When you’re building a business, you don’t have time or resources to waste. As a community of seasoned wedding planners, we get it—we’ve been through it all when it comes to the struggles of running a successful, sustainable business. And often, the question at the top of every business owner’s list (aside from, of course: Can someone please fill my wine glass?) is: How in the world should we spend our money? Today, we’re so excited to be on the IAWEP blog talking everything the industry has taught us about the best investments you can make as a wedding planner. Looking for a reliable return? Read on for our top three areas where your dollars are best spent.
Your Business’ Foundation
When it comes to smart investments, your business’ foundation tops our list for good reason. Without a solid website to market your business to potential clients—or great project management tools to ensure a seamless client experience once they do sign with you—your business will essentially operate on shaky, unsustainable ground. Investing in the tools you need to set a solid stage for your business as you begin will help to ensure sustainable growth down the road (and save you some sanity along the way). The three biggest foundational business items to invest in include: a domain and website, an iron-clad contract (hire out a pro if you have to!), and great business/project management tools. It doesn’t hurt to look for wedding planner-specific tools like Aisle Planner that can help you manage event timelines, seating charts, guests lists, budgets and more, all while also allowing you manage internal business items like invoicing and contracts.
Education
Once you’ve established a solid business foundation, there’s no better place to spend resources than on education as far as we’re concerned. Regardless of how seasoned of a pro you may be, in an industry that’s both competitive and ever-evolving, continued education will give you a major edge, and one that could make the difference between signing or not signing a potential client. If you’re newer to the industry, consider volunteering some hours to shadow an experienced planner as she or he plans or executes events. Certifications are another great way for both experienced planners and those who are just breaking into the industry to refresh and grow. Note that certifications also make for a smart way to enhance your bio if you’re worried about a lack of industry experience.
Or, take your event-planning skills to the next level by attending an amazing workshop. The right workshops are worth their weight in gold—you’ll learn from industry pros, attend insightful talks, grow your network, and meet potential game-changers to build industry partnerships.
People, people, people
The best businesses are made of the best people. It’s that simple. When resources allow, strategically growing your team with interns, associates, and business partners is an important step. Pretty sure you’ll be a one-woman show forever? Not to worry—investing in people doesn’t just mean hiring employees. It can also mean investing in the right contractors and freelancers and knowing when to shell out a little extra cash for a beautiful website design or well written, optimized blog post. Someone once put it this way: artists and writers are like pilots—you don’t want to look for the cheapest one. Investing in people can also mean spending money when it comes to things like sending thoughtful thank-you gifts to those who’ve made a major difference in your business, investing time to mentor someone who’s new in the industry, or spending time and resources on a creative collaboration with pros you admire. There’s no replacement for a powerful partnership, amazing intern, or incredible collaboration, so don’t be afraid to invest resources in building smart, strategic relationships.
Overall, when it comes to the best investments you can make as a wedding planner, it’s all about building a solid business foundation, and then investing in educational opportunities and relationships. Cheers, planners, to investing in your business like the pro you are!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tayler Cusick Hollman is the Editor in Chief and Director of Content at Aisle Planner. She manages the company’s editorial and content strategy, oversees a small editorial team as well as all social media channels and content distribution. Follow Tayler on Instagram @taylrd_designs
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