Network Your Way to New Business by WeddingWire

Welcome to our 7th webinar of 2014! •Specifically for our premium members •Please ask questions throughout • Send questions to ‘Organizers and Panelists’ • I’ll try to answer questions at the end

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WeddingWireEDU is giving away three pairs of tickets to WeddingWire World! Tour stop of your choice: Chicago: 8/11 Houston: 10/20 Southern CA: TBD Late Fall facebook.com/AlanBergSpeaker © 2014 AlanBerg.com • Left of Center Mktg. & Pub. LLC

Take the survey… www.SurveyMonkey.com/s/WWNet14

net·work

ˈnetˌwərk

verb

wikipedia:

“Business networking is a socioeconomic business activity by which groups of likeminded businesspeople recognize, create, or act upon business opportunities.”

dictionary.com – association

as·so·ci·a·tion [uh-soh-see-ey-shuhn, -shee-] noun “an organization of people with a common purpose and having a formal structure.” facebook.com/AlanBergSpeaker © 2014 AlanBerg.com • Left of Center Mktg. & Pub. LLC

formal vs. informal networking

alphabet soup of acronyms

Should you network within your category or outside?

What is your main industry/category? Other Venue Venue WeddingPlanner Planner Wedding Videographer Transportation Professional Speaker Photographer Photographer Officiant Officiant Invitations Men's Formal Wear Florist/Floral Decorator Favors Event Rentals Event Decorator Dress Shop DJ Disc Jockey Ceremony Music Caterer Cakes Bridal Show Beauty Band

5.4% 11.2% 18.8% 3.9% 0.6% 0.0% 10.4% 8.2% 2.6%

0.2% 5.2% 0.6% 2.8% 1.1% 3.0%

11.0% 1.3% 4.8% 2.8% 1.7% 3.0% 1.5% 0%

10%

15%

20%

facebook.com/AlanBergSpeaker ÂŠ 2014 AlanBerg.com â&#x20AC;˘ Left of Center Mktg. & Pub. LLC

To which groups do you belong? Other I don't belong WNUSA WIPA WEVA PPA NAWP NAME NACE ISES BSPI AWGS AIFD AFWPI ADJA ACPWC ABC

21.0%

1.6%

62.9% of

0.8% 1.2% 4.1% 2.3% 1.9% 7.9% 9.5% 1.5%

0.3% 0.5%

50.5%

WeddingWire respondents belong to no groups

1.8% 3.9% 0.7% 10.7% 0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

To which groups do you belong? Other

21.0%

WNUSA

2.3%

WIPA

1.2%

WEVA

1.8%

PPA PPA NAWP

5.8% 3.3%

NAME

2.7%

11.3%

NACE NACE ISES ISES

13.6%

BSPI

2.1%

AWGS

0.4%

AIFD

0.8%

AFWPI

2.5%

ADJA ADJA ACPWC

5.7% 1.0%

15.4%

ABC ABC 0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%

How long have you been a member? 16-20 years, 3% 11-15 years, 9%

6-10 years, 22%

21+ years, 4%

< 1 year, 14%

1-5 years, 49%

of those that currently belong to one or more groups facebook.com/AlanBergSpeaker ÂŠ 2014 AlanBerg.com â&#x20AC;˘ Left of Center Mktg. & Pub. LLC

How do you determine which groups to join? meeting program content

52%

group is national in scope

20%

38%

very important

37%

34%

important

group is local in scope

45%

reputation of group

41%

11%

74%

meeting date/frequency

29%

membership cost

55%

43% 0%

20%

25%

60%

not important at all

13%

44% 40%

not very important

11%

80%

100%

of those that currently belong to one or more groups facebook.com/AlanBergSpeaker ÂŠ 2014 AlanBerg.com â&#x20AC;˘ Left of Center Mktg. & Pub. LLC

What is your ROI for belonging to networking groups? 3%

18%

37%

31%

39%

43%

48%

not important to me

48%

69%

59%

28%

59%

56% 39%

direct business referrals

44%

currently get from networking want to get from networking

education networking friendships credibility community service

All respondents facebook.com/AlanBergSpeaker ÂŠ 2014 AlanBerg.com â&#x20AC;˘ Left of Center Mktg. & Pub. LLC

What is your ROI for belonging to networking groups? 2%

25%

4% 9%

26%

20%

31%

33% 36%

81%

69%

25%

71%

68% 47%

direct business referrals

not important to me currently get from networking want to get from networking

26%

52%

education networking friendships credibility community service

WeddingWire respondents facebook.com/AlanBergSpeaker ÂŠ 2014 AlanBerg.com â&#x20AC;˘ Left of Center Mktg. & Pub. LLC

what is the mission of the group? The National Association for Catering and Events (NACE),

the oldest and largest catering association in

the world, encompasses all aspects of the catering and events industry. Dedicated to promoting career success for its members and the professionalism of the industry, NACE offers educational programs, professional certification, chapter initiatives, networking opportunities, recognition and awards programs, a job bank, community service projects and the industry’s most prestigious annual conference. In helping its members enhance their business and careers, NACE helps the industry reach its highest potential. facebook.com/AlanBergSpeaker © 2014 AlanBerg.com • Left of Center Mktg. & Pub. LLC

what is the mission of the group? The Mission of ISES is to educate, advance and promote the special events industry and its network of professionals along with related industries. To that end, we strive to… • Uphold the integrity of the special events profession to the general public through our “Principles of Professional Conduct and Ethics”. • Acquire and disseminate useful business information. • Foster a spirit of cooperation among its members and other special events professionals. • Cultivate high standards of business practices. facebook.com/AlanBergSpeaker © 2014 AlanBerg.com • Left of Center Mktg. & Pub. LLC

what is the mission of the group? Whether you’re a bride or a professional working in the wedding industry, you have come to the right place. ABC is the oldest and largest training organization for wedding professionals in the world. We currently have over 4,000 members located in all 50 states and in 27 countries. Since 1955 our goals have been to raise professional standards in the wedding industry and to make brides happy. These goals have helped ABC members stand out for their high standards and thereby prosper along the way... …If you are a vendor (such as a musician, caterer, photographer, videographer, rehearsal dinner venue, etc.) join ABC as a vendor member and get to know our wedding coordinators. facebook.com/AlanBergSpeaker © 2014 AlanBerg.com • Left of Center Mktg. & Pub. LLC

“…nobody gives the names of multi thousand dollar clients… because you met them once and handed them a business card. Networking is about developing relationships... nothing more” facebook.com/AlanBergSpeaker © 2014 AlanBerg.com • Left of Center Mktg. & Pub. LLC

How do you let others know about your services without appearing to be self-promoting or bragging? facebook.com/AlanBergSpeaker ÂŠ 2014 AlanBerg.com â&#x20AC;˘ Left of Center Mktg. & Pub. LLC

You only get one chance to make a good first impression

How well known are you?

What's the best way to get to know other vendors to see if they'll refer you?

"You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help enough other people get what they want.” - Zig Ziglar

Bonus Tip

Expand Your Network with other WeddingWire Pros!

Share advice in the Pro Forum

Connect to your network with ‘Pros I Know’

Created your trusted list with ‘Preferred Pros’ • Preferred Pros

section on your Storefront

Showcase your Association Memberships

Build your reputation with Pro Endorsements in 3 simple steps • Give Endorsements

• Receive Endorsements • Showcase Endorsements

Use your ‘My Endorsements’ widget

Come see Alan, Sonny & more great Edu Experts on the WeddingWire World Tour! On sale now!

Learn More: www.WeddingWireWorld.com

Success, Education, Connections

Look out for WeddingWire Networking Nights, Mix & Mingles & Workshops coming to a city near you!

Visit Alan’s website to get his books, e-books, DVD’s, MP3’s Audio downloads and to have him review your website www.AlanBerg.com

Thanks for tuning in! You will be emailed a copy of the recording this week, and it will be posted in the Past Webinars section of your Education tab facebook.com/AlanBergSpeaker ÂŠ 2014 AlanBerg.com â&#x20AC;˘ Left of Center Mktg. & Pub. LLC