| Author | Sharon Hill |
| Title | Become a Top Wedding Planner - 7 Critical Questions to Ask Before Exhibiting at a Bridal Fair or Expo |
| Category | Wedding and Bridal Fairs |
| Article |
Since you are a wedding planner, you may have caught the attention of people who sell space at bridal fairs and expos. These can range from small events sponsored by local a local wedding venue to events run by companies that specialize in producing bridal shows. They all may promise wonderful opportunities for exposure to brides but not all shows can deliver as much as their marketing would have you believe. Here are 7 questions to ask before you decide to invest the money and time to participate: 1) Who is their target market? They need to be marketing to the same niche as you or you will not be meeting the qualified buyers that you need. Ask if they have any statistics from previous events or talk to vendors who have exhibited at the event to find out if the show attracted the clients you are looking for. Also ask how the event is being advertised and if your name and web address are included in the advertising. If the event appeals to you but you are unsure of attendance, you can be an exhibitor and take the risk that qualified prospects will be there, knowing that it might just be a learning experience for you and an opportunity to meet other wedding vendors. Or you can be an attendee, network among others to see if there is interest in what you offer, and decide whether or not you want to participate in the future. 2) Is the fair or expo part of a conference or workshop with speakers? Some wedding events have workshops with speakers giving advice on wedding planning, selecting a caterer, selecting a wedding cake and many other topics that will interest brides. If this is the case, you will want to make sure attendees have plenty of time to visit the exhibit area to meet you. If the event does not dedicate a portion of their schedule just for visiting exhibits, your will be fighting with the speakers to get the attention of the audience, and the speakers usually win. 3) How much is booth space and what do you get for the price? An exhibit space may just be a six foot table, a "booth" made of pipe and drape with a draped table and a couple of chairs, or a large space that needs a freestanding booth that you buy or rent. Find out what you get and, if you need electricity and or wireless Internet to show your website, ask if they are included in the price. While you are thinking of your budget, don't forget to factor in the cost of your travel and your time. Ask yourself, "Will it be worth taking the time away from my office to do this?" 4) How many hours will you have to staff the booth? If you are a one person business, you will have to decide whether or not it would be worth your time to be in a booth versus working with clients and marketing elsewhere during that time. If the hours are such that you will need to hire people to help you, figure out if it would be worth it to not only have staff there but also to adequately train them. 5) Can you select your booth location? Members of the organization hosting the event, past exhibitors and people buying the largest booth spaces usually get to select first. Highly trafficked areas are at the front, near the entrances. 6) Who are some of the other vendors? You want to be in the company of high-quality vendors. If the vendors already participating would generally not be the ones you want to network and exchange referrals with, this probably isn’t the right show for you. 7) Will you have time to follow up on your leads? It doesn't do any good to get qualified prospects if you don't have the time to follow up after the show. Have a timeline and strategy in place for contacting prospects and potential business partners for follow up before you involve yourself in an event. If you don't, any time and money you spend will have been wasted. Bridal fairs and expos can be wonderful opportunities for meeting new clients and business partners but review the opportunity closely to make sure participating would be worth your investment of time and money. And if you would like to learn more about becoming a top wedding planner, I invite you to claim your Free Instant Access to my Special Report “7 Steps to Becoming a Top Wedding Planner” when you visit http://www.HowToBecomeaTopWeddingPlanner.com. |
| About the Author | Sharon Hill is a wedding and event planner, event consultant and author. She has been planning events since 1991 and now she also helps people realize their dreams of becoming top wedding planners. |
