Another month has gone by already! Today marks the end of 1st Quarter and this week as with most small businesses we'll be going through and reconciling our bank statements, making sure that everything is recorded and receipts are organized. Doing this each month or at least at the end of each quarter will save you a ton of time around tax time!

And now that it's mentioned...tax time is here, some of you had to file on March 15th and the remainder have until April 15th so make sure you either file on time or at least file an extension.

Just a reminder also: The second payment of the conference is due, please sign into your membership account and click on invoices all of your invoices are there, conference, extra days, guest, etc. The due dates for each are there also.

Since it's spring and everything is becoming new again be sure to go through and upgrade your membership designation! If you are currently a Registered Wedding Planner and you've completed the ABC PWP, the Penn Foster Program, OR the Lovegevity program then please reach out to Michole Council our Member Liaison to upgrade your membership to Certified Wedding Planner. It's time these baby chicks become ducklings!

Lately, we've been getting some questions that are phrased like this "What is Emeritus Status?" So we went through and created the perfect definition. All current Emeritus members are of course grandfathered in.

If you are thinking of transitioning to Emeritus membership status here is the information you need to figure out if you are eligible.

CLICK HERE

Using ABC's IATA Number

Just another reminder. Before using ABC's new IATA number for personal or client travel, you MUST sign the Independent Contractors agreement. This explains HOW to use it and the repercussions of using it incorrectly. There are classes that you can attend or watch the recording on to learn the laws of using an IATA number for your clients.

We understand that in the past there was no education on this portion but moving forward we want to do things correctly and within the law so this is very important.

Not only that there is the commission breakdown and additional benefits listed in there for you to review also!

Conference Payments Are Now Due

Don't forget that conference payments were due March 31st. You can log into your account on the website and see the open invoices and dates due. If you would like to change your arrival or departure dates please let us know.

You can email Michole Council, PWP at Members@ABCWeddingPlanners.com or call home office at 336-690-5510 if you need assistance.

April Calendar Of Events For Members

Sign up or learn more about our upcoming events HERE.

• April 2nd - ABC Florida Educational Luncheon - Relationships Matter (In-person)
• April 2nd - ABC North Carolina April Lunch & Learn (In-person)
• April 4th - "Come See For Yourself" Webinar with the Islands of the Bahamas!! Experience the magic of The Islands of The Bahamas firsthand in our captivating webinar. Let the allure of our turquoise waters and sun-kissed beaches ignite your passion for adventure and romance. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER (Webinar)
• April 10th - Members At Large Meet & Greet (Zoom Webinar)
• April 16th - Passport to Profits: Best Practices (Zoom Webinar)
• April 23rd - ABC Indiana/Kentucky State Meeting - Coming Up Roses (In-person)
• April 23rd - Member Mumblings (Zoom Webinar)
• April 30th - ABC Louisiana Gather & Grow Luncheon (In-person)

Important Blog Articles

Have you been reading our blog? Catch up on a few great articles!

• Presidents Dinner at World of Weddings!!
• Why you should submit Real Weddings
• What does an Auxiliary Membership Mean?
• ‘So blessed’: East side church hosts free wedding event for 9 couples



CATHY'S CORNER: THE THREE C'S OF SOCIAL MEDIA

What's the one thing that will make the biggest difference on social media? I get asked that question a lot, but the fact is it's not one specific thing. That will only get your so far. Instead, there are THREE main elements you need to work on that will help drive your social media success. Think of it as your "Triple Threat Formula" - CONTENT, CONSISTENCY, and CONNECTION!

CONTENT - This one is a given! You have to make sure what you're saying is of value to your audience. This means taking the time to know what they want, mixed with a little bit of what they need and a dash of promotion in there as well. Your content is a combination of visuals and captions. Both need to work together in order to get the best results. It also means using some variety. Short form videos are more popular than ever. If you're ignoring these then you're missing out on connecting with a whole generation of potential clients. We also know that on platforms like Instagram, the algorithm is promoting those that make reels and carousels (posts that keep users on the platform for longer). Start using these tools to your advantage. When people visit your account you want them to see content that will keep them coming back for more!

CONSISTENCY - You have to show up and show up regularly! Posting once a week isn't going to cut it. We've all heard the phrase "out of sight, out of mind." And this is most definitely true on social media. Audiences are fickle. If you don't show up, they will move on to someone who does. Now, there are lots of people who tell you it's necessary to post every day, but that's not necessarily true. Three to four quality posts a week will do it. Be sure to use templates and AI (like ChatGPT) to help you shorten your content creation time. Also utilizing posting apps like Meta Business Suite (FREE), Later, or Hootsuite can also allow you to set-up your content in advance. Your time is valuable, so finding ways to shorten the content creation process AND allow you to show up for your audience aren't just a bonus perk, but a necessity for today's business owner. (And if you can't do this, maybe it's time to find someone, like a social media manager, who can.) After all, for today's businesses, social media is one of the main forms of marketing.

CONNECTION - Last but not least, you need to forge genuine and authentic connections! Engagement is more than just liking someone's post. (Although, it's a start.) Being social is all about engagement! Think about this - if you met someone at a party or a networking event, how would you begin a conversation? You would probably ask a question or maybe make a general comment or observation. Social media is exactly the same way. You need to start out slow and build a relationship. As you get to know one another, the friendship and relationship will grow. The fact is that most of us crave human contact. When we feel someone is being is sincere and authentic we are more receptive and want more. Yes, you want to do this on your own account and with people that follow you, but go to other pages and ask relevant questions and ignite conversations on other similar pages or where potential clients might be hanging out. I promise, when they start seeing what you have to say, they're going to want to become part of your tribe and learn more. This is the secret ingredient that most people ignore, but is guaranteed to get you results!

So CONTENT and CONSISTENCY are key, but it's CONNECTION that swoops in for the superhero save. Make sure you include all three in your content creation strategy to turbocharge your reach and connect with and grow your audience like never before!

Have a social media question or something you want me to talk about next month in our e-newsletter? Be sure to reach out to me at socialmedia@abcweddingplanners.com.

Cathy

Heart Award & Penner Scholarship

Heart Award

This prestigious award, previously called the Miss Dorothy Penner Award, is presented to an ABC member each year who demonstrates the greatest passion for the industry. Members must be nominated by their peers and then the winner is selected by the Heart Award Committee.

Know someone who you think is deserving of this recognition? Qualities you may want to consider when thinking of who you may want to nominate:

•   High professional standards and ethics
•   Passion for the wedding industry
•  Cooperates and shares with other members
•  Has a “heart” for the industry
•  Hungry for knowledge, the latest trends, etiquette, and new ideas
•  Seeks advice from peers and gives oneself to those peers
•  Sees competition as a way to polish marketing skills, rather than the enemy
•  Never says “what’s in it for me”
• Believes learning never stops
• Active member of ABC, attends local meetings and annual conference

Please be sure to CLICK HERE TO NOMINATE a deserving member. (Deadline to nominate a member: August 15th, 2024)

Penner Scholarship

The Penner Scholarship was established by the late Dorothy Penner, (known to many as Miss Dorothy), a long-time Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC) member who died of cancer in 1998. Miss Dorothy was an ardent supporter of ABC and advocate of participation in the annual conference. The establishment of this scholarship by Miss Dorothy enables your association to award scholarship(s) each year.

Over the years, many members have continued to donate funds in memory of Miss Dorothy and her philosophy. Thank you to the many states and local ABC groups that have contributed to this fund. Our association and industry only get better when we educate.

These scholarships are awarded to registered wedding planners, allowing them to attend the World of Weddings Conference. The scholarship covers conference fees and provides a stipend toward your hotel stay and travel expenses. CLICK HERE TO APPLY (Deadline to apply: July 31st, 2024)

TRAVEL UPDATES FROM NICOLE

Nicole Zillman, PWP, our VP of Travel and Tourism has been busy! In addition, to setting up the monthly Passport To Profits webinar series, she and Veronica have been setting up partnerships that will benefit you. These will allow you to expand your offerings to clients if you so choose. Here is a list of our current partnerships:

• Sandals & Beaches Resorts (the resorts you know and love in the Caribbean)
• Classic Vacations (Classic Vacations represents over 1,300 hotels and has affiliations with the top brands, including Virtuoso, AMEX, Signature, Ensemble, Travel Leaders Group, and Consortia X. Destinations include Hawaii, Europe, Caribbean/Mexico, Costa Rica, Canada, Tahiti, Fiji, Maldives, Middle East, Southeast Asia and Japan.)
• VAX Vacation Access (Includes hotels and resorts from around the globe including Universal Parks & Resorts)
• Pleasant Holidays (the largest tour operator to Hawaii and French Polynesia; also includes Barcelo Resorts, Iberostar Resorts, RIU Resorts, Hard Rock Resorts and so many more)
• Virgin Voyages (Yes, we know you've been asking for cruise lines!)
• Bahamas Ministry of Tourism

To access these programs, you must be registered and in compliance with ABC's IATA number.

Please note, that the Florida Sellers Of Travel Licences for the ABC is now in place. If you have clients that live in Florida, are traveling to Florida, or stopping in Florida (like a 1 day more layover), it is essential that you be registered. Please email Nicole for more details to make sure you are covered at travel@abcweddingplanners.com. (Fines can be more than $5000 if you have not registered properly for this.) Sellers of Travel for California and Hawaii are coming soon as well. We'll update you if you have already signed the IC Agreement once everything is confirmed.

A reminder that if you have questions regarding any of your past, current or upcoming bookings or commission cheques with the old ABC IATA number # 077-42980 or the old Sandals/Beaches booking number #06-1061513, you need to reach out to David Wood, Elayne or Annemarie at 1-203-775-0009.

Happy Planning!!

Association of Bridal Consultants WEBSITE