Since you should be rested after the Memorial Day weekend, I hate to scare you, but next week is June 2009. Last November, I posted an item about working on your 2009 Wedding Marketing Plan.

Before you know it, July 1st will be staring you in the face, so I thought it might be wise to consider revisiting your marketing plan to update it. Whether or not you conceived a written plan is academic, at this point. The important reality is take stock of what wedding marketing you have actually done, what it cost it, and what the result/ROI has been.

Then, it’s time to make adjustments, large and small, and head into the second half of 2009 with confidence and a plan.

There are certainly more questions to ask your self, but this is a good start.

Have a nice week!

Andy Ebon
The Wedding Marketing Authority

written by Andy Ebon \\ tags: Andy Ebon, association meetings, bridal shows, contact database, log, Relationship Marketing, website updates, Wedding Marketing Authority, wedding marketing plan

Fresh from a trip addressing the Reno-Tahoe Chapter of NACE, Andy Ebon heads North again to speak to Association for Wedding Professionals International.

The AFWPI 1-day conference will feature a host of seminars and breakouts on Tuesday, June 2nd at the Sunrise Event Center in Rancho Cordova. Andy will be giving a blogging seminar, Blogging Your To Business Success. He also is giving the conference keynote address: Marketing and Selling to the 21st Century Bride.

An AFWPI mixer follows the conference sessions.

Both members and non-members are welcome to attend the AFWPI Regional conference. Visit their site for details.

written by Andy Ebon \\ tags: AFWPI, associations, blog, blogging, bride, California, keynote, marketing, NACE, selling, seminar, wedding, weddings

You are being judged constantly by others. We all know this, intrinsically, but sometimes one forgets about it. Maybe it’s because we become too comfortable among people we know.

Specifically, I’m referring to the impressions we give to our peers, both at wedding events and networking meetings. Often, peers, who are in a position to direct business to you, never see you in action. Their impression of you is formed at association and networking meetings, when you are in your role as owner or company sales representative.

Don't over do it!

Whether  you RSVP, in a timely manner, counts. Whether you’re dressed appropriately for the situation, also counts. 

People also listen to conversations, from a short distance. They hear what you say, who you talk about, and whether you are a relationship-builder or a self-promoter.

You can do all of that correctly, and wreck everything in one sweep by drinking to excess. An association meeting puts you among friends and peers, and there may be a tendency to let your hair down. A wise person resists that temptation.

Have a cocktail or two, or a cocktail and then wine with dinner. Then, knock it off. Slurring your words and playing the fool isn’t pretty.

Over time, I’ve seen this scenario, time and again. Recently, I witnessed someone I know for almost a decade, play the fool at an association dinner meeting. The individual was loud, obnoxious, inappropriate, and interrupted the speaker multiple times. Sadly, that person is a member of the organization’s Board of Directors. 

The behavior was embarrassing to fellow board members, other attending members, and guests. Yes, the guests. This was their first impression of a fine organization, and their judgement of the event was tainted by a drunken board member.

I’m guessing the Board of Directors will take up the behavior, and, if they have a spine, ask for a resignation. Just as important, the likelihood of getting referrals after such conduct becomes very dicey. If you see such abhorrent manners, first hand, how could you trust that person at a client event.

Let me be clear. I’m not so conservative as to suggest abstinence from alcohol. Simply know your limits.

Every business meeting is a wedding marketing situation. Potentially, it can also be business suicide, if you put yourself in that position. 

As a friend, if you see a colleague headed off the cliff, do them a favor. Walk them from the event and send them home in a cab, before they do real damage. They’ll thank you for it.

If the offending person is you, and someone makes an effort to tone you down to keep  you out of trouble, take their lead. If you’re too far gone to accept their cue, then it’s too late. You may have already committed business suicide.

Andy Ebon
The Wedding Marketing Authority

written by Andy Ebon \\ tags: Andy Ebon, association meetings, behavior, business meetings, drunken fool, image, intoxication, perception, wedding marketing, Wedding Marketing Authority