There are many wedding expos & trade shows. The reasons for them are many: A vendor might be working out of their house and need a place to be seen, Brides & grooms will go to these for one stop shopping and get information or book vendors on the spot, Also is a place for services you may not think relate to the wedding industry. The key to any successful show is the amount of vendors who work the show & the number of customers looking for them.
There are 3 parts to doing an expo. 1. Getting Ready, 2. The Event & The Follow-up!
1. Getting Ready: Get your forms for capturing information ready! You can’t follow-up on what you do not have. Figure out what promotional items you want to hand out, Make sure they stand out & can be useful to the customers you are going after. Make sure all your display signage is clean & looks like new. If you are using equipment, make sure it all works! Let people know you are going to be at this event! Social media is a great place to let folks know just that. Even writing a blog or sending out a newsletter is not a bad idea. To be ready for the big day is just as important as the big day it’s self!
2. The Event: As a vendor your focus is on handing out information, Networking with other vendors and booking new customers. You need to be friendly & focused. You also need to stand out from your competition. You booth or table need to shine! Use of promotional items like pens, key chains or wedding related inexpensive items should be first on your list. This item will be sitting on the brides desk or in her planner that will remind her about you after she gets home. Next is the table cloth with logo they see. Most people will have this idea, the main thing is to make sure it is clean & wrinkle free. What is also on your table matters as well, dose the items speak to your services? In my case having equipment or pictures of equipment with planning forms are very important. Your booth is half the magic. The next part is you & how you are dressed. In my case a Tux is a must. My focus should be on being the expert and being able to answer any questions a bride or groom would have. If I have done all this correctly then landing new customers will be a given.
3. The Follow-up: You now have leads you need to follow up on! Don’t wait! Warm leads-lead to new customers. Cold leads or leads you don’t follow-up on in a timely fashion with in a 48 hour time frame will become less likely to book as you are telling these brides they are not top of mind. In other words get to work & make them feel like their day is your first priority.
This is part of what I think should be top of mind. Remember this is a wedding mall with many vendors and some are your competition. Stand out & follow up!
One last thing: NETWORKING! As a dj I know I can only do one wedding at a time. Sometimes I will have business to refer and why not refer to people you like know trust! Get to know your competition and find the ones who you trust to send business to. They will be the ones that refer or book you out also.
If you don’t plan, You plan to fail!