Here's what to do next
In 'Marketing the Murder Barn' episode 5, hosts Meredith & Mary Claire guide Sarah through creating an effective venue website. Key focus: websites should drive site tours, not direct sales. They cover pricing transparency with package examples, essential FAQ sections, mobile-friendly booking systems, trust-building elements, and analytics tracking - all using Sarah's fictional Murder Barn venue as a case study.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN WHEN YOU DIVE INTO THIS MODULE:
EP. 5: Using Your Website to Get That Site Tour
EP. 5: Using Your Website to Get That Site Tour
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:
0:15 Welcome back to Marketing The Murder Barn!
1:36 The backstory of our business fable
2:40 What we’ve covered so far
3:31 The most important mindset shift about your website
4:54 How we’re creating curiosity and driving site tour bookings
5:01 Check out our mock website!
5:23 Going over pricing strategy and packages
5:49 Why we believe it’s so important to share pricing information
6:20 Why you don’t have to be too specific on pricing
7:29 A pricing package example
9:36 Check out our worksheet resource on pricing for your customer avatar
10:10 The importance of a FAQ section and what it should address
11:25 When you should update your FAQs
11:42 Your online booking system: a crucial piece to your website
13:08 Why you must have this system in place
14:01 Check out our free list of resources below
14:12 Work with our designer, Chelsea, on your website
14:43 What you must include in your website’s contact form
15:41 Check out our perfect venue contact form checklist below
15:57 Why the “How did you hear about us” field is so important
17:27 Some website segments that build trust with your couples
19:04 The importance of setting up analytics for your website
20:07 What metrics should you be focused on?
23:12 Two important things you need to know about your website
24:00 Check out the resources for this episode below
24:30 Looking ahead to our next episode
24:38 Thanks for listening!
Design your website to drive site tours, not direct sales, by creating intrigue and providing just enough information.
Display transparent pricing with package ranges and 'starting at' prices to help couples determine if they're in your ballpark.
Track website analytics and lead sources to understand what's working and optimize your marketing spend effectively
Creating Pricing Packages for Your Customer Avatar: A 5-Step Guide
5-step guide to create irresistible venue packages: analyze your ideal couple's dreams/priorities, match venue strengths to their desires, build 3 clear tiers (Essential/Signature/Premium), name packages meaningfully, then test with real couples. Focus on value over features and make tier differences obvious.
Worksheet
Website checklist for venues: mobile-first design with clear user journeys for different clients, transparent pricing/packages, easy tour booking system, essential contact forms, trust-building elements (testimonials, awards), analytics tracking, and dedicated wedding Instagram. Focus: get tours booked, not sales.
The Venue Website Essential Elements Checklist
Checklist
YOUR TOOLS FOR THIS MODULE
Wedding Venue Website Resources Checklist
Tools from Marketing the Murder Barn: Use Showit if you want creative control or Squarespace for clean looks. Book tours with Calendly or simple Google Calendar. Chelsea at Wave Creative Studio does great venue websites. Test your site with Google's free mobile and speed tools - they're lifesavers!
Checklist
Perfect venue contact form: 7 essential fields max (names, email, phone, date, guest count, referral source, brief vision), mobile-optimized with large tap fields, instant confirmation + automated follow-up email. Keep it simple - save detailed questions for tours. Test weekly and track completion rates.
The Perfect Venue Contact Form Checklist
Checklist
You know those people who can instantly pull you out of a funk with a one-liner that has you literally LOL'ing? That's Mary Claire: witty, sharp, and comfortable in her own skin. Since joining our team, we can't imagine functioning without her. When she's not chatting with clients and brightening their day, she's outdoors with her family or designing jewelry. She's the ultimate gem.
MARY CLAIRE NEWCOMB
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
