Best Investments For My Wedding Business in 2022
Alright friends, its 2023. LFG!
I can already tell that goals, growth, and #weducation are top of your list this year.
How?
Because my inbox and DMs are blowing up with inquiries and questions for coaching.
Like a lot of you, I was really looking forward to easing in to January. Resetting myself. And instead I'm—happily—onboarding four new coaching clients this month. 😉
I'm excited for all the things going down in 2023. And looking forward to a little time spent this week with my calendar, scribbling plans, and blacking out vacation and retreat time.
And yes, making time for more learning.
Let’s pause on looking forward for a sec. You’re here because you want to know about the best investments I made for my business in 2022.
In no particular order, here they are:
Between The Lines Copywriting
Imagine if every inquiry you received was from a dream client… All you need is to wow them with the words on your website, then sit back and relax as you watch your readers transform into buyers, effortlessly. Sara from BTL wrote sales page copy for me in 2022, and I also purchased her course Site Series.
BTW, Site Series is closed right now but if you want to sneak in a few months early, just DM or email me.
One of the easiest ways to stand out from your competitors is with compelling web copy that speaks your clients' language and gets them nodding their head as they scroll your site. Proving that you know exactly how they're feeling, and you're ready to solve all the wedding headaches they haven't even faced yet.
But writing is hard. Writing to compel your readers and potential clients to book your services is even harder. That's why I've spent over $15K on professional copywriters (including Sara) over my last 10 years in business.
Because I believe big time in conversion copywriting.
But an awesome copywriter isn't cheap. And sometimes I've gotta do it myself— and help coaching clients polish their DIY copy too. So I needed to step my game up. Site Series was the perfect resource. Following the course, I managed to write web copy for an entire site in two sittings. No more procrastination. Way less frustrating. Got it done! With a thousand times less sweating and whining.
This was worth each and every single penny. With the time saved, and the most helpful resources. I can't say enough good things about Site Source, or Sara’s copywriting in general, if you’re looking to hire it out.
Networking
Just this week, I put some miles on the car dropping off promo postcards for Wed Well exhibitors and got to meet three new-to-me wedding biz bosses. Honestly, it felt totally weird. Putting on jeans and makeup and leaving the house, and going to “the city” to connect with new people OFF Zoom. I was a bit nervous to chat face-to-face. After all, Zoom has been my comfort zone for the last three years.
But let me tell you getting out and about was totally worth it.
I even hopped a plane to Las Vegas, and got to network at the Wedding MBA conference. I was able to meet some really incredible women in our industry, who I had only connected with online. And, I even met a new client at the conference.
For a lot of us building a work-from-home life, it's pretty awesome. But don't get too comfortable in those sweatpants. Make sure you make time to connect with your peers out in the real world. Those connections are more important than you realize.
Top of mind is tip of lips.
Sara Dunn’s SEO Bootcamp
Feeling totally stuck while you’re trying to figure out how to get found on Google? Sara's live Wedding SEO Bootcamp program is exactly what you need to learn how to connect with engaged couples searching in your area.
Sara offers a fully DIY online course option ($397) any time. But her VIP Coaching program is open a few times a year ($497 or 6 payments of $97) until January 16.
Over the years I've cobbled together a DIY strategy for SEO on my many websites, for multiple brands. (And I’ve got a Pinterest board filled with SEO tips and tricks.) It's worked okay. But I knew it was time for a proper strategy, and since Sara's niche is the wedding industry specifically, that was a no-brainer for me.
Coincidentally, one of my new Mini Consult clients (from LA) was also raving about SEO Bootcamp and what a huge difference it's made for her in finding new clients and getting her calendar booked out in huge market.
If a brand new website isn't on your to-do list, I bet spiffing up your current site is. Either way you'd better put some time and energy in to SEO to boost your ranking. What good is your website if no one is finding it?
Outsourcing
I can't scale time. It's a fact of life my therapist loves to remind me of. Absolutely no one is going to give me more hours in the day. Try as I might, that clock remains with only 24 hours.
So I'm simplifying things slightly by getting more help. Including admin stuff, a Pinterest manager, and handing over some blogging and Instagram content to Ava & The Bee.
Actually, I've got a whole agency handling social media for Wed Well Showcase and that's been lifechanging. I have no idea how I used to manage Instagram for four brands at once AND serve my clients at the same time.