Check out our new website! We still have some improvements and finishing touches to make, but we are excited about the new face.

For many years, the website has been a very valuable tool to those companies that have advertised their business on the website. When you reserve space in our shows, you will receive a free basic listing for one category. Website Listings and Sponsorships are only available to companies that reserve booth space and exhibit in a Bridal Shows, Inc. bridal show. If a bridal show is cancelled or not rebooked, Ads and Listings will be removed at that time and no refund will be given. All payments are due up front with order.

Everything you do must be a win-win situation, a win for you, a win for the bride, and a win for the industry. You do that by giving the bride the opportunity to do business with you. We all can get very busy and feel like we don't have time to make calls or emails or put together a direct mail campaign, but it is so important for this win-win experience. Some people have a fear to call or contact people for their business. According to Marvin F. Brown, Sr., "If you do what no one else wants to do, you'll always be busy." Sales is the one critical component of building a business. Without sales, there is no business. Sales are generated through leads we obtain from various sources. Quality shows give you the tool to get those leads face-to-face.

There are different choices of making contacts with potential clients. Some may be comfortable with calling and emailing. Others may only be comfortable with direct mail because of the fear of contacting people personally. Still others may only be comfortable with getting referrals from other wedding vendors-this is where the networking is critical. No matter what we are comfortable with, we have to work our leads somehow to be successful.

The biggest reason someone may say "The show did not work" is that the leads received were not worked properly. Working leads is probably the most important part of making any show or advertising bring results.

For any business to be successful, others must know about the business more than once or twice. If it bothers you to call or contact your leads in various ways, it is going to be very difficult for you to stay in business for the long-term.

Generating leads that hopefully turn into future business is the goal for all advertising and marketing. Once a lead is generated, they will need to hear or see your message many times to even start noticing you. Even though it is lengthy, this next information is very important for everyone to read.

In the book, "Guerrilla Marketing for Free," Jay Conrad Levinson states:

"The researchers came with an answer: nine. Your message must penetrate a person's mind nine times before that person is ready to make a purchase from you. And that's the good news. The bad news is that for every three times you put out the word-via signs, letters, e-mail, whatever- people aren't paying attention two of those times. If you put the word three times, you've penetrated a mind once. What happens then?

So many companies in the wedding industry also have opportunities for business not related to weddings. As we mention at our Exhibiting 101 seminars, there are birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, parties, births, and other events where your product or service might be needed. This is a great chance at getting more leads. Suppose you are able to book an anniversary event with the mother of a bride. She in turn lets her friends know about you. When the bride gets married, she tells her friends, and then has her anniversaries, and there could be potential business again. That's just talking about anniversaries.

In essence, one bride lead can generate so many other referrals that can produce other leads and revenue for you.

The key is to continue staying in touch until someone tells you to go away. We have all had those who said, "take us out of your system." But, we have so many more that appreciate us staying in touch.

In today's system, we do have to pay attention to the avenues that can appear as spam. You may have to work with those that "opt in" for that specific source.

There are ways to stay in touch on a continual basis without the bride feeling like you are a pest or a nuisance. Newsletters and "Specials" announcements are a great way to do this.

The following information came from one attendee from the July 2008 Dallas Bridal Show. This person said that they were more impressed with the person that contacted them first and that has stayed in contact continually.

According to this source, one company from the July Dallas Bridal Show sends out a newsletter twice each month with great information. By doing this, the brides do not feel pressured, but notice and remember this company because information is being received continuously. There were a few companies that made contact a couple of times and then quit. That will not produce the best results or even come close.

The show took place over three months ago and some companies are not going to do great business from that show unless they understanding the need to "work the leads." I know a few have told me personally over the years, that no matter what, they only contact someone so many times and that's it. That is your decision. If what you do produces the business and revenue that you are comfortable with, then I understand.

However, for the majority of companies, there is a real need�to produce more business each year. It may take being even more consistent than ever before, especially in a tough economy.

The real survivors never give up. I know how easy it is to get discouraged. I can recall one day many years ago when I was calling on our bridal shows and home shows when I was told "no" 19 times! Rather than throw in the towel, I allowed the experience to motivate me to continue because I knew it meant I was getting closer to a "yes." It ended up being a very productive day with many commitments.

Brides are busy just like you are. What you do may not be a priority on their mind today, but on that specific day when what you do comes to the top of the list, the bride may look at the current information that she has. It just may be that your competitor has been staying in touch.

Generate Leads - Work those Leads! - Produce More Results!

or

Generate Leads - Contact a few times and quit - Produce Less Results.

Which is your desire?

• hundreds of books at $3 each, CASH ONLY (business books, financial books, novels, cookbooks, etc.)-These will be available at our office in Addison (4821 Keller Springs Rd., Addison, TX 75001) soon. There will be new books brought to the office weekly. Please call and schedule a time with Betty.

Contact Naomi if you have interest in the following items that are also for sale: