Do You Have a \"Word of Mouth\" Wedding Business?

No more trying to prove to them that you really care and have a heart to help them.

A word of mouth couple is less stressed because of this built in trust level, so in turn they have a better wedding planning experience, so they're raving about you to their friends without any prompting. Imagine the snowball effect this has for your business!

Similarly, they're also the ones leaving you the most gushing reviews.

Any thoughts on what else it allows? That's right, the confidence, and caliber of clients word of mouth brings along with it, also brings the ability to do the price increases needed to give you the freedom you want in your lifestyle also!

A word of mouth lead can be anywhere from a warm lead to a hot lead.

Let's talk about the definition of a lead, it's a pretty general term that is taken a lot of different ways.

Lead: The most general meaning in sales is contact with a potential client.

For wedding businesses, there are many different levels of leads, many different qualities of leads, and even different points that someone who you come into contact with becomes a lead.

Some consider a potential client a lead, from the time they do any inquiry or make any contact with you.

Some consider a potential client a lead after a meeting, call, or showing.

Some consider a potential client a lead after they've said they want to do business with you but before they have signed a contract and/or paid a deposit.

What IS the same across definitions, is that a lead has the potential to become a future client.

Leads have different "temperatures", depending on your contact with you, and how they are coming to you.

A cold lead is your target market. You want them to know you, but they don't know they need you until they come across you in your marketing. They might find you on social media, a lead generating site like The Knot, or your website through a search engine.

You'll need to spend some time getting in front of them and impressing them until they know they want what you have to offer.

They are cold, so of course you need to invest the time and money into your marketing to warm them up.

Warm leads can come in many forms. A recommendation is always the best type of lead.

A recommendation, or referral, as we say more often in the wedding and events industry, can come from a past client, another wedding business, a friend of a friend, or even a potential client who you handled so gracefully, that even though there was a circumstance that made you not the best fit for each other, they still love you and trust you enough to refer you to their friends!

These leads are great! They're of course, #goals!

Hot leads are pretty much a promised sale for you. The couple who needs what you offer, contacts you, and if it what they need and what you offer match, they will book.

Hot leads normally have a quick turn around and are from your target market.

The beauty of the hot leads is that if you treat them well, the likelihood is they will be your best cheerleader for more warm leads.

Of course, all 3 need to be nurtured and taken care of. Often the warmer they are the easier they are to take care of, and the happier they are.

Also often the warmer they are, the higher the profit margin. The higher end couples tend to book their vendors by word of mouth, either by referral of their friends, or other business' preferred vendor lists.

Preferred vendor lists can feel difficult to get involved in, but we have a process that makes it easy.

Here's a quick summary for you:

Cold Leads

- have no idea they need you until they see you

- takes time and money to find

- requires a foolproof and strategy to move into a warm lead

Warm Leads

- likely to be a recommendation, from an individual or another wedding business

- may take a few attempts to convert

- a brief strategy may be needed

Hot Leads

- wants your product or service now, and are at the right buying stage

- will convert in a very short time

- won't require any strategy as they land in your lap

Word of mouth is considered to be a lead who is anywhere from warm to hot, depending on many things, including the following...

- your relationship with the person or business who is referring them to you and their level of trust and enthusiasm for you

- the level of trust your website and social media communicates to them

- the communication you have with them when they reach out to you. Are you excited for them? Enthusiastic? Showing them you're there for them? Complimenting them? These are great ways to move a warm lead to a hot lead.

Growing your business to the point that it becomes fully word of mouth can even be a mindset shift you need to make so that you know it's possible.

Ready to up-level to a "word of mouth" business and want the specifics and support to make it happen? Join us in The Vendors Circle today!