How Couples Choose Their Wedding Suppliers.

Business By SugaredSaffron Updated 20 Jun 2012 , 2:55pm by jason_kraft

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SugaredSaffron Posted 19 Jun 2012 , 11:42am
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I thought this was an interesting read, the research is from the US as well.

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Primarily it appears that while couples see added value in a supplier who gets press and features (on blogs or in magazines) recommendations from friends and family (in real life or via facebook) is still the number one way couples find their suppliers. They want to book people they can trust.

They also cited that a suppliers personality plays a huge role (70% said it was very important with a further 27% saying it matters). So being yourself, connecting with clients who are like you and being a nice person (as well as a good at what you do) is paramount. Sounds obvious but believe me there are some suppliers Ive met who seem to forget that last part!

Maybe one of the most surprising results to me was that 94% of couples said that speediness of reply to emails is very important or matters when booking a supplier. My advice after seeing that would be to make your inbox a number one priority!

These three factors were way more important to couples than fancy awards or celebrity clients. If you ignore external factors (and what everyone else appears to be doing) and instead focus on your brand, on being attentive to a potential clients needs and on being yourself, the right kind of people will be booking you!





http://www.rocknrollbride.com/2012/06/spending-habits-of-the-newly-engaged-how-couples-choose-their-wedding-suppliers-market-research-from-splendid-communications-brides-magazine/

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Bluehue Posted 19 Jun 2012 , 12:25pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SugaredSaffron

Maybe one of the most surprising results to me was that 94% of couples said that speediness of reply to emails is very important or matters when booking a supplier. My advice after seeing that would be to make your inbox a number one priority!




I believe this to be true also
Bluehue

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costumeczar Posted 20 Jun 2012 , 2:12am
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We did a survey of local brides and asked what the most annoying things that wedding vendors did was. They all said that not responding to emails was their number one complaint. I was surprised, but it was pretty unanimous.

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jason_kraft Posted 20 Jun 2012 , 2:48am
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According to the graph, the #1 method for finding a wedding professional is an internet search (57% vs. 56% for recommendations from family/friends).

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scp1127 Posted 20 Jun 2012 , 9:12am
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I agree with Jason on this one. The article omits the primary way companies are selected.

My first job that lead to my second job (same company) was in yellow pages sales in the 1990's. The internet has replaced the yellow pages, but the same habits still apply.

A person wants information. Today they can get it immediately. They open their laptop or phone and do a quick search. Within minutes, they have every option their market has available. Just like in the old yellow pages days, they start at the top and start calling or emailing, noting any favorites farther down the line.

The person who responds first and gives clear, helpful, information, is always in the running if the style and budget allows. Those who don't respond are taken off the 'list" and all others remain, including the ones recognized as referrals. From this list, the client hones down the top favorites based on product and budget, professionalism, referrals, and that connection with the proprietor or representative.

The website will remain the first impression and the only way, except a referral, that will get a contact.

In old yellow page research, I have found that the same advantages of placement in the search results still applies. Peple only go down the search list until they get good answers and viable options.

So it is important to have a great site with plenty of good information and great placement in the searches, be prompt on your replies to emails and calls, and be the kind of person that the client can relate to in a professional manner.

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SugaredSaffron Posted 20 Jun 2012 , 9:47am
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The writer included recommendations from friends and family offline as well as online, which is why she said its the primary way a wedding supplier is chosen. Thats clear from the graph and the text.

Plus 56% to 57%, hardly an enormous gap by any ones standards.

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costumeczar Posted 20 Jun 2012 , 11:16am
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I'd argue that they're both important, but that the deciding factor is going to be personal referrals. Finding someone online and getting a quick response is very important in starting out with a positive impression. But if they mention your name to their friends and they turn their noses up and say awful things about you then you're not going to get hired. I know of one person here who is really rude to people half the time and friendly the other half. I get a lot of brides who cometo me and tell me stories ( without me asking, so it must have been bad) about how rude this person was and that their friends had the same experience. When they get feedback from people they know and trust, that goes a long way in making their decision.

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scp1127 Posted 20 Jun 2012 , 11:21am
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Two factors:

First, the total comes to 285%. Even if we took it as a breakdown, the numbers don't figure.

Second, all of those who hired their referred company still used the web to find the vendor and still shopped. By your own above statement, according to the stats, the web and referrals are 50/50. Statistically speaking, there could have bee 100% referrals with 50% going to another vendor. This data is not complete. Another factor... brides get many referrals. It is possible to have a referral for every vendor in the area. That way, the answer will always be a referral.

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SugaredSaffron Posted 20 Jun 2012 , 11:39am
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Originally Posted by costumeczar

I'd argue that they're both important, but that the deciding factor is going to be personal referrals. Finding someone online and getting a quick response is very important in starting out with a positive impression. But if they mention your name to their friends and they turn their noses up and say awful things about you then you're not going to get hired. I know of one person here who is really rude to people half the time and friendly the other half. I get a lot of brides who cometo me and tell me stories ( without me asking, so it must have been bad) about how rude this person was and that their friends had the same experience. When they get feedback from people they know and trust, that goes a long way in making their decision.




True, I think its important to have a good, up to date website, but if your customer service is poor, or you dont have anyone to recommend you then thats all you'll have.

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hieperdepiep Posted 20 Jun 2012 , 1:21pm
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Just my 5 cents:

Statistics can go above 100% when respondents where allowed to mark more than1 answer, which was probably the case.
Although I have no desire to built a business, it is interesting that hardly any respondent finds their professional by an add.
Was the questionnaire scientificly proof? Or were the respondents found under the magazine readers, maybe a poll on their website? Then even the magazine readers themselves don't respond to the adds.

Well it is not my business.. I read to much... (like this forum so much)

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jason_kraft Posted 20 Jun 2012 , 2:55pm
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Originally Posted by hieperdepiep

Although I have no desire to built a business, it is interesting that hardly any respondent finds their professional by an add.



Perhaps for ads in magazines, wedding web sites, and paid vendor directories, but it's unclear whether or not the 57% who used a search engine distinguished between organic results and paid ads (i.e. Google AdWords).

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