DOWNLOAD THE TOOLS

REFER TO THE SHOW NOTES

LISTEN TO THE EPISODE

It’s easy to stick to what you know and not branch out, but let's be real: Social media marketing is not only ever-evolving—but it's here to stay. Short-form videos on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, in particular, are more popular than ever before...and likely, it’s with your target audience. If you're overwhelmed or intimidated by social media, we get it. In this module, we're breaking down some simple social strategies to focus on, and how to get started with short-form video.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN WHEN YOU DIVE INTO THIS MODULE:

A FOCUS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
FOR WEDDING VENUES

A FOCUS ON
SOCIAL MEDIA
FOR WEDDING VENUES

2023 VBBC • MODULE 3

Refer to the time-stamped show notes below when you want to revisit any particular portions of the episode.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

SHOW NOTES:

1:42 Interesting history on Caroline’s position at Here Comes The Guide
2:39 What is the current state of social media in the wedding industry?
2:54 You need to be on socials! Don’t worry though, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming
3:19 We know you may not be staffed to accommodate all of our recommendations, so we are giving you options
3:54 Are the “big guys” still in play in social media?
4:22 Visual elements are an extension of your gallery and website
4:36 Instagram and TikTok are the main players moving forward
5:03 With Millennials and Gen Z in mind, this where you should be putting your time and focus
5:22 An example of how these generations use Instagram and TikTok
5:50 Don’t overlook this social media platform!
6:16 Use these kinds of tools to make pinning easier for you
6:32 Social media feels overwhelming… Where do I start?
7:05 First of all, jump in + show up on your socials
7:45 Next, create + post content!
8:20 What content areas should venues concentrate on?
8:45 Being authentic and sharing your brand story. How do you do that?
9:13 If you haven’t nailed down your superpowers, start here!
9:32 An example for garden venues
9:55 Once you’ve figured out your superpowers, then what?
10:32 Creating brand loyalty
10:58 Gen Z and Millennials will get on board with these kinds of businesses faster
11:43 One of the superpowers can be YOU
12:12 Speaking to the Gen X-ers out there, you need to hear this!
12:55 Example of a video you can do to show your authentic self
13:30 Professional distance doesn’t feel good anymore. Make that mind-shift!
13:48 How often do we need to be posting?
14:17 Caroline’s recommendation when thinking about the algorithm
14:55 Now a recommendation from a business-to-business standpoint
15:51 Don’t forget this step when posting stories!
16:08 If you are a part of a venue that doesn’t only do weddings, should you make a separate social account?
17:11 From a practical standpoint, you may not have access to your business’s main account. Then what?
17:39 Walking through an example using “Meredith Manor” to lay this out further
18:50 Please make sure your wedding page links to the wedding specific social account!
19:30 Focusing on these things will give you a great foundation
20:03 Here’s what we’ve found as the journey couples take from HCTG → your site → your socials
20:40 Can we focus on one kind of content? Or should it be a mix?
21:20 Here’s what it would look like to focus on Instagram
21:54 As you think about creating content, this is our take on what to focus on
22:20 No matter the focus, don’t forget about repurposing content!
22:39 Here’s one way you can repurpose content
23:33 One of the upsides to the wedding industry is this…
23:50 Show off your venue in the different seasons and in different wedding styles
24:36 Let’s talk about batch creating content
25:02 Some examples of what we do to batch create content
25:39 What to check to help you decide what to make when creating content
26:26 If you don’t have a dedicated staff member who handles your socials, use a scheduling app
27:07 Here is the breakdown of some of the additional tips and tricks we want to provide
29:29 Why you shouldn’t put all of your eggs in the Social Media basket?
30:45 The most balanced way you can do your marketing
32:05 Outside of this, feel free to reach out for further information from Caroline

If you have your website, advertising, and social media in a strong and strategic place, you're likely to get your strongest funnel of leads—ones that are going to work the best for your venue and play into your superpowers.

SOCIAL SEO 101 + CHECKLIST

Social media is becoming more and more search-oriented, which means you need to implement the best SEO practices when it comes to these platforms. Optimizing your posts is all about getting found when people type things into the platform’s search bar—leading to better engagement and performance on social media. So how do you best optimize your social content? Download this workbook for our best tips—and a Social SEO Checklist to help!

WORKSHEET

Consistent, quality content is key when it comes to social media; yet keeping up with the trends, the times, and the algorithm is overwhelming—to say the least! How do you keep quality content flowing while optimizing your time and maintaining your sanity? The answer is batching your social media content. 
Find an example batch schedule here, along with caption prompts, video ideas, hashtag suggestions, and more!

Guide To Batching Your Social Media Content

WORKSHEET

YOUR TOOLS FOR THIS MODULE

Caroline Fugate is the Social Media Manager at Here Comes The Guide. Shortly after starting as a Client Success Manager, it was clear how much she loves the mix of creativity and strategy that is Social Media... So when the opportunity arose she jumped head first into that seat! When she isn't thinking about hashtags, social media SEO, and trending audio you'll find her gardening, playing with her 3 pets, starting multiple new projects (much to her husband's chagrin), and filming it all for her personal social media.

CAROLINE FUGATE

Meredith Monday Schwartz started at Here Comes The Guide in 1997 (we didn't even have a website back then—there might also have been dinosaurs running around!) and was a wedding venue specialist for 10 years before taking over as Chief Bossypants in 2007. In the years since she joined HCTG, she's learned a lot about wedding couples, wedding venues, and running a company profitably—and well.

MEREDITH MONDAY SCHWARTZ

YOUR HOSTS FOR THIS EPISODE: