Why social media is important for wedding venues (and here's the proof)

“How can I make my wedding venue stand out in a competitive market?” It’s the million-dollar question and one that I get asked a lot. While the answer is complex and lengthy (I don’t think we have the word count here to cover it all!) at the heart is clever, targeted marketing. The aim is to reach those actively looking for your kind of venue, and the easiest and most successful way to do this is through social media. Social media is CRUCIAL for wedding venues. Want the proof? It’s right here…

Instagram

I know we sing Instagram’s praises as a marketing tool a lot, but the fact is it’s so helpful and important for wedding venues. According to Bridebook’s 2023 UK Wedding Report, Instagram is the 3rd most valued resource for venue discovery. That’s not something you want to miss out on. With the average age at a first marriage being 31, and with 30% of Instagram users in the 25-34 age bracket, it makes sense to use Instagram effectively.

Stay active, post regularly, update your highlights (this is a fantastic prequalifying tool) and engage with your online community. Instagram offers a great snapshot of your venue so make sure you have the very best images of all of your wedding spaces and real weddings on your grid. It’s also a brilliant platform for building trust and forging relationships with potential customers.

TikTok

Anyone who knows me knows I love a stat, and this one is an eye-opener. According to Google’s data, as reported by TechCrunch, nearly 40% of Gen Z users in 2022 were using TikTok and Instagram for search. These social media sites were the go-to over Google, isn’t that huge? Such a massive shift in the way people are searching online cannot be ignored. The world of digital marketing never stands still and as a wedding venue you must keep on top of trends.

In Wedpro’s 2023 UK Wedding Industry Report they revealed that “19% of surveyed couples turn to TikTok for wedding inspiration –?nearly doubling from the previous year.” The takeaway? As a wedding venue you need to be on TikTok and have a clear strategy, with specific objectives to match your marketing goals.

TikTok is such a great platform for showing real, unedited content about your wedding venue. It’s your chance to show a more personal side. Think about short-form videos that feature behind the scenes content, the team having fun, real wedding day clips and lightning-fast Q&As.

Pinterest

It’s an oldie but it’s a goodie. Pinterest has long reigned as the go-to platform for big day inspiration –?in fact 24% of engaged couples use Pinterest as a tool to find their wedding venue. It’s a purely visual platform so gives you a great opportunity to show off your venue to its full potential with incredible photography. Pinterest is amazing for back links to your website. It can be a fantastic source of traffic to your website, which can convert into leads through quote tools or enquiry forms.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a really useful tool for your venue is you host corporate events as well as weddings. Having a presence on this platform means that employees can tag their workplace and share posts about working at the venue. This is not only great for credibility but also for extending your reach.

How to get your social media accounts on track

The stats really do speak for themselves; social?media is so important for wedding venues and, when used correctly, the results are incredible. If setting up or keeping on top of all your social media accounts seems like a lot of work to add to an already overstretched team, we can help. Our social media experts can help with everything from TikTok strategies to an Instagram overhaul. Get in touch with The Venue Experts by clicking here or emailing [email protected] to find out all about our unique marketing services and how we can help you nail your online presences. #socialmediaforvenues #weddingvenuesmarketing