Engage Your Brand®

Emily Foster
  • 5.0 (13)
  • MARKETING

Engage Your Brand is the branding podcast for wedding, event and hospitality pros. This is for those who are ready to stop blending in and step into the high-end, well-known businesses they were meant to be. We'll explore the storytelling behind some of the most recognized wedding and event industry brands. And we’ll give you actionable tips for bringing your brand to life through your marketing and every element of your business. It’s time to engage your brand. 

  1. 7H AGO

    52: Why Engagement Season Isn't Over

    Think engagement season ends on Valentine’s Day? Not so fast. If inquiries felt slow this winter, or if you’re worried booking season has passed you by, this episode is your reset. I’m breaking down why engagement season doesn’t automatically equal booking season and why leads are still coming in long after February. Key Takeaways: • Why 53% of couples get engaged outside “traditional” engagement season • How Gen Z is changing booking timelines and research habits • Why couples are waiting months before inquiring or booking • How to avoid the feast-or-famine marketing cycle • What to adjust now to create consistent leads year-round • And how to position your business so engagement season works for you, not against you Listen in to reframe your mindset, strengthen your marketing, and prepare your business for steady growth in 2026 and beyond. Resources Mentioned: • Elevated Website Checklist • Evergreen Brand Foundation Masterclass  If this episode helped you rethink your strategy, make sure you’re subscribed to Engage Your Brand®. And if you’re ready to refine your website and messaging for consistent bookings, join my free masterclass or download the Elevated Website Checklist.

    31 min

  2. FEB 19

    51: Wedding Business Branding and Positioning with Terrica

    Your brand isn’t just your logo, it’s how people experience you at every touchpoint. In this episode of Engage Your Brand®, I’m joined by wedding industry educator, speaker, and coach Terrica to talk about wedding business branding and positioning, and what it really takes to build a brand that grows with you instead of holding you back. We dig into Terrica’s journey from wedding planner to nationally recognized educator, the hard lessons she learned about pricing, partnerships, and growth, and why clarity around who you are (and who you’re not for) is one of the most important decisions you’ll make in your business. In this episode, we cover:  • What it actually means to become a brand in the wedding industry  • Pricing for your value and process, not just your years of experience  • Why “everybody with a ring” is not your client  • How branding supports growth, profitability, and sustainability  • The role of positioning in attracting the right clients  • Why your brand is more than your logo, colors, and fonts  • How consistency across systems, communication, and experience builds trust  • Lessons from Terrica’s evolution from coordinator to planner, designer, and educator Resources:  • Wedding Season Revenue Predictor by Terrica  https://terricainc.com/free-resources Connect with Terrica  https://www.instagram.com/introducingterrica/ https://terricainc.com If you’re ready to build a wedding business brand rooted in clarity, confidence, and intention, subscribe to Engage Your Brand® for more conversations like this.

    22 min

  3. FEB 12

    50: Small Business Marketing Strategy in 2026 with Tayler Cusick-Hollman

    Marketing felt harder in 2025 and if you’re wondering why your effort didn’t match your results, you’re not alone. In this episode of Engage Your Brand®, I’m joined by Taylor Cusick-Hulman, marketing consultant and founder of Enji, to break down her State of Small Business marketing report based on a survey of 245 small businesses across 40 states. We talk buyer hesitation, what’s actually changing in the market, and what wedding + creative service pros should prioritize in 2026 if they want their marketing to feel simpler and more effective. In this episode, we cover:  • What the survey revealed about burnout in small business (and why it’s so widespread)  • The disconnect between marketing effort vs. results in 2025  • What types of businesses were represented in the survey (creative services + wedding pros included)  • Why more touchpoints are needed to convert leads right now  • How “more choice” is making couples take longer to decide  • The stat that shocked me most: how many business owners don’t have a marketing plan  • The time + budget thresholds that correlated with more effective marketing  • What Taylor is changing inside Enji’s marketing moving forward Resources:  • Sign up for Enji • State of Small Business Marketing Report https://www.enji.co/ https://www.instagram.com/enji_co/ If you’re ready to market with more clarity (and a lot less chaos), subscribe to Engage Your Brand®, and check the show notes for the full report and Engie resources.

    49 min

  4. FEB 5

    49: Work Life Balance for Wedding Professionals with Heidi Thompson

    Burnout is common in the wedding industry, but it doesn’t have to be the norm. In this episode of Engage Your Brand®, I’m joined by wedding business coach and bestselling author Heidi Thompson to talk about work life balance for wedding professionals and what it actually takes to run a sustainable wedding business without working 60+ hour weeks. We dive into why so many wedding pros feel constantly overwhelmed, how poor scheduling and endless meetings drain your energy, and the CEO-level shifts that allow you to work fewer hours while still moving your business forward. In this episode, we cover:  • Why wedding pros default to burnout and overwork  • Time management strategies that actually work in the wedding industry  • Creating call days and no-call days to protect your focus  • How to evaluate your time based on ROI, not busyness  • What to stop doing so your calendar feels manageable again  • Building a wedding business that supports your life, not just your income Resources:  • Wedding Business CEO Summit by Heidi Thompson • The Wedding Business Collective Connect with Heidi https://www.instagram.com/evolveyourweddingbusiness/ https://www.evolveyourweddingbusiness.com If you’re ready to build a wedding business that prioritizes sustainability, boundaries, and long-term growth, subscribe to Engage Your Brand® and keep exploring how to run your business with clarity and intention.

    56 min

  5. JAN 29

    48: Creating Visibility in 2026: Showing Up Without Burning Out with Renée Dalo

    Visibility matters more than ever in 2026, but burnout doesn’t have to come with it. In this episode of Engage Your Brand®, I’m joined by Renee Dalo, keynote speaker and visibility hype woman for creative entrepreneurs, to talk about how wedding and event pros can show up consistently without exhausting themselves or diluting their brand. We cover confidence, video visibility, luxury positioning, and practical ways to stay relevant in a shifting market, without turning content into another full-time job. In this episode, we cover: • What visibility really looks like in 2026 • Showing up without burning out • Confidence and mindset for being seen • Video visibility for luxury and high-end brands • Staying consistent during slow or uncertain seasons Resources:  • Show Up & Shine 31-Day Social Media Sprint by Renee •  The Verve & Vision Club Connect with Renee https://www.instagram.com/reneedalo/ https://www.facebook.com/ReneeDalo https://www.tiktok.com/@thereneedalo  If you’re ready to build a brand that supports your growth, not just your workload, subscribe to Engage Your Brand® and explore how we help creative businesses show up with clarity and intention.

    1h 16m

  6. JAN 22

    47: Wedding Marketing Strategy in the Age of SEO and AI with Julie Novack

    Your next inquiry might come from Google… or ChatGPT. In this episode of Engage Your Brand®, I’m joined by Julie Novack, CEO + co-founder of PartySlate, to talk about what’s changing in wedding marketing. From SEO and domain authority to how marketplaces are showing up in AI search. We also dig into why visuals matter so much in the sales process, how to use your portfolio to handle common client objections (“Have you done a wedding like this?”), and how PartySlate helps pros organize, search, and share their photos faster with new AI-driven tools. Key takeaways How couples (and corporate clients) research vendors now: the 7–10 touchpointsWhy marketplaces can rank higher than individual websitesHow to use your portfolio to close faster (without the death scroll on your phone)A simple planning exercise for 2026: the “press release” vision + quarterly goals Connect with Julie: Instagram: @juliepartyslate  @partyslate LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julienovack/ If you want your website + online presence to actually support your referrals (and help you show up in search), I’d love to help. Explore working together at https://emilyfostercreative.com/

    54 min

  7. JAN 15

    46: How to Attract High-End Clients with Maria Bayer

    Sales don’t have to feel pushy to work. In this episode of Engage Your Brand®, I’m joined by high-ticket sales and mindset strategist Maria Bayer to talk about why so many creatives invest in beautiful branding and websites, yet still struggle to convert higher-end clients. We cover the psychology behind how elevated clients buy, how to align your sales process with your brand experience, and the small shifts that help you communicate your value with confidence (without feeling “salesy”). Key Takeawyas:  Why branding and sales can get out of sync What high-end clients actually care about How to stop getting price-shopped The questions that move people from “maybe” to “yes” Freebies / Offers: Book a Client ChallengeSales QuizFacebook Community2025 Program Info

    59 min

  8. JAN 13

    45: 10 Off-Season Tasks to Do to Elevate Your Brand

    You don’t need to hustle harder in the off-season, you need to use it strategically. In this episode of Engage Your Brand®, I’m breaking down 10 off-season tasks you can do to elevate your brand, strengthen your marketing foundation, and set yourself up for a stronger booking season ahead. These aren’t overnight fixes or quick wins. They’re foundational brand and marketing updates that help ensure your next season feels more aligned, visible, and profitable. Key takeaways The difference between off-season tasks and slow-season survival mode (and why it matters)How refreshing your website galleries impacts conversions — not just aestheticsWhy yearly brand photos are one of the smartest recurring investments you can makeWhat to update on your site before inquiries spike again How to use blogging, SEO, and niche pages to plant long-term visibility seeds A simple way to optimize your site for AI search without redesigning everything What your analytics can actually tell you about what’s working (and what’s not) Why your sales workflows matter just as much as your marketing How to decide what to DIY, what to delegate, and what to hand off completelyIf you’re in booking season but still feeling that weird in-between energy, this episode will help you refocus on the work that actually supports future growth. Resources mentioned • Elevated Website Checklist If listening to this made you think, “Okay, I know exactly what I need to clean up next,” send me a DM and tell me which off-season task you’re tackling first.

    42 min
See All (53)

5
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

Engage Your Brand is the branding podcast for wedding, event and hospitality pros. This is for those who are ready to stop blending in and step into the high-end, well-known businesses they were meant to be. We'll explore the storytelling behind some of the most recognized wedding and event industry brands. And we’ll give you actionable tips for bringing your brand to life through your marketing and every element of your business. It’s time to engage your brand. 

Information

  • Creator
    Emily Foster
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    53
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Engage Your Brand®
  • Show Website
    Engage Your Brand®

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