UK Academy of Wedding and Event Planning

As we count down the days till Xmas it means that Black Friday is just around the corner and in my world the prepping for what we’ll be offering has already started. And the wedding industry is no exception to this shopping frenzie. Just because most people are shopping for holidays & Xmas pressies during this time, don't forget they’ll also be looking to get some amazing deals on their wedding too. From dresses, stationery, cakes, photography and even deals on services like wedding planning, styling and venue dressing. Many businesses are offering deals to engaged couples during this time. In this episode I’m going to be helping you to prep for a fantastic Black Friday sale to help boost your profits. And remember, behind every good idea is a solid plan. A well-planned Black Friday will help you earn more with less stress. So let’s dive in. In this episode we'll be covering: Why Black Friday is such a great opportunity for your wedding business. What Black Friday will look like in 2021? Why you need to plan ahead if you want to stand out from the crowd How to put together a Black Friday package that packs a punch 7 Black Friday ideas you could use in the wedding industry What to do if you don't have a product or service to sell yet When you should start talking about your Black Friday offer or deals When and how to promote your offer to your audience  Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/weddingceo)

How many times do you wish there were more hours in a day? Or wish you could have achieved more than you did within a certain timeframe? I’d say most of us have experienced this at one time or another.  There are so many things that hold us back from getting things done but the worst, the most common culprit, is procrastination. This is the thing that stops us from taking action and getting things done. My guest today is a time management and mindset expert so I hope you’re ready for this because it’s time to kick procrastination to the curb and start getting productive. In this episode we'll be covering: How to stop falling foul of shiny idea syndrome The biggest time and energy mistakes to avoid in your business How to set realistic goals you’ll actually achieve Ways to keep the balance in both your business and your life Mindset exercises to stop procrastination and encourage action Top tips on how to be more focused and avoid distractions Why ‘done is better than perfect’ is the best motto to live by Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/weddingceo)

We all want to know how to convert more leads into clients. It’s the holy grail of any business. Afterall, without any clients all we have is an expensive hobby. The big question is how? We’d all love to be connecting more with our leads, making them feel special and building relationships daily. But we only have so many hours in a day and being a busy coach, course creator or service provider most of us want to spend our time working with our clients and using our amazing superpower. So how can we put all this on autopilot whilst still retaining that personal touch and building real connections with our audience? In this episode we'll be covering: What your 'Fab Factor' is and why it's so important for your wedding business How to use your 'Fab Factor' to build an emotional connection with your clients The 5 Steps to 'Getting More Clients' using your personality How to discover your very own 'Fab Factor' to share with your leads Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/weddingceo)

Did you know that the hottest lead magnet in 2021 is a quiz? I mean who doesn’t love a quiz? But I’m not talking about the Buzzfeed type of quiz telling you which Harry Potter House you’re in or what type of cocktail you might be. I’m talking about a results based personality quiz that not only brings in clients on autopilot but allows you to segment your audience so you can do very targeted marketing. Plus, the cost of the leads on Facebook are insanely low.  So if you’ve ever thought about doing a quiz for your wedding business then you’re going to love this episode with my quiz funnel guest expert Helen Munshi. In this episode we'll be covering: Why quizzes are the MUST HAVE lead magnet right now and what makes them so popular? The different types of quizzes you can use and how would they work for the wedding industry? Strategies do you for coming up with quiz topics? Why you should start with the quiz results first and not the questions. The main elements of a high converting quiz funnel. Is there an order in which you should create your quiz? What sort of conversion rate can you expect from a quiz. Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/weddingceo)

If I told you I had 7 Easy SEO Tips that would see you getting found in organic search results would you implement them? We all know that SEO isn’t the sexiest subject around. It’s something we push to the bottom of our ‘To Do List’ because it’s not fun. However, we’re all fighting for airspace in a competitive industry so we need to what we can do to get noticed. And SEO is a HUGE part of this. Who wants to spend their time writing amazing blogs posts only for nobody to find them? I know I don’t. I work hard on my posts and I want people to read them. I'm sharing 7 SEO tips I've learnt over the last 25+ years of running my own business. In this episode we'll be covering: How to come up with an SEO blog post title Why size matters...when it comes to your images The importance of internal and external links How to sex up your copy to ensure it actually gets read Why Meta Descriptions & Alt Tags are important and how to use them Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/weddingceo)

So many of us in the wedding industry have a love hate relationship with marketing.  We know we need to do it because we need traffic, leads, bookings and sales. At the end of the day without any couples to fill our diaries all we have is an expensive hobby. But how do you keep up with it all? The constantly growing and evolving platforms that seem to multiply at an alarming rate. Keeping up with them can be a full-time task. But what I’m about to share with you right now will make mastering the marketing of your wedding business so much easier. And together, we’ll figure it out. One platform and one idea at a time, so I hope you’re ready for this because I am and I’m ridiculously excited. In this episode we’ll be covering: What marketing is and the 1 Page Marketing Plan by Allan Dib The difference between publicity, sales and marketing How to overcome the marketing overwhelm with the support you need The four learning phases of marketing success The Wedding CEO Club Marketing Membership Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/weddingceo)

How often have you been guilty of thinking about your competitors as the enemy? Maybe you’ve stalked them on social media to see what they’re doing and then got a case of the green-eyed monster when it looks like things for them are going swimmingly whilst it’s all quiet on the western front for you? Sound familiar? I know I’ve certainly been guilty of that in the past but then I discovered the power of collaboration. Not just collaboration with my peers but collaboration with my competition. My guest in this episode is an expert on this very topic and is going to share her top tips and strategies for growing your wedding business by embracing your competitors. In this episode we'll be covering: Why your competitors are actually your ally rather than your enemy How collaborating with your competitors can help you to up your game Why your tribe isn’t going to be your competitor’s tribe and how to leverage this How to use the competition to motivate and inspire you Strategies to help you grow relationships with your competitors Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/weddingceo)

How do you make your blog posts work harder? That’s the million dollar question. I don’t know about you but sometimes it feels like all I do is create content for my business. It’s a hamster wheel that just keeps going around, and around, and around. As wedding business owners we wear so many hats and content creator is just one of them. But what if I told you that you that by generating one piece of meaty content you could produce 20 or 30 other pieces of content? Well stick around because in today's episode I'm going to show you 9 ways to make your blog posts work harder for you. In this episode we'll be covering: What repurposing is and why it's so important How one blog post can create 20-30 other pieces of content Why breaking your blog posts into 5, 7, or 9 points helps How your blog post could be the perfect lead magnet How to get off the content hamster wheel and make more of your existing content Resources and Links mentioned: Episode 33: How to Supercharge Your Productivity & Get Motivated Video Course: Video Visibility Challenge Interview with Tyler J McCall: How to Grow Your Business Using Instagram Stories Podcast List: Top 50 Wedding Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021  More from Kylie Website: www.kylielang.com YouTube: @fabfactorformula Quiz: Take the quiz to find your Fab Factor How can I subscribe? Listen using your favourite App by clicking one of the links below or listen right here on the site: Subscribe with iTunes Listen on Spotify Listen on Google Podcasts Listen on Amazon Music Leave a review I'd absolutely love it if you could take 2 minutes to leave me a review on iTunes by clicking here. It will really help to elevate the show and let others enjoy the knowledge my guests have to share. Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/weddingceo)

Do any of these sound familiar? I don’t seem to have enough hours in a day. I’ve got lots of ideas but not enough time to do anything about them. I get really easily distracted. As a creative entrepreneur I know I have some days that are more productive than others. And I think that’s true of most people. However, I also know that I’ve learnt a thing or two over the years about productivity. Every week I hear from so many people, both those just starting out in the wedding industry and those that have been in it a while, who think they are time poor. The truth is we all have the same amount of hours in day, it’s what we do with those hours that counts. In this episode I’m going to give you some tried and tested strategies to supercharge your productivity. In this episode we’ll be covering: How to use your time wisely and get the most of your 24 hours Why the first hour of your day is the most important one How planning tomorrow the night before helps productivity Why creating routines will help with your efficiency Understanding Parkinson's Law and how it dictates your productivity Using the Pomodoro technique to get more done in less time Why getting dressed and exercising help to motivate and simulate you Top tips on getting more done in the 24 hours you have each day Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/weddingceo)

Fear of Failure has to be the biggest thing holding people back from moving forward with their wedding business. Nearly every day I receive an email from someone asking me how to get over that crippling fear of failure. And I can tell you right now it plagues us all. There’s no one size fits all answer here I’m afraid. One thing I will tell you though is that without failing you can’t move forward. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve made mistakes, done something wrong or simply screwed up.  But the key here is that I learnt from each and every mistake. I didn’t think of them as failings I thought of them as opportunities to grow. If we don’t fail, we stand still. Embrace failure don’t be scared of it. In today’s episode we’re going to tackle those limiting beliefs that stop you moving forward in your career. I hope you’re ready because this one’s a rollercoaster ride with some straight talking to help you move forward. In this episode we'll be covering: How to overcome the fear of failure The power of a mindset shift Things you can do to stay positive Why failure is an opportunity to grow Lessons you can learn from musicals and movies Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/weddingceo)

Can I ask you a question? Do you know the difference between marketing and advertising? It doesn’t matter if you don’t because that isn’t a fair question. Advertising is actually a component of your marketing and not something that sits separately. It’s just as important as posting on Instagram, creating a Lead Magnet, blogging consistently and emailing your list. Why then, when it’s that important, do so many wedding pros ignore it and pretend it doesn’t. exist? I think in some part it’s due to lack of knowledge and experience and knowing where to spend our hard earnt pennies. So my guest in this episode is going to demystify the whole advertising process and spill the beans on the best places to get the biggest bang for your buck. So stay tuned. In this episode we’ll be covering: Where to invest your marketing dollars to get the biggest bang for your advertising buck Where advertising sits within your marketing plan  Advertising options that don’t include Wedding Wire and the Knot What sort of questions should you be asking before taking the plunge and investing in any type of platform Setting expectations and knowing when to call in the experts to help you Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/weddingceo)

How many times do you sit down to write a blog post, or anything that involves writing copy, and draw a complete blank? Or worse still you write the post and then have no idea how to come up with a title? \r\n\r\nIf you want to get clients to invest in you, buy into what you do and become raving fans of your wedding business you need to be able to create great content that your ideal client wants to consume. But who has the time for that?\r\nIn today’s episode I’m going to show you an easy way to create content that will go off the charts. There is a recipe formula I’m going to share with you that will take what your copy from average to amazing.\r\n\r\nIn this episode we'll be covering:\r\nHow to determine the topics that are going to pack a punch\r\nWhat goes into creating content that will go off the charts\r\nThe importance of sharing and how it affects your content\r\nThe recipe formula for creating your content\r\nThe top considerations to take your content from average to amazing\r\nSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/weddingceo)\r\n

Slowly but surely the world is starting to open up again one tentative foot at a time. But the playing field has changed. Since Covid we’ve all started to consume media in a different way. \r\nThe goals posts have moved, our values and what’s important has shifted and the way we do business is changing with it. And this has a direct effect on our marketing.\r\nMy guest today is without a doubt a guru in the marketing world and she just so happens to specialise in the events industry. In this episode she takes an in depth look into the type of marketing we as wedding pros should be looking to incorporate into our marketing plan moving forward. As you all know I love marketing and this episode is one you won’t want to miss.\r\nIn this episode we'll be covering:\r\nThe biggest challenges wedding pros face when it comes to marketing their wedding business\r\nThe new normal as far as marketing is concerned post pandemic\r\nWhat wedding pros be doing right now, as far as their marketing is concerned, to prepare for the return of weddings\r\nHow wedding pros can harness the power of community to recover stronger\r\nAdvice and tips for those with Pandemic burnout and who are Covid weary \r\nSupport the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/weddingceo)\r\n

This episode is all about Instagram Reels which clearly aren’t going anywhere fast. After just over a year in lockdown entertainment has taken a different turn – the average person has turned into a star of the small screen and personally I love it. \r\n\r\nI really enjoying seeing people’s personalities shine through in their business life.\r\nBut how do you make it work for your wedding business? Is it really all lip synching and pointing or is there more to it than that? \r\n\r\nMy guest in this episode makes producing Instagram Reels look easy, and who doesn’t want that? Not only are her Reels hilarious but she’s nailed the formula of Engage, Entertain, Educate. So I hope you’re ready because you’re about to go on a rollercoaster Reels ride.\r\n\r\nIn this episode we'll be covering:\r\nHow to get comfortable doing Reels for your Wedding Business\r\nDifferent types of Reels you can do that don’t involve you doing what they do on TikTok\r\nHow to incorporate the three E's of content into your Reels - Engage, Entertain & Educate\r\nPlanning out your Reels efficiently into you content calendar\r\nHow much is too much when you’re describing your reels\r\nShould you use hashtags and if so how many\r\nTips & tricks for getting the most out of posting your Reels\r\n

First impressions count and as the old saying goes you only have one chance to make a first impression, so you better make it count. But how much attention do we pay to first impressions as wedding pros? \r\n\r\nWe’re so busy worrying about whether our logo is the right shade of pink and whether the image we just posted on Instagram really reflects our brand that we often forget about that all important first impression. \r\nWhen we do get to sit down in a consultation with a potential client how long do we have to wow the pants off them? 10 seconds? 5 seconds? A minute? Well my guest today is all about first impressions and how they can help you close the sale, so I hope you’re ready.\r\n\r\nIn this episode we'll be covering:\r\nThe one thing that makes first impressions so powerful \r\nHow wedding pros can stand out in a crowd and make themselves unforgettable\r\nHow to recover from a not so great first impression\r\nWhere persuasion plays into first impressions \r\nHow wedding pros can practice being more persuasive\r\nWhy first impressions are also important for pre-qualifying leads\r\n

Be honest, does the thought of attending a networking event where you don’t know anyone send you running for the hills? You know these events are important, and you want to meet new and exciting vendors to collaborate with in your wedding business, but you just can’t get over the nerves and everything that goes with the idea of attending any type of networking event. Well as of the time of this recording attending a physical networking event isn’t possible for many people, dependent upon where you are in the world and what your social distancing rules are like. And that’s why I’m excited to speak to my guest about how you network effectively whilst adhering to social distancing. In this episode we'll be covering: Things you can do to network virtually rather than in person How you can network on a more personal level Ways to come across as genuine and authentic rather than someone just out for business Speed networking and the benefits to attending Top tips for networking effectively in your wedding business

As Wedding Pros, we are our brand due to the personal nature of what we do. I know it’s hard to put ourselves out there and let people in and show them the person behind the business. It’s so tempting to hide behind our logo or business name and not show ourselves to the world. But embracing who you are, quirks and all, is going to help you build that all important know, like, trust factor that will not only win you clients but build a base of fans that love you and what you do. My guest today is an absolute star and powerhouse in the wedding industry. She pulls no punches and she’s going to show you the power behind embracing who you are and how that has a direct impact on the connection you make with your potential clients. In this episode we'll be covering: How to define your personal brand and questions to ask Ways to grow and develop your own signature style How to ensure your brand is a completely authentic representation of who you really are Personal branding pitfalls to try and avoid Harnessing your personal brand to help your wedding business grow

The phrase Passive Income deserves to be named phrase of the year for 2020. I’ve lost count of the number of times I heard wedding pros talking about it last year. And with good reason. It took a pandemic for many of us to realise the importance of diversifying and finding additional sources of income. We’ve all heard that saying about putting all your eggs in one basket – well my Mum drilled that into me from a very young age. So in today’s episode we’re talking all things passive income. We’ll look at some ways to help you come up with some viable options for adding new revenue streams to your wedding business.  In this episode we'll be covering: Why you need to add passive income to your wedding business The digital marketing trends that showcase the rise of DIY Weddings The pros and cons of online courses and memberships The popularity of live wedding planning workshops for couples How to become an affiliate of other people's products Why a partner program might be perfect for you Selling templates to couples on your website

The wedding industry, like so many other industries in 2020, took a huge hit. For many this has not only affected their financial stability but their mental stability as well. It can be so very hard to stay positive, believe in yourself and your own unique abilities during a time like this. My guest in this episode calls them your Success Saboteurs. Those saboteurs are voices in your head saying things like: “You’re not good enough to call yourself an expert in the wedding industry.” “You can’t possibly charge that; nobody will pay those prices!” or even "The wedding industry isn't going to recover for at least the next two years so I may as well give up." I’m pretty sure at least one of those will sound familiar to you, I know they do to me. So today’s episode is a slightly different one from my usual marketing based episodes. Together with my guest, Natasha Bray, I want to help you find your Success Saboteur and know the steps to take to overcome them so you can move onto a successful 2021. In this episode we'll be covering: The power behind transformational healing How by unlocking your your inner demons you can achieve success across ALL areas of your life What 'Success Imprinting' is and how it can help you move forward in your business The different types of Success Saboteur Archetypes™ and how to identify which one you are 5 key steps to ensure you can get rid of the voice in your head telling you that you're not good enough

Have you ever heard the saying ‘Done is better than Perfect?’ Well my guest today is living proof that this is a saying you should take seriously. As with so many wedding businesses in 2020 Samie had to pivot quickly if she was going to survive.  Procrastination was a luxury she couldn’t afford. In 6 short weeks from idea to conception Lovestream was launched and within just under a year, and during Covid, has done 250+ weddings. This is a story you won’t want to miss so stay tuned. In this episode we'll be covering: Why you should launch now and worry later. The importance of knowing your ideal client How not working with your ideal client can have a huge impact on your business Ways in which your ideal client can influence your business A horror story of what happens when you don't work with your ideal client.