| When you are just starting to market yourself as a | | | | of their dream weddings. Clip art does not show that |
| wedding planner, you may be tempted to save money | | | | you can do that. If you need graphics, find a graphic |
| by creating your own marketing materials and website, | | | | designer in your area or online and hire them to help |
| even if you have never created these things in the | | | | you create a logo and graphics that express who you |
| past. There is nothing wrong with doing things yourself, | | | | are and appeal to the brides in your niche. |
| as long as you have the knowledge and experience to | | | | 3) Business cards with advertising for another |
| produce professional-quality materials. | | | | company make it appear like wedding planning is your |
| I have seen business cards and marketing materials | | | | hobby |
| from new wedding and event planners that give very | | | | When cards advertise their printing company, they say, |
| bad impressions. The business cards are on | | | | "I am not serious, I am just planning weddings as a |
| light-weight paper, have free clip art images and are | | | | hobby, I may not be around for very long." A bride |
| smeared and wrinkled because they were not | | | | wants a planner who is professional and reliable, they |
| well-protected. I have also seen new planners get free | | | | do not want to wonder if you will still be in business on |
| business cards that have the logo of the online | | | | their wedding day. The same companies that offer |
| company that printed them is on the back. Self-printed | | | | free business cards usually also print business cards |
| brochures have misspelled words and are on flimsy | | | | for a fairly inexpensive price that do not have their |
| paper. And website addresses read something like this; | | | | logo on them. Make this investment in your business. |
| | | | 4) Brochures with errors say you are not |
| Here are 5 reasons why these types of Do-It-Yourself | | | | detail-oriented and thorough |
| marketing can hurt your chances of attracting the | | | | Carefully check any marketing materials for spelling |
| brides you want: | | | | errors. Have a few people proofread everything |
| 1) Flimsy, smeared and wrinkled business cards look | | | | before you print. Also, get your brochures |
| sloppy | | | | professionally printed on high-quality paper. |
| Brides expect their wedding planners to be neat, clean | | | | 5) A web address with an extension looks |
| and organized and your business cards should reflect | | | | unprofessional |
| that image. Self-printed cards can smear quickly so | | | | Your web address should be It should not have any |
| check locally and online for low-cost printers and have | | | | extensions, that instantly tells your potential clients that |
| your cards professionally printed. Order the thickest, | | | | you have a free site and may not be serious about |
| highest quality business card paper you can afford so | | | | your business. Also, be sure your email address |
| cards do not wrinkle easily. Purchase a business card | | | | contains the name of your website and is not an AOL, |
| case to store them in so you are not just jamming | | | | Yahoo, GMail or other free email account. |
| them into your purse or pocket where they will be | | | | Save money when you can but always look at your |
| damaged. | | | | marketing with a critical eye and make sure you can |
| 2) Free clip art images can look dated and show a | | | | answer "yes" to the question, "Does this marketing |
| lack of creativity | | | | piece reflect the high level of quality, professionalism, |
| One of the reasons brides hire wedding planners is for | | | | detail and experience that I bring to my work? |
| their ability to bring creativity and beauty to their vision | | | | |