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Stop the Bleeding and Start Scaling

Hey CEO! Grab a your favorite drink and lean in, because we need to have a real-talk, “tough love” moment.

I see so many of you spending thousands of dollars on fancy CRMs, complex email sequences, and high-tech automations, yet you’re still sitting there wondering why your calendar is empty. You’re telling me, “Brandee, I don’t understand! My funnel is set up, but no one is booking!”

If your sales funnel is just a series of automated emails with a booking link, you don’t have a strategy. You have a digital suggestion box, and it is literally bleeding cash.

In the wedding industry, we aren’t selling widgets; we’re selling a high-trust, high-investment transformation. People don’t buy that from a robot. They buy it from confidence, clarity, and connection.

Here is how you stop the bleeding and turn that passive “hope machine” into a revenue-generating engine.

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1. Stop Using Automation as an Avoidance Tactic

We love our systems, don’t we? But there’s a dark side. Too many pros use automation to hide because they’re “too busy” or—let’s be honest—a little scared of the sales process.

“Automation without human follow-up is not strategy. It’s literally avoidance, dressed up as systems. You didn’t build a funnel, you built a passive hope machine.”

Your funnel is meant to support your sales, not replace you. If a human never steps into the process, you’re leaving your leads feeling confused and unled. And a confused lead never pulls out their credit card.

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2. The 5-Hour Rule: The Personal Text

Yes, I want you to have that instant automated email. It’s professional and fast. But that’s just exposure, not conversion. To actually move the needle, you need to interject yourself as a human within hours of that inquiry.

“In that same day that the inquiry comes in… you’re gonna step in with a personal text… It opens so many doors. It humanizes your business so that you’re more than a logo.”

Send a quick, non-robotic text. Mention that you saw their inquiry and wanted to personally say hello. This signals leadership and tells the couple they are a priority, not just a number in your database.

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3. Lead the Dance (Sales is Leadership!)

If you’re waiting for the client to “take the initiative” because “if they’re serious, they’ll book,” you are being lazy with your sales. Your clients are stressed, overwhelmed, and probably have 50 tabs open. They need a leader.

“We’re simply leading them to the next step in the process because sales is leadership. And this text is simply to figure out where they are… lead them to the next step in the decision.”

Around the 7-to-10-day mark, if they haven’t booked, check in via text. Ask if they’re ready to get that DJ checked off their list or if they want to chat about their floral vision. Give them a clear path to follow.

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4. Don’t Break the Platform

This is a huge pet peeve of mine! If a bride texts you back, do not tell her to “check her email for the link.”

“We never wanna take them off the platform that they’re responding on. So if they respond to you via text, be prepared to link your packages or be prepared to send your booking link right there.”

Meet your clients where they are. If they are talking to you on text, close them on text. Make it as easy as possible for them to say “Yes.”

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5. Warm Them Up Before the Consult

The sale doesn’t start when you hop on Zoom; it starts the second they book that call. Most pros see a booking on their calendar and think, “Great, I’ll see them Tuesday.” Wrong! That’s a massive gap in your connection.

“When someone books a call with you, this is the highest intent moment in your entire sales funnel… This one small message confirms you’re a real human, lowers their guard, and builds trust before you ever get on a consultation.”

Send a personal “I’m so excited to chat” text. By the time you actually meet, they shouldn’t feel like they’re talking to a stranger. They should feel like they’re talking to a friend who is an expert.

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Before You Go

CEO, I want you to take a deep breath. If you realized while reading this that your funnel is a little more “leaky” than you’d like to admit, don’t beat yourself up. But also, don’t stay there. You didn’t start this business to be a slave to a CRM that isn’t paying you back. You started this to create a life of freedom and a business that thrives. But that only happens when you stop relying on a “hope strategy” and start implementing a revenue system.

If you’re ready to stop the guesswork and see exactly where your cash is leaking, I want to invite you to book a free Gap Assessment with my team. We’re going to look at your business from the outside in and show you exactly what tweaks will move the needle for your specific brand.

Click here to book your Gap Assessment at weddingproceo.com/application

Let’s make this the year you stop chasing leads and start leading your sales!

Let’s Stay Connected

Loved this episode? Let’s keep the conversation going! Tag me in your stories and let me know your biggest “aha” moment.

• Instagram: @brandeegaar
• TikTok: @brandeegaar
• YouTube: Brandee Gaar
• Podcast: The Wedding Pro CEO Podcast

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FAQ

Q1: Won’t texting my clients make them think I’m available 24/7?
Answer: Not if you set boundaries! Texting during the sales process signals high-touch service. Once they book, you can move them into your preferred communication boundaries. But remember, it’s 2026—people communicate via text. If you want premium prices, you have to provide premium attention.

Q2: What if I’m actually too busy to do manual follow-ups?
Answer: CEO, let’s get real. What is more important than sales? If you don’t have sales, you don’t have a business. If you are truly at capacity, this is the first role you should hire for—a human responsible for the sales process.

Q3: My automations are working, but my revenue isn’t growing. Why?
Answer: As I always say: “Scalability without connection equals volume, it doesn’t equal value.” Your funnel might be reaching people, but it isn’t connecting with them. You’re missing the human element that converts a “looker” into a “buyer.”

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💌For business inquiries: sayhello@weddingproceo.com

Heads up, CEO! Some of the links I share may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you decide to purchase—at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools and resources I actually use and love, and that I believe will help you grow a profitable, sustainable business you’re obsessed with.