Inspired by This Blog » Branding

PR Tips 101: Making a Shift in Your Wedding Business

Leila — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 17:11:55 +0000

On June 28, 2011 I have been asked to speak in Sydney, Australia to teach how to enhance marketing efforts to vendors, media and brides. We’ve received an overwhelming response and the Aussie market has taught me already how much you have to be open to change in order to evolve and achieve success! Just because you have been doing this for 5 or 15 years doesn’t mean you don’t need a new website or a new way to network yourselves. You need to be Open to change. We all need to stay relevant now a days. What are you doing to accomplish that? Get out of your home office or studio and talk to people, see who you can help and co-promote with. How are you presenting yourselves to potential clients and people you may work with?

I’ve come across many self proclaimed experts/vendors who admittedly will tell me they don’t need help or change they just need press. I think to myself- really? People come to me all the time wanting a “PR person” to help them. BUT in fact that is the last thing they need. They need to be honest with themselves that their website and their branding materials are not up to par. Often times I have to tell my new inquires that they don’t need me to help them with press but they need to get a new look. Some people don’t like hearing that- guess what? you cant be the best, work with the best and be recognized as the best if you keep the attitude that you don’t need change. I see it everyday in this business. How are we going to better ourselves as an industry if we keep that attitude and aren’t open?

I am especially inspired by people who come to me and they know their craft and know even more that they need help marketing it. These are the people I am humbled by and LOVE to work with. I truly believe in transitions and evolving so much that I hire the best to help me too. We all need the catalyst to be our best selves. This is the time to make a shift and be the best you! I know many of my past coaching clients are out there and are reading this- let our readers know how you have been affected by encouragement and change. Get moving on your change today and remember you can’t always do it yourself. Find a professional who can help you make the shift you need and take your business to the next level! We all need the encouragement and the right mentor to assist us in getting there.

Photo by Elizabeth Messina

PR Tips 101: Use the Media to enhance your brand

Leila — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:08:12 +0000

You have worked so hard on getting all of your ducks in a row (logo, brand, website, marketing materials) now it is time to utilize the media to really bring all of your goals to fruition. Having press placement will automatically increase the perceived value of your business. This doesn’t mean that you have to spend thousands of dollars to advertise in every bridal magazine to be seen as valuable. Marketing your accomplishments by getting placement in print, tv, and online in all the places that are a best fit for you will enhance the overall image.

You might now be wondering how to even go about such a thing, here is a great tip: First and foremost all elements of your wedding business foundation must be synonymous with your brand message if you want the media to take you seriously. Once you are certain that it is, submit your work to get placed and leverage this placement by associating your brand with respected media outlets i.e.the Knot, Inside Weddings, Brides, Martha Stewart, Wedding Bee etc…

Photo by Elizabeth Messina

PR tips: Wedding PR 101 | Brand Yourself

Leila — Wed, 27 May 2009 16:05:21 +0000

Thanks so much for the overwhelming amount of comment love and Twitter shout outs! I SO appreciate you taking the time to check out my new blog and for supporting me! Here we go for day 2 of my first week of blogging!

Several months ago I wrote a Twitter series on Wedding PR 101. My thinking was that if you all saw the nuggets of valuable information in the 140 character limit on Twitter, chances are you’d appreciate an elaboration of these tips! So without further hesitation… here is my first set of insights into making a name for yourself in our business.

First, let’s assess three key components of the wedding industry- clients, vendors, and media. Now, take a moment to evaluate the way you are currently being perceived by each. How are you presenting yourself and services to them? If you aren’t polished and refined then this is the way you are being viewed. If you aren’t showcasing your expertise in an appealing manner, then chances are, you’re not going to be known as a pioneer in the industry. You will attract the type of client you have marketed for yourself. Think about what you have been charging or want to charge for your photography, planning, or product based services and does your brand support this? If you’ve identified that you are schlepping around telling the industry you don’t have it together, how do you fix it?

You need to focus on branding yourself! Don’t be silly and think this means a hot metal stamp on your hyde and don’t be overwhelmed and think this isn’t something you can’t do, because you can! What you need to do is simple: Define yourself by distinctive characteristics. Decide what your niche/specialty is and project it! Do you have a vintage flair or modern taste? Does your story continue beyond the logo and website to how you dress and how you interact with peers and vendors? What type of reputation do you hold in our business? Are you cute on the outside (marketing, logo, great pictures) but caddy, competitive, or hard to trust beyond all of that? I say: Standout! (but do so with integrity) Some of you may think- “I’ve got the branding thing down.” Really? Are you that sure that you don’t believe there is room for improvement? Let’s not partner Ego with your brand!

Fashion Icon (and fabulously branded) Coco Chanel said, “In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different.” This statement couldn’t better reflect what needs to be taken into consideration when defining your wedding business brand. Your services may be fantastic, but odds are, so are those of your competitors. You must establish what sets you apart, identify and promote what else you are bringing to the table; follow Coco and highlight what makes you unique. The way you go about this is the key to your success! See Coco here… So if you haven’t done so already, tear yourself away from whatever you are doing and realign your attention and focus on your brand. Competition is fierce, and you should always ask yourself; “How will I remain relevant?”

Bravo to the following vendors and bloggers who have the brand thing together! ( This is just a small sampling! There are many more I love… just wanted to highlight these today!)

Well Branded Wedding Industry Bloggers:

Kiss the Groom

100 layer cake

Well Branded Wedding Industry Vendors:

The Sweet and Saucy Shop

Ritzy Bee Events

Elysium Productions

Joy Thigpen Wedding Styling