This cute book available from Prezzy Box.

We’ve all heard the old adage that word of mouth is the best form of advertising. And it’s true: People are much more likely to visit a restaurant their friends recommend. Brides are much more likely to book vendors recommended by you, their certified wedding and event coordinator. And vendors are much more likely to recommend you to their customers if they’ve happily worked with you before. But when you’re first starting out, or you’re trying to beef up your business, it can be hard to spread the word. Here are some great ways to go about it:

* Share and share alike. Like we said above, vendors will recommend you if you recommend them. Build solid relationships with your favorite vendors. Some brides go straight to florists and bakers without considering hiring a wedding planner. If you have a good relationship with those florists and bakers they might highly suggest that the bride give you a call. They might also set your business cards out by their register. Remember: Scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.

* Quality matters. Don’t take on more work than you can handle, or the quality will suffer. Know your limits. Make sure you listen to a bride and know exactly what she want so you can deliver it. Use vendors you know and trust. You’re only as good as they are in the end. And afterall when it comes to wedding and event planning it’s all about the end result.

* Network, network, network. Those vendors can’t recommend you if you don’t know them. Go to networking events and talk it up. People have to know you’re out there, and have access to your website, to refer you to their clients.

* Do good. What do we mean? Get out in the community and show you care. Integrity goes a long way in the business world. Get involved with pro-bono wedding projects. Throw out some free services, but don’t do half as good a job just because you’re doing the work for free. Showing the business community that you care enough about your job to do it great - even when it’s free - shows that you’re serious about what you do.

* Go above and beyond. Sure, you have the testimonials and photographs to show that you know what you’re talking about. But every bride has a certain expectation of how her wedding will look. It’s up to you to exceed that. How can she not refer you to all of her engaged friends when you go beyond what’s expected? Always give 110 percent!

* Never drop the ball. Answer the phone politely and professionally. Return calls and emails in a timely manner. Dress for success. Do you research before meetings so you never look like a deer caught in headlights when a bride asks certain questions. She’ll appreciate your hard work and professionalism, and that goes a long way.

* Get noticed. This is probably the hardest part, but in today’s technological world it’s easier than ever - if you do it right. Facebook, Linked In and Twitter are the obvious choices. They can connect you with people you may have never met otherwise. Utilize your local newspapers and magazines. Creating a strong, local base of business is the best way to get started. From there you can spread your wings.

It may seem obvious, but doing your best no matter what is the best way to get noticed. Customers appreciate a well-prepared planner. Wedding guests appreciate a well-planned wedding. When they ask a bride how on earth she planned such a wonderful wedding she’ll be beaming when she mentions your name. And like we said before, that’s the best kind of advertising there is!

Many of you out there are current students or recent graduates of Lovegevity’s Wedding Planning Institute. You’ve taken the time to build your skills set by learning from Lovegevity’s experienced instructors, and you’re doing the research (such as reading this blog!) to stay on top of wedding-industry trends. For example, you’ve learned here about going green, choosing invitations, and creating perfect, seasonal weddings. But we all know there is more to it than reading magazines and blogs and designing top-notch budgets for every kind of bride. There is the simple fact that you have to get your name out there. Here are a few tips on just how to do that:

1) The number one way to attract more business is, simply, to do a good job. This might mean for some of you that it’s time to brush up on your people skills. The success of your business will depend on how well you work with clients of all kinds. And in many instances your success will be a direct result of how cool you stayed in some very stressful situations. Maintaining a cool head in every situation - and easing the mind of the bride - will be something she never forgets. And it is sure to be something she tells her friends who may be looking for a wedding planner right now!

2) Consider posting your business name - or website - in your car window. Vinyl decals are easy to come by on such sites as etsy, and etsy shop owners usually have no problem taking custom orders. Plus you often get to choose the font and color, which is a great way to set the tone for what kind of business you offer.

3) Take part in bridal shows, and be sure to have advertising materials to hand out. Get creative! You have plenty of opportunity to show your creative side with your business cards and pamphlets. You don’t want your materials to get forgotten in the bag of swag that every bride gets at such shows. Work hard to stand out!

4) We’ve talked about it before: A wedding planner is only as good as the vendors she suggests to her bridal couples. A good, strong network of vendors is a wellspring of recommendations if they trust you, and you trust them in return. There is no shame in asking if they’ll set out your business cards by the register or if they mind recommending you to bridal couples who come in on their own.You do the same for them, don’t you? In the business world there is a mantra we all know: Scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours.

5) Social-networking sites are here to stay. So your business (and pretty face!) should be on them, too. Be sure to set up business profiles on Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn and any other sites you can think of. We’ll say it again: You’ve got to put yourself out there to get noticed!

6) Don’t be shy. If a bride tells you - after her own fabulous wedding - the she has a friend who would be a perfect client for you, you have to FOLLOW UP! Referrals are like gold! Use them to your advantage; we all listen to what our friends have to say when it comes to any kind of business we hire, and brides are no different.

7) Do you have a website? You should. And you should include a section on it for a portfolio filled with A) personal recommendations from brides; B) gobs of pictures because let’s face it: that’s what wedding planning is all about, and C) plenty of easy ways for brides to contact you.

These tips are just a few ways to help get your business off the ground. A lot of you out there are experienced wedding and event planners with lots of advice to share. What helped you grow your business? Are there advertising avenues to avoid? What are the strongest ways to get your name out there?