How to get found in the Canadian Wedding Community

[Former_Member]

We were asked to participate in the new wedding section at the OOAK show in Toronto and declined thinking we would be too busy (looking at sales from last year)

I think we jinxed ourselves because we have had very little wedding sales.

I don't know what happened, we seemed to have gotten lost within the groomsman category here.

Any thoughts on outside advertising in Canada?

[WintergreenDesign]

No thoughts but would love to know as well... I just started listing a few wedding items (place cards/ table numbers) and though I have sold a few I wish it was a bit more : )

[toysofthepast]

I honestly have no idea because my shop is about as far away from wedding items as you could get :)

But.....what about wedding bloggers in the US?
Researching some of them, taking a look at their blog, how active it is, how many followers, etc.
Most of them have advertising space available, right?

[toysofthepast]

Sorry!
I swear I wrote 'in the US/Canada'........not just 'US'.

Oops.

[SecretStorageBooks]

Have you been on Etsy for a while? Do you see your wedding sales dropped from last year? Personally I am gearing up to promote my book boxes for Groomsmen since my other sales have dropped. So I will be in competition with other wedding sellers I guess!

I attribute lower sales here to greatly increased competition both at the high end and especially the low end. There are lots of sellers out there! And some of them are doing this as a hobby so pricing is a bit unreallistic in my opinion. So, looking for new ways to sell my product and spending a bit more on ads :) Luckily I have my own website too which is increasing in sales. Etsy is great, but every time you draw a customer in, you expose them to lots of choices. (not that they can't see other choices online for themselves, but you know what I mean, Etsy does a great job of enticing visitors back :) Good luck, and interested to hear how you do and what you tried!

[Former_Member]

Hi Guy's,

I am thinking your best bet is social media. I have advertised outside of Canada with a few wedding blogs but honestly ... paying for a spot on a blog is all for not if they do not help you by social media plugs.
OHHH the money we have wasted on empty promises!! Ouch!

We have been featured ... with out making payment, by different wedding blogs who stumble across us and the traffic was wonderful! More then any paid spot.
So please be careful!
I would suggest wedding shows in your local area as well, this way you are hitting your target market 100%. You could also ask some local wedding photographers if you can bring some of your items to their studio to place on display?
The couples book the venues first, then Church and then the photographer! So if they see your stuff early it is a better chance they will go back to it.

I hope that is a bit helpful!

[WintergreenDesign]

It's been a long time since I got married and even then we had a teeny tiny wedding... small ceremony and dinner at a lovely restuarant. Maybe a silly questions but Do couples still plan their own weddings or do they use wedding planners/event planners?

[Former_Member]

I did a blitz with wedding planners with little to no results last year.

I have found things slower than last year but last year I was luckily enough to get my item as the picture for groomsmen gifts on the etsy wedding page for a week or more so that was a big boost.

I have had a few order this past weekend, so hopefully things have just gotten a bit of a late start.

I have also been blogged etc buy K.J and company (and they blog for another wedding site) so that has been a boost.

I am kicking myself for not doing the One of A Kind Show in Toronto, maybe I will just have to be sure to plan for that for next year.

I have looked at advertising on some wedding website but they are soooo expensive.

I just got some new advertising postcards done, so maybe I will approach some local venues (carmens etc) so see if I can work with them.

[Former_Member]

pondering the idea of doing a contest for brides with the prize being a full groomsmen set and getting that out to blogs and social media.

has anyone tried something like this?

[Former_Member]

Hello Everyone,
Just wondering if anyone has attended the Ancaster Wedding Show?
Thanks.

[inspiredartprints]

I think it also has to do with their being so much competition here. One day you show up near the front page of searches and then out of nowhere you can't be found. I think some of the suggestions are great. Not sure if you have pitched your ideas to some of the wedding magazines either but that can be a starting stone too.

[SecretStorageBooks]

I renew my one groomsmen listing every day - it makes a difference in the search results.The listing moves down the list every day that I don't renew. At .20 cents a pop it's cheap advertising! I also ensure that the key search terms are in the title, and of course the keywords on the listing itself.