In a post a few months ago I wrote about Dawn Shields and a networking luncheon she started.  She contacted a local restaurant to set up a monthly luncheon at a reasonable price.  Then, she literally contacted everybody she could find who had something to do with weddings.  Everyone she contacted was invited to lunch with a no-brainer cost of just ten dollars.  The price is just the cost for lunch.   The purpose is to get together and network, share ideas on upcoming weddings and the market.

Looking at one of the features of The Wedding Report, it lists the average expenditures on just about everything to do with the wedding.  Using this information, if you’re a wedding photographer, here’s a list of everybody who should be in your network:

1) Tux Shop, Bridal Gown Salon

2) Jeweler

3) Travel Agent

4) Caterer

5) Musical Agents

6) Local Venues, eg. hotels, event centers, resorts etc.

7) Florists

8)  Wedding Planners

9) Limo Services

10) Printers (Look for a local printer who’s doing a heavy volume in invitations)

11) Videographers

12)  Other Photographers – Yes, other photographers!  You don’t need to invite everybody you compete with, but there are only so many weekends a year you can work.   If you’re already booked you want to have somebody you admire to refer business to and vice versa.  So, hand-pick a couple of photographers who have the integrity and the product quality you respect.

The next part of this assignment requires an investment of your time – you need to get to know everybody on the list.  If you don’t have the interest or the skill set in planning a monthly luncheon like Dawn, then at least make contact.  Contact is defined as actually talking to the person you’re adding to your network, staying away from email or letters.  Meeting somebody in person, ideally getting to lunch with them, gives both of you a chance to get to know each other.  You’re on a quest for marketing/networking partners here - not just looking for resources.

It takes time to build an effective network, especially when it’s target oriented with a specific goal, like working together to build awareness and business traffic.    Like everything you do, especially in business, patience is a virtue – so take it one step at a time and build your network with quality people who have the values you respect the most.