Marketing/networking my business?

Question

I have just set up my wedding planning business l have had a couple of company’s get in touch with me about them marketing and networking my company. What does this entail?

I don’t know much about this subject, is this a good way to sell my services, if so does anybody no a good reliable company l could use? I am based in Essex in the England.

Answer 1

Write articles about your website or ideas.

Submit your website for users to review, free!

Post Free Classifieds.

Go to Famous Pages

http://famouspages.info

Answer 2

Hi

Got to say my experience of most (not all,  but nearly) is they are either selling pathetic marketing routes for new business like calendars local authority notice boards, circulars etc etc OR they are selling you something you could easily do for yourself with a little bit of thought and planning, some are just downright legal scams! I am sure you know your business but be careful about trying to run before you can walk, to use a much overused cliche. Sometimes when you are starting up it is much better to spend £200 or so on a simple ad that will hit the customers you want EG if you are going national, wedding magazine. If your local only then there are several routes to take easily without spending precious cash-flow on marketing companies.

Take Care

Answer 3

Hi!You Can Check Over Here:

http://www.mythreebillionsads.com

Answer 4

I wouldn't spend a ton of money on having someone else market your business.  Especially if you are just starting out.  There are plenty of low cost solutions to advertising.  For example, if you have a home computer, there is a site called "Google Documents" which is completely free and provides templates for many documents like flyers.  Work on a flyer that describes your business and the services provided.  Once you are happy with that flyer, print off about 200 of them (or more) - contact your local post office and find out how much they would charge you to insert them with people's mail.  That is a low cost solution.  Try an ad in your local newspaper under "services" in the classifieds.  Post an ad in an online free ad site.  Just some ideas.

Answer 5

Find out who markets five of the most successful local business in your area.  Then make your decision.

Answer 6

Difficult to answer as there is not enough information here to know quite what you are being sold.

However, you do need to think about what makes effective sales and marketing for your business. And often this is simpler than you think - it is about doing simple, effective things consistently and often.

Surprisingly (perhaps), advertising is not the most effective marketing tool for a service business. The top tool is direct mail/telemarketing, closely followed by networking. (But many people - including Chambers of Commerce - will try to get you to 'networking' events without showing you how to use them effectively.)

I built my business using a very effective (and inexpensive) system called Get Clients Now http://www.mcssl.com/app/aftrack.asp?afi... - it is American but it is not 'in your face' and does work very well here in the UK.

I also went along to meetings organised by a networking group called Business Referral Exchange http://www.brxnet.co.uk and found them helpful.

Best wishes.

Answer 7

As soon as you set up in business all sorts of companies appear offering to help you market your business.  As others have said, some of them are scams and others are just looking for your money to help their business.

If you haven't already done so, contact your local Business Link for lots of free help and advice on marketing your business.  Draw up a simple plan of what you do, who you do it for and how you can reach them.  Business Link can help you with this.

Think about your target customers and where they gather.  Some people in your business find that wedding fairs are a good source of new clients.  Check with the organisers about the level of visitors they get and, if possible, speak to people who've exhibited before.

Consider linking up with other people who service the wedding industry - venues, photographers, florists, car hire etc.  It may be worth talking to a few of each and setting up your own network of "preferred suppliers".  When you talk to them you can ask them about they get most of their customers.  It will give you a good idea of where you should target your marketing.

Networking can be a good source of business.  BRE has been mentioned.  BNI is similar. NRG is another.  Business Link and local Chambers of Commerce also run networking events.  There is a knack to networking to get the best out of it.  There's also on-line networking.  I can give you an introduction to a business networking group.

Spend your advertising budget carefully in areas where there's proven results.  Any one who contacts you will tell you that their services will benefit you but it's not necessarily the case.

One excellent way of marketing is to get coverage in your local press.  Find something newsworthy about what you do - not a plug for your business - and write a press release about it.  I've known people have their telephones ringing non-stop after such exposure.

Good luck!

Answer 8

it may be a good way to go with your business but don't let them contact you and talk you in to it!!

think about your business and who your target market is (ie women aged 28-40)

think about how you want to reach them and what your message is, what's in it for them to use your services

once you've thought your marketing through and done some research then you can create a marketing strategy. then, and only then, you can consider if you want to use a professional marketing company (and if your budget allows for this), and if so then go out and approach a few different companies to get a feel for how they'd work for your business.

don't feel rushed into using them if you're not ready. and whatever marketing/advertising you do try if you find it's not working very well then do not be afraid to stop it and try something different!!

for some great free and inspirational marketing ideas sign up for Chris Cardell's free emails http://www.cardellmedia.co.uk/advertisin...

for online networking try joining forums such as http://www.uksmallbusinessfocus.co.uk/in...

and to get some free PR, have your start-up story featured on http://www.newbiztips.net/startupstories...

best wishes with your new business, Rebecca