A Social Media Manager’s 4 Secrets for Networking On Instagram

How to Network Like a Pro on Social Media

It’s no secret that social media is one of the most lucrative marketing platforms for luxury wedding professionals. Particularly with Instagram’s focus on striking visuals, lux wedding pros have incredible opportunities to connect with their dream clients. 

But few wedding businesses truly invest in the most rewarding marketing strategy on social media: networking. 

Posting on social media isn’t always about getting inquiries, though it may be one of your end goals! It is also the perfect way to connect with other wedding industry professionals and build your network. 

Why Networking is So Valuable for Luxury Wedding Businesses 

Networking isn’t just an awkward in-person mixer with everyone flailing their business cards. It’s a legitimate and valuable way to expand your business and build a support system. 

Networking is all about building relationships. Most of the time, you aren’t networking with potential clients. Instead, you’re chatting with other industry pros. Because, believe it or not, other wedding pros aren’t always your competition!

The wedding industry depends on professional collaboration. Multiple vendors are needed to create a truly magical wedding, and it takes trust and respect for vendors to work together well. Networking is the first step to creating a community of luxury wedding pros who work together to create fabulous, high-level weddings and events. 

Here are the top 3 reasons you should prioritize networking on social media:

1. Building a referral network

Most wedding pros I know have a preferred vendors list. This is especially true for wedding planners and venues! 

When a couple inquires, vendors will often send them a list of others they have had good experiences with. Typically, these vendors have worked together before and know the best ways to complete their tasks - without getting in the other’s way. 

Plus, when you network, it’s more likely you’ll be referred in place of another vendor. For instance, if a couple inquires about a particular wedding photographer but they aren’t available for that date, that photographer could recommend you instead! 

But if they never know you exist, there’s no chance of you getting added to a preferred vendors list or being thought of to cover unavailable dates. 

2. Networking Adds Legitimacy to Your Business 

Like I said… the wedding industry is very community-oriented. The more connected you are to other vendors - especially in your location! -  the more legitimate you look. 

When it comes to weddings, couples need to trust their vendors. Few couples are willing to take a chance on an unknown vendor who doesn’t seem to know anyone in the industry. 

3. Networking Builds Your Support System

It is so important to have a community that celebrates your wins and encourages you after your losses. 

Many wedding businesses are one-person operations, which can make businesses feel lonely. Networking helps you build a community of people who get it. I have friends all over the world who I have only ever met on social media - and I shoot them a DM when I’m feeling discouraged. 

But I would never have met them without the courage to slide into their DMs and intentionally start conversations. 

The Best Ways To Start Networking on Social Media 

1. Find and Follow Businesses You Resonate With & Want to Work With 

The first way to start building your network is to find people to network with! Thankfully, the algorithm is really good at getting similar business in front of you. 

As luxury wedding pros, you can simply search for wedding pros on the Explore page. Once you find an account you like, you can see who they follow. Look at who is commenting on their posts and in their mentions. Chances are, you’ll find a few great fits for your business. 

This also helps the algorithm figure out who you are and what you do - which means your account will start showing up in front of other similar businesses. It’s a win-win. 

2. Leave Insightful & Meaningful Comments 

Once you've identified some businesses you want to connect with, start leaving comments on their posts. And I’m not talking about thoughtless comments like “So Pretty!” or the heart-eyes-emoji. 

Make your comments meaningful. Notice something unique about the post that you like and tell them! If you’re a photographer, you could comment on the light in the photo. If you’re a planner, find a detail that the average user wouldn’t notice. 

And feel free to ask questions! The point is to build relationships and start a meaningful conversation. 

3. Reply to Stories

This is my favorite way to start lasting conversations with people online. Stories give you the perfect opportunity to start chatting. 

I encourage you to ask questions here, too. I love asking people how they started their business. It leads to more meaningful conversations and helps you get to know the person behind the profile. 

Sometimes, you’ll find people who aren’t interested in talking. That’s okay! Feel free to follow up, but don’t be spammy/too pushy. Remember that business owners have lives, too. 

Oh, and my biggest tip? Do NOT start by pitching yourself in the DMs. Share what you do and who you do it for, but do not start the conversation with your elevator pitch! Be authentic and grow your relationship from there.

4. Suggest Virtual Coffee Dates 

THIS is how most of my social media acquaintances became friends. It can feel awkward and scary, but 9 times out of 10, people say yes! 

It’s so easy to hop on Google Meet or Zoom and have a half-hour conversation with someone. Most of my video calls start talking about business and end laughing over similar experiences we’ve had. 

It can be hard to feel like you know someone online. As genuine as your social media posts are, they’re still just posts. The best way to get to know someone is by having a face-to-face conversation. 

And I don’t know about you, but I feel 10x more likely to trust and recommend someone I have a real relationship with. 

Note: When reaching out to luxury wedding planners, keep in mind that they often have packed schedules. Instead of offering a Zoom call, consider providing a free service for their brand or one of their couples. This approach not only showcases your work but also offers a great opportunity to meet them in person.

Proof of How Networking Can Change Your Wedding Business 

These are the 4 best ways to build your network on social media. Yes, social media is great for marketing. But it’s just as good, if not better, at connecting you to like-minded people you can build relationships with. 

For instance, I recently connected with Colleen of O’Neil Advisory. We first connected on social media after being introduced by a mutual business contact who suggested we meet.

A few months ago, we hopped on a call and really hit it off! Colleen runs a consulting agency to help wedding pros scale their businesses and save so much time and energy. A few weeks after our call, Colleen and I decided together to collaborate on creating a brand-new package for our clients.

Colleen and I didn’t plan on working together. But when we met and got along so well, it just made sense. Now, we work together to create killer social media strategies for her clients who want to level up their wedding business. It’s a phenomenal match. 

All this came from the power of social media. If she didn’t dare to just talk to me, it never would have happened. 

This is proof of the power of networking! You never know what can come from a single conversation. Click here to explore my packages with O’Neil Advisory! We cannot wait to help your business grow. 

Sarah 

P.S. Are you just here for help with social media? Don’t worry - I'm still offering my traditional management, coaching, and strategy services! Click here to explore my packages.