BridalTweet Wedding Forum & Vendor Directory

Wedding Sales Tips from Big Brands

Wedding Professionals:

As you may or may not know, BridalTweet is only one of my jobs. Aside from creating and managing BridalTweet, I also have a day job where I lead social media marketing for a Fortune 100 company. The reason I’m bringing that up today is because the marketing experience and knowledge that I’ve accumulated from my day job has been invaluable for building BridalTweet, this smaller-sized wedding business. (Why do I juggle two jobs? I’ll save that for a future blog post but if you’re looking for a quick hint - it has a lot to do with my deep passion for marketing and for the relationships that I've built within this growing wedding community).

There’s no doubt we can all learn a lot from big brands and corporations. Below, you’ll find some useful quotes from corporate executives who have given advice to small businesses. These quotes were taken from Inc. Magazine’s April 2010 article titled Sales Tips from the World’s Toughest Customers. I believe these quotes are spot-on and I’ve outlined how they are applicable to wedding businesses.

“Be different. And then make sure you prove it to us,” says Ken Carty, vice president and chief procurement office for Coca-Cola. Across the wedding industry, there are countless photographers, planners, florists – you name it. It is critical that you clearly articulate to potential brides why your services are unique. Effectively show off your personal touch. Give examples of why previous brides were thrilled with your services. And showcase a few testimonials to prove that you stand out in the wedding crowd.

“We can spot a fake from a mile away. (In other words, don’t over sell yourself),” says Kathy Homeyer, director of supplier diversity for UPS. Whether you are talking to a bride, creating marketing materials or updating your status on Facebook - authenticity is critical. Remember your many redeeming qualities and bring them to surface, but don’t try to be something that you’re not. It’s unlikely that brides will see through it, but if they do, this can only open the door for future disappointment if you are not able to deliver on something that you promised.

“Go above and beyond. You would be surprised at how few of your rivals even bother to try,” says Larry Wood, Intuit’s director of sourcing. It’s true that many people don’t bother to go that extra mile. By taking the extra time to follow up with brides, answer their questions and send them helpful tips, you’ll easily stand out in the crowd. Not only will they say ‘yes’ to you but they will also recommend you to their friends.

What insights have you learned from big brand advertising or marketing? Do you have a favorite TV commercial or advertising campaign that has inspired you? Feel free to share your comments below.

About This Blog: Christine Dyer is the Creator and Founder of BridalTweet. Christine has an MBA in marketing and shares over ten years of marketing expertise with the wedding community. In this weekly blog, you'll find advice on an array of wedding business topics such as how to market to brides, social networking, wedding PR, wedding sales, vendor networking, branding, pricing and much more. Please pass this news along to your own professional wedding network. To receive this advice in your email inbox each week, Sign Up for a Free BridalTweet Membership.

Comment by Caroline Ward on August 16, 2010 at 7:32am: Thanks for all your knowledge Christine it is so helpful in the day to day running of my business.

Comment by The Favour Shoppe on August 17, 2010 at 4:32am: great advice ! Thanks! <3

Comment by Dina Eisenberg on August 17, 2010 at 5:33am: From my days in corporate life, I brought the lesson of absolute reliability to PositivelyWed.com. My word is my bond, and I know that being accountable beyond measure makes my coaching clients trust me (and promote me) even more.

Comment by Sharon Larkin on August 17, 2010 at 5:36am: Those are excellent suggestions, and I can attest to thier usefulness in the wedding business. Thanks for sharing!

Comment by Brandy Blackford on August 17, 2010 at 6:07am: Clients are always surprised by the little extras or the service level we provide - emergency kits, the personal thank you cards, the quick response time and actually answering the questions that are asked.

Comment by Rhythm N Ritmo Music & Ent. on August 17, 2010 at 6:20am: Be careful and don't bite more than you can chew,the old saying goes but sometimes you have to be a little risky too. Not that anything against these great suggestion. I do remember though, as a DJ loosing business for not providing certain services. I've been a DJ for over 20 years and in my own business for almost 9. If I have the time to research and learn something I will and sold the service; even out source until you get to know enough. I don't want to promisse the world and not deliver, but do want the business and my client happy. I also work in the engineering field so I try to take calculated risk.

Comment by Ron R. Porras on August 17, 2010 at 6:35am: "Go above and beyond", everyone is looking for more value and I as a consumer will always return to where I received something unexpected. Flexibility, sincerity, and a big smile is an extra that doesn't cost us anything. Thanks for the insight.

Comment by Denise Lawrence on August 17, 2010 at 7:18am: My motto has always been to work hard and to always provide my clients with much more than they expect. It just makes me feel good inside when a bride calls and tells me how much they loved their wedding capelet. The best feeling in the world for me is to know I made someone very happy and have given them more than they could have dreamed possible with my gift of sewing.

Comment by Temecula Floral Studio on August 20, 2010 at 5:27pm: what a great post. It's amazing how when you read, reread and reiterate it will start to become all second nature.