WEDDING MBA 2016!

WEDDING MBA 2016!A breath of fresh air

CURB APPEAL

Bb Webb author of build your businessinfo@arrivingwithbbwebb.com770-846-1308www.arrivingwithbbwebb.comwww.farmhouse.com

The way you do anything is the way you do EVERYTHING.- BB WEBBHow to improve storefrontCurbside Taboos poor maintenance, full ashtrays, dead grass, dead plants, burnt out light bulbs. Educate your team, put SOPs in place.Start a lunch bunch with other venues. Meet & discuss business, exchange referrals. Discuss challenges & fears to win business.Get involved with City Council!Tending to in-house detailsHow should things look? Train your team to have a mindful eye. Create a Company Playbook complete with checklist and SOPs.How does it smell? Create a first impression with a smell, room temperature and a smiling staff member. Make sure your team is polished. The team should know about each appointment. (Offer coffee & cookies for appointments?)Its all in the detailsWhat makes us unique? Who Checks the details? Charging dishes cleaned? Floors swept, windows not smudgy, linens placed right side out, paintings not tilted, bathrooms cleaned, trash cans emptied, soap dispenser filled, enough toilet paperetc.Reward team members for awesome behavior!

Showcasing the best YOU!

What sets us apart? What is the experience you want people to have when they meet you? Whats your brand? Brand is how you do what you do. Curbside appeal has to do with culture. Make clear our values. Emotional intelligence is a must! Be admirable.Listen to your couple. Actively listen. Learn whats important to THEM. Be consistent and caring with your follow up.KEEP IT HUMAN.

Chamber of secrets

Marc McIntosh Owner, The Wedding Experiencewww.MarcMcIntosh.com

Insider Wedding Show TipsAttendees rank venues as top 5 reasons they attend a wedding show.

Keys To SuccessGet some help!Use PinterestPictures (Of people having fun!)Wedding specific marketing materialSend your best to the showServe food! (more cost & prep)Bring servers for foodShow DayDress for SuccessMake connectionsDont waste time! Have a list of booked dates! (Ipad for this)Ask them questions about their wedding (qualify)Booth should have a few BIG items, not lots of little. Not cluttered.Action pics of weddingsPaper Flower Wall!? (Cool!)Post Show Follow UpHost an open house! Get people in.Preferred vendor night?Overnight stay for potential couple?Answer objections up frontNever use industry terms with the client (I.e. BEO)Bundle a la carte itemsUpsell without nickel & diming

We can step our game up For sure!Who are they?? Yard sale.

Great signage, elegant & simple.

Venue vendetta

Fred Jacob Owner, The Pink Bridewww.MBA.ThePinkBride.comFred@ThePinkBride.com

Social mediaAsk yourself:How do we want to be perceived?What is our social media strategy?Do we have brand consistency?What is our LOGO for events?Who is our target audience? Where are they?

ContentUse the 80/20 rule8 of 10 posts are non-sellingVIDEOS! Show empty and complete set up of ballroom.REAL testimonials!Show diversityUse high quality photosSEOADD A BLOG!!Every venue should have more than 1 intern blogging for them!Blogging creates organic SEOUse key words! (wisely)Hootsuite is a great way to link

The Verdict

Rob Schenk Wedding Lawyerwww.WeddingIndustryLaw.com

Firing a clientHave 1 point of contact from beginning of booking. This allows us to be out of the loop regarding disagreementsMaterial breach of contract i.e. No show. (Being late is also a breach!)Immaterial breach completing the task, providing the service, but contacting a lawyer at a later date.Firing a client opens you up for lawsuits. Even if you give them their money back, you are in breach of contract.We can include a behavior clause in our contracts. Careful with wording, though. Include explicitly what behavior is appropriate, and what is inappropriate. Do not attempt a clause like this without an attorney.

Show me the money

Carley Roney, Co-Founder, The Knotwww.theknot.comCarley Roney is at the helm of the worlds favorite wedding brand as editor in chief of TheKnot.com and its sister site, TheNest.com. She is the author of seven wedding books from the knot, and appears regularly onOprah,Today andThe View.

The knot entrepreneurial 9Passion ~ Define your mission, express it with enthusiasm. Dance to your own beat! Create your manifesto.Optimism ~ Push boundaries! Ask your self, why cant I? why not? what if?Decisive ~ Trust your gut! Take the plunge, execution is EVERYTHING. Action is EVERYTHING. Too much research will cause doubt! (wow)Relentless ~ Everything can be improved, expect the impossible.Transparent ~ Ask for feedback. Listen carefully. Millennials expect an intimate relationship with vendors. The want to know them, not just buy services.Tech obsessed ~ EMBRACE CHANGE! Understand whats next. (set aside 1 day each month to investigate NEW technology for 2 hours.) Assign someone to be a technology evangelist! Team obsessed ~ Bring the right people on. Hire for attitude, over experience. Treat your team well. Culture comes from you!Connected ~ Invest in your network, build community. Be open to serendipitous encounters!Gratitude ~ Appreciation and AWE are INSPIRING!!

Passionate OptimisticDecisiveRelentlessTransparentTech-obsessedTeam-obsessed Connected GratitudeFun!

Rates * Reviews * real weddings

Engage with reviewers. Be authentic but never angry. Admit mistakes.

Real pictures tell your story best and are what couples search for.

Ask for feedback post wedding, and mean it! Use the power of testimonials

Life is enormously better when were real with each other, and it makes us wonder why we cant always assume this posture.

Transparency merely invites us to do the hard work of building meaningful relationships the right way. - Carley Roney

Death of a salesmanTammy Elliot President, Perfect Wedding Guidewww.PerfectWeddingGuide.comTammy Elliot is the President of Perfect Wedding Guide. She is responsible for the strategic development of existing and new products lines (print, internet, bridal shows), and the development of business and sales strategies for all company products. Ms. Elliot has been President of Perfect Wedding Guide since 2004. She has extensive experience in medial sales and management. Her career spans a multitude of mediums, where she has managed, owned, and/or consulted at numerous media outlets including radio, TV, cable, and print. She has guided numerous start-ups and turn around situations for organizations.

Cut through the clutter.We are feeling machinesAll buying decisions are emotional.To be persuasive, emotional connection is an absolute necessity.We feel first, and then we think.Get personal. Test and retest. Am I connecting with them? Am I getting personal? Test different types of messages.Marketing Tool KitCross Platforms be sure info transforms to all devices. People use more than 1 media. SEO for mobile is a must.Measure and adjust tend to marketing on a regular basis. Give test campaigns enough time to work! It takes a good solid media mix to impress a brand awarenessSolid Plan & Budget for Social MediaAn elevator pitch be able to describe your business in a couple minutes time.8 Strategies for BusinessesFunnel Approach (slide available)The partnership approach team up with another businessMarket segmentation we already do thisWhat brides are we marketing to?Become an industry leaderThe chief revenue officerCreate a positive work environment

The wizards of ozFollow the yellow tech road:Timothy Chi, CEO Wedding WireSonny Ganguly, CMO Wedding Wire

Dont focus on todays success! The future is NOW.Social, Mobile & Local is a MUST!The key to social in 2015 pinstabookThe key to social in 2016 facesnapAnything Facebook owns!Must stay relevant 100% visual!Visual is processed at a fast rate!Stories and LIVE videos ONLY!Everything should be mobilized!There are more mobile phones than toilets & tooth brushes COMBINEDTablet usage is declining. Phones are the shit! Mobile Revolution think END to END.Everything should be mobilized!! 4 out of 5 consumers rely on local searchImprove local/mobile SEO be in the top 3Own the latest mobile technology!Social Media 2016 FacesnapFacebook LIVE is the shit! Test it use it!Create VIDEO content! Facebooks own content is 100% VIDEO!Start testing Snapchat! SEE SLIDE to find out WHY. Dont get left in the dark!Dominate Facebook +1 platform (snap )Use your consumers preferred platform for communication.

We dont need help. Weve always had the power! WE MUST SNAPCHAT.

Numbers dont lie

Dont get left in the dark!Embrace changeStay relevant!

JAWSTracy Brown, Body Language ExpertShark TankAuthor of Persuasion Pointwww.TracyBrown.com

Do what successful people do, and you will get the results they do! ~ Tracy BrownAsk yourself:Who are my sharks?Where does the pressure come from?What would life be like if I heard YES from them?The Key:Pay attention to the small things so you can make big things happen.Profile & PersonalizePersuasion is about KNOWING what will happen next.Profiling:Using this tool will make yourself magnetic. People will like you, and they wont know why.People make a decision about you in under 9 seconds.Lower your voice on the phone. Be assertive! Ask for the sale.

This is Jake.

Dont ask me what he was talking about

Your welcome.

Just Kidding.SEO FOR MOBILEJake Reed, Product Manager, The Knot

Make sure your site is mobile friendly.Properly sized images photo gallery button.Reviews Prominent CTADo a key word AUDIT!Determine which keywords you need and add them to your page.Determine keywords by searching as if you are a couple! (GENIUS) Use keywords strategicallyMake sure your site is structured for Google crawl.Most important content at the top of the page.Use keywords in URL.Write content that INSPIRES.Link to that content from Social Media!Create links back to your site. (WOW)Optimize photos by naming them! Google acknowledges keywords in Google image search! (Who knew?!)Google map yourself. Name address and phone number (NAP) should be published everywhere!

Boiler roomSales for Wedding ProsChris Evans, Bridal Business Bootcampwww.BridalBusinessBootcamp.comwww.evanssalessolutions.com

People lose interest within 4 minutes if you dont say anything interesting. - Chris EvansEvans TruismsEvery day is a bright new day with unlimited possibilities.The amount of money I make is directly proportionate to the amount of business I book.Most businesses do not have a lack of prospects, they have a lack of follow up.Rules of Selling99% of people answer a text. Why arent we texting Brides???You must have someone to sell to. The lifeblood my business is talking to Brides.The average bride buys after 7 contacts. The average wedding pro stops after 2. (WOW)Follow up should happen within 1 week of the show.ABC NonsenseABC always be closing is nonsense.People buy what they want, not what they need.Desire determines the degree of want.Create desire instead of selling your product. Create vision, then execute the dream!

Sell the visit, not the product.- Chris Evans6 Reasons brides attend shows:Gather informationCompare pricesWin PrizesReceive discountsSample productsHave fun#1 Reason merchants attend shows:

BOOK FACE TO FACE VISITS!!!FABFeature, advantage, benefitsAdvantage = DescriptionFAB creates DESIRE!Feature is something you are proud ofFormula for FAB Feature plus description so that benefit

COURAGECall your morning show & ask for a segment. Have content! Pick up the phone and call. Call the segment producer and flood emails with info about you! SELL THE VISIT!!!

He did this! He called someone from the audience and called their local morning show!! It was great!

Ready to wear!

Style Driven

Lisa Stoner, Owner/Designer, Lisa Stoner Eventswww.LisaStonerEvents.comPoshmark.comStitchfix.comTruckclub.comGwynniebee.comRenttherunway.com

75% of your wardrobe should be solid colors- Lisa StonerGrooming Counts!Dress for the job you want, not for the job you haveDress like the expertClassic cuts versus trendy cuts ALWAYS winsBlouses should be currentKeep accessories modest 5 at most. Earrings, time piece and 2 others

8 tips to look polishedDress for the job you wantDress for the clients comfort, not your ownPrevent wrinkles & missing buttonsPay attention to your hands & nailsDont neglect your shoesDont overlook your accessoriesKeep a jacket handyKeep your garments looking fresh Must havesRED generates excitement!Black/grey suitBlack pumpsBlack pantsBlack knee length skirtWhite blouseFlannels, flip-flops, chipped polish, low rise, shorts, all NO WAY.

The science of style and fashionThe rule of thirds. Create a visual impression of your body into 3 parts. Wear flats with knee skirts ONLY.An impression is made within 3 to 5 seconds of meeting someone. Our brains are attracted to bold colors, florals and silhouettes.Entrepreneurs need to conform to the event, like everyone else. All of these things add to our STRENGTH.

SLIDING DOORSThe science behind better decision making. Clint Hufft Celebrity Officiantwww.reverendclint.weebly.com

The more decisions you make, the easier it becomes. Its EMPOWERING. - Clint HufftFEARKanotophobia fear of changeFear of losing moneyFear of what others may thinkShame is I am a mistakeGuilt is I made a mistakeGood decision toolsStoicism stoic philosophy4 hour work weekTim Farriss Google him!Identify who you areThe path of least resistanceFind your rhythmStructure daily processes around your rhythmsPick a priority! (Mark Zuckerburg was Growth)Be the me I want to be!Remain humble & teachable

Quora.com

Ask any question and get answers!Get a MENTOR!Never assume MALICE.80% of results come from 20% of your effortsBegin with the END in mindBe autonomous!Dream BIG and build momentum.

I could go on and onI have about 30 more slides.Thank you so much for this opportunity! It really was an amazing experience.

If you would like more in depth information on any topic covered here, please reach out.

Wedding mba 2017#powerhouse #cooperhotels #divideandconquor