Bridal Leads? at DVinfo.net

Dawn Brennan · January 23rd, 2009, 03:09 PM

Okay, so you do the show, meet the brides, get the list of leads a week later... what do you do with them?

I have tried in the past sending out postcards to certain brides (based on date, ect), but have have no bites. What do you do with them. This specific list of leads doesn't do emails, so just address and phone numbers for contacing them. Any suggestions? I am just brainstorming, but figure this might help others in this tough ecomonmy.

Ryan Morey · January 23rd, 2009, 04:52 PM

Hi Dawn,

Well the whole no email thing really stinks.Almost every lead list I've ever gotten has had the email address well at least most brides gave their email.They just gave you addresses? If that's the case I would put together a cool little package to send out to each prospective client.It doesn't have to be anything major.Maybe just a mini brag book and studio info.You could also put a promotional offer in there and tell them that is only being offered to bridal show clients.Anything to make yourself stand out.I'm not sure if this has helped but it's worked for me in the past.I'm sponsoring a bridal show here in Atlantic city in march.I plan to give away something to one lucky bride.The catch is that they have to fill out an info card to be eligible....email,address home address,phone number.That way it's easy to keep in touch.Food for thought.Good luck!

Ryan

Ryan Morey · January 23rd, 2009, 04:54 PM

Oh almost forgot.....if you have phone numbers just start making calls.That's always been the most productive thing for me percentages wise.just 2 more of my cents.

Ryan

Josh Swan · January 24th, 2009, 10:26 AM

I would personally do the phone calls first, try to find the brides that are interested in video or on the fence at least. The percentage of brides that are interested in video is pretty small, so if you have a list of say 300 brides, probably 30-40 are interested in having a video. You could spend a lot of money mailing to ALL of them on the list. If you get a chance to talk to them on the phone, find which ones are going to be potential leads, then send a mailer to them if you will be sending them something that can't be viewed on your website, like demo, special info, etc. Regardless, give them the information that will help sell yourself the best.
It does stink that you don't have the e-mail addresses. The show's that I have done here in maine give you an excel file of names, addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses and what the brides interests are for services like photography, DJ's, video, etc. So you can target the specific brides that are interested in your category. Works pretty slick.

Ryan Morey · January 24th, 2009, 11:15 AM

Hi Guys,

I think I'm in a little bit of a different situation since we are photographers as well.I think about 99.999% of brides want pics and your right about 30% of them want video.We should definitely work on changing that though.Video is just amazing and a much better way of storytelling.The combo of both is really something special.

Ryan

Josh Swan · January 24th, 2009, 11:26 AM

Your right Ryan, video is such an amazing piece to for the bride and groom, and we should change the way brides and grooms look at getting a video. Ones that are on the fence or weren't really sure if they should get one all come back pleasantly surprised and say it is one of, if not their favorite keepsake of the day. I'm starting to film more and more that don't even have a photographer. It seems in some cases they look at photography the same way video was looked at years back (I'll just have uncle Jack do it) and get the other professionally done. Lucky for me their family has had good still cameras and they chose to get the video professionally done. I don't know if this is a growing trend or not?

Ryan Morey · January 24th, 2009, 05:54 PM

Hey Josh,

I've been really pushing the video lately and people are getting pretty exciting around here.It seems like I just have to throw a few really cool ideas and they get it.I definitely think it is a growing trend.We can cross our collective fingers and push full steam ahead!

January 23rd, 2009, 03:09 PM	#1
Dawn Brennan Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 193	Bridal Leads? Okay, so you do the show, meet the brides, get the list of leads a week later... what do you do with them? I have tried in the past sending out postcards to certain brides (based on date, ect), but have have no bites. What do you do with them. This specific list of leads doesn't do emails, so just address and phone numbers for contacing them. Any suggestions? I am just brainstorming, but figure this might help others in this tough ecomonmy.

January 23rd, 2009, 04:52 PM	#2
Ryan Morey Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Wildwood Crest, NJ Posts: 140	Hi Dawn, Well the whole no email thing really stinks.Almost every lead list I've ever gotten has had the email address well at least most brides gave their email.They just gave you addresses? If that's the case I would put together a cool little package to send out to each prospective client.It doesn't have to be anything major.Maybe just a mini brag book and studio info.You could also put a promotional offer in there and tell them that is only being offered to bridal show clients.Anything to make yourself stand out.I'm not sure if this has helped but it's worked for me in the past.I'm sponsoring a bridal show here in Atlantic city in march.I plan to give away something to one lucky bride.The catch is that they have to fill out an info card to be eligible....email,address home address,phone number.That way it's easy to keep in touch.Food for thought.Good luck! Ryan __________________ www.rhmphotography.com What you talkin bout Willis?

January 23rd, 2009, 04:54 PM	#3
Ryan Morey Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Wildwood Crest, NJ Posts: 140	Oh almost forgot.....if you have phone numbers just start making calls.That's always been the most productive thing for me percentages wise.just 2 more of my cents. Ryan __________________ www.rhmphotography.com What you talkin bout Willis?

January 24th, 2009, 10:26 AM	#4
Josh Swan Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Scarborough Me Posts: 186	phone calls I would personally do the phone calls first, try to find the brides that are interested in video or on the fence at least. The percentage of brides that are interested in video is pretty small, so if you have a list of say 300 brides, probably 30-40 are interested in having a video. You could spend a lot of money mailing to ALL of them on the list. If you get a chance to talk to them on the phone, find which ones are going to be potential leads, then send a mailer to them if you will be sending them something that can't be viewed on your website, like demo, special info, etc. Regardless, give them the information that will help sell yourself the best. It does stink that you don't have the e-mail addresses. The show's that I have done here in maine give you an excel file of names, addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses and what the brides interests are for services like photography, DJ's, video, etc. So you can target the specific brides that are interested in your category. Works pretty slick.

January 24th, 2009, 11:15 AM	#5
Ryan Morey Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Wildwood Crest, NJ Posts: 140	Hi Guys, I think I'm in a little bit of a different situation since we are photographers as well.I think about 99.999% of brides want pics and your right about 30% of them want video.We should definitely work on changing that though.Video is just amazing and a much better way of storytelling.The combo of both is really something special. Ryan __________________ www.rhmphotography.com What you talkin bout Willis?

January 24th, 2009, 11:26 AM	#6
Josh Swan Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Scarborough Me Posts: 186	Video Your right Ryan, video is such an amazing piece to for the bride and groom, and we should change the way brides and grooms look at getting a video. Ones that are on the fence or weren't really sure if they should get one all come back pleasantly surprised and say it is one of, if not their favorite keepsake of the day. I'm starting to film more and more that don't even have a photographer. It seems in some cases they look at photography the same way video was looked at years back (I'll just have uncle Jack do it) and get the other professionally done. Lucky for me their family has had good still cameras and they chose to get the video professionally done. I don't know if this is a growing trend or not?

January 24th, 2009, 05:54 PM	#7
Ryan Morey Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Wildwood Crest, NJ Posts: 140	Hey Josh, I've been really pushing the video lately and people are getting pretty exciting around here.It seems like I just have to throw a few really cool ideas and they get it.I definitely think it is a growing trend.We can cross our collective fingers and push full steam ahead! __________________ www.rhmphotography.com What you talkin bout Willis?