Now May Be the Time to Start Tweeting

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Wedding businesses with websites and blogs may be interested in adding a twitter account to their site. It used to beBusiness_Man_with_Chart the case that the main reason to have a twitter account was to reach a different audience, and therefore it hasn’t always seemed like the best option for professionals in the wedding industry.

Jonathan Bailey from Plagiarism Today writes that Google just changed all that at the end of 2010. They have decided to use Tweets to rank web sites and blogs via Search Engine Optimisation (SEO). It may not make a huge difference on how you site is ranked at first, but over time your tweets could help move your wedding business page up the ranks in Google’s search engine.

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Twitter Do’s and Don’ts When Your Followers are Brides

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Having a Twitter account is a great way to keep up with your network, as well as build a solid list of leads. The short amount of space allowed keeps everything feeling personal, and promotes a feeling of relationship between those Tweeting.

As cool as all that is, there are lines that you shouldn’t cross when Tweeting and you have brides following you. Don’t be unprofessional, or let out your frustration about a wedding you are currently doing. The easiest way to remind yourself to keep if professional is to simply have a separate Twitter account for your wedding business and your personal network.

So, what do you need to make sure you are Tweeting? Basically you want to tweet out information that your network will find helpful like links to your blog, advice and vendors that you love. Sharon Hill: “The Wedding Planner Mentor” shares more awesome do’s and don’ts for Twitter on her blog, so make sure to check it out!

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5 Tips For Maximizing Your Wedding PR Online

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by Meghan Ely Running_Bride

I’ll admit it- sometimes I grow weary of my beloved lap top. 

There are days that I simply don’t feel like logging into it, keeping up with it and balancing it with the rest of my day to day To Dos. Some 2004 style when a Facebook Profile was simply you’re who, what, when and where.  I was practically president of the “Too Old for Facebook” Group for which I belonged.

Life, as we know it, was far simpler.

What keeps me coming back you may ask? The endless wedding public relations opportunities to be had- from Twitter and Facebook to bona fide web sites that ask you to be an expert (thank you Al Gore!).

Below, you’ll find just a few online tips and tricks to get you started:

1. Embrace Twitter Lists

Twitter itself can be rough waters to navigate, especially if you can’t seem to get away from the fellow wedding professionals who have enough time in their back pocket to share everything from their lunch plans to their afternoon coffee flavor of choice. But the fact is, Twitter is teeming with wedding journalists- from regional and boutique bloggers to editors of national publications.  Take the time to identify and follow the media outlets you’d like to align yourself with and place them on their own Twitter List.  That way, the next time you log in, you can avoid the convos being had about the latest Bachelor and skip to the good stuff.

2. Be a HARO guru

Help a Reporter Out (HARO) is one of easiest barriers of entry into the public relations world yet it’s still often an overlooked Wedding PR strategy by professionals.  A free service, HARO sends you emails three times a day on weekdays, with various requests by journalists for—wait for it—your expertise. It’s positively brilliant.

3. Two Bright Lights

If you haven’t had the chance to join online wedding marketing and pr tool Two Bright Lights, then I encourage you to do so. In fact, go ahead and stop reading this right now and join. We’ll be waiting. You can thank me later.

4. Toot Toot

If you’ve got great news to share, then by all means, tell us on Facebook and Twitter. Don’t be afraid to toot your own horn just because you didn’t land the cover of Time Magazine. There is a fine balance however, as your Facebook Page need not be a portal for every single success- otherwise you’re apt to lose fans, and quickly.

5. Submit Press Releases

Want to find a quick and fairly painless way to boost your rankings on Google?  The next time you prepare a press release, be sure to submit them to online newswires. There are a number of free and paid options available to you- such as PRNewswire.com, Marketwire.com and PRWeb.com.

Wedding Public Relations, ultimately, does not have to be as intimidating as it sounds. Simply take a cue from the list above and before you know it- you too will be front page news.

 

 Meghan_Ely_logo

Meghan Ely is the owner of OFD Consulting, a niche wedding marketing and public relations firm that caters to the wedding industry. She is a regular contributor to wedding marketing journal WedLock Magazine, Top Wedding Sites and Virginia Bride Magazine. Ely is a frequent speaker on wedding marketing and pr and will be sharing her insight on March 30 at Illuminate: the Workshop in Virginia.

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The Time to Tweet, and How To Do It ‘Just Right’

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This kind of goes a long with the blog I posted the other day about social media in your everyday life and also your wedding.  I just keep finding good blogs on this subject!

Obviously this subject is going to be pretty common nowadays as roughly 70% of the nation keeps in touch with each other via social media on the World Wide Web.

The social media in particular I am referring to today is Twitter.  

When should you be “tweeting” about your business and just how often?  When is it appropriate and how much is too much?  

Of course you want to do it just enough to stay at the forefront of people’s minds, but on the other hand, who wants to be on overload and annoying?  

Can we say “Delete.”  Uh oh.  That is definitely not the way you want your followers to go!

Read here for your business Tweeting tips!

How often do you Tweet??

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Social Media and Weddings?

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Did you see that viral video floating around the internet some time ago where the bride and groom kissed to seal their vows?  And then pulled out their phones to update their Facebook relationship statuses to “Married”?

Funny and cute?  Or tacky?

Yes, social media is becoming the norm nowadays.  Hell, I’ve caught myself almost saying “L-O-L” in person instead of actually laughing!!

LOL.

But how far should we take it into our everyday, “real-life” lives? And our weddings?

Read in HOW TO: Tastefully Use Social Media at Your Wedding where in your wedding process Social media is acceptable and actually very useful.

How has social media helped, or hurt, in weddings?

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Choosing Sides: Social Media vs Old School Sales

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Seems like all the wedding professionals are jumping on the social media band wagon these days.  Does it really live up to the hype?

While I feel that, in the pros and cons of things, there are plenty of cons to social marketing, I feel there are lots of pros!  However, I also feel that there will always be a place for “old school” sales.  

I would rather listen to someone who has been around the block a time or two versus a new kid still wet behind the ears.  Let’s face it, the old-school salesman most likely is not the one behind the keyboard on Twitter!  He may also be more reputable and trustworthy as well.  

What today’s successful salesman needs is the trustworthiness of “old-school” and the savviness of today’s direction in technology.  And they need character!  Read here for some more information on today’s successful and skilled salesperson!  

Do you classify yourself as more old school or new age wedding marketer??

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Why Social Media is a PAIN and What To Do About It

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I read this blog that gave me a little bit of new perspective.

I think Social Media websites such as Facebook, Myspace and Twitter are marketing gold for wedding businesses.  It’s a free way to reach and audience of potential customers.

But often with free things…well, you get what you pay for.  A large percentage of those masses of people on social media are cynical to online advertisements.  Another large percentage isn’t the demographic you’re going for.  And the list goes on.

Therefore, the effort is more.  You have to do more in more places to reach more people that will be interested in what you offer.  More, more, more.

That’s just one pain to Social Media marketing.  Check out the other five here!

What’s your biggest gripe about Social Media?

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