Own Your Business

Instagram is where people go to kill time. Pinterest is the place where they fantasize about a better future. If you want to work with people who dream big - and have budgets to match - it’s time to put out content on Pinterest. On this week’s episode of Own Your Business, I chat with Carolina Guzik, a luxury photographer who made her mark in the industry by attracting clients with pin-worthy images. We discuss:

- Common misconceptions about Pinterest that hold wedding pros back

- Why couples use Pinterest - and how you can trigger their interest in your brand

- Ways Pinterest connects with other marketing strategies

- How to get tens of thousands of viewers without spending tons of time

Think SEO is for couples who aren’t your ideal clients? Think again. Potential clients don’t use Google when they’re lost. They use it when they’re starting out, including those who could be the perfect match for your services and price point. Tune in this week to Own Your Business for a conversation with SEO expert Sara Dunn, who dives into:

- 3 big myths about SEO that cost you business

- Why SEO works for services at ALL prices

- Top changes to make today for a better online presence

- How SEO ties into every other marketing strategy

Your network is your safety net when things go wrong and your fishing net to feed your business. So how do you go about building relationships - and capitalizing on them - in a way that feels authentic to you? In this week’s episode of Own Your Business, I sit down with Megan Gillikin, a master networker and one of the most genuine human beings I know to:

- Network successfully even if you’re an introvert or have imposter syndrome

- Surprise and delight couples during the client journey

- Connect with new friendors who align well with your brand

- Earn more referrals without sounding cheesy

It’s impossible to translate the experiences at Engage to someone who didn’t attend. The program is so immersive, and designed around, well, engaging with others at the event. But we can share our biggest takeaways with you. If you missed the New Orleans Summit - or you were there but want my perspective - tune in to this week’s episode of Own Your Business.

Let’s be honest: Planner referrals are a necessity if you want to move up in the wedding industry. Not only do they recommend clients, but they typically pay more and offer super interesting projects. But how do you get on a planner’s list in the first place? In this episode of Own Your Business, I sit down with Shannon Leahy, one of the most respected (and decorated) planners in the industry to dive deep into:

- Different ways planners refer vendors to their clients

- How information is shared with couples

- Important criteria planners consider before making a recommendation

- What you can do to get a foot in the door with planners like her

- How to lose your spot on a planner’s list

Inside Scoop: Engage! Summits

Engage is THE luxury wedding community to be a part of - and Katy and I are giving you the BTS of our personal experiences over the past nine years. We’ve attended a combined 25 of them since December 2013, including the new Retreat program, and in this episode we’ll share:

- Why the investment is worth every last penny

- How to decide if Engage is “right” for you

- Top tips on networking, attire and maintaining your energy

- Our favorite moments over the years

Websites are big projects to tackle. Templates, branding, copy, image selection, site design/customization, blog migration, portfolio updates…and so. much. more. What parts take how long? What comes first: Copy or Design? What slows down the process? And how can you speed it up so the project doesn’t drag out for a year or more?

Karley Kiker of Writefully Said (the designers we work with most on our copywriting projects) joins me in this episode of Own Your Business to discuss:

- Common misconceptions about copywriting and design

- How much time a website project takes to complete

- What you can do to speed it up – and still get great results

- Quick tips to improve your current site

Owning a successful business means you meet your goals on a regular basis. But what if you don’t have any goals? Or they aren’t broken down into milestones that show you’re on the right path at the right pace? It’s absolutely necessary – and quite simple – to set a destination and create a road map for your revenue. In this week’s episode of Own Your Business, I’ll share with you:

- Two common pitfalls I see when setting revenue goals

- Why many sales and pricing plans aren’t realistic

- A simple reframe on how many weddings you want to book – and why it makes all the difference

Here’s a good rule of thumb for referrals: For every year you’ve been serving couples, 10% of your booked business should come from past and current clients. Each season builds on top of the next, and eventually, most of your couples will come on recommendation from those they trust most, and who also know your services the best.

If you’re not seeing enough referrals from clients, tune into this episode of Own Your Business, where I’ll share:

- Why client referrals always trump vendor referrals

- The difference between a sales funnel and a referral flywheel

- 5 specific strategies you can put into practice today to get more inquiries from your most qualified buyers

Remember, the key to sales success is to provide the right information at the right time in the right way. Those who do will unlock the opportunity for your business grow.

But if you screen your couples too much you may prevent unidentified but still ideal clients from getting into your inbox, or all the way through to contract.

In this week’s episode of Own Your Business, I talk about:

-      4 reasons couples struggle to book the right vendors

-      3 areas to focus on if you want to book more clients at higher prices

-      14 ways you’re making it hard for couples to make progress in the buyer’s journey

-      8 tactics you can use to make it easier to say “yes” to your services