Wedding Season!

"What do you like better: Christmas or wedding season?"

"The answer would be, um, wedding season!"

We concur, wedding season is the best for our industry.  It is one of those times when a great make-up artist is indispensable. It's almost as unavoidable as death and taxes so, as a beauty make-up artist, it is our bread and butter.

Whether you work for a salon or freelance for yourself, getting your name in the hands of this season's brides can be crucial...and easy. If you look back to our April blog about networking, we talk about the importance of getting around to trade shows in the industry to scope out trends and mingle with other artists.  Artist relationships can often times be mutually beneficial. To do this you have to go get out there.  So why not market yourself or your salon directly at one or more of the dozens of wedding shows happening throughout the year?

The next couple of weeks we are going to take you on a whirlwind tour of why beauty make-up artists  should utilize bridal shows, which bridal shows are the right shows, and Dos-and-Don'ts for marketing your make-up business at a wedding show.

First we tackle the why.  Below are just a few of the many reasons to think about investing in one of the greatest marketing opportunities in our industry:

• Direct Link - These shows give you access to heaps of consumers looking for the exact service you provide. They allow you to meet brides face-to-face and exchange contact information instantly.  
• No matter how you go about accumulating bridal contact information make sure of two things - 
• (1) get multiple lines of communication - having multiple ways of communicating not only increases the chances the bride-to-be will see your work but also gives you numerous outlets in which to reach out to her
• (2) write down something personal - this will not only help you in remembering details such as the date of their wedding and future spouse's name but also any anecdotes you shared that can trigger your memory of your interaction so your follow-up is more personalized.  This attention to detail could mean the difference between your voicemail getting deleted or returned right away.

• Securing Your Spot in the Budget - Many brides start their planning stages by attending wedding shows and a lot of times don't consider working make-up into their wedding budget.  Seeing make-up artists at wedding shows reminds them of the importance of that aspect. There may only be room in the budget for one luxury item and these shows allow you to plead your case as to why looking your best on the big day is more important than pretty toes or a massage.   This is something that is best done in person as it establishes an intimacy with your potential client that you can't get through email or social media marketing.  

• Make Deals On-the-Spot - Sometimes, even with contact information, brides are so busy with other planning stages that they are impossible to get on the phone or nail down for an appointment. If you can sign contracts and schedule appointments at your first meeting you can cut out a lot of the chase and prevent your service from getting cut from the budget or passed over. Don't be afraid to be bold and ask for the job.  If you don't ask you definitely won't get it.

• Immediate Feedback - Marketing at wedding shows also gives you a unique opportunity to receive immediate feedback about what brides are looking for and that information may help you get ahead in future wedding markets. Knowing what brides are want can help you zero in on their interests for your sales pitches. 

Next week's blog in this series: How to decide which wedding show is right for you and your business.