We all want to be on those 'elusive' venue recommended suppliers lists - but how do we go about getting there? Today I'm chatting with venue consultant Olivia Riddiford as she shares her secrets about how to build better relationships with wedding venues!Find out more about Olivia:Host Weddings and eventsHost Venue consultancyVenue VATimestampsIntroduction [00:00:00] Becca introduces the podcast and her new venture, the Wedding Pro Agency.Olivia's background [00:01:42] Becca introduces Olivia and they discuss her journey from working at a venue to becoming a wedding planner and eventually starting her own venue consultancy.Lessons learned from working at a venue [00:05:12] Olivia discusses the importance of teamwork and the challenges of managing a wedding venue.Attracting weddings to a new venue [00:06:30] Olivia talks about how she helped attract the first weddings to a new venue, including using visuals and offering special deals.Mistakes venues make in marketing and sales [00:07:56] Becca asks Olivia about the biggest mistakes venues make in their marketing and sales strategies.Visibility and Valuing Staff [00:08:12] Olivia and Becca discuss the importance of venues being visible and valuing their staff, including offering better pay, listening to their ideas, and incentivizing them with rewards and appreciation.Working with Venues [00:14:07] Olivia shares tips for wedding pros on how to build relationships with venues, including finding the right contacts, booking a meeting, aligning with the venue's brand, and promoting the venue through social media and blog posts.Building relationships with venues [00:16:32] Tips for suppliers to build relationships with venues, including tangible gestures and timing for communication.Mistakes suppliers make with venues [00:17:11] Common mistakes suppliers make when trying to build relationships with venues, including timing and communication.Importance of communication and helpfulness [00:19:03] The importance of communication and helpfulness in building relationships with venues, and how to avoid being too pushy.Making the venue staff's job easier [00:20:21] Tips for suppliers to make the venue staff's job easier, including knowing the logistics of the venue and being helpful.Venues making a good impression on suppliers [00:22:08] The importance of venues making a good impression on suppliers, including treating them like guests and providing refreshments and networking opportunities.Neglected social media accounts [00:23:39] Becca and Olivia discuss why venues neglect their social media accounts and miss out on opportunities for marketing.Outsourcing and time management [00:26:06] Becca and Olivia talk about the importance of outsourcing and time management for wedding businesses, including venues and suppliers.One thing Olivia wishes she knew sooner [00:27:30] Olivia shares that outsourcing is the one thing she wishes she knew about earlier in her business, and how it has helped her focus on the things she enjoys and is good at.Connect with Olivia [00:29:43] Olivia shares her contact information and invites listeners to connect with her and learn more about her businesses.