Category Archives: Article of the Week

Best marketing articles of the week.

What works today for Reaching Brides, Grooms and Engaged Couples?

Posted on November 25, 2017 by | Leave a comment

Advertising Media That Worked 20 Years Ago Won’t Work Today, But There Are Some ways That Still Work To Reach Our Niche Market

Twenty years ago if you wanted to advertise to any segment you ran ads in the newspaper, had a yellow page ad and if you had the budget you promoted your company on radio and television! The internet was just getting started, Bridal Magazine and bridal shows were building their popularity.

Fast forward twenty years newspapers no longer reach the age groups that are getting married, yellow pages have been replaced by internet searches, radio has mostly been replaced by Spotify and Pandora and television media is either too expensive or simply not relevant to the generations that use Netflix to watch movies instead of network TV.

Yes engaged couples can search for their wedding professionals on the internet, but they don’t want to make final decisions until they have also met with you and seen your company name in other places too.  That is why bridal shows, wedding expos and bridal magazines are still high on the list of how couples will determine who they want to do business with.

Have you found your business slowing down? Think back to what used to work for you. Did you make the decision some time back to put all your cards in the internet?  If that is working for you great, but things will continue to change and today’s couples want an experience. They are still reaching both local wedding magazines and national magazines to get their ideas and look for wedding resources to confirm what they see online. It is the rare couple that will decide to hire you just because of your great reviews online. Bridal shows have stood the test of time because the interaction they provide between you and your prospective clients is vital to them making decisions.

Will any bridal show do?  How about any local magazine?  The new kid on the block might be fine and then again they might not. If they have never done a show before in Las Vegas, they may not know how much they have to spend to reach the maximum amount of couples you need to be successful.

Bridal Spectacular has been producing  bridal shows since 1991. There is no other wedding show in Las Vegas like the Bridal spectacular . Our pulse has been beating for 27 years and has the wisdom and experience to stand the test of time
Hailed as the leading bridal shows in the Nevada, Bridal Spectacular is not your typical bridal show! We have been honored with 10 international awards including Best Fashion Show and Best Advertising Promotions. No other bridal show offers as many options, inspiration and style as The Bridal Spectacular for you and the bride!

We invite you to join us for our upcoming shows at brand new and exciting venues!  The Rio All-Suite Hotel for the January 20 & 21 show and the South Hall facing Swenson at the Las Vegas convention Center July 20 & 21, 2018. Visit our Website advertising page to request more info.  Spectacular Bride Magazine, our annual publication with Quarterly issues goes to print again Jan 1 and will be available at the January show.  Deadline to join us with your print ad is December 20.

We look forward to your call at 702-368-0088

 

 

Leave a comment

Posted in Article of the Week, Online Advertising, Print Marketing, Social Media

Tagged , ,

What are you doing to prepare for your next bridal show or wedding expo?

Posted on June 28, 2017 by | Leave a comment

Summer and Fall bridal expo season is just around the corner. What are you doing to prepare?  Just showing up with no forethought to what you will do in your booth or setting goals for how your will collect and follow up with leads is a sure way to fail.

From time to time we hear comments like “I only got 3 weddings from the last show, I’m not sure its working for me”.  3 weddings might be a great result for one company and not so great for another. What was your revenue from those 3 weddings and what was the cost of the show? How many more weddings will you get in the future from friends of those 3 weddings? Did you follow up on all your leads?

Bottom line the ultimate responsible person for success at a bridal show is YOU!  The show producers job is to bring in the brides.  Read through some of the tips below to see how you can improve your performance at the next show you are in.  Ask yourself, would you rather not meet the couples walking through that show? Would you rather stay home when your competition is there?

The 2017 Bridal Spectacular “Veils & Vino” Bridal Show is just around the corner where more than 700 engaged couples will be looking to meet the wedding professionals and services they need for their wedding.

Before the Show

You still have plenty of time to connect with brides before the show begins. Consider utilizing pre-show promotions to help drive brides directly to your booth, such as:

  • Send out a pre-show email blast or postcard and ask brides to stop by to see you. You can also email personal invites with a special message or promotion you will be running during the show.
  • Share the Bridal Spectacular show schedule on your website and social media sites with a link to sign-up for a one-on-one consultation.
  • Post announcements on your social media channels asking your followers to visit you at the show. You can also run a social media contest or provide an exclusive social media offer for those who stop by. Use #BridalSpectacular2017 and #WedPro2017 to save your couples $5 off admission.
  • Offer brides a special gift or discount if they come visit your booth.
  • Remember to include your booth number on all your pre-show communications, including emails, direct mail, ads, social media and your website.

Make Your Booth Stand Out

Having a great looking booth with branded signage and handouts is fundamental to help you look professional and standout to brides. Be sure to create and order any booth materials well in advance, including banners, business cards, brochures/handouts, signage, as well as a way to track your booth visitors.

To make it even easier for our exhibitors, Bridal Spectacular has teamed up with local advertising agency, Up All Day Creative Solutions, to provide you with an exclusive discount for custom designed marketing materials to help you get the most out of your show experience. To learn more, please click here.

Watch for our next post to share ideas on Preparing your team, Sales at the show and Post Show Follow up

 

 

Leave a comment

Posted in Article of the Week, Bridal Shows, Miscellaneous, Social Media, Trade Show 101

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Bring Your A-Game to the 2017 Winter Bridal Show

Posted on January 9, 2017 by | Leave a comment

It’s that time again! Show time is just a couple of weeks away where you will have the opportunity to meet with more quality brides than at any other bridal show in Las Vegas. Whether you are new to Bridal Spectacular or have been with us for years, we have a couple tips and reminders for a successful show!

bridal-spectacular_las-vegas-bridal-show_winter-2017_01-768x284

Bridal Spectacular Educational Program

We understand that it can be difficult to get out of the office to join us for one of our show seminars. So, this year we are introducing a new educational program, created by outside expert Rick Brewer, to help prepare you for the upcoming bridal show.

Whether you are preparing for your first show or your fiftieth, these are fantastic tools for you to utilize. We will cover subjects such as effective displays, salesmanship as well as pre-show preparation and follow-up! Contact us at 702.368.0088 to get your link to access two audio programs and four videos.


Pre-Show Communications

You still have time to connect with brides before the show begins. Consider implementing a few pre-show promotions to drive brides directly to your booth and give them an incentive to book with you. Some great ideas include:

  • Post announcements on your social media channels asking your followers to visit you at the show. You can also run a social media contest or provide a special social media offer for those who stop by.
  • Send out a pre-show email blast asking brides to stop by to see you. You can also email personal invites with an exclusive message or promotion you will be offering at the show.
  • Share the Bridal Spectacular show schedule on your website and social media sites with a link to sign-up for a one-on-one consultation.
  • Remember to include your booth number on all your pre-show communications, including emails, direct mail, ads, social media and your website.

BrideScan

BrideScan is the ultimate free mobile app that helps connect brides and wedding professionals during the bridal show. Brides will no longer misplace your business cards or handouts, as all of your information can easily be saved directly to a bride’s phone through the app. Simply follow these steps before the show:

  1. Encourage brides to download the FREE BrideScan App on their phone.
  2. When speaking with them at the show, be sure they scan your vendor badge so they can easily follow-up with you afterward.
  3. Order your BrideScan Exhibitor Marketing Kit from Bridal Spectacular by January 13 and we will provide you with two BrideScan Lanyards, a BrideScan sign and a packet to keep it all together for use from show to show. The cost is $29. We will set you up in the BrideScan system and you will receive an email with the information you need to fill out your profile and any special offers you want the engaged couples to see. Call 702-368-0088 for more information.

Make Your Booth “Pop”

Having a professional and exciting looking booth with branded signage and handouts is vital to help you stand out at the show. Be sure to create and order any booth materials in advance, including banners, business cards, brochures/handouts, signage, as well as a way to track your booth visitors.

For more tips on how to set up your booth, please view the videos below:

Bring Your A-Team

When couples visit your booth, you want to ensure you have the best team available to promote your company and answer questions. Keep the following in mind to prepare your team:

  • Arrive early and dress professionally. Allow more time than you think you need for your booth set-up.
  • Give yourself time before the show begins to network with the other exhibitors so you can refer attendees back-and-forth.
  • Have enough team members on-hand so you can speak to as many brides as possible.
  • Bring team members who are eager to be there and engage with the couples.
  • Give your team regular breaks so they don’t burn out and be sure to wear comfortable shoes.
  • Don’t hide in your booth or behind the tables! Stand (not sit) near the aisle to gain more foot traffic and appear more accessible.
  • Consider holding a contest to reward the team members who bring in the most qualified leads.
  • DO NOT start breaking down your booth until the show is over! The show will end at 5pm on Saturday and couples will stay until the very end. If you start breaking down early, you will deter the couples that stay until the end.

During the Show

The show is only two days, so make the most out of it! Be sure to be proactive and you will generate better results. Consider utilizing these strategies to gain more leads:

  • Get social with the Millennials! Post photos to your social media sites with couples and/or stream live videos from the show on Facebook Live or Periscope to build up hype.
  • Hold a raffle, offer a prize, or special show discount to reward brides for visiting you. This will also help draw more attention to your booth!
  • Give your attendees something fun to do, like an interactive demo to keep them more interested.
  • Run presentations or video loops on large video monitors and/or play music to liven up your booth.
  • In addition to giving away literature, also be sure to get the brides contact information so you can follow-up afterward.
  • For more great tips on the Do’s & Don’ts of selling at Bridal Show, please view the video below:

Afrer the Show

  • Follow-Up ASAP– It’s imperative to maintain the energy you built during the show and contact your leads while you are still fresh in their mind. Whether it’s an email, mailer or phone call, following up right away is a great way to help your company stand out from competitors who may take weeks to follow-up.
  • Have Patience- Do not expect all of your bookings to occur right away. Engaged couples come to these shows at all points in their planning process.
  • ROI- Keep in mind that this is an investment, and your return on the investment depends on you.

Remember, if you are proactive, bring your top team and implement just a few these ideas, your show experience will be more successful, and more importantly, will lead to more business. Good luck and we look forward to seeing you all in a couple of weeks!

 

 

Leave a comment

Posted in Article of the Week, Bridal Shows, Miscellaneous, Sales & Strategy, Social Media, Trade Show 101

Tagged , , , , , ,