In business, it’s difficult not to get caught up in the numbers: Sales, dollars, bookings, inquiries, appointments. In blogging, one measures success by the impact of the blog on its readers.

Blogging impact can be measured in a number of ways:

With all that said, I’m proud to announce that this morning, The Wedding Marketing Blog surpassed 10,000 visitors for the month of June. I probably should have waited until the end of the month for a final total, but this was too exciting.

Besides the soaring number of visits, it’s exciting to see improvement in all areas, especially comments and questions from readers… like you.

As The Wedding Marketing Blog continues to grow in activity, there are a number of features, benefits and goals that will roll out during the second half of 2009.

They will include

I’ll stop there, because it will take quite a bit of effort to launch all of that. Your suggestions and ideas are always welcome. I do my best to read every inquiry, comment, and email.

Each post and reader are important to me. I’m conscious of the fact that different people are interested in different issues. I will continue to give my best effort to provide valuable and stimulating content to you.

With my deepest appreciation for your readership!

Andy Ebon
The Wedding Marketing Blog

written by Andy Ebon \\ tags: Andy Ebon, blogger, content, impact, measuring success, readers, success, Wedding Marketing Authority, wedding marketing blog

In recent few weeks, I’ve given a great deal of thought to the dynamics of the wedding industry. Here are just five that came to mind.

One can like or dislike any item on the shortlist. With a little thought, the list could grow by 10 or 20.

If you want to be on a preferred vendor list in Las Vegas, building a great relationship with the Director of Catering is a nice thing, but that person doesn’t make the decision. The discussion and final decision is typically made a couple of levels higher up, by a regional manager for several of a company’s hotels.

Reality Check: Things are as they are. not as you would like them to be. Instead of taking on the massive task of changing an entire industry, why not just become a force in your sphere of influence?

Everyone  has been told by a parent that ‘Life is not fair.’ When you’re a business owner or manager, it’s annoying to remind you of a conversation you had with one or more parents, decades ago. But it’s important.

Changing an industry, or one slice of an industry is like getting an elephant to roll over.

If you are not one of the absolute business leaders in your segment of the wedding industry, then all the annoying unfairness applies to your business, too. You can complain about the referral food chain, commissions and kick backs, or uninformed brides. Doesn’t make a damn bit of difference.

Actually, you don’t have to change the whole industry, just your immediate wedding world. Make your business the absolute best it can be, build and renew rock solid relationships with more people in all walks of the wedding industry, tighten up and focus your marketing, and then stand back.

This should not be a news flash, but somehow, when you’re feeling overwhelmed, it is important to press the pause button, and look around. It’s not 10 or 20 years ago, it’s today. In the words of the great baseball player, Satchel Paige, “Don’t look back, something might be gaining on you.”

Go get ‘em!!

Andy Ebon
The Wedding Marketing Blog

written by Andy Ebon

I first met Sam Day (Wedding Painter) online. He contacted me through LinkedIn to be a part of my Wedding Marketing Network on LinkedIn. He became part of that group and I took a look at his website.

Sam has an unusual skill. The ability to pain a wedding reception, live, in oil. It inspired me to write a post about him on September 29th. The last line of my post proved prophetic: “When someone asks you for something ‘new, cool or different’ for their reception, send them to Sam. There’s photography, videography, and then there’s Sam Day. He may be based in Seattle, but I’m sure you can fly him wherever the big event may be taking place.”

Fast forward: A couple of weeks ago, my friend and wedding consultant, Juliet Douglas (Green Orchid Events) had a last minute client request for an unusual service for a wedding at Reflection Bay, Lake Las Vegas. She needed someone to paint a wedding, live, so she posted a request for a referral onto Facebook. Within minutes, one person made a suggestion. Within the first ten minutes, I chimed, emphatically recommending Sam. I sent Juliet and Sam an email, introducing them to each other. A few days later Juliet let me know that the client had hired Sam. The event was last Saturday and I spoke to Juliet last night at a Las Vegas NACE meeting. I asked her how it went, and she gave me two thumbs up.

Two thumbs up, not only because his artistry was great, but because for the first time, ever, Sam painted both a wedding and reception.

I spoke with Sam, prior to the event, and unfortunately, our schedules didn’t match up to meet face-to-face. Nevertheless, I was excited about having made a qualified referral of a great talent to an excellent local wedding consultant, all made possible by Online Social Media.

All too often, people ask about the specific ROI (Return On Investment) from Online Social Media. I prefer to talk about is impact. I assert that when one has a quality online presence, with clear goals and strategy, connections and referrals occur, and the cash register rings.

Here are samples of Sam’s brilliant work on Saturday, June 6, 2009.

Andy Ebon
The Wedding Marketing Authority

written by Andy Ebon \\ tags: Andy Ebon, Green Orchid Events, Juliet Douglas, Sam Day, Wedding Marketing Authority, wedding painter