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How to Simplify Your Wedding Planning Business with the Power of One
Do you ever get the feeling that you’re totally overwhelmed in your wedding planning business? That feeling that you’re the marketing person, sales person, business strategist, and HR manager? Don’t even get me started on the list of hats you wear for your couples, right?
You’re not just their wedding planner, you’re their family counselor, the stand in maid of honor, and wearer of the “all the things” hat.
While you’re wearing so many hats for others, it’s easy for your self care and the lifestyle you started your business for to be left on the side of the road, kicked all the way to the curb.
Stop what you’re doing and pull up a chair as I spill my tea and walk in my truth with you. This blog post is about to be full of some “Oh my God. Is she crazy?” moments and you might say that I am as you continue to read on. Now, as you read on, please give me some grace and give yourself some too, because you might see yourself in some of the things I’m about to share.
Let’s cut to the chase. In just a few short months, I’ve archived my Facebook group for creatives, quit YouTube, shut down my digital product shop, canceled my live workshops, threw out two service packages, and cut down on how much content I create!
No. I promise I’m not having an early mid-life crisis. There’s a method to the madness!
I know what you’re asking…“Krystal! Why the drastic changes?” So. Here it goes.
The short answer: I want to serve my clients better, focus on self care, and really grow my business intentionally vs. doing all the things. Not to mention the fact that I want to scale my business, build a team, and get really comfortable with the lifestyle I started it for in the first place.
We all have our why, right? Mine was specifically to spend more time with my family while doing something I love. The way I had been going about things in my business was taking it’s toll on me and taking me further away from my why than ever before.
On a call with two of my business buddies, I ran down my list of “all the things” I do in my business. I talked about all the packages I had, the content I create, and all the places I market my business. As we ran through my “all the things” list, I realized that I’ve been spreading myself way too thin.
Do you have a list like this for your wedding planning business? I’ve got all this:
…. each with their own separate list of things to do to grow and be successful.
When I actually listed everything out loud, I realized “Holy crap! That’s why I’m not growing or able to take a true day off!” I was trying to stir every pot in the kitchen and I really needed to make some changes.
I vowed right there on that call to make some changes to simplify my business so that I could focus on the right things to grow, scale, and find my balance. I used a method that I like to call: The Power of One.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed in your wedding planning business and you want more balance in your life, you might really enjoy using the power of one to simplify things. I’ve used it to simplify my business and it’s been the best decision I’ve ever made.
I define the power of one as simplifying anything in your business from many to just one thing. Look at it as getting clarity and time to focus on doing that one thing well and seeing real results instead of stirring every pot and wondering why you aren’t making more progress in your wedding business.
I’ve been able to make some real waves with this method. I’m talking simplifying my too many packages down to one that helps me make more money and take on fewer clients. I’m talking about going from trying to manage all of my social media platforms to only using one to meet my clients where they are. I’ve even simplified my niche from serving every type of creative business to just helping wedding professionals set up their client workflows.
Just think of how powerful it will be to finally niche down to your one ideal couple instead of trying to speak to every type of engaged couple. I bet you’d be able to market your business better, market in the right place, and really be able to speak their language at a sales meeting.
I was struggling so much over the last several months to figure out a winning marketing strategy and the minute I chose one audience, I was able to create a business and marketing strategy in 2 hours. I’m not kidding. One decision helped me to do something in two hours that I struggled with for months. Suddenly, I was able to create my social media strategy and focus on Instagram instead of trying to master every social platform under the sun. Can I get an amen for the power of one?
What if you even narrowed down having three wedding planning packages and tons of add-ons into one all-inclusive package? I bet you’d be able to charge more, take on less, and not have to juggle a million weddings all year.
Before I cut down my three packages to one, I had workflow strategy calls, workflow branding, and full-service workflow setup. I quickly narrowed my services down to one all-inclusive package because I was just putting a bandaid on what my clients needed if I only did a call or branding with them. With my all-inclusive package, I’m able to help my clients transform their business and really make an impact on their lives.
What if you even simplified to one payment plan option for your couples instead of just creating a new one every time you booked a wedding? I bet you’d see your bank account look a little greener and you’d know when you could pay yourself for a change.
The power of one really helps you to narrow your focus, time, and attention to perfect that one area and really do it well.
It doesn’t limit you. It actually helps you find the cracks in your business so you can patch up the leaks in your boat and stop feeling like you’re sinking all the time. The amazing side effects are clarity, growth, and excitement.
Now, here’s the good news. You don’t have to narrow many things down to just one. I know that sometimes it just doesn’t work for every wedding business model, or you just have an issue with letting go. In my opinion, it’s best to just start somewhere than to not simplify at all. Especially if you know you really need it.
You can simplify your many wedding planning and design packages to two or three instead of one. Your payment plans too. Do what feels best for you.
Remember my “all the things” list I mentioned earlier?
Make your “all the things” list. Include every package you offer, every social media platform you’re on, every type of bride you’ve been trying to book, and every stream of income you have in your business.
Once you have your list, answer these questions for each item on your list:
1) Does this thing on my list serve me well?
2) Does it give me enough in exchange for the time & energy it takes to pull it off?
3) Is it making my wedding planning business more profitable?
4) Do I enjoy doing it (Does it light you up?)
5) Do I give it a good effort consistently?
If the answer is no, then you’ve got to make some changes. Things especially need to change if it affects your work-life balance, your bottom line, or your client experience. Those three things are sacred.
Cut out the things that don’t serve those three sacred pillars well. I assure you that you’ll feel much more confident about your business and the strategies for growth will reveal themselves.
It won’t feel comfortable to cut things out and simplify at the beginning. You might even feel like you’re missing out on something, but you’re not. When you focus on the things that serve you well, you can attract the right clients, serve your wedding clients well, maintain your balance, and pay your bills with ease… and a smile.
Now that you know how to simplify your wedding planning business with the power of one, what changes will you make?
This is a guest post from Krystal Clark. Krystal is a coffee-loving Florida girl helping wedding professionals create branded client workflows and organize their systems so they can save time and wow their clients without being chained to their desk. She resides in Titusville, Florida with her amazing husband and daughter. Her favorite color is pink, her favorite food is cheesecake, and her favorite thing to do is network. No, seriously, she’s a geek for that stuff! Krystal attributes her success to her passion for helping others find balance in life and business with more ease and less stress. She believes that if you focus on serving people and your passion, all your business dreams can come true.
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