Can I ask for your help and ask a few questions please?

Hi, I am not going to be much use, but I will start the ball rolling!

I have never heard of Wedding Planner, I have also never used the hitched directory.

For our venue I used one, that I had been to for a friend's wedding, a lady at work makes cakes, our photographer was doing a wedding my h2b attended, although I did also have a look round, I also had a look round for a dj and a florist. For these I just googled for those suppliers in my area. I found my florist at a wedding fair (had also seen on net) , and she recommended a dj.

I have come across directories in my searches, but there never seem to be many of any suppliers listed for my area, and generally focus on London.

I never use the Hitched directory, but I do google-search for suppliers and sometimes if I like the look/sound of a HIB who is posting replies on threads, I will look at their websites.

I hope that helps?!

Thanks Zippy you have been useful. The Wedding Planner is a Book of suppliers usually dished out at Wedding fayres, albeit they are covereing West Midlands, Gloucester abd Oxford/Bucks area so it would make sense that you wouldn't have heard of it being as you are in london.

All the best and thanks again.?

Thanks Ooh La La - very useful.

How are things going?

I'm good thanks, you?

Also, may I add, that I haven't been to a wedding fayre yet, but I will look out for the "Planning Directory" thinggy.

Forgot to add, I also look at HIBs websites, and have had my Save the Dates done by HIB Prettywild.

I'm fine thank you. I saw your dress on the other thread...must say its very beautiful. ?

I've not heard of the Wedding Planner either and whilst I'm a listed supplier on Hitched still didn't use the directory for my own wedding.

Car was booked after internet searching

Cake from exhibition

Flowers and dvd through word of mouth recommendations

DJ was our one and only BWC

I can't really help from a HIB point of view as I only advertise on Hitched as I get so much word of mouth business that I'm happy with the level of work I get not too want to go seeking other methods of advertising at the moment. I do know a lot of my customers have used the Hitched directory and found myself so for me it is worth paying.

Sorry if that isn't much help.

Lynsey

Hi Lynsey,

Thanks for the input, the info is useful to know.

Cheers ?

I've looked at this a fair bit. I've spent money over the years on marketing that just doesn't work such as magazine advertising, wedding fairs, directories etc. These resuls refer to my own business and your findings may differ.

Wedding Fairs.... stopped doing them as they are very expensive and the most bookings i've ever gained is 4. I once did one costing over a £100 and gained only one booking. Conclusion....in the early days brides visited wedding fairs to book their suppliers, now they seem to go along to get ideas and not book.

Magazine advertising....expensive with little return!

Directories..... I've analysed my website stats religously for click throughs and done a comparison between cost and number of clicks....its not good. Compairing bookings through these site and the cost gives an even worse result! With a directory you're a name on a long list.

When i have a meeting with my bride and groom i often ask them how they've found me.... and all this year have been through searching the net with google or referral. I also asked what attracted them to me when they clicked on my site.....now thats a useful exercise as it tells you what you are doing right (and its very revealing). So i've spent a fair bit of time looking critically at my site and making changes, also working on search engine optimisation.

What would be really useful to us HIbs, if the Hitcher brides were in agreement, would be to get brides to visit your site and give their honest no holds barred opinion on their first impression (did it look professional, did it make you want to read on and stay on the site, was it easy to navigate and find out information, etc)

So, in conclusion to a rather lengthy ramble, my best marketting is from referrals from previous clients and people finding my website on the net from search engines.

I never looked at the Hitched directory and never attened a wedding fair, I knew what I wanted and felt if I went to one I would be tempted by other things I didnt ever think of having. I googled alot, went on ebay and if I saw a link on someones post I would always have a look.

HTH

ZOe

I found all my suppliers from wedding fayres (Venue decoration and cars) and the internet.

Haven't used the hitched suppliers as it doesn't have that many from Northern Ireland, I have looked through a couple of wedding planner mags but again doesn't hold many suppliers from Northern Ireland either although it would be very useful in you lived in those areas.

Thanks everyone, sorry I went to sleep after I realised how late it was!!!

Sandy - very useful thanks, especially as we are both in the music line of things...I'm a singer in a 4 piece party band.