10 Must-Do Resolutions for Wedding Vendors in 2011

Wedding Professionals:

2011 is off to a great start! Especially since January and February mark the high season for when couples get engaged and begin to plan their weddings. That makes this the perfect time to reflect on areas where we can improve our businesses.  If you are new to our wedding community of 10,700+ vendors and brides,  then here are two blog articles that will help you in 2011 to make the best use of your time here: 

• 6 Free Ways Vendors Can Help Their Businesses via BridalTweet
• 7 Ways to Make Your BridalTweet Profile More Effective

And for both our new and old members, here are 10 resolutions that I believe every wedding professional needs to make to get this year off to a great start:

1. Differentiate yourself – On some days, it is overwhelming to think about how many wedding professionals there are in the world. But don't be discouraged.  My advice is that you should create a short list of things that make you unique. Present that list to potential wedding clients before even discussing your services. I also suggest that you survey your clients and ask them how your business can help them most. Then, focus on selling what brides actually want – and not what you think they need. These tactics will help you to stand out in the industry.
2. Provide valuable information – To get today’s bride’s attention, be sure to look at the world through her lens. Ask yourself - what does she want and what does she need to know during the various stages of planning her wedding? You are the wedding expert, so tell her what she needs to know. A great way to do this is by having a wedding blog, which can showcase your work and provide planning tips.
3. Go above and beyond - Look at unique, special touches that can be offered to your wedding clients. These don’t have to cost a lot but that extra effort will go a long way in terms of client satisfaction. In addition, handle all customer service issues as soon as possible because this will build loyalty and it will result in more future referrals for you.
4. Don’t lower your prices - Have confidence in what your business offers and don’t sell yourself short. Solely focus on prospects that can afford your services. In other words, focus on your ideal bride (or target market) – a bride that values the problems that your business can solve for them. 
5. Say no – especially to Bridezillas - Many wedding professionals feel that they need to work with every single client. However, you have to make sure your client relationships are mutually beneficial. It is OK to come to terms with the fact that not every client is a good fit for your business. Just think - if you are spending a ton of extra time with one client, that time translates into money that you could have been using to drive new business.
6. Have face-to-face meetings - Stop relying on email as the only way to talk with clients. Even in our new world of social media, strong business relationships are still built in person.
7. Hire great people - Hire people (or interns) that are better than you at certain job functions. If you are good at marketing but are doing it on a day-to-day basis, then you can’t focus on the bigger picture of the company. Find someone who can take that responsibility over for you.
8. Attend at least one wedding industry event – Make an effort to network with your peers and to learn from them. You’ll be surprised about the doors that this can open for your business. 
9. Learn at least one new skill - Look at becoming skillful in a new area like blogging, social media, or getting a stronger grasp on your business’ accounting. You’ll be grateful that you did.
10. Find balance – As small business owners, our businesses tend to take over our lives. Trust me, I know. So, don’t forget to take time for yourself and your friends/family. Your clients will be able to tell if you are a well-balanced and well-rested person…and this will deepen both their trust and respect for you.  And the bottom line is - you'll be happier!

Finally, be proud of your accomplishments in 2011. Celebrate the huge achievement of creating a wedding business and helping engaged couples. You are creating moments that your clients will remember for the rest of their lives!

What New Year's resolutions do you want to add? Please comment 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.