How to Market Your Local Event Planning Business [VIDEO]

In this video, we're excited to share some simple steps on how to market your new event planning business to our local community. Whether you’re planning weddings, corporate events, or birthday parties, these steps will help you get noticed and bring in clients!

Key Takeaways

1. Know Your Audience
   Knowing your audience helps you tailor your services and marketing to suit their needs. For example, if you’re focusing on weddings, your main audience might be engaged couples.

2. Create a Memorable Brand
   Your brand includes your business name, logo, and how you want people to feel about your services. It’s like the face of your business! Make sure it’s memorable and reflects the joy and professionalism of your events.

3. Build a Simple Website
   Be sure to put your business online with a simple website. It doesn’t need to be fancy, but it should have pictures of your past events, a list of services, and how to contact you.

4. Use Social Media
   Create accounts on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Post pictures of your events, happy clients, and even tips for planning parties. Use hashtags that local people might search for, like #NewYorkEvents if you’re in New York.

5. Network in Your Community
   Join local business groups, chambers of commerce, and attend community events. You could also partner with other local businesses like florists or photographers.

6. Offer Promotions and Discounts
   Consider offering a discount for the first few clients who book you, or provide a special package rate.

7. Ask for Reviews & Referrals
   After you host an event, ask your clients to leave a review online or refer you to their friends. Happy clients are your best advocates.

Video Transcript

Do you have a local event planning business and you're looking to get more customers? Awesome, you're in the right spot. In this video I'm going to break down for you simple and easy ways that are proven to get more customers for your event planning business. How do I know? For the last 15 years I've been working with local business owners helping them to market their business in their local market and achieve more customers on a consistent basis using techniques that don't cost you an arm and a leg and are easy to implement, easy to run — even if you have no budget, even if you're brand new. So I'm going to share all that here today.

But first, why is this so crazy? Well, most small businesses go out of business because they don't have a tried and true consistent method of getting new customers for their business. What happens is they start to rely on the income, they start to have expenses, and then they can't get customers through the door. It ends up sending them into cash flow issues. So we're going to help make sure that doesn't happen to you by laying the foundation for how to get customers on an ongoing basis for your event planning business. Let's jump right into this.

Okay, the first thing you have to figure out is who are you planning events for? It's not everybody, I can tell you that. Is it busy professionals? Is it corporate events? Is it baby showers and small events for people? Is it events that are at a certain location — do you want to be the referral go-to event planner for that location? Is it local business events? Is it community events? You have to know who you are targeting, because if you're just a general event planner, you're not going to showcase your expertise in a certain type of event.

So if I'm planning a baby shower and I go look for event planners, the one who looks like they do tons of baby showers and have all the stuff and the know-how for executing that is going to be the one I probably want to work with for that event. So you have to get clear on exactly what it is that you are going to offer, who you're going to target, and that's going to help you know why you're unique and the best for that type of event. If you're focusing on weddings, your main audience might be engaged couples, right? So it all filters from knowing exactly who your target market is.

Next up, you've got to create a memorable brand. Your brand is going to include your business name, your logo, and how you want people to feel about your services. It's going to be the face of your business. You can't just go by your name because it's too easy to forget that — it's too hard to look you up by your name and see reviews or things like that. So make sure your brand is memorable and reflects the joy and professionalism of your events. Use bright colors or elegant designs depending on what kind of events you plan.

Now next up, build a simple website. Put your business online with a simple website. Click on the link below to Mighty Sites — it's only $9 a month. It doesn't need to be fancy, but it should have some pictures of your past events, a list of services, and how to contact you. You've got to have a lead form on there as well. Remember, many people will find you through the internet, so show them what you can do with beautiful images and easy-to-find information — like your online business card.

Next up, social media. Everyone's there. Create accounts on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and for an event planner, I'd say Pinterest too. Post pictures of your events, of happy clients, and even tips for planning parties. You can use hashtags that local people might search for so that you can attract more customers in your target market.

Next up, another great way to get to know people is through networking. Join local business groups, Chambers of Commerce, and attend community events. You can also partner with other local businesses like florists or photographers. When you help each other, you're going to help everyone win.

And everyone loves a good deal. So consider offering a discount for the first few clients who book you or provide a special package rate. Promotions can attract first-time customers who are on the fence about hiring an event planner or might choose you over someone else when they're brand new to the market.

And after you host an event, make sure to ask your clients to leave a review online or refer you to their friends. Happy clients are going to be your best advocates. So maybe give them a little incentive like 10% off their next event if they bring in a referral.

Show what you can do by hosting a showcase event too. This could be an open house or a theme party. Invite potential clients, vendors, local business owners — it's a great way to show off your skills and meet people face to face. And who doesn't like going to have a good time, right?

And lastly, just always look for ways to improve and stay up to date with event trends. Attend some workshops, watch some webinars — hey, watch some YouTube videos — read some industry magazines. The more you learn, the better you can serve your clients.

If you like this video, hit like and subscribe. But don't leave just yet, because we're going to teach you how to build that website and what to do to get more customers in your local market. We'll catch you soon.