I recently heard the worst advice to wedding planners I have ever heard. This “Wedding Coach” claimed that Wedding Planners do not necessarily need a website. I am here to tell you, you most definitely need a website. And it needs to be a mobile-friendly one. With all of your contact information easily discoverable and linked.
Your website is CRITICAL to your business. Social Media Marketing is all about driving couples to your website. Even if they contact you through one of your social media platforms, they will want a way to research you, see your service offerings, and check you out.
The wonderful thing about utilizing Social Media in your marketing is that all Social Media is designed to link your potential client back to your website and contact information. So that means… all of your Social Media accounts should point back to your website.
If you do not have a website, you are saying several things to potential clients whether they are true or not:
- I am new and inexperienced
- I do not take my business seriously
- I am not ready for business
- I don’t follow through on, or I just half-a@@ projects
- I’m not a real business
- I’m too cheap to invest in my business
- I’m not willing to invest in me, so you shouldn’t either
You are asking potential clients to make a big investment in you and your business. You are asking them to trust you with the most important day of their love story, and a whole lot of money. Your website should be where they get the most information about you and your offerings. Think of your own buying and research habits. If you are about to make a large purchase, do you research everything about the product or service online? Do you visit their website? Do you read about all of their offerings, read testimonials and reviews? Of course you do.
So yes, wedding planners really, really need a website.
What should your website include?
Treat your website as your store and information hub.
- List all of your Services and starting price points
- Your Service area
- All of your Contact information (not just a contact form, people need your email and phone number so they can contact you about media and other opportunities)
- An active Blog integrated into your website (and update it regularly)
- Link all of your Social Media platforms to your website and have links to your social media prominently displayed
- An About Me page to introduce yourself and list your expertise, experience, and education
- A Testimonials section
- A Gallery of past work
- Lots of beautiful imagery
Danielle Andrews, BA, WPICC, DWC, CWD
Danielle has been a certified, professional wedding planner since 2000, and co-founded The Wedding Planners Institute of Canada Inc. in 2003. Since that time, it has been her mission to help other wedding entrepreneurs succeed and flourish in the wedding industry. She always wants wedding professionals to put their best selves forward. Danielle believes that weddings are such an important milestone in couples’ lives, and they deserve the best of the best in helping them.
Danielle and Tracey are passionate about providing you with the tools you need to make your business more successful. They try to ensure that all WPIC Alumni are given access to the best resources available so they can be successful at what they do!
I agree with everything you wrote about wedding planners needing a website and putting their contact information. I work with a live wedding painter and I contact planners to tell them about the service. Far too many have almost no contact info and don’t put their last name on the site. They want people to pay them thousands and don’t think they customer deserves a last name?
Great article. We are in California.
Hi Judy, yes we agree with you. Potential clients want to make a connection with you before even speaking or meeting in person.