Today I'm chatting with author, wedding coach and marketing strategist Heidi Thompson. We talk about how the marketing landscape is changing and what couples expectation is in 2024 vs a few years ago. We also discuss her upcoming FREE Book more weddings summit and I ask her the awkward questions you don't want to.

Click to get your FREE summit ticket now

Want to meet other likeminded wedding pro's so that you can share ideas, network and help each other out? Then why not go ahead and join my free Wedding Pro community over on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/weddingprosreadytogrow/

Find out more about how I can help you grow your wedding business over on my website or Instagram page:

www.beccapountney.com

www.instagram.com/beccapountney

Time stamps:

Introduction to the Episode (00:00:00)

Discussing the importance of standing out to attract the right clients.

Meet the Host and Guest (00:00:23)

Becca introduces herself and Heidi, highlighting their expertise in wedding marketing.

Reflecting on Past Episodes (00:01:14)

Discussion of Heidi's previous appearance on the podcast two years ago.

Introduction of Becca Bot (00:01:35)

Becca shares about her new website tool, Becca Bot, for easy podcast episode access.

Marketing Shifts in Two Years (00:03:07)

Heidi discusses the changes in wedding marketing strategies since the pandemic.

Couples’ Research Behavior (00:04:57)

Exploring how couples are conducting more in-depth research when choosing vendors.

Referrals and Client Choices (00:06:38)

The shift in how referrals are perceived and acted upon by couples.

Importance of Standing Out (00:08:35)

The necessity for wedding professionals to clearly present their unique offerings.

Avoiding Price Competition (00:09:21)

Strategies for standing out without resorting to lowering prices.

Understanding Clients’ Needs (00:10:45)

Emphasizing the importance of addressing actual client problems in marketing.

Overview of the More Weddings Virtual Summit (00:11:30)

Heidi introduces the structure and purpose of the upcoming summit.

Summit Dates Announcement (00:12:34)

Sharing the dates for the More Weddings Virtual Summit.

Addressing Free Summit Concerns (00:13:30)

Heidi explains the rationale behind offering the summit for free.

Maximizing Summit Participation (00:17:18)

Tips on how attendees can get the most value from the summit.

Success Stories from Past Summits (00:20:01)

Heidi shares examples of attendees who have successfully implemented strategies learned at the summit.

Overcoming Fear of Change (00:21:16)

Discussing the importance of trying new techniques to improve client follow-up and reduce overwhelm.

Managing Overwhelm (00:21:55)

Heidi shares strategies for dealing with overwhelming information from educational events.

Brain Dumping Strategy (00:22:03)

The process of organizing thoughts and tasks to reduce anxiety and create actionable plans.

Identifying Action Steps...

Wedding MBA is the largest wedding industry conference in the world! Taking place in Las Vegas every November, it's the only way to see all of the best wedding industry educators in one room.

Today I'm chatting to Shannon Underwood - Vice President and conference director of Wedding MBA. She takes us behind the scenes of the event and shares why you should be there!

Want to join me in Vegas? Use the code BECCA at the checkout for a huge discount!

Click to get your ticket now!

Want to meet other likeminded wedding pro's so that you can share ideas, network and help each other out? Then why not go ahead and join my free Wedding Pro community over on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/weddingprosreadytogrow/

Find out more about how I can help you grow your wedding business over on my website or Instagram page:

www.beccapountney.com

www.instagram.com/beccapountney

Time Stamps:

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview

00:47 Meet Shannon Underwood: Wedding MBA Insights

01:55 The Origins of Wedding MBA

02:56 Growth and Evolution of Wedding MBA

06:53 The Importance of Education and Exhibitors

08:28 Networking and Hands-On Learning

09:16 Who Attends Wedding MBA?

15:48 Maximizing Your Wedding MBA Experience

22:24 Social Events and Networking Opportunities

27:53 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the FREE 'Get Visible and Book More Weddings' audio bootcamp now

Feeling stuck? This free training is designed to help you revaluate your wedding business and move forwards towards more bookings. Sign up for free here: https://go.beccapountney.com/bootcamp

Audio bootcamp

2024 has been the year of tracking the stats in my wedding business and using the data to make business decisions. Ever since Tayler from Enji introduced me to the concept of KPI day, it's become a regular part of my month and I want it to be part of yours too! In today's episode I am taking you behind the scenes of my own stats and sharing the numbers in your.

Join our monthly lounge calls in the Wedding Pro Members Lounge

Join Enji to track your KPI's using my affiliate link

Buy the Wedding Pro Planner

Want to meet other likeminded wedding pro's so that you can share ideas, network and help each other out? Then why not go ahead and join my free Wedding Pro community over on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/weddingprosreadytogrow/

Find out more about how I can help you grow your wedding business over on my website or Instagram page:

www.beccapountney.com

www.instagram.com/beccapountney

Time Stamps:

Adoption of KPIs (00:00:00) Becca discusses her adoption of KPIs to monitor business progress and the impact on decision-making.

Use of Energy Platform (00:01:49) Becca explains her use of the Enji platform for social media scheduling, marketing campaign planning, and KPI tracking.

Monthly Lounge Calls (00:02:45) Becca talks about the impact of monthly lounge calls for wedding pro members and the review of KPIs during these calls.

Tracking Social Media Following (00:03:28) Becca details the tracking of social media following for her business and wedding blog on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok.

Website Analytics (00:06:57) Becca discusses tracking website analytics, including monthly visitors, and the impact on website improvements.

Email List Subscribers (00:09:27) Becca explains the tracking of email list growth and its influence on email marketing strategies.

Podcast Performance (00:11:09) Becca discusses tracking podcast downloads, episode performance, and attribution links to measure the podcast's impact on business.

Vicinity Weddings Applications (00:13:46) Becca explains the tracking of applications for Vicinity Weddings and its financial viability for her business.

Financial Tracking (00:16:17) Becca details the tracking of income and costs using spreadsheets for a detailed financial overview.

Sales and Income Tracking (00:17:53) Becca discusses tracking sales by category, analyzing peaks and troughs, and comparing sales across different periods.

Costs and Profit (00:18:47) Becca emphasizes the importance of monitoring costs, setting cost targets, and analyzing cost percentages to maximize profit.

Cost Analysis and Adjustments (00:19:37) Becca explains how she reviews and categorizes costs, tracks them using QuickBooks, and makes adjustments based on cost percentages.

Monthly Sales and Cost Overview (00:20:22) Becca shares a detailed breakdown of her monthly costs and sales, highlighting the...

Today I am joined by Wedding DJ, turned 'Eventpreneur' Toby Burns. CEO of the 'Silent Disco Company' Toby now has a team of employees and an international customer base. In today's episode he shares his journey and talks about how he believes customer service and innovation have transformed his own business and life.

Find out more about The Silent Disco Company

Watch Toby over on Youtube

Want to meet other likeminded wedding pro's so that you can share ideas, network and help each other out? Then why not go ahead and join my free Wedding Pro community over on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/weddingprosreadytogrow/

Find out more about how I can help you grow your wedding business over on my website or Instagram page:

www.beccapountney.com

www.instagram.com/beccapountney

Time Stamps:

The journey from wedding DJ to entrepreneur (00:00:00)

Toby discusses his transition from a children's entertainer to a niche wedding DJ in the Jewish and Arab wedding market, leading to his eventual founding of the Silent Disco Company.

Spotting an opportunity and scaling the business (00:00:57)

Toby shares his entrepreneurial journey, from recognizing an opportunity in the event space to scaling it into a successful business, including the decision to start the Silent Disco Company.

Innovation and customer feedback in business development (00:16:33)

Toby emphasizes the importance of innovation and customer feedback in evolving and growing the business, highlighting the role of customer feedback and continuous improvement in business success.

DJ'ing and Dry Hire (00:19:13)

Toby talks about still enjoying DJ'ing nd the business model, including dry hire and in-house DJs.

Innovation and Product Development (00:19:54)

Toby discusses the importance of simplicity and innovation in product creation, citing the example of a karaoke product.

Challenges Faced during COVID-19 (00:22:00)

Toby reflects on the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in the events industry, and the mental strain it caused.

Staffing Challenges and Recruitment (00:25:52)

Toby talks about the challenges of managing a team, recruitment processes, and the importance of retaining the right employees.

Hiring Process and Employee Categorization (00:27:36)

Toby explains the detailed hiring process for senior management and the categorization of employees based on performance.

Mental Strain of Business Ownership (00:33:47)

Toby reflects on the mental strain of being a business owner and the importance of seeking advice from fellow entrepreneurs.

Conclusion and Call to Innovate (00:36:11)

Becca concludes the interview, emphasizing the need for innovation and action in business.

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the FREE 'Get Visible and Book More Weddings' audio bootcamp now

Feeling stuck? This free training is designed to help you revaluate your wedding business and move forwards towards more bookings. Sign up for free here: https://go.beccapountney.com/bootcamp

Audio bootcamp

Today I'm chatting with Krissy Quinton, founder of Primrose cakes. After building a successful wedding cake business herself, Krissy now supports newer cake makers in the practicality of setting up a cake business. From food hygiene to FSA guidelines, we cover it all today - and whether you are a cake maker or not, there's a lot in this episode for you!

Get the toxic flowers free download

Find Krissy on Instagram

Visit Primrose Cakes

Time stamps:

Starting a Cake Business (00:00:54) Krissy's journey from a teacher to starting her cake business, experiences with getting recommended at venues, and involvement in the new guidance from the Food Standards Agency.

Transition from Teaching to Cake Making (00:01:57) Krissy's transition from teaching to cake making, self-taught cake decorating, and formal training.

First Customers and Cake Making (00:03:03) How Krissy got her first customers, started with celebration cakes, and added weddings to her business.

Getting Recommended at Venues (00:07:34) Krissy's process of getting recommended at venues, the challenges, and the importance of pushing oneself.

Transition to Full Self-Employment (00:10:20) Krissy's transition from teaching to full self-employment, managing the risk, and navigating the decision.

Struggles in the Cake Business (00:12:50) Krissy's struggles with customer ghosting, balancing quiet and busy spells, and the personal impact of business decisions.

Guidance on Using Flowers on Cakes (00:19:05) Krissy's involvement in the new guidance from the Food Standards Agency on using flowers on cakes and her interest in teaching others about it.

The guidance from the Food Standards Agency (00:19:59) Krissy shares her involvement in providing feedback on the guidance about using flowers on cakes.

Top line advice on using flowers on cakes (00:20:48) Krissy provides tips on using fresh flowers and foliage on food, including knowing the flowers and using organic ones.

Responsibility of cake makers (00:23:04) Krissy emphasizes the cake maker's responsibility in ensuring the safety of the flowers and foliage used on the cake.

Expected date for the guidance release (00:24:50) Krissy discusses the expected release date of the guidance and clarifies that it's not a law but a soft guidance.

The importance of branding and marketing (00:25:42) Krissy talks about the significance of branding and marketing in her business and the changes she implemented.

Resources for cake makers (00:27:45) Krissy shares her website and free downloads, including information on toxic flowers and foliage not to be used on cakes.

Today I am addressing the 10 mistakes wedding venues are making and how to fix them. Whether you work in a venue, own a venue or are working as a wedding pro, this episode is for you. I cover a wide range of topics from pricing to show rounds and everything in between.

Want a training session for your venue team? Get in touch.

Time Stamps:

Not being transparent on pricing (00:00:00) Becca discusses the importance of transparent pricing on venue websites and the impact on couples' decision-making.

Hidden costs (00:02:40) Becca emphasizes the negative impact of hidden costs and the importance of upfront pricing to avoid surprising couples.

Complicated booking or inquiry processes (00:08:59) Becca highlights the need to simplify and streamline booking and inquiry processes for better customer experience.

Poor customer service interactions on reception (00:11:05) Becca discusses the impact of front desk staff on couples' first impressions and suggests ways to improve customer service.

Signage or poor arrival instructions (00:12:46) Becca emphasizes the importance of clear arrival instructions and signage for a stress-free experience for couples visiting the venue.

Negative culture amongst staff (00:17:08) Becca discusses the impact of a negative staff culture on customer experience and suggests ways to address it.

Recommended supplier list (00:18:52) Becca talks about the importance of regularly updating and refreshing recommended supplier lists for venues.

Refreshing Your Supplier List (00:19:54) Importance of regularly reviewing and updating the recommended supplier list for venues.

Proactively Engaging with Local Wedding Professionals (00:20:46) The significance of building positive relationships with local wedding professionals and organizing events to engage with them.

Creating Opportunities for Local Wedding Professionals (00:22:41) Hosting networking events and photo shoots at the venue to engage with the local community and professionals.

Selling the Dream Experience (00:24:36) Emphasizing the importance of providing a positive and memorable experience during venue tours, similar to the wedding day.

Visualizing the Dream Venue Setup (00:27:11) Strategies for helping couples visualize the wedding setup, including open events and using visual boards in each room.

Avoiding Over-Apologizing (00:29:01) The impact of over-apologizing and how to focus on positive features rather than highlighting the venue's shortcomings.

Emphasizing the Positives (00:32:35) Turning potential negatives into positives and proactively addressing any objections during venue tours.

Recap of Venue Mistakes (00:33:25) A summary of the key mistakes venues should avoid, including transparency in pricing, customer service, signage, and supplier list management.

In today's episode I am chatting with founder of Visualist Cherie Yang. We talk through how she founded Visualist, where she sees technology fitting in with our wedding planning couples and how automation can improve your customer service.

If you want to be forward thinking in your wedding business and keeping on top of trends in technology, this episode is well worth a listen.

Find Visualist on Instagram

Want to try Visualist for yourself? Use the code BECCA to get a one month free trial and $300 worth of credit to test out the features.

Time Stamps:

Understanding the Entrepreneurial Journey (00:00:00) Cherie discusses the importance of early-stage entrepreneurs being involved in their vision and its realization.

Introduction and Background (00:01:07) Becca introduces Cherie and they discuss their first meeting in Las Vegas and their growing relationship.

Cherie's Career Evolution (00:02:16) Cherie traces her career journey from being a corporate lawyer to a brand strategist and how it led her to found Visualist.

Challenges in Existing Systems (00:06:39) Cherie and Becca discuss the limitations of existing platforms for wedding professionals and the need for a more comprehensive solution.

Practical Implementation of the Idea (00:07:57) Cherie explains the practical steps she took to bring her idea to life, emphasizing the importance of understanding the customer's pain points.

Importance of Understanding Systems (00:12:13) Cherie discusses the importance of having a basic understanding of systems to make informed decisions and adapt to changes.

Visualist's Value Proposition (00:15:34) Cherie details how Visualist assists wedding professionals in managing client, design, and admin workflows, emphasizing the platform's collaborative and organizational features.

Integrating Technology for Today's Couples (00:21:42) Cherie explains the importance of integrating technology for today's couples, emphasizing convenience, accessibility, and productivity.

Technology for Creative Professionals (00:24:04) Discussion about the need for technology that caters to the creative mind and workflow, saving time and enhancing client satisfaction.

Standing Out at Wedding MBA (00:26:15) Strategies used to stand out at a crowded exhibition, including a manicure station, unique merchandise, and attending a pre-event mixer.

Networking and Learning at Wedding MBA (00:34:12) The value of attending Wedding MBA for learning, networking, and exposure to international perspectives in the wedding industry.

Building a Supportive Community (00:36:14) The importance of creating a community of fellow entrepreneurs for support, advice, and mental well-being.

Special Offer for Listeners (00:39:22) Details of a special offer for listeners to sign up for Visualist with a free trial and credits, and the approachability of the Visualist team.

Mentioned in this episode:

Summer Support!

Looking for support with your wedding business or venue this season? I have put together some options for you. Wedding Pro Agency: Hand over some of your admin tasks to my team to give you some time back this summer. From social media posting to website updates, email sequences and crm set up, there are lots of ways we can help you. One to One support: I have...

Today I'm chatting with Emmy Award winning comedian turned wedding speech writer Beth Sherman. She shares her personal story of getting into comedy, her tips on how as pros and venues we can improve our guests experiences of giving a speech and her insight into how we can all bring more personality and humour into our businesses.

Click to find out more about Beth

Connect with Beth on Linkedin

Find out more about Authentically Funny Speeches.

Time Stamps:

Comedy Writing and Stand-Up (00:00:00) Beth shares her background in comedy writing and stand-up, influenced by her family and love for comedy.

Transition to Working in Entertainment (00:02:43) Beth discusses her transition into working in writers' rooms for comedy variety shows and developing the skill to be funny in someone else's voice.

Starting the Wedding Speech Business (00:08:58) Beth shares how she started her business, initially taking on work through Upwork and finding her passion for helping people with speeches.

Overcoming Challenges and Finding Support (00:11:16) Beth discusses her pragmatic parents and the importance of hard work and determination in pursuing her career in comedy writing.

Working in the Wedding Industry (00:16:35) Beth talks about the meaningful experiences and emotional support involved in working with clients for wedding speeches.

Growth Strategies for Wedding Speech Business (00:17:05) Beth explains the evolution of her business, from using Google ads to focusing on content marketing through YouTube for lead generation.

The Dads are the Higher Ticket Clients (00:21:36) Beth discusses how the fathers of the bride tend to be her higher ticket clients due to their age and financial capacity.

The Pressure of Wedding Speeches (00:23:32) Becca and Beth talk about the pressure on non-professional speakers at weddings, and Beth shares her opinions on delivering successful wedding speeches.

Setting Speakers Up for Success (00:24:20) Beth explains how wedding professionals can set up speakers for success, including providing clear instructions and positioning the speaker for better visibility.

The Importance of Clear Audio (00:31:11) Beth emphasizes the importance of clear audio for speeches, highlighting the impact on delivering jokes and connecting with the audience.

Using Humor in Social Situations (00:34:40) Becca and Beth discuss the role of humor in social interactions, providing tips on using humor to build connections in various settings.

Listening to Customers (00:40:18) Beth reflects on the importance of listening to customer needs and preferences when creating products and packages for her business.

Mentioned in this episode:

Summer Support!

Looking for support with your wedding business or venue this season? I have put together some options for you. Wedding Pro Agency: Hand over some of your admin tasks to my team to give you some time back this summer. From social media posting to website updates, email sequences and crm set up, there are lots of ways we can help you. One to One support: I have two spaces to offer one to one support from June - August to help keep you in track. If you are interested, drop me an email: becca@beccapountney.com