Whether you’re eager to see the back of it or are feeling super positive about the changes this year has brought you, the New Year signals a fresh start which means out with the old and in with the new.

As we near the end of 2017 and prepare to welcome a new year steeped in brand new opportunities, it’s time to think about what went well this year and decide what we resolve to do in 2018.

We’ve taken a fair few learnings out of 2017 and it is with this new insight that we bring you our recommendations on where you should be focusing your efforts to win more bookings next year.

Here are 3 New Year’s Resolutions we want wedding suppliers to commit to in 2018.

Define your brand

Branding is one of the most important aspects of any business – whether you’re large or small, B2B or B2C. Your brand is a promise to future clients that you’re a trustworthy wedding supplier who commits to delivering a certain quality of service, consistently.

Brand should reflect whether you’re a high cost, high quality wedding supplier or a low cost, good value for money one, and potential clients should be able to recognise where your product or service sits on this spectrum.

Resolve to answer these questions in 2018 and ensure that everyone you employ at your wedding company understands your brand attributes and what makes you, you.

What is your company’s mission – why do you exist and what are your objectives?
What are the benefits and features of your products or services?
What do existing clients and prospect couples already think of your company?
What qualities do you want people to associate with your company?

To do list: once you’ve defined exactly who you are as a wedding business resolve to build a brand guideline document which details all the key brand attributes your team should be aware of and how these tie in to your business objectives. If you currently work alone, this is still a great exercise and will help remind you of your brand values throughout the year.

Ask For Reviews

If there’s one thing we’ve learnt from 2017 it’s that reviews matter. And we mean REALLY matter. Newly engaged couples are clocking up hours researching wedding suppliers like you on the internet, and they’re particularly interested in star ratings and reviews.

You must resolve to ask your most recent clients to leave you a review in 2018 and beyond. Showcasing reviews from over a year ago simply won’t do. Potential clients are looking at dates and relevance – they want to understand who you impressed recently.

Go one step further and ask couples who said no to leaving you a review why they made that decision. Appropriately managing negative reviews or opinions can actually help new potential clients see your wedding business in a positive light as it shows that you care about the opinions of couples you’ve worked with and are always looking to improve.

To do list: set up an alert system whenever you receive a booking from a new client for 1 month after their wedding date. This will remind you to reach out to clients post-wedding and ask for a review once they’ve had time to get over the wedding buzz.

Psst: post reviews on your Bridebook Business profile and secure more new bookings than ever before thanks to increased brand exposure (+40,000 couples to be precise).

Refine your online presence

Does your wedding business feature on multiple sites and platforms across numerous corners of the web?

Well as long as you’ve been strategic in deciding where to feature your wedding services it’s good that you’re showcasing your brand in various places. However you must ensure that you always keep your information up to date – otherwise this increased presence could be detrimental to business rather than beneficial.

Resolve to ensure that wherever you’re present on the web – that means your website, your Bridebook profile or your social media accounts – that you ensure you’re featuring current photographs in your portfolio, new reviews, accurate pricing information and correct contact details.

Millennial couples will do their research and may check out your Instagram profile, then your Bridebook profile and then your website, so make sure you’re consistent.

To do list: it’s really important that you link between profiles to ensure Google knows you’re all joined up as one wedding business. Make sure you include a link to your website on your Instagram accounts and other profiles.

Let’s make 2018 your best year yet

Wave goodbye to 2017 and welcome in 2018 with these key action points and watch your wedding business flourish in the new year.

What did you learn in 2017 about your wedding business or the industry in general? And how will this affect how you do business in 2018?

3 New Year’s Resolutions for every wedding professional