Wedding Business Solutions
Alan Berg, CSP, FPSA, Global Speaking Fellow
If weddings and events are all or part of your business, then the Wedding Business Solutions podcast is for you. In each bite-sized episode, you’ll hear ideas to help you sell more, profit more and have more fun doing it from Alan Berg CSP, FPSA. He’s the author of 13 books, who’s been included, for the 3rd year in a row, as one of the “Top 100 Speakers To Watch in 2025”, by Motivator Music on LinkedIn. He's also one of only 46 Global Speaking Fellows in the world! Whether it’s ideas for closing the sale, improving your website conversion or just plain common-sense ideas for your wedding business, the episodes here, whether monologue or dialogue are just the thing to get you motivated to help more couples have great weddings, and more profits for you . . . . . . . . . You can read full transcripts of each episode at podcast.AlanBerg.com . . . . . . . . . Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast so you'll know about the latest episodes. And if you have a question, comment or suggestion for topic or guest, please reach out at Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com . . . . . . . . . And if you don't get his email updates for new episodes, as well as upcoming workshops and Master Classes, you can sign up at www.ConnectWithAlanBerg.com . . . . . . . . . If you'd like to find out about Alan's speaking, sales training, consulting or website review services, go to www.IWantAlan.com or you can reach him at Alan@AlanBerg.com or visit Podcast.AlanBerg.com ------- Note from Alan: I invite my guests on for the value they provide to you, my listeners. Occasionally I have a guest on where I'm an affiliate or have a relationship that may involve compensation for me. My first priority is the value to you and therefore I don't sell placement or guest spots on my podcast.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 20, 2023 • 35min
Janelle Barlow - A complaint is a gift!
Janelle Barlow - A complaint is a gift!When is a complaint a gift? Actually, almost every time. I’m so happy to have Dr. Janelle Barlow on to discuss this topic that’s so relevant to our industry and the world we live in. It’s not just about customer complaints, it’s also internal from our staff. We had a great discussion about reviews and other forms of feedback. Janelle shares ideas from her book “A Complaint Is A Gift”, which is in its 3rd printing, and available in over 25 languages!About Janelle:With decades of experience as a global speaker, virtual presenter, and author, her main speaking and consulting goal is to teach people how to treat complaints as gifts. She believes that with the right mindset, service reps and business owners do not have to be overwhelmed when listening to customer dissatisfaction. She has authored several books, including the best-selling "A Complaint Is a Gift". She also wrote Branded Customer Service, Emotional Value, Smart Videoconferencing, and A Complaint Is a Gift, all published by Berrett-Koehler. She loves designing innovative learning projects and is currently working on a Complaint Is a Gift train-the-trainer guide and a online complaint program for service reps.Janelle's web page is: www.acomplaintisagift.comLinkedIn: JanelleBarlow. and AComplaintIsaGiftIf you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a suggestion for a topic or guest, please reach out directly to me at Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com or visit my website Podcast.AlanBerg.comPlease be sure to subscribe to this podcast and leave a review (thanks, it really does make a difference). If you want to get notifications of new episodes and upcoming workshops and webinars, you can sign up at www.ConnectWithAlanBerg.com AI For The Real World - A Practical Guide to AI for Wedding & Event Pros is your easy way to learn how to harness the power of AI, no matter which AI tools you use. Get Yours Today at www.ShopAlanBerg.com I'm Alan Berg. Thanks for listening. If you have any questions about this or if you'd like to suggest other topics for "The Wedding Business Solutions Podcast" please let me know. My email is Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com. Look forward to seeing you on the next episode. Thanks. Listen to this and all episodes on Apple Podcast, YouTube or your favorite app/site: Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/weddingbusinesssolutions YouTube: www.WeddingBusinessSolutionsPodcast.tv Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3sGsuB8 Stitcher: http://bit.ly/wbsstitcher Google Podcast: http://bit.ly/wbsgoogle iHeart Radio: https://ihr.fm/31C9Mic Pandora: http://bit.ly/wbspandora ©2025 Wedding Business Solutions LLC & AlanBerg.com
Mar 15, 2023 • 8min
What's the worst that could happen?
What's the worst that could happen?Too often people get stymied by the possibility of something bad happening, even if the likelihood of that result is slim. Instead, what if you embraced the worst that could happen, visualize it and use it to help you move forward?Listen to this new, 8-minute episode to see how “the worst that could happen” could really be an asset to you, instead of a roadblock.If you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a suggestion for a topic or guest, please reach out directly to me at Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com or visit my website Podcast.AlanBerg.comPlease be sure to subscribe to this podcast and leave a review (thanks, it really does make a difference). If you want to get notifications of new episodes and upcoming workshops and webinars, you can sign up at www.ConnectWithAlanBerg.com AI For The Real World - A Practical Guide to AI for Wedding & Event Pros is your easy way to learn how to harness the power of AI, no matter which AI tools you use. Get Yours Today at www.ShopAlanBerg.com I'm Alan Berg. Thanks for listening. If you have any questions about this or if you'd like to suggest other topics for "The Wedding Business Solutions Podcast" please let me know. My email is Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com. Look forward to seeing you on the next episode. Thanks. Listen to this and all episodes on Apple Podcast, YouTube or your favorite app/site: Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/weddingbusinesssolutions YouTube: www.WeddingBusinessSolutionsPodcast.tv Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3sGsuB8 Stitcher: http://bit.ly/wbsstitcher Google Podcast: http://bit.ly/wbsgoogle iHeart Radio: https://ihr.fm/31C9Mic Pandora: http://bit.ly/wbspandora ©2025 Wedding Business Solutions LLC & AlanBerg.com
Mar 8, 2023 • 11min
Decision complexity or decision simplicity?
Decision complexity or decision simplicity?I was reading a great book by Jon Picoult - "From Impressed to Obsessed", and one of the concepts he wrote about is Decision complexity vs decision simplicity. In our world that means are we making it easy or hard for our customers to make a decision, whether it’s for the initial sale, or post-sale choices (menus, colors, music and more).Listen to this new, 11-minute episode to dig a little deeper into this and see how you can apply the concept to your business and customers.If you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a suggestion for a topic or guest, please reach out directly to me at Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com or visit my website Podcast.AlanBerg.comPlease be sure to subscribe to this podcast and leave a review (thanks, it really does make a difference). If you want to get notifications of new episodes and upcoming workshops and webinars, you can sign up at www.ConnectWithAlanBerg.com AI For The Real World - A Practical Guide to AI for Wedding & Event Pros is your easy way to learn how to harness the power of AI, no matter which AI tools you use. Get Yours Today at www.ShopAlanBerg.com I'm Alan Berg. Thanks for listening. If you have any questions about this or if you'd like to suggest other topics for "The Wedding Business Solutions Podcast" please let me know. My email is Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com. Look forward to seeing you on the next episode. Thanks. Listen to this and all episodes on Apple Podcast, YouTube or your favorite app/site: Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/weddingbusinesssolutions YouTube: www.WeddingBusinessSolutionsPodcast.tv Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3sGsuB8 Stitcher: http://bit.ly/wbsstitcher Google Podcast: http://bit.ly/wbsgoogle iHeart Radio: https://ihr.fm/31C9Mic Pandora: http://bit.ly/wbspandora ©2025 Wedding Business Solutions LLC & AlanBerg.com
Mar 6, 2023 • 29min
Lois Creamer - Would it make sense?
If you’ve heard me speak about sales, or read my books, you’ve probably heard me use the phrase “Would it make sense…?” as a soft lead-in to asking for the sale. I also always credit a speaker friend, Lois Creamer, from whom I learned this, years ago. So, it’s only fitting that I have Lois on and talk about the origin of the phrase, how it’s used and more fun stuff. Listen to this new dialog episode for some fun tips and conversation about sales.Lois Creamer is an industry expert working with speakers who want to book more business, make more money and fully monetize their message. She is the author of “Book More Business: Make Money Speaking”, and “The Speaker Author: Sell More Books and Book More Speeches”.. Both books are available on Amazon as well as book stores.Lois’s clients include such luminaries as Chicken Soup’s Jack Canfield; author of The Sales Bible Jeffrey Gitomer; Patricia Fripp and more. Her expertise and no-nonsense style has led her to invitations to present at NSA (National Speakers Association) annual meetings and for every local chapter. She also presents at Canadian Speakers Association, Professional Speakers Associations – India, England and Ireland. In 2021, she was named an “Honorary Fellow” in the Professional Speaking Association of the United Kingdom and Ireland (PSAUKI).Lois has appeared in Forbes, Bloomberg Business, Speaker Magazine and The Wall Street Journal. Connect with Lois:Email: lois@bookmorebusiness.comWeb: http://www.BookMoreBusiness.comBlog: http://www.BookMoreBusiness.com/blogTwitter: @loiscreamerFB: http://www.Facebook.com/LoisCreamerLinkedIn: http://www.Linkedin.com/in/LoisCreamerInstagram: http://www.Instagram.com/loisbmb If you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a suggestion for a topic or guest, please reach out directly to me at Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com or visit my website Podcast.AlanBerg.com Please be sure to subscribe to this podcast and leave a review (thanks, it really does make a difference). If you want to gAI For The Real World - A Practical Guide to AI for Wedding & Event Pros is your easy way to learn how to harness the power of AI, no matter which AI tools you use. Get Yours Today at www.ShopAlanBerg.com I'm Alan Berg. Thanks for listening. If you have any questions about this or if you'd like to suggest other topics for "The Wedding Business Solutions Podcast" please let me know. My email is Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com. Look forward to seeing you on the next episode. Thanks. Listen to this and all episodes on Apple Podcast, YouTube or your favorite app/site: Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/weddingbusinesssolutions YouTube: www.WeddingBusinessSolutionsPodcast.tv Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3sGsuB8 Stitcher: http://bit.ly/wbsstitcher Google Podcast: http://bit.ly/wbsgoogle iHeart Radio: https://ihr.fm/31C9Mic Pandora: http://bit.ly/wbspandora ©2025 Wedding Business Solutions LLC & AlanBerg.com
Mar 1, 2023 • 7min
Pick Your Hard
Pick Your HardAfter recording an episode with Trip Wheeler he told me that he has been trying to live by the credo “Pick Your Hard”. When I asked him to explain, he told me that life is hard, business is hard, relationships are hard, and we have to make choices, every day to pick the hard that we want to go forward with.Listen to this new, 6-minute episode to get a better understanding of what this means, and how it can help you in business and life.If you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a suggestion for a topic or guest, please reach out directly to me at Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com or visit my website Podcast.AlanBerg.comPlease be sure to subscribe to this podcast and leave a review (thanks, it really does make a difference). If you want to get notifications of new episodes and upcoming workshops and webinars, you can sign up at www.ConnectWithAlanBerg.com AI For The Real World - A Practical Guide to AI for Wedding & Event Pros is your easy way to learn how to harness the power of AI, no matter which AI tools you use. Get Yours Today at www.ShopAlanBerg.com I'm Alan Berg. Thanks for listening. If you have any questions about this or if you'd like to suggest other topics for "The Wedding Business Solutions Podcast" please let me know. My email is Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com. Look forward to seeing you on the next episode. Thanks. Listen to this and all episodes on Apple Podcast, YouTube or your favorite app/site: Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/weddingbusinesssolutions YouTube: www.WeddingBusinessSolutionsPodcast.tv Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3sGsuB8 Stitcher: http://bit.ly/wbsstitcher Google Podcast: http://bit.ly/wbsgoogle iHeart Radio: https://ihr.fm/31C9Mic Pandora: http://bit.ly/wbspandora ©2025 Wedding Business Solutions LLC & AlanBerg.com
Feb 22, 2023 • 9min
The lure of the friendor
The lure of the friendor When couples or customers choose to have a friend or relative do some part of their wedding or event for free, or cheap, it can be frustrating. Have you ever been a friendor, or used the services of a friendor? Have you ever had good results being or using a friendor? Is the problem really using a friendor, or getting bad results?Listen to this new, 8-minute episode for a little tough-love perspective on this topic.If you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a suggestion for a topic or guest, please reach out directly to me at Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com or visit my website Podcast.AlanBerg.comPlease be sure to subscribe to this podcast and leave a review (thanks, it really does make a difference). If you want to get notifications of new episodes and upcoming workshops and webinars, you can sign up at www.ConnectWithAlanBerg.com AI For The Real World - A Practical Guide to AI for Wedding & Event Pros is your easy way to learn how to harness the power of AI, no matter which AI tools you use. Get Yours Today at www.ShopAlanBerg.com I'm Alan Berg. Thanks for listening. If you have any questions about this or if you'd like to suggest other topics for "The Wedding Business Solutions Podcast" please let me know. My email is Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com. Look forward to seeing you on the next episode. Thanks. Listen to this and all episodes on Apple Podcast, YouTube or your favorite app/site: Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/weddingbusinesssolutions YouTube: www.WeddingBusinessSolutionsPodcast.tv Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3sGsuB8 Stitcher: http://bit.ly/wbsstitcher Google Podcast: http://bit.ly/wbsgoogle iHeart Radio: https://ihr.fm/31C9Mic Pandora: http://bit.ly/wbspandora ©2025 Wedding Business Solutions LLC & AlanBerg.com
Feb 20, 2023 • 33min
Mark Chapman – Are TikTok Ads Right for Your Business?
Mark Chapman – Are TikTok Ads Right for Your Business?I hear a lot of talk about whether TikTok ads are something that you should be using. So, I reached out to my go-to expert, Mark Chapman, from The I Do Society, to break this down for us. So, in this new episode we talk about TikTok, TikTok ads and how they’re different than Instagram or Facebook ads, and whether you might want to consider them for your business.About Mark:Mark Chapman is the founder of The I Do Society and wedding industry's leader in paid advertising. He established the most effective advertising strategies - based on data gathered from thousands of campaigns and millions of dollars spent. He delivers high quality leads for all types of wedding businesses using Google Ads, Facebook Ads and TikTok Ads.For more information visit: http://theidosociety.com/Have a free, 30-minute discovery call with Mark, click this link and mention my name: https://calendly.com/the-i-do-society/membership-inquiry-meeting If you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a suggestion for a topic or guest, please reach out directly to me at Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com or visit my website Podcast.AlanBerg.comPlease be sure to subscribe to this podcast and leave a review (thanks, it really does make a difference). If you want to get notifications of new episodes and upcoming workshops and webinars, you can sign up at www.ConnectWithAlanBerg.com AI For The Real World - A Practical Guide to AI for Wedding & Event Pros is your easy way to learn how to harness the power of AI, no matter which AI tools you use. Get Yours Today at www.ShopAlanBerg.com I'm Alan Berg. Thanks for listening. If you have any questions about this or if you'd like to suggest other topics for "The Wedding Business Solutions Podcast" please let me know. My email is Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com. Look forward to seeing you on the next episode. Thanks. Listen to this and all episodes on Apple Podcast, YouTube or your favorite app/site: Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/weddingbusinesssolutions YouTube: www.WeddingBusinessSolutionsPodcast.tv Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3sGsuB8 Stitcher: http://bit.ly/wbsstitcher Google Podcast: http://bit.ly/wbsgoogle iHeart Radio: https://ihr.fm/31C9Mic Pandora: http://bit.ly/wbspandora ©2025 Wedding Business Solutions LLC & AlanBerg.com
Feb 15, 2023 • 6min
Do the same problems come up over and over?
Do the same problems come up over and over? Are there some problems that just keep cropping up? Whether it’s with your customers, your couples, and even with your staff or industry partners, if there are some things that seem to come up often, the problem just might lie in an unexpected place.Listen to this new, 5-minute episode to see if the problem really is your customers, or maybe it’s in the mirror.If you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a suggestion for a topic or guest, please reach out directly to me at Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com or visit my website Podcast.AlanBerg.comPlease be sure to subscribe to this podcast and leave a review (thanks, it really does make a difference). If you want to get notifications of new episodes and upcoming workshops and webinars, you can sign up at www.ConnectWithAlanBerg.com AI For The Real World - A Practical Guide to AI for Wedding & Event Pros is your easy way to learn how to harness the power of AI, no matter which AI tools you use. Get Yours Today at www.ShopAlanBerg.com I'm Alan Berg. Thanks for listening. If you have any questions about this or if you'd like to suggest other topics for "The Wedding Business Solutions Podcast" please let me know. My email is Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com. Look forward to seeing you on the next episode. Thanks. Listen to this and all episodes on Apple Podcast, YouTube or your favorite app/site: Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/weddingbusinesssolutions YouTube: www.WeddingBusinessSolutionsPodcast.tv Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3sGsuB8 Stitcher: http://bit.ly/wbsstitcher Google Podcast: http://bit.ly/wbsgoogle iHeart Radio: https://ihr.fm/31C9Mic Pandora: http://bit.ly/wbspandora ©2025 Wedding Business Solutions LLC & AlanBerg.com
Feb 8, 2023 • 9min
How accessible should you be?
How accessible should you be?This is another listener suggestion. Valerie wrote to me on Facebook messenger and posed this question. So, how accessible should you be? Do you have to reply to every email, text and WhatsApp message, regardless of the time of day or night? Or, is it OK to set boundaries and regular business hours?Listen to this new, 8-minute episode for some ideas on how to set your boundaries.If you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a suggestion for a topic or guest, please reach out directly to me at Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com or visit my website Podcast.AlanBerg.comPlease be sure to subscribe to this podcast and leave a review (thanks, it really does make a difference). If you want to get notifications of new episodes and upcoming workshops and webinars, you can sign up at www.ConnectWithAlanBerg.com AI For The Real World - A Practical Guide to AI for Wedding & Event Pros is your easy way to learn how to harness the power of AI, no matter which AI tools you use. Get Yours Today at www.ShopAlanBerg.com I'm Alan Berg. Thanks for listening. If you have any questions about this or if you'd like to suggest other topics for "The Wedding Business Solutions Podcast" please let me know. My email is Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com. Look forward to seeing you on the next episode. Thanks. Listen to this and all episodes on Apple Podcast, YouTube or your favorite app/site: Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/weddingbusinesssolutions YouTube: www.WeddingBusinessSolutionsPodcast.tv Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3sGsuB8 Stitcher: http://bit.ly/wbsstitcher Google Podcast: http://bit.ly/wbsgoogle iHeart Radio: https://ihr.fm/31C9Mic Pandora: http://bit.ly/wbspandora ©2025 Wedding Business Solutions LLC & AlanBerg.com
Feb 6, 2023 • 30min
Trip Wheeler - Is inflation eating your catering profits?
Trip Wheeler - Is inflation eating your catering profits?Inflation has taken a bite out of the profits of every wedding and event business. It’s not just food and supplies, it’s gas, shipping, supply chain disruptions and more. I invited Trip Wheeler back on to talk about what the future might bring, and to share his expertise, since his business is all about saving caterers on your food and supplies. He has some tips and thoughts, no matter what your line of work.About Trip Wheeler and SB ValueAbout SB Value: With over 23,000 customers and a combined food spend of over $7B, their customers, caterers in the US, use this leverage to negotiate better prices than any single caterer could get on your own. There is no cost to join (I know, sounds crazy, but true). We get paid by the manufacturers for bringing them you much leverage. You buy what you want. You can opt out at any time. You just spend less on your food which increases your profit with no effort. It’s one of those rare times where it sounds too good to be true, but it’s not. Join many of Alan’s clients who use SB Value to save on your food and supplies. Contact Trip directly or go to https://www.wegrowvalue.com/alanberg - see how much your catering company can save Contact Trip WheelerE: trip@wegrowvalue.com P: 704.904.9000 https://www.wegrowvalue.com/alanberg About Trip: I worked in sports for 20 years helping F500 companies understand how to use sports to grow their sales. Some of my clients included VISA, Proctor and Gamble, Gillette, Miller, Coleman, Lowe's, AT&T. In 2008 I gathered 400 sporting facilities together to create leverage and buy better. That's where I found Premier. After that we just represent the GPO side of the business because it's such a good idea. If you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a suggestion for a topic or guest, please reach out directly to me at Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com or visit my website www.AlanBerg.com Please be sure to subscribe to this podcast and leave a review (thanks, it really does make a difference). If you want to get notifications of new episodes and upcoming workshops and webinars, you can sign up at www.AI For The Real World - A Practical Guide to AI for Wedding & Event Pros is your easy way to learn how to harness the power of AI, no matter which AI tools you use. Get Yours Today at www.ShopAlanBerg.com I'm Alan Berg. Thanks for listening. If you have any questions about this or if you'd like to suggest other topics for "The Wedding Business Solutions Podcast" please let me know. My email is Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com. Look forward to seeing you on the next episode. Thanks. Listen to this and all episodes on Apple Podcast, YouTube or your favorite app/site: Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/weddingbusinesssolutions YouTube: www.WeddingBusinessSolutionsPodcast.tv Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3sGsuB8 Stitcher: http://bit.ly/wbsstitcher Google Podcast: http://bit.ly/wbsgoogle iHeart Radio: https://ihr.fm/31C9Mic Pandora: http://bit.ly/wbspandora ©2025 Wedding Business Solutions LLC & AlanBerg.com
