By Bobby Riley, “DJ Mastermind”
Wedding season is coming and it’s time to start preparing for bridal shows.
Before you start building the booth, packing the lights and praying that this year’s show will be a success, try using these tips for pre-show marketing, because if you can touch base with your prospects before the show, the chance of getting on their list of wedding vendors to see increases substantially.
Here are some effective ways to build up traffic to your bridal show booth by pre-show promotion:
1.Mail or give out invitations or post cards supplied by show management. Put your name and booth number on them so the bride can find you at the show.
2.Create and mail your own invitation or e-mail the brides asking them to visit your booth.
3.Give your prospects a phone call or text message telling them to come see you at the show, leave a message on their voice mail with your booth #.
4.Tell all your wedding prospects about the event. Brides love attending bridal shows and if you are the one who invites them, they will appreciate it.
5.Put a message on your answering machine letting brides know the show is coming and that you will be there.
6.Post on Facebook and Twitter that you will be at the bridal show.
7.Post a link or banner on your website letting brides know they can meet you in person at the show.
8.If you have something new to brag about, do a press release and mention you will be at the upcoming bridal show.
9.Blog about the upcoming show, what you will be doing there and invite brides to attend. Post a link to the ticket page to make it easy for them to buy tickets.
10.If the show has a coupon or promo code, share it with brides and save them money.
11.Try an interactive promotion where you mail or e-mail brides part of something they have to match up at your booth for a prize opportunity or discount on your service. If you only send these to brides in your target market you are also pre-qualifying the brides before they come to your booth.
Don’t hold back inviting a bride who has not booked with you yet, thinking she might meet your competition. More than likely she will attend anyway and it looks better for you if you are the one who invited her.
Last week we also asked our guests on the DJ Mastermindz Roundtable if they had any tips or tricks for our readers. Here’s what they suggested:
1.Former Brides and Grooms: One of the easiest things for brides to believe is the word of a former client of your, Ask them to join you.
2.Free Water: Bridal shows are hot: there is a lot of food to taste and there is never any free water, add your logo to the outside to make a real impression
3.Lose the Tie: Dress in a suit with an open collar, studies have shown that Brides will respond quicker to someone that stands out, and in a sea of tuxedo’s and fancy dress suits, a basic business suit with an open collar stands out.
4.Don’t look like a rental company: Lose or hide the equipment, your not there to seek equipment and brides don’t care what you running, Show the emotions, Use video from your show to portray how there day will be.
5.Set up a First Dance: Using low lying fog and wash lights, take a couple that is at your booth and play their chosen first dance song, then show them what It would be like to dance on a cloud. Not only will you get their attention but also the attention of brides around your booth too.
Most of all have a good time, enjoy the show and be your best!
