Sometimes there are potential clients who hang on to your planning proposal or information for weeks or even months before making a decision. This can be very frustrating and it’s often difficult to know what to do if you have another inquiry for the same date.

Potential clients will take action much more quickly if they believe that your service or product is in high demand by many people, and that you’re selective. Let the client know that you don’t take just anybody.

Here are a few ideas on getting clients to say “yes”:

• On your proposal or wedding planning contract, have an expiration date. “This proposal (or contract) is valid through xxx date.”  The expiration date can be anywhere from 3 days to two weeks, depending on your personal preference and business.  Having this date also gives you a reason to follow up on the expiration date to check in with the potential client. If a client is not ready to book at that point, then their event date is no longer on-hold in your calendar.

• If the potential clients do not have an event date yet, you can still have an expiration date on the proposal and make it clear that since you take a limited number of events or clients, your roster is will open again on xxx date so that another potential client will have the opportunity to work with you.

• You can communicate to potential clients that you will hold their date for a certain amount of time while they make a decision.  If you get another inquiry for the same date, you have a firm date when the first client has to make a decision. People will procrastinate if they think they have unlimited time to make a decision about your product or service. Here are 5 other questions you can ask to help you close the sale.