Aletha VanderMaas | Inspiring Fresh Ideas

A New Blogging Resource | Edit and Post

2010-03-01T06:00:00.002-05:00

When I started blogging about weddings in September 2007, Ami & Rebekah were right behind me with their inspirational wedding blog, Elizabeth Anne Designs. Since then, Ami has continually provided brides-to-be with resources as they plan their weddings. She even branched out with Elizabeth Anne Designs Living because she has so much to share with the blogging community!

Ami's newest venture, Edit and Post, lauching today, is going to be an asset to anyone thinking about blogging. She will be sharing all she has learned over the past years as a busy blogger, which will come in handy to others who are just getting started, or those who have been blogging forever and need to be inspired to keep going!

Ami writes, "Edit and Post will encourage you to think more closely about your blog, about your business, and about your goals. I am excited to share the blogging and Wordpress knowledge that I have gathered through the existence of Elizabeth Anne Designs, and while I may chat about weddings on EAD, my education and experience is in finance and accounting so I will be providing plenty of general business suggestions and tips."

I encourage you to check out Ami's newest venture today!

Happy 2010 & New Blogs to Read

2010-01-06T13:00:00.003-05:00

I cannot believe 2010 is in full swing already! With the new year, brings new resources, and I wanted to share two new(ish) business blogs that I've been reading.

The first blog, Starting Out Right, is authored by local photographer, Jason Aten, who has been awesome to personally know. Jason is based in Lansing, Michigan and honestly loves helping people. Ask him anything, and he'll give you a straight up answer. Although his new blog is primarily for photographers, I've found much of the content helpful to me. Check it out!

Follow Jason on Twitter | Check out his business blog | Check out his photography blog

The second blog that I've enjoyed reading is Backstage at Style Me Pretty. Most people in the wedding industry know Abby Larson writes Style Me Pretty, however, since it's an overload of information, I no longer read. It's great for brides, but for me, it was hard to keep up with. Abby, and her business partner (and husband), Tait, run the ultimate wedding blog and it's great to see what happens behind the scenes.

Check out Backstage at Style Me Pretty

Preparing for a Succesful 2010

2009-12-27T13:00:00.001-05:00

What are you doing in the coming weeks to gear up for next year?

I've been working on my 2010 plan for the last few months, but in the next week, it's time to prepare to put it into action. Working on my end of year financial statements tops my list of "things I dread", but it does need to be done before I can figure out how much money there is to spend on my continuing education, new software for the computer and advertising efforts in 2010.

Over the next week, I will be enjoying the final week of vacation, but come Monday, January 4th, it's back to the office to get things going for 2010.

Meditating Your Way To Peace

2009-12-06T14:15:00.004-05:00

Back in September, I shared my story about how personal conflict and emotions got in the way of being nice. Since I resolved the issue, I sleep better at night. I'm at peace with the situation, which I know sounds cheesy, but the pettiness that was built up inside of me has disappeared.

For the past few months, I've been dealing with another conflict - however the difference is I have no control over it. Saundra, of planning...forever events hit the nail on the head in my previous post when she said "...Remember that you can not change other people's perceptions. You can go through point-by-point, but they still may have a grudge or hold on to something that angers them. I've let that become their problem..."

Saundra is a smart woman and I respect her both as a wedding planner & business owner. I've decided that instead of wasting any energy on a situation I cannot control, I'm going to meditate instead. I know, I know - meditating might sound bizarre, but Kristen, of K. Holly Studios shared a technique she uses to clear her mind and focus on what's important in life. We literally did this at her house and I'm sure we looked absolutely ridiculous...but, that's the joy of meditating - no one sees you.

If you're focusing any ounce of energy on something you simply cannot control, I encourage you to close your eyes and picture everything that brings you joy - an amazing family, your faith, happy clients, a thriving business, your family pet, your cozy home, your friends. These are the only things that matter and the only things that deserve your time.

Don't waste another minute of your life on ugly situations - they are worthless and you have SO many other things to focus your time on. With the holiday season before us, I encourage everyone to start fresh in 2010.

Monitoring Your Statistics

2009-11-27T09:00:00.006-05:00

No matter what tool you use to watch your statistics, keeping track of how readers get to your site, how long they stay, and what topics they look for is all important. I use Stat Counter, along with Google Analytics, to track visitors on all of my websites, however Stat Counter is the one check more often because it's a "great overview snapshot," as Liene Stevens mentioned last time I blogged about this. As you continue to build your blogging strategy as a business, I encourage you to dig deeper and learn about your core reader.

With Corporate America closed for Thanksgiving and very few postings on the Pearls Events blog this week, numbers were lower than normal. However, there were still readers checking in and I wanted to show you a few easy-to-read graphs from Stat Counter.

The first image, below, shows you the monthly visitors for this blog. Since Inspiring Fresh Ideas is not regularly updated, I do not have daily readers. I get the most traffic when I post a link to Twitter. This image is quite easy to read - it is the number of visitors over the past six months. The green line represents page loads, the blue is unique visitors and the orange is returning visitors. It's a great overview of how many people are actually stopping by to read.

The second image I share is a list of the current most popular posts. This shows the direct link readers are clicking on from other blogs and websites to get to the Inspiring Fresh Ideas blog. It's helpful to drill down on these posts, and to see exactly where they are coming from. Since I do not pay for the upgraded program of Stat Counter, it only tracks the 500 more recent visitors, and not the complete history of the site.

Finally, you will see the path of one visitor. It might seem a little scary how much information is captured, but it is helpful. I especially like what city people are reading from. You can see their Internet service provider's name (in red) and their IP Address (which has been blurred out). Below that, you will see the reader's geographical location and time spent on our blog.

This reader clicked on a direct link to one of my personal favorite posts, Working With the Right Clients, to initially get to our blog. The post is currently disabled, so when the visitor clicked on the link, they got an error message. The reader then searched for "right clients" and then simply "client." Then the visitor scrolled through the entire blog spending a total of 19 minutes here. The blue link is an external link, and you will see they popped over to our Twitter feed and then back to our site.

This tells me that a reader in the Grand Rapids area is looking for a popular post, and is searching to locate it. I love knowing this blog is helpful to readers!

After you're installed the proper coding to your website and blog, start analyzing your readers. Knowing who is coming back time and time again is eye opening (Is it your direct competition? Your clients? Your mom?) and absolutely necessary as you build your blog strategy. If you are going to start offering advertising space to other vendors, it's absolutely essential.

Liene Stevens, Social Media Consultant, has a a couple of great posts for a more in-depth look if you're interested in reading more.

Adding a Favicon to Your Blog & Website

2009-11-18T08:00:00.002-05:00

Favicons, or favorite icons, are a tiny part of your website that can be customized. A favicon is the image to the left of your web address in the browser. Above, you can see the favicons to my website, Twitter, Facebook, and Blogger. Tiny in size (literally they are only 16 x 16 pixels) but powerful to your brand, they are a small addition that makes a statement in a sea of other blogs and websites.

My awesome web designer, Sarah, installed a favicon on my website, however since I updated my logo early this year, I needed an updated favicon. I learned to update it myself and, voilà! we were all set.

My blog was another story...

Since all of my blogs are hosted by Blogger, I never took the time to figure out if it was even possible to add my favicon. The standard orange "B" favicon (above, right) did not seem to bother me until I learned I could change it. One Google search later, and I was installing the favicon on the Pearls Events blog to match the one on the website. You'll also notice I updated the favicon on this blog to match the header.

I know, I know - it's a tiny detail and nothing to fret over, but it's another small detail that helps build brand identity.

New Coworking Space in Grand Rapids

2009-11-04T08:00:00.002-05:00

Last night, Natalie and I attended the grand opening for The Factory, which is a new "community office focused on getting work done..." Mac Fowler, who is married to my friend Abbey, was a huge part of getting The Factory up and running. I was so happy to celebrate with them last night.

The space is located above San Chez, in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids. It is ideal for anyone who works independently and wants/needs to get out of their home office. The real benefit I can see about The Factory is having a space to use for client meetings. Since I work from my cozy home office, meeting with more than four people at once is difficult.

The Factory offers a daily drop-in rate of $25, and a monthly rate of $200. In includes WiFi, conference areas, desk areas, and more. If you're not in Grand Rapids, there are coworking sites all over the country - just check the coworking wiki for your area.

Charging for Initial Consultations

2009-10-26T15:30:00.005-04:00

Recently, I attended a popular wedding business conference in Las Vegas. Many well-known wedding professionals were also in attendance, including the incomparable cake designer, Sylvia Weinstock and Randy Fenoli of Say Yes to the Dress. The conference was educational, but one of my favorite parts was being included in the unscripted conversations that happened throughout the day.

One of the biggest points I took away from the conversations is that no matter how well-known your business is, everyone has some of the same hurdles. What do I mean by this? I worry about the same thing Sylvia Weinstock does. Read on, please.

No matter why you're in business, one goal is to make money. One of the points discussed was charging for initial consultations. Sean Low shared his opinion that if you charged for consultations, potential clients who were considering working with you would pay the fee, adding another source of income to the ultimate bottom line.

I immediately thought "No way could I charge for potential client meetings," however Sylvia Weinstock was the one to speak up. She expressed the same concern and it was insightful to listen to the conversation unfold.

Anyone seriously considering contracting Sylvia Weinstock to design a wedding cake most likely knows that she is one of the best in the business and has a price tag to reflect her art. It's not likely a potential client is going to meet with Mrs. Weinstock, then take the design ideas to the local grocery store to recreate, but that is what many worry about, myself included.

Our initial consultations are complimentary and after assessing we can meet the client's needs, we provide a custom proposal. At this time, our proposals do not include each and every design detail, but instead are an overview of what each service includes. After the client has committed to working with Pearls Events by signing a contract, we begin to propose detailed design ideas and vendors for the client's event.

Before the client books, I've spent at least two hours on this sales prospect. If I were to send out an invoice for our time, I would absolutely be making more money, however would I turn away would-be-clients because of this practice? What are your experiences?

Getting to Where You Want to Be

2009-10-19T12:00:00.002-04:00

My path to where I am now began eleven years ago. I remember my first shift as a banquet server at the country club that evening in November of 1998. I was a senior in high school and picked up a second part time job to make some cash for college. I had never worked in the food industry before, but it was a start to where I am now.

After a year of employment, I was promoted to banquet captain. I was now in charge of the event time line, up to ten servers on any given night, and cutting wedding cakes. My manager took note that I was a diligent worker, could delegate tasks to get things done quicker, and still worked my butt off to make sure the bride & groom (and their parents) were happy.

Two years after I started working in the event & food industry, I transferred to The Illinois Institute of Art in Chicago to earn a bachelor of arts in fashion marketing & management. I landed an internship with a bridal designer in Chicago, which was an intense look at the wedding industry. Working with brides on a daily basis was a great eye opener.

After college, I used the business side of my marketing degree for the first four years post college, working for the largest Christian communications company in the world. As a department assistant, I developed my strengths working with a team, managing email lists, arranging travel, submitting expense reports, and helping with every project that was thrown on my desk. It was not glamorous, nor was it a job that I loved. However, I took time to figure out what I liked to do best, which ended up being working with a team of smart individuals on various projects.

After working in my corporate cubicle for four years, I decided to make the leap of faith and open my event planning business, Pearls Events. My company is now over two years old and I will be honest in saying it has not been a stress-free two years. I've dealt with flaky interns, crazy clients and making no money. I've turned down business when things were not right, recommended my competition and went from working 40 hours a week, to working 90 hours a week. I work evenings, weekends and holidays.

Why do I tell you this? Because it took me nine years of working part time jobs, earning a college degree, and busting away in the corporate world to open my business.

This time of year means my inbox is full of requests for job shadows, coffee dates, and internships. I have developed a standard response to all of these talented women who contact me, however recently Jodi Bos, who produces some of the most elaborate events our area has seen, wrote a fabulous post that I want to pass on if you're dreaming of being an event planner. I have only posted the main points. Jodi has so much more to say, so check out the original post here.

This is tough work.
You don't get to where we are overnight.
If you can solve 10 issues in 30 second then you're on your way.
Organization is King.
Know your limitations.
Volunteer. Volunteer. Volunteer.
Learn to write.
Align yourself with the best.
Always persevere.
Passion is not something that can ever be taught.

And just in case you're wondering, Pearls Events hires two event interns each March. Please watch the blog for the announcement in January if you're interested!

Professional vs. Personal on the Web

2009-10-01T11:00:00.006-04:00

I will be the first to tell you I have always had a hard time keeping things under wraps. My biggest challenge was (and still is!) keeping secrets about gifts.

"Ooh, you're going to LOVE your birthday present. Why don't you just open it right now?" And literally, no matter when the recipient's birthday was, I'd hand over the gift and beg them to open it. I blame it on my birth order, naturally. Being the oldest of five, I was often privy to information that my siblings were too young to care about, but I wanted to tell them anyway.

I have been a blogger since 2001 when my college roommate, Lianne, introduced me to LiveJournal. I don't do illegal things, I am not a mean-spirited person, and I rarely use foul language, so keeping things public was easy for me.

I did something this week I've never done before - I made my personal blog private. Of course, it's still on the Internet, so it's not that private. I wish I had a big announcement to go along with the change like "We're getting another dog," or "We're moving to Montana," however I do not. Things around the VanderMaas house are the same.

I also went through my Facebook friends roster and narrowed it down to people I trust, care about, know in real life, and respect. With much of my professional life online - the Pearls Events blog, my Twitter feed, the Pearls Events Facebook page - it's easy to forget that there is still a part of me that needs to just walk away from work.

The lines get blurred when you run your own business, especially when much of your marketing efforts are online. Relationships with people and other companies is how I've built my business, however many of them are acquaintances and do not want to read about my new nephew, see photos of our dog or listen to me complain about folding laundry! If so, they follow along on Twitter for snippets of my everyday life.

How do you keep your personal and professional life separate?

Resolving Personal Conflict

2009-09-02T17:00:00.006-04:00

Because I receive many emails about my honesty and "keeping things real" on this blog, this post may seem vague compared to others. This is meant to share my experience, not the actual people involved. Well, besides me.

There is nothing that eats away at me more than emotion. Hurt, anger, jealousy, annoyance - can all get in the way of running my business.

Over a year ago, I received an email that made me sick. I seriously could not eat for over 24 hours - I was so bent out of shape. This person accused me of things I was certain I did not do. Things were being misread and my hurtful comments were surfacing. The sender explained the situation, but I did not feel I was in the wrong and explained, never to hear back. I took it as "I do NOT care about your feelings, I am right."

Point taken.

Our working relationship was beyond repair. We would run into each other at professional events and avoid one another. It was childish and lame. I would often wonder if the feelings were mutual, or if I was just blowing things out of proportion.

Over a year later, I received a follow-up letter. I finally saw the other point of view and understood how this person felt and where it stemmed from. There was an apology attached and I realized I was partially to blame as well. I assumed things and was upset for an entire year. I sent over my apology as soon as I fashioned just the right way to express myself.

Conflict is ugly. I said things about this person I am not proud of. I gossiped, turned up my nose and thought "who needs you" more than once. After a year of this, I realized that we are all the same - just at different points of our lives, careers, spiritual journeys, etc.

Everyone has times of insecurities, jealously, and bitterness. I wish I would have realized this a year ago and would have solved our differences then. I should have picked up the phone, set up a coffee date and put it all on the table. I do not enjoy confrontation just as much as the next person, however talking about what went wrong was all I needed to get over it and move on.

I'm human. I'm learning. I'm a work in progress.

If you are dealing (or not dealing...) with the conflict in your life right now, I urge you to do something about it. There is a sense of calming and a "weight has been lifted off my shoulders" feeling. No, it might not be easy to talk about it, but putting all your cards on the table might be easier than you think.

Snail Mail

2009-08-27T11:30:00.000-04:00

I'm a huge fan of sending AND receiving notes in my mailbox (among the bills and junk mail, it's always a nice surprise for a handwritten note). One thing that drives me batty is when I cannot find a mailing address for a fellow wedding vendor.

I write many thank you notes and like to pop them in the mail that day, if possible. I head on over to their website, check out the contact page, and am discouraged when I get a phone number and email address, or worse yet, just a fill-in-the-blank contact form. Yuck!

If you work from home, like I do, I completely understand not wanting your home address online. We have all heard the dangers of the creepy internet stalker who is going to rob you while you are on vacation because your address is out there (At least I have. Many times. From my mother.).

So, what's a small business owner to do? Lease a post office box. It's the BEST $5/month I spend at the USPS. My mailing address is out there on my contact page and our business cards. Anyone can send me anything via snail mail - however packages via UPS or FedEx need a physical address, which the sender would have to contact you about.

And maybe if you DID have a post office box, you'd receive many notes, maybe even one from me.

Using Su.pr from StumbleUpon

2009-08-26T23:00:00.000-04:00

I set up my StumbleUpon account ages ago, however never used it because I didn't know what in the world I was supposed to do with it. Earlier this week, I sat down and spent some time looking it over, per Liene Stevens of Think Splendid, who inspires me often to learn something new.

She recently blogged about the power of Su.pr, which is directly linked to StumbleUpon. Since I already had an account, it was time to figure it out. I'm not an expert, or even a novice, however it was amazing to see when I tweet a link via su.pr, instead of TinyUrl, which I had been doing for almost two years I've been using Twitter, I can see how many people click on it - either from Twitter or from my personal Facebook page. Here are a couple of images of the first two links I posted...

Above you will see I posted two links when I wrote this post. On the top right hand side, you will see I've linked my account to all three of my Twitter accounts (@Aletha, @FreshlyInspired, and @PearlsEvents), and also my personal Facebook page (facebook.com/alethajo) I can Tweet right in the box on the top left hand side, and chose where it shows up by checking the boxes next to each source (in the image, they are all checked, however I NEVER post to the @PearlsEvents Twitter account - that's strictly for webchats via Twitter)

Here you see the first link I posted in detail. It was posted three times. Here's what happened...I first posted it with my personal Twitter account, @Aletha, then realized I meant to post it with on @FreshlyInspired, so deleted it, and reposted at @FreshlyInspired. Then decided because it was my first su.pr post, I should keep it on the @Aletha account, so retweeted it. It looks like it was "retweeted" twice, however, it was by me - trying to figure it all out.

This detail shot also tells you where your traffic came from. Who doesn't love seeing where their traffic comes from?!

And if you don't believe tweeting your links is a good idea, check out my stats for this blog from StatCounter - I normally have well below fifty people per day on this blog, however when I posted the link, you'll see my count jumped to 139 unique visitors.

If you are still using TinyUrl (or others that do not track your stats) I advise you to stop and track your Twitter Stats.

Formatting Attachments for Email

2009-08-24T20:15:00.007-04:00

As a wedding planner, I see many proposals and contracts from other wedding professionals in my inbox. When the document arrives in an editable format, such as in Microsoft Word or Excel, I cringe. Think about it this way - would you send a contract to a potential client via snail mail on a plain piece of white paper, in PENCIL? I sure hope not!

This is my thought process - Where is your logo? What if the person doesn't have the right software to open it? What if they open up your contract and change it before signing it and you don't notice? None of these are good things!

This is why I recommend sending attachments as Portable Document Formats. PDFs are standard, and everyone can open them with right software, which is free.

Saving your document as a PDF is easy. If you use a PC and don't have the option in Microsoft Office and you don't want to purchase Adobe Acrobat, there are free options available. My friend, Sarah, is always sending me tidbits of info and she clued me in on this PDF Creator, which I use on a daily basis. It's easy to use and best of all, absolutely free. If you are a Mac user, all you do is press print and pick "save as a PDF". Here's what it looks like when you save a Word document as a PDF on a PC...

After "printing as a PDF", you will be able to save it in a new location and attach it to your email just like any other document. The recipient should be able to open it, and if they cannot, recommend they download Adobe Reader, for free.

Starting The Week Off Right

2009-08-17T09:15:00.005-04:00

If you're anything like me, getting an email from someone who has great things to say about what you do, what you stand for and your work, instantly puts a smile on your face. Someone I highly respect in the wedding industry, Liene of Think Splendid, recently posted about this very topic and it's a great reminder to pass it on.

There are so many great people I admire in the wedding industry, I need to sit down and thank them for encouraging me, although they may not realize they have. Early this morning, I received one of those emails myself - today is going to be a great day.

My aha! Moment

2009-07-29T16:30:00.001-04:00

Recently, the aha Moment Tour stopped in Grand Rapids and I was invited to participate. I cannot embed the short video clip here, however you can watch it here. It was pretty darn nerve-racking for me - what WAS my aha moment? Where did it come to me? Well, I thought about it for a couple of days, figured out what I was going to say and then met up with the tour to tape this. The editors of this did a fabulous job - I swear I was talking much faster and most likely giggled a bit, which I do when I'm nervous. Anyway - it was fun! If the aha Moment Tour stops by your town, get down to their Airstream and talk about your moment.

What Makes A Good Logo?

2009-07-29T13:00:00.000-04:00

Daisy on Ignertia is always sending me fabulous stuff. Today, she Twittered over this great article about what makes a great logo. Check it out today if you're having a hard time landing on the right look for your business.

Just Do It

2009-07-24T09:00:00.001-04:00

I am 28 and held my first job when I was 16, which means I've been working for the past twelve years. In those twelve years, I've held 19 jobs. NINETEEN! I've also attended two colleges and earned a bachelor's degree in marketing. From working at my mom's clothing boutique in high school to marketing books for the world's largest Christian communications company post college - it's all experience that has shaped who I am. It also helped me realize what my strengths are.

I often see others stomping on dreams. I hear "you're not qualified, don't have enough experience, or you are going to bring the industry down". I read this and it makes me so mad. All of these people had to start somewhere too and I think they forget about where they started.

I recently heard someone say "Can you believe that person is doing that? They just started their business." And then I thought, "Are you kidding me? You did the same thing only two years ago when YOU were brand new." How quickly they forget about the early years of their business.

My business is only two years old. I get many emails from women across the country asking how to start their own wedding planning business. They all have a working background - retail, customer service, marketing, public relations, and so on, and most have a college degree. It is not uncommon for women, after planning their own wedding, to want to be a wedding planner - at least for a little while. I do not discourage anyone from following their dreams - I did the same thing two years ago when I made a crazy leap out of my gray cubicle to working from my home office. I remember telling a colleague I wanted to be an event planner and it only took three years for me to actually do it! I haven't looked back since.

If you want to start your own business, no matter what it is, do it! Don't let anyone tell you that your dream is not attainable.

-Yes, it's hard.
-No, you should not try to copy anyone else.
-Yes, you'll most likely have some sleepless nights when you're mind won't stop running.
-No, you might not make a ton of money right away.

But if you never try, you won't know. Maybe you'll rock the local competition out of the water and keep everyone on their toes. And maybe you'll decide you don't really love it like you once thought. Whatever the outcome is, there is no reason to not give it a try.

Of course, I advise you to do your research before setting up shop and also to be up front with your clients. Advertising you've been sewing wedding gowns for 15 years, but, in reality haven't designed a gown since 1998 because you took time off to raise your family, isn't being up front. If you DO have a stellar portfolio full of work, update it with the most recent work and get to work.

Good luck!

Keeping Up Appearances

2009-07-22T09:00:00.007-04:00

Because I work from my home office, there are some days that I don't leave the neighborhood. Here I stay - plugging away on paperwork, blogging, and communicating with my clients via email & phone. I'm not planning on seeing any clients or colleagues, however you never know how the day will unfold.

I enjoy being comfy, even when I sit at my desk. And although I may not be donning a suit, I always shower and wear clean clothes. I never know if a last minute lunch date will pop up, or who I might run into at the market when I stop in for dinner. I also usually run to the post office and bank and although the chances are slim I would see a client, there is always the possibility.

I recently did a consulting session with a new client, and she shared that she sometimes does her consultations in sweatshirts, sometimes dirty ones (after all, she's working from home - baking cookies, playing with her kids, etc.) I shared with her that her clients most likely view her as unprofessional with cookie dough on her shirt. It doesn't match her brand, and should be checked at the door.

Monica, from The White Box of Wedding Design, recently wrote a great post about always looking presentable. It's a great read and I completely agree with her - check it out.

Your Emergency Plan

2009-07-20T13:00:00.000-04:00

Thinking about the worst possibly scenario is never fun, however, should be a part of your busines plan, as a small business owner. Recently, a friend of mine emailed me on her way out of town telling me if the worst should happen while she's away, all of her clients will be sent to me to help them find another photographer.

Three things went through my mind quickly...
a.) I was a bit taken aback by this email
b.) I was flattered she trusted her clients in my hands
c.) I realized I had no idea what my own clients would do if something tragic happened to me.

In a tragic situation, my husband would have NO idea what to do, who to contact and where to send refund checks, if necessary. I do, however, have an email with all the information that he'd send to Kate. In this instance, my associate Kate would take over where I left off if unable to work. She would receive all of the passwords for my accounts (our internet hosting site, my email, my voicemail, the blog, etc.) She would contact all of our current clients and let them know what is going on and if they'd like to continue working with Pearls Events under her direction.

What happens to your business if you can no longer be in control?

Back on Track

2009-07-16T14:00:00.000-04:00

And I'm back. After a two-week road trip with my husband, six wedding-filled weekends and a couple Fresh Ideas sessions thrown in there for good measure, I'm back at blogging here starting Monday. Stay tuned for some fun business advice I've been thinking about over the past month.

Have a fabulous summer weekend, everyone.

A Little Hiatus

2009-06-22T09:30:00.002-04:00

This blog is going on hiatus for the next month until things slow down in our office and I return from vacation. I have a whole slew of posts that I'm currently working on, however June has been a crazy busy month for Pearls Events, plus our family vacation is approaching. I'll be back in mid-July!

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer thus far. In your industry - do things pick up or slow down? In my industry, summer is the season where we implement the weddings that have been in the works for months. Wedding season keeps us busy, especially on the weekends.

Don't forget to take some time off yourself to enjoy all things summer - ice cream, your local fair, the beach and maybe a summer vacation. Our wedding anniversary falls in June, and my husband & I usually enjoy some sort of trip to celebrate - this year it includes a road trip to the Western United States & Canada!

Networking | Making Personal Connections

2009-06-19T06:00:00.003-04:00

Many of my clients find me because another vendor recommended my services. That is the best compliment - a referral from someone in my own industry! I know people find Pearls Events in random Google searches, but I don't rely on fancy SEO work in order for potential clients to find me. This season alone, I know for a fact, that two photographers I've never worked with professionally before, recommended my services to clients who ended up booking me on the spot. Those are two clients that trusted their photographers experience and liked me during our initial interview.

Instead of working on my Google rating, I focus my attention on seeking out other wedding pros in my local network to make personal connections with. How do I find these people? Twitter, Facebook, the MWEP Network I head up, blog comments, etc. I am in an industry that prefers to communicate via the world wide web, so the odds of finding new people is quite high. Yesterday, in fact, I had lunch with a wedding photographer who found me via Twitter. We enjoyed lunch, chatted about the industry and I cannot wait to work with him.

Personal connections have always been easy to make for me - I'm an extrovert and can always ask questions to keep the conversation going. I get this social ability from my mother and thank her silently everytime I'm in an awkward social situation.

There are always going to be people who "don't have time" for coffee. Don't let that discourage you as you seek our your professional network. I know a few local vendors who don't place a high value on making these connections, especially with newbies. In my local wedding industry, there are plenty of people to connect with, so move on to the next person and don't worry - you can be successful at building your own network of fabulous people even without the high end venue who can't work you into their schedule for months. Just like anything else, you need to work on it to be good at it.

If you're in the West Michigan wedding industry, I'd LOVE to meet you at the next MWEP meeting on July 27th. Details on our Facebook page here.

What Are Your Services Worth?

2009-06-17T06:00:00.003-04:00

I love this video. Watch it if you have clients who pay you.

While working in the consulting business, what I sell is intangible. Vendor relationships, knowledge of where to get a great cake/flowers/deejay, discounts my clients receive because of said relationships, and event knowledge I have because I work in the industry are all pros to hiring me to plan your wedding.

Acquaintances seem to think I want to freely dispense it because I could. Often, I receive emails from random friends of friends asking where to buy a wedding gown, what florist to talk to, and what deejays to avoid. I will tell you this - I do not smile when these emails hit my inbox - I cringe.

Do you value your own time? I hope so!

Think about it like this - Would your client walk into a restaurant and ask for a discount simply because they did not budget for the filet? Would they walk into The Gap and ask to pay wholesale because the retail cost doesn't fit their budget? No, no they would not. Don't let your potential clients do this to you either.

You are worth what you charge - and most likely more! Figure out your prices and stick to them.

Write Your Marketing Plan

2009-06-15T06:00:00.001-04:00

After you have established your brand, you're going to need to get your name out to your industry, maybe without spending a dime, if you're brand spankin' new and on a budget. Sitting down and writing out your marketing plan is a time to brainstorm ideas that you might want to implement now and also down the road.

Wikipedia defines a marketing plan as a written document that details the necessary actions to achieve one or more marketing objectives...Marketing plans cover between one and five years.

Wendy of Aspire to Plan recently wrote an article about marketing plans and the whole post here covers a ton of info. I don't need to reiterate what she already said, so please check out her post.

There are many aspects of marketing that will get your name out there, but the short list I would absolutely consider because these are low-cost options include face-to-face networking, blogging, social networking, and search engine optimization with your website and/or blog. I encourage you to add these to your marketing plan if they aren't already on the list. When you have cash to spend, I would consider adding traditional print advertising, direct marketing, and public relations.

Of course, all of these will be much more effective once you've established your brand and have some sort of logo to associate with your company.