As a Celebrant, running your own business requires juggling many responsibilities; from performing ceremonies to managing your online presence. For many, the idea of planning ahead and setting business goals can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re more focused on the creative and service-oriented aspects of your work. However, taking the time between October and the new year, to plan strategically, can make all the difference in ensuring a successful and profitable 2025. Here are some practical steps to help you grow your business and hit the ground running in the new year.
1. Refresh Your Online Presence
Why It Matters: Your online presence is often the first point of contact potential clients have with your business. Whether it’s your website, social media profiles, or online directories, making sure everything is up-to-date and aligned is crucial.
Action Steps:
- Website Audit: Review your website with a critical eye. Is the design relevant and user-friendly? Are your services, prices, and testimonials up to date? Ensure that your website reflects your current offerings and brand identity.
- SEO Improvements: Enhance your website’s SEO to make sure it’s easily found by people searching for celebrant services. Update meta descriptions, keywords, and content to improve your ranking on search engines. If you’re not sure what these terms mean, it’s time to book yourself into some training.
- Social Media Alignment: Ensure your social media profiles reflect your current brand. Update bios, profile pictures, and cover images to match your website. Plan regular content that showcases your work, such as photos from recent ceremonies, client testimonials, and behind-the-scenes insights.
- Google My Business: Claim or update your Google My Business profile. It’s a powerful tool for local search visibility and allows clients to find you more easily.
2. Create and Schedule Content for 2025
Why It Matters: Content is king in the digital world, and regular updates—whether through blogs, podcasts, or social media—help keep your audience engaged and improve your visibility. However, consistent content creation can be challenging, especially once you get busy, so scheduling in advance is a great way to overcome this.
Action Steps:
- Content Calendar: Plan your content for the entire year now. Identify key dates such as holidays, awareness weeks, or key events that are relevant to you and your clients, and plan content around these.
- Batch Content Creation: Consider batching content creation. Write several blog posts or record multiple podcast episodes at once and schedule them to be released throughout the year. We’re used to writing as Celebrants, so apply the discipline you do to your scripts and you’ll find you can generate half-a-dozen blogs in a day.
- Automate and Schedule: Use tools like Hootsuite or Buffer to schedule social media posts in advance. This ensures that your online presence remains active, even during your busiest periods.
- Guest Contributions: If time is a constraint, consider inviting guest bloggers or podcast guests to contribute. This not only lightens your load but also introduces your audience to fresh perspectives.
3. Commit to Strengthening Your Professional Network
Why It Matters: Networking is a powerful tool for growing your business. I believe it is still the most powerful for us as Celebrants. Building strong relationships with other professionals in the wedding and funeral industry can lead to referrals, partnerships, and new opportunities.
Action Steps:
- Attend Industry Events: Look for local and online events that are scheduled for next year, and commit to attending them. These can be a mix of regular networking events and those where you can meet other professionals, such as wedding fairs or funeral director conferences. These events are great opportunities to build connections.
- Join Professional Associations: Consider joining celebrant associations, such as the Association of Independent Celebrants (AOIC) or local business groups. These memberships can offer valuable resources, networking opportunities, and credibility.
- Collaborate with Other Vendors: Decide that next year is the year you will reach out to venues, florists, photographers, and other service providers to explore collaboration opportunities. Creating package deals or referral agreements can be mutually beneficial. Start collating details of the professionals in your area who you’d like to connect with in 2025.
- Online Networking: Don’t forget online platforms like LinkedIn. Join relevant groups and engage with others in the industry. Share your expertise by commenting on posts or writing articles. And remember, posting on Instagram, TikTok or Facebook is not networking. Don’t kid yourself about this and eat up your time on doom-scrolling.
4. Consider Diversifying Your Service Offerings for next year
Why It Matters: Offering a broader range of services can help you attract more clients and increase your income. As a Celebrant, you can diversify by adding complementary services that align with your existing offerings.
Action Steps:
- Add New Ceremony Types: Consider expanding the types of ceremonies you offer. For example, if you primarily perform weddings, you might add vow renewals, baby naming ceremonies, or commitment ceremonies.
- Offer Planning Services: If you have a knack for organisation, consider offering planning or coordination services, especially for weddings. This can be a valuable add-on for clients and a new revenue stream for you.
- Develop a Premium Package: Create a premium service package that includes extras such as a guide to writing their vows, help for those giving speeches, rehearsal attendance, or additional consultations. Offering tiered pricing can cater to different client needs and budgets.
- Training and Certification: Invest in training to offer specialised services, such as grief counselling for funeral celebrants or celebrant-led ceremonies for niche communities.
5. Plan for Financial Growth
Why It Matters: A solid financial plan is essential for business growth. Understanding your finances and planning accordingly can help you make informed decisions, avoid cash flow issues, and invest in the right areas.
Action Steps:
- Review Pricing: Take a close look at your pricing structure. Are you charging enough to cover your costs and generate a profit? Consider a price adjustment if necessary, especially if you’ve added new services or enhanced your offerings.
- Set Financial Goals: Define clear financial goals for 2025. How much business do you want to generate? What will your profit be? Setting these targets now will help guide your actions throughout the year.
- Budget for Marketing: Allocate a portion of your budget to marketing efforts. Consider what platforms or strategies have given you the best return on investment and focus on those.
- Emergency Fund: If you haven’t already, start building an emergency fund. This can be a safety net during slower months or if unexpected expenses arise.
By focusing on these six strategic areas between now and the end of December, you can set your celebrant business up for a successful and prosperous 2025. These steps are designed to help you grow your business, attract more clients, and enhance your professional reputation. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and want to work with a Coach to help you prepare for next year, book a FREE trial session with me today and let’s talk about where you want to take your business in the next 12 months.