Do you have any Grey Poupon?

As I was reading every possible book and resource on blogging, I came across the great title: No One Cares What You Had For Your Lunch: 100 Ideas for your blog It turned out to be one of the most important marketing lessons, about blogging, micro-blogging (Twitter), social networking (Facebook), and business networking (LinkedIn).

The essence is this: In all forms of advertising, marketing, social media, and networking you are vying for people’s attention within brief and/or limited time constraints. It is important that your words and images be pithy, crisp, motivational, interesting, and memorable. To ramble or post about topics that don’t pass the ‘Who cares?’ test is not just a waste of a reader’s time, it increases the likelihood that they will tune you out in the future.

So what is Ham Sandwich Marketing? It is my buzzword phrase, inspired by the aforementioned book. It is my notation of meaningless posts and status updates that are meaningless to virtually everybody but the person who initiated them.

Example: “Just had lunch at Wolfgang Puck with Susie, Johnny, and Big Al.”

My response (by Direct Tweet or Public Facebook Wall Post): “Did you have a ham sandwich?”

Wolfgang Puck

It’s my not-so-subtle sarcastic way of nudging the poster or blogger with the subtext: “I read your item. Am I supposed to know who Susie, Johnny and Al are? Am I supposed be impressed that you lunched at Wolfgang Puck. Why don’t just tell me you had a ham sandwich. That would be equally unimpressive and unnecessary?”

If you’re lunch was incredible, take a picture of the ham sandwich. post about the incredible Dijon mustard, the soft fresh-baked roll, and what variety of ham was involved. That has the possibility of being entertaining. Otherwise, you’re just engaging in Ham Sandwich Marketing.

In today’s fast and furious world of communications, being boring is a big crime. Being irrelevant is a felony offense.

Don’t waste people’s time. Be interesting or be gone.

Andy Ebon
The Wedding Marketing

written by Andy Ebon \\ tags: advertising, Andy Ebon, blogging, Facebook, Ham Sandwich marketing, limited attention, LinkedIn, marketing, post, social networking, Twitter, Wedding Marketing Authority

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

It’s off to to beautiful Northern Nevada for a day-night double-header on Wednesday, May 20th.

I will be presenting a blogging seminar Wednesday afternoon at 3 pm, and then a dinner presentation (Marketing & Selling to the 21st Century Bride), both hosted by the Reno-Tahoe Chapter of NACE.

If you’re in the area, I hope you’ll join us. If you know someone in the area, please pass this on.

Andy Ebon
The Wedding Marketing Blog

written by Andy Ebon \\ tags: blogging, bride, marketing, NACE, Northern Nevada, presentation, Reno, selling, seminar, Tahoe, weddding marketing blogger, Wedding Marketing Authority