with you.