6 Tips To Maximize Your Time Between Wedding Seasons
Last week on Instagram I reminded all of you to take a little time for rest and reflecting once your wedding season wrapped up.
We’ve had two really unusual and emotional wedding seasons now. And 2022 is shaping up to be a biggy as well.
First and foremost, it’s time for a little reset.
That is, if you can fit it somewhere between your inbox and the laundry pile.
Please, please, please, take some time to reflect on how far you've come and all those dark moments you made it through.
Take a pause to pat yourself on the back, before you dive in to all the behind-the-scenes tasks that have been piling up, or even getting sunk in to next year's prep.
And speaking of next year’s prep, now is the perfect time to tackle a few tasks to set yourself up for a successful and smooth next wedding season.
Remember, it’s those little changes and small steps that add up to big results over time.
Here are my 6 tips to maximize your time in the off-season and prepare for next year:
#1 - WRAP UP FILES & TESTIMONIALS
Don’t forget to properly wrap up your last season of clients, by completing any “to-dos” for each of this year’s clients. It’s important that you get this stuff done now so it’s not haunting you well in to the holidays and next season’s tasks. That should definitely mean sending a thank you card or email follow up and asking for reviews. Don’t skip this step! Those reviews and testimonials are super important social proof for selling your services to future clients. You can ask clients to review your work on Google, and then gather the best phrases for your website, social media, and even your sales package and future proposals.
#2 - UPDATE YOUR WEBSITE & SOCIAL MEDIA
Did you know engagement season is coming? (And that means inquiry season isn’t far behind.) According to WeddingWire, nearly 40% of couples get engaged between Thanksgiving and Valentines Day. Almost one in five in the month of December! All of those couples are about to be creeping Instagram and Googling up a storm, searching for inspiration, as well as wedding venues and vendors. Make sure your website and social media up to date. Check for broken links and out of date information, especially anything that helps them get in touch with you or browse more of your work. Then spiff up your portfolio with new images, and a few blog posts couldn’t hurt either. Don’t forget to archive any posts on Instagram that don’t appeal to your Ideal Client.
#3 - UPDATE YOUR CALENDAR
How exhausted are you after this marathon season? By keeping a closer eye on your calendar, your future-self will thank you. Take a few minutes today to review next year and see how your season is shaping up. Are there any dates that you’d love to fill? Consider about a social media post to let everyone know about your availability. This might prompt a few inquiries. Are there any months that you should consider full? Wouldn’t you like to avoid a few double and triple headers next year? And most importantly, block off some time for yourself and your sanity. I mean it, mark a couple days —or even full weekends or weeks— off so that you have time to recharge through out the season too.
#4 - UPDATE YOUR PROCESS
When things have slowed down a bit, it’s the perfect time to work on everything behind the scenes. Work on your business, instead of in it. Consider adding or updating apps and software to automate your on-boarding process, bookkeeping, or even social media scheduling. Figuring out new systems when you’re not in the thick of it is key, because you have more patience and mental bandwidth for problem-solving and learning new things. “They” are warning us that 2022 will be the busiest year for weddings in a long time. Why not get ahead of the madness and streamline tasks now. I highly suggest starting with a CRM like Dubsado if you haven’t already got one. As well as an app like Later for scheduling Instagram posts and plan your content strategy well in advance of busy season.
#5 - UPDATE YOUR SKILLS
Like I mentioned above, when your calendar is lighter with fewer meetings and weddings, you have more mental energy, particularly for learning new things. What have you been struggling with lately? Which skills, related to business or your service in particular, could use a little brushing up? Is there a course or workshop that fits the bill? I’d be silly not to mention KJ Study Hall. If you’re new in business —or pining for that next-level clientele or leap to fulltime— I highly recommend starting with Book Your Best to define and reach your Ideal Client. Or if stepping up your social game and improving branded documents is on your to-do list, check out Quick & Easy Graphic Design For Wedding Pros.
#6 - UPDATE YOUR TEAM
The “off” season might seem like a weird time to hire. Hear me out. I’m not necessarily talking about new employees, but maybe there’s a team of helpers that could take some business tasks off your plate. Delegating is key to freeing up your time for doing more of the stuff you love, both professionally and personally. If you’ve had a crazy season, why not put some of the revenue to good use to free up some time and relieve some stress. Has bookkeeping been driving you crazy? Hire it out. Is keeping up with social media a fulltime job? Hand it off to a social media manager, a virtual assistant or even just invest in content strategy, so that you can spend less time figuring out what the hell to post. Is the house a mess while you’ve been swamped with weddings, prep, and the tasks that come afterwards? Treat yourself to a cleaning service.
If you’re ready for some help with all of this, and a big picture look at how to grow your wedding business, how about a little help? Have you considered a business coach before?