Timeline Genius now lets you duplicate timeline items and text sections!
Our Item Duplicate feature will let you duplicate one contact record and use its information to create another one.
Read More “[New Feature]: Easily Duplicate Timeline Items and Text Sections”
When it comes to timeline creation, you know that Timeline Genius lets you communicate in your timeline with clients, vendors and venues (and if you need a refresher, just click here).
But you might not know these additional tips and tricks that the Collaboration Features offer.
So here’s how you can use the options for downloadable rights, icon indicators, and bulk item access in your timelines.
Read More “3 Ways to Get the Most out of the Timeline Genius Collaboration Features”
Wish you could create tailored timelines for specific vendors, venues, clients, or even bridal party members? The great news is that with Timeline Genius you can!
So you can go from spending hours creating individual timelines for collaborators or clients (nobody has time for that!) to using the Assign Feature to easily produce tailored timelines.
Additionally, whenever you make edits, your timelines update in real-time. So, if you make an adjustment to your main timeline, it will similarly reflect any changes in all of your tailored timelines.
As a result, you can make individualized timelines for anyone you wish!
Just check out the way the Assign Feature supports timeline creation and how you can use it in your planning.
If you’re a wedding planner, then you’re likely managing a packed schedule. Which is why it makes sense to wonder, is getting a demo worth the time?
Although it can be tempting to think otherwise, the answer is yes.
So, why should you take advantage of getting a virtual tour with Timeline Genius?
Here are 5 reasons why a virtual tour is worth it.
Read More “5 Reasons Why You Should Take Advantage of a Virtual Tour”
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For most of us, the biggest problem with automation is finding the time to set it up.
That’s why it can help to switch your thinking from all or nothing to one thing at a time.
And today’s guest, who owns not one but three companies, encourages you to start by automating just one system in your business. She’s convinced that it will save you time, return the investment, and be what your clients want.
So, be sure to tune in for this podcast episode!
Gretchen Culver is the Owner and Creative Director of Rocket Science Events, a planning, design, and production company in Minneapolis. Additionally, she is the owner of two other companies that she began in response to the COVID-19 pandemic: Minne Weddings and Moon & Star Events. She previously co-founded The Small Wedding Society and is both an industry coach and national speaker. She is further recognized for her award-winning work in Special Events’ “30 Under 40 to Watch” and BizBash’s “500 Most Influential Event Pros”. BRIDES and Martha Stewart Weddings also list her as a top planner.
In this episode, Gretchen talks about how automating even one aspect of your business will not only help you stay relevant in today’s market but also will free you up for better experiences and more opportunities. Plus, she shares the impact of connecting with industry peers and being herself.
Read More “WII 090: Gretchen Culver Dares You to Make Your Life Better with Automation”
Timeline Genius now lets you include file attachments when you email out your timelines to clients and vendors!
This new feature will keep everything you need for the wedding day all in one place — not just your timeline but also any files related to the event.
Read More “[New Feature] Email Timeline Files Like a Genius”
Technology is a beautiful thing and, when we implement it in our businesses, it helps us to grow in otherwise impossible ways. Thanks to tech advancements, we can automate annoying tasks that take up our time, enhance the client experience, and provide seamless collaboration with our event teams.
But, wait. What if your creative partners don’t want to embrace the digital solutions you’ve implemented in your business?
Everybody deals with change differently. While many event pros are quick to adopt the latest tech, there are plenty who are perfectly content sticking with their old-fashioned business methods. After all, it has worked for them for years —why fix something that isn’t broken?
While old-school techniques aren’t “broken” by definition, they can hinder a business from reaching its full potential and, as a result, leave clients with a disappointing experience. Think about it: hand-filing might work, but it’s an extremely time-consuming task and one that will inevitably lead to missing files.
Likewise, paper contracts might have worked for decades, but with digital solutions available, they are now a tedious chore to put on soon-to-be clients. Nobody wants to print, sign, scan, and email it back —or, worse, put it in the mail! Why not save everyone the trouble by implementing an e-signing program that takes no more than a few clicks of a mouse (or smartphone)?
If you’re reading this, you’re likely already on board the virtual train. But, in an industry that relies so heavily on teamwork and collaboration, it can be challenging to bring our peers along with us.
Here are a few strategies to help guide your creative partners to the promised land of productivity, efficiency, and—most importantly—satisfied clients.
Put on your sales hat and start pitching your tech-averse partners about all of the benefits you’ve gained since adding a new app or software to the mix. In many cases, people shy away from new tech because it seems like too much trouble for a questionable gain. Let them know how easy it is to ramp up and how valuable it has been for you. When they see how your business has taken strides, they’ll be more inclined to listen to what you have to say. It’s hard to pass up an opportunity to have more time and profits.
One of the greatest benefits of event technology is its ability to optimize the client experience to ensure the process runs smoothly for everyone involved. Encourage them to step outside of their comfort zone by showing how your clients have appreciated your digital approach. Today’s market demands digital competence, so make it clear that being stuck in the past can be damaging for their clients and, ultimately, their bottom line. Event pros are people pleasers at the core. If you make the transition about the client, your peers will see the value in trying something new.
Even if someone is willing to jump into the world of tech and automation, they may not be ready to be fully immersed. Instead, offer yourself as a resource to guide them through the early stages until they’re comfortable enough on their own. Fortunately, modern software tends to be very user-friendly—even for the luddites in the crowd!—so it’s fairly easy to pick up. However, even just the idea of knowing you’re there to answer questions and help them catch up to speed can ease the overwhelm of trying a new program.
While it may take some time and patience to get your go-to creative partners on board, it will be well worth the effort when you can collaborate effortlessly with one another. A little bit of guidance goes a long way in helping your peers’ businesses grow, making your life easier, and keeping your clients happy and engaged.
Nora Sheils is the co-founder of Rock Paper Coin, the first software platform to bring together wedding planners, couples, and vendors into one system for managing and paying contracts and invoices. She is also the founder and lead wedding planner of award-winning firm Bridal Bliss. She was recently recognized by Portland Business Journal in its 40 Under 40 series.
The term “audit” can feel scary and unapproachable, but when it comes to your business, it’s a necessary step for moving the company forward. You might have performed marketing audits or operational audits before, but shining the light on your technology is a whole different story.
You see, technology is always evolving. If you don’t keep up with it, you’ll likely fall behind and lose touch with modern tech. Just like your phone needs regular software updates, your business also needs a tune-up every now and then to ensure you’re in good digital standing.
A streamlined digital environment is particularly important this year as businesses will have to face recovery efforts in the wake of the pandemic. Technology was already seeing extraordinary growth prior to COVID-19 and, thanks to stay-at-home orders, the consumers of today’s market are increasingly tech-dependent. Virtual solutions abounded as people’s habits shifted and companies sent employees home to work remotely.
Going forward, there simply is no excuse for falling behind in the digital world. Companies must embrace virtual tools in order to build back stronger after the pandemic, and it all starts with an audit. Follow these steps to assess your current tech and make a plan to grow in 2021.
You might be eager to see all of the digital tools available for trial, but you need to first start by looking at all of the tech you have in place — as well as the areas that are sorely in need of help. Set some time aside to sit down and take a hard look at how your business is functioning.
Consider the different aspects of your business, from sales to client communications to event production. Do you have a invoicing tool that helps you stay organized? Has social media become a burden without an efficient solution? As you review your workflows, you’ll start to see gaps that could be filled with a new app or program. Write down these areas and note the ideal features that would simplify your life.
Today’s client doesn’t just like technology; they expect it. They’re accustomed to doing virtually everything from pocket-sized devices and they’ll look to your business to meet them on their screens. That’s not to say you need to replace every in-person meeting with a video call, but it’s important to provide clients with digital options for every step of the process, from electronic contracts and online payments to convenient channels for communication and collaboration.
Before diving in headfirst, think about your target market and what they would value most. Corporate clients may be more inclined to communicate by email whereas young couples may prefer texting or instant messaging. Evaluate each of your touchpoints to determine if there is a way to harness technology for a more efficient and enhanced client experience.
Once you’ve got a game plan to upgrade your tech, you might be eager to sign up for every trial that you see. Avoid getting click-happy with new tools, as that’s the quickest way to overwhelm yourself and give up. Start small, focusing on one or two areas to optimize.
Research your options and be sure to read the reviews for each. Past and current users will provide you with unbiased opinions that can influence your final decision. On the same note, you may consider reaching out to your industry peers for recommendations (and even a referral code or two), as they may share with you solutions that you haven’t yet come across.
While you may have gotten away with old-fashioned techniques in the past, the pandemic has brought to light the importance of virtual solutions that can support collaboration with clients, colleagues, and employees. A regular digital audit will help you to stay on top of the latest tech so your brand maintains its role in today’s contemporary market.
Nora Sheils is the co-founder of Rock Paper Coin, the first software platform to bring together wedding planners, couples, and vendors into one system for managing and paying contracts and invoices. She is also the founder and lead wedding planner of award-winning firm Bridal Bliss. She was recently recognized by Portland Business Journal in its 40 Under 40 series.
By now, most of us have settled into a comfortable work-from-home routine due to the pandemic. Yet, even if you’ve been working remote for six months or more, it can still be a challenge to stay focused — especially when you have spouses sharing your workspace and kiddos home for virtual learning. The balance between work and home life has been particularly difficult in the wake of nationwide stay-at-home orders, so you’re not alone if you feel like you’ve been carrying too much weight on your shoulders.
While there isn’t much we can do about returning to work outside the home, there are plenty of tips and tricks that can help you set boundaries at home and find more focus and flow during your working hours (even if it’s at the kitchen table).
Read More “Stay Focused While Working from Home”
