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How do you make sure it’s a successful wedding business?
Running your own business is one of the most exciting adventures you can ever undertake. A journey with rapids and roller-coasters lies ahead of you! Lessons to learn and amazing people to meet.
I remember the time so well when I launched my photography business www.pippamackenzie.com 15 years ago.
I had big goals, though I never imagined that my business would become one of the UK’s leading luxury wedding photography brands. It really has been a dream come true!
But not all new businesses are successful.
Did you know that according to The National Office of Statistics, a whopping 80% of new businesses fail within the first year?
It’s pretty scary right?
So, what do you need to do to ensure YOUR business is in that 20% that thrives?
I’m here to share with you my Top 10 Tips on how to help you to launch a super successful and flourishing wedding business!
I understand all too well the temptation to wait until all your ducks are in a row, but believe me, if you do that you’re holding yourself back from starting the most exciting journey of your life. There will never be a perfect time… so just go out there and start! Take that leap and begin. Go on! I know you can do it!
So, I know too how scary it is to launch a new wedding business. You’re scared of failure. Scared of what people will think. But believe me, people are far too busy to make judgements on what you’re up to, and those who do, aren’t the people you want to have around you anyway. Ask yourself, by staying where you are, what does that look like? Now ask yourself, by embracing the fear, where is that going to take you? So go on… be brave and push past that fear. Don’t let it stop you!
You can choose courage or you can choose comfort. You cannot have both.
Think about your goals for the next year, 5 years and 10 years. What do you really want? Where do you see yourself? Dream big and write your dreams down. Dreams written down become goals. Create mood boards. Share your goals with your friends. Make them real! One of the biggest mistakes made when starting a new businesses is having no clear goals… no direction. Without goals, you will simply feel like you’re floating wherever the wind decides to take you. Be clear on what you want, and then make it happen!
The wedding industry is extremely competitive but there is room for everyone so long as you are super clear on your niche and know who your ideal client is. That’s your brand hero. Who do you want to work with? What do their weddings look like? What are their values? Where do they live? What jobs do they do? What are their passions? The more you understand who your ideal client is, the easier they are to find, and for them to find you.
You have your goals, and you understand your ideal client. Now you need a clear marketing and business strategy to find those clients and achieve those goals! What do you need to do? Who do you need help from? What money do you need to invest? What skills do you need to improve? How much time do you need? All these questions make up your strategy. The stronger your strategy, the more productive your time will be, the more successful your business will become and the faster you’ll reach your goals.
This is super important too! All of the most successful entrepreneurs in the world have super strong productivity habits. Take Oprah Winfrey and Richard Branson. They have daily habits that have been instrumental in their success. Here are some to think about…
Embrace learning! We can never ever stop learning and growing! Reading, listening to podcasts, being curious, surrounding ourselves with inspirational people. Focus on what you can control – not what you can’t. Flip obstacles into opportunities. Grow your mind! Anything is possible!
Be inspired by others but don’t copy. And be true to who you are. Each one of us is on our unique journey. Think about key stories that have shaped your life. Why have they had an impact? What really fires you up? What is your style? Show this in your personal branding. Be real! Be YOU! And be proud of it! Shout it from the rooftops!
There’s going to be some rocky roads on your business adventure. Even some cliff-hangers. But they’re all going to teach you lessons. There is no such thing as failure. Only feedback. From every mistake, learn from it. What could you do differently next time? You only fail if you quit, so dig deep and don’t quit! Remind yourself of your goals. How much do you want them? What do they look like? What do they feel like? When the going gets tough, pick yourself up, hold your head up high, take a deep breath and take that next step forwards.
Many of us have no problems investing in external things for our business like software and equipment… but what about investing in YOURSELF? When you grow personally, your business grows. When I invested in a coach for Pippa Mackenzie Photography, our income doubled in 12 months. We could not have done that without investing in ourselves. Having someone with you who has been where you are now, to help you when the road gets rocky, to support you when you feel overwhelmed, to share what works and what doesn’t. This support can take years off your wedding business journey. Trust me!
Surround yourself only with people who are going to help you get higher.
I have been where you are now. I totally understand the challenges you have ahead of you. And I know how you feel. I’m here to help in any way I can so you can have the wedding business and lifestyle you dream of.
Click below if you’d like to chat more about your wedding business. I’d love to hear from you.
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