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The fine people at Hubspot specialize in optimization and testing of various kinds. Previously, on the site, I have recommended Website Grader, a free service that analyzes and helps you tweak your website.

More recently, Hubspot has introduced similar services to better understand your Facebook, Blogging and Twitter performance. As part of the Twitter Grader service. Without disclosing the exact scoring algorithms, Hubspot explains that your Twitter Grade is based on Followers, their ReTweets of your Tweets (forwarding to their followers), and various other levels of interaction and relevancy.

When I checked my Twitter Grade, it came up at 96.6, which seemed pretty high (out of 100). As The Wedding Marketing Blog is a niche business blog, comparing it to general consumer sites doesn’t typically play very well, as that is an Apples and Oranges situation.

Within the Twitter Grade service, there is Twitter Elite (Top 50). There are various subsets of Twitter Elite. Just for fun, I thought I’d see how I compared to the TOP 50 Twitterers in Las Vegas, NV. To my surprise and amazement, this site (and I) ranked #46, just a couple of slots below MGM Grand and the Tony – CEO of Zappo’s; just a couple of slots above the world famous Las Vegas Sign.

What does that mean to me?

It means this: In order to have influence, one must have an audience. In terms of my goals, it means have loyal readers on this blog. Twitter and Facebook, in particular, are part of my social media plan to direct focus toward The Wedding Marketing Blog.

None of that works unless the content on this blog is interesting and helpful to its readers. Clearly, the stars have aligned as June 2009 is this blog’s best month ever.

The challenge to you: What is it, you can do, to make your blog and website the thought leader in your industry, in your market?

Think about it, make a plan to leverage awareness of your brand, and go do it!!

Andy Ebon

The Wedding Marketing (and Twitter) Authority

written by Andy Ebon \\ tags: Facebook, Hubspot, MGM Grand, search engine optimization, SEO, Twitter, Twitter Elite, website grader, Wedding Marketing Authority, wedding marketing blog, Zappos

In the last few months, I’ve been super active on Twitter. I’m following about 2500 people/businesses, and there about 2800 following me.

Twitter profile graphic

In the real world, one cannot concisely follow 2500 people on Twitter; however, I make an effort to look at every single profile and company website, when someone chooses to follow me. That is where business identities either jump out at you, or don’t.

Are people and companies interesting/rare? Or do they just have a Bludomain website with a two or three big squares on the home page (Nice sites, but they are starting to look generic). Perhaps calling something nice is the ‘kiss of death.’

The first things that catch me on Twitter are business name and profile image. Good images for the small profile square are usually a good logo or an appropriately sized graphic. This graphic for Cupcake Rehab is a pullout from their logo.

The name of the business, Cupcake Rehab, gave me a belly laugh. The Twitter Bio was even better: “A 27- year old female and her tales of cookin’, bakin’ and beatin’ people with whisks in the York of New. With other stuff thrown in. Beware- I can tweet A LOT.”

Cupcake rehab logo: Designed by Mariloca.com

OK, now I was curious. This business owner, Marilla, clearly has a passion for what she’s doing. She has a big-time sense of humor and doesn’t take herself too seriously.

I click through to her website and find logo showing a Super Hero image of the Business Owner, armed with tools of her trade. Above her, the header reads: “Beating batter and people with whisks since 2007.”

One could over analyze the logo, but why? The designer, Mariloca.com, has captured the spirit of the owner and the business with full flourish.

The welcome page of her is too busy my standards, but it doesn’t matter much. One gets drawn in to her activities, interests, great photos and recipes on the blog. In this case, personality trumps everything.

I suggest you do a couple of things. Visit CupcakeRehab.com, spend some time reading the blog and poking around, generally. Then visit the CupcakeRehab Twitter page. Follow, if you dare. Remember, she Tweets a lot.

Closing Comment: Even from 2500 miles away, for me, this business has more than an identity. It has SOUL. It communicates its excitement, its product, and its vibe.

Can you say that about your business and you? If not, what are you going to do about it?

Andy Ebon
The Wedding Marketing Authority

written by Andy Ebon \\ tags: Andy Ebon, Bludomain website, business identity, Cupcake Rehab, logo, soul, tweet, Twitter, wedding marketing, Wedding Marketing Authority

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