How wedding vendor networking helps market your venue
With so much focus on online marketing, it’s important not to forget the beauty of traditional offline relationships and what they can do for your business. The wedding industry is no different and it’s crucial for your wedding venue to develop friendships with other professionals in the industry. The difficulty in measuring the ROI of networking has resulted in many marketers brushing it aside in recent years, but here we outline the benefits the simple art of wedding vendor networking can do for your venue.
Gain Credibility
Whether you’re new to the industry or have been building your business for some time, gaining a positive reputation amongst other wedding professionals is paramount. While customer reviews are undoubtedly important to boost online popularity on social media and review websites, a recommendation from an associate in the industry is worth its weight in gold. Photographers, jewellers, bridal dress showrooms are all in contact with engaged couples early on in the planning process, so having their support and good word on your business is highly valuable. Making the effort to put yourself out there at the start may be daunting, but the benefits of wedding vendor networking should most definitely be worth it!
Advice
The range of skills and expertise professionals in the wedding industry hold can be used to your venues advantage. Through networking, you are being introduced to professionals from all backgrounds and businesses, each with unique ideas and experiences from working in the industry. Of course it has to be mutually beneficial, so share your knowledge and any useful tips you have learned in order to nurture the relationship. There may be aspects of the industry you are unsure about, use this opportunity to ask questions and learn from those who are skilled in the areas you’re not.
Referrals
Referrals play a huge role within the wedding industry with so many vendors playing a part in the couple’s big day and meeting the bride and groom at various stages of the planning process. With so much choice available in the industry, you want to become the venue people suggest when asked for recommendations by wedding couples overwhelmed by so much choice. Through attending wedding exhibitions and social events, you can get to know photographers and cake makers for example. Making it onto another vendor or a wedding planner's list of favoured venues can be invaluable for your business. For example, a photographer may allow you to use great shots they have taken of weddings in your venue for promotion purposes on your own website. In return you could recommend their services when a bride and groom ask for your preferred photographer.
Vendor networking may seem like the last thing you want to engage in amongst a busy schedule, but seeing the benefits it can bring to your venue makes it a worthy task to incorporate into your hotel marketing strategy.
Does your wedding venue engage in vendor networking? Has it boosted your popularity and increased bookings? Let us know – we love to hear your feedback!
