ABC's for Marketing Part 2

Today we continue our ABC's to Good Marketing lesson! The last post talked about six ways you can market your business using alphabet letters A-G, today will tell you about five more using letters H-L! 

H. Host An Event: Consider holding an open house get together and invite event planners, venue managers, and significant vendors to it. Make yourself shine and really showcase what you can do! 


I. Identify Your Target Audience: Bridal shows are held often, so being able to identify your target audience will tell you which shows to sign up for as vendor. Look at local bridal shows to see which one would match your needs best. Some might not match your style or market. 


J. Join Organizations: Being apart of local and regional, and national industry organizations is an excellent way to market. This helps not only market to your clientele, but with other professionals, which is just as important!


K. Keep In Touch: Keeping in touch with past clients is a great way to market your new specials, discounts, referral programs, etc. Keeping in touch can be by saying "Happy Anniversary", "Happy Birthday", etc. This shows that you care and keeps you in the back of their minds! Keep in touch with your preferred vendors as well. 


L. Learn the Market: Knowing your market is important when having a business. Staying on top of trends, price changes, etc will allow you to completely educate your clientele when they are seeking your professional knowledge. 

The next two blog post's will complete the series of ABC's for Marketing! I want you to be able to receive some great marketing information, but I also have some great news about upcoming events and more that I would like to share, but do not want to interrupt our learning sessions! 

Up on Thursday will be ABC's for Marketing Part 3 and Saturday will be ABC's for Marketing Part 4 and next will be lots of great and exciting new updates! I hope you are enjoying and learning something too! :-D

Everyone Has A Choice!

 Hello my fellow blogger's! I have pondered heavily about what I am about to post today. I've been in conversation with Wedding Pros and Non-Wedding Pros on this topic that I am about to present to you. I am writing this because it has been on my heart and I felt guilty about doing something that I believed in and I needed to share. I am prepared for some to agree with me and for many to not agree with me at all. But in the end Everyone Has A Choice!

Last month I received an inquiry to plan a same-sex Day of Coordination Wedding. I looked at the email as I knew what my response was going to be without even thinking twice....I Cannot do it. I thought long and hard on the most respectful and professional way to respond so that I do not offend anyone or be caught discriminating another person. 

The whole scenario went something like this:

Good Evening,

           My partner, (.....) and I, are looking to hire a Day-of coordinator for our civil union ceremony scheduled to take place in (...) on (....).

Sincerely,

(....)

My response went like this:

Hi (...),
I regret to inform you that (...) does not plan civil union ceremonies. I wish you and your significant other much luck finding the right planner.

Sincerely,
(...)

She kindly replied "Thank you" and we both went on with our lives. I thought over and over, did I reply correctly, was I offensive, should I have lied and just said I wasn't available??? I began to feel bad, but then let it go and thought it is okay. Yesterday however, the subject of not completing a service due to religious belief arose and so I thought about this couple. After being called judgmental and rude and unprofessional I really began to think..Oh No..What have I done? Did I really discriminate against this couple by being honest! Again, my thought on this whole thing is that "Every Has A Choice"!

So after a long day of ongoing conversation with Wedding Pros and Non-Wedding Pros, I felt horrible and just had to email this young lady back and apologize for offending her. Which went like this:

Hi (...),

I just wanted to write to you and say sorry if I offended you and your Fiance (...) in any way. That truly was not my intentions. I was speaking with a group of wedding pros and it made me think of you. So again, I am truly sorry if my response was offensive in any way. I hope your planning process has been fulfilling and stress-free!

Sincerely,
(...)

She replied back..

Hello (...),

Thank you very much for reaching out, but your comments were not offensive at all...just honest (which we can appreciate).  Planning has been great and we have found a planner that suits our needs.  Thanks again for your concern and sincerity.

 

  (...) and(...)

After getting her repsonse, I felt absolutely relieved..it was like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders!!

So I say all this to say that "Everyone Has A Choice" In my opinon. I have to live by what I belive and if the law doesn't agree unfortunately I have to take that chance because the truth is I live for God and God is who I have to answer to at the end of the day. I truly do hope that I never experience a lawsuit or anything similar due to my religious beliefs. 

Everyone has A Choice..You have A choice...your not a bad person for saying no, just make sure you refer that indivudal to someone who can help. That is what I feel was my biggest mistake, not providing a referral. I have definitely learned a lot about myself going through this. I am happy that I can stand firm in my belief and be able to live with the consequences..whatever they may be. 

For I am a child of God and I live by his rules! 

Feel free to post how you feel on this topic. Again, Everyone has A Choice and even more Everyone will not agree with your choice. You have to make the decision to decide if you will follow your belief or follow the law.

This was not written to offend anyone or to put anyone on trial, etc. It was just a personal experience that I felt I should share with others who may have gone through something similar.