Ep. 217 — The Preferred Vendor List Playbook with Kevin Dennis

Preferred vendor lists can be one of the most powerful referral sources for wedding professionals, but earning a spot on the right lists requires more than simply asking to be added.

In this episode, I am joined by Kevin Dennis, founder of Fantasy Sound Event Services and host of the Mind Your Wedding Business podcast, to break down how wedding pros can strategically build relationships with venues, planners, and other referral partners. Kevin shares why nearly 85% of his company’s clients come from venue lists, what wedding pros should expect from these relationships, and why getting onto a list is only the beginning.

We also discuss the long game of becoming a preferred vendor, how to stay top of mind without relying on generic gifts or cold pitches, pay-to-play and commission-based lists, and how to determine which relationships are actually worth pursuing for your business.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why preferred vendor lists matter
• How to get on the right vendor lists
• What to expect once you’re on a list
• Why relationship-building takes time
• How to stay top of mind with venues and planners
• How to stand out in a saturated market
• Ways to provide value beyond referrals
• Why fellow vendors and competitors can be great referral sources

About Kevin Dennis

Kevin Dennis is a longtime wedding industry professional, speaker, and founder of Fantasy Sound Event Services and the WeddingIQ blog. With extensive experience in event technology and business, Kevin has served on the boards of organizations including NACE and WIPA and regularly shares his expertise through industry publications and speaking engagements.

As host of the Mind Your Wedding Business podcast, he helps wedding professionals strengthen their businesses through practical conversations around sales, marketing, client service, technology, and more.

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