Social Media

  • Social Media, Wedding Planning

    SEO Tips for Your Wedding Planning Business

    Search Engine Optimization (SEO) can come across as a little scary for first-timers in the website world… which is exactly the category most new wedding planners fall into.  All the technical terms and industry jargon can be confusing and intimidating. That’s why I want to share five simple steps you can take to improve your SEO.

    First things first

    Before we officially jump into the post, you may be thinking, “But what exactly is SEO and why does it matter?” My favorite definition is this:

    Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of optimizing a website so that it performs well in organic search. Ranking highly for search terms which are known as keywords increases the visibility of a website and leads to a higher number of visitors to the actual website. — Stellar SEO–

    More visits to your website means more potential clients, which is a very good thing.

    Write posts your potential clients are looking for

    Before writing blog posts for your website, you should take a moment to consider your target audience. What are your brides/grooms searching for? What problems can you solve for them? How can you inspire them? What do they want?

    If you’re not sure what your potential couples are looking for, ask them! It’s easier than ever to throw out a fun poll or survey for your followers on social media. Or, if you’re married, think back to your wedding planning process. What questions did you have? What would you have wanted to read?

    Use keywords in your post titles

    “Keywords” are simply the words people use to find your content via a search engine. As search engines are working their magic, post titles are one of the many places they look to see if your content is right for the potential reader. Having strong, clear, compelling post titles will help your content get noticed.

    Post regularly

    In addition to keeping your website visitors engaged, fresh content helps you rank higher in search engine results. [Google likes a freshly updated website.]

    The good news is that there are so many elements and facets to weddings that there is plenty of blog post inspiration out there!

    Title your photos

    Another good way to sneak keywords into your website is to title your photos with… you guessed it, keywords. If you did an outdoor wedding with beautiful  peony bouquets, rather than leaving the default title of “IMG_112,” on your image, you could title it with the type of flowers you used, the fact that it was outdoors, or you could include the name of the venue or the town it was in. That way couples searching for inspiration along those lines are more likely to find you.

    Utilize Links

    They say, “Google hates a dead end.” This short video briefly hits on why.

    It’s important to include the occasional link to high-quality, reputable websites other than yours. For example if you write a post about bridal showers, you could include a link to a specially curated Pinterest board you made on the topic, or a another website with great resources. You can (and should) occasionally link to your own helpful content that relates to your current post.

    Bonus Tips
    • Post photos to your Google business listing regularly
    • Update your social media regularly (search engines are increasingly indexing social content)
    • Tag your posts
    • If you use WordPress, install the Yoast SEO plugin– it’s designed to help optimize every post

     

  • Social Media

    How to Set Your Business Apart on Social Media

    Have you noticed it? Our collective social media feeds are becoming more and more similar. Brand messaging all sounds about the same these days. So, how does a small business owner set themselves apart from the competition?

    What do your customers really want?

    It’s easy to assume because there’s so much of the same content out there everywhere that it must be what people want… And in some cases, that may be true. But, have you ever asked your audience what they want? It’s a simple piece of advice, but it’s effective… and most people never do it!

    Poll your audience on social media. Ask them questions. Pay attention to their answers. Let what they say direct your content creation, rather than what you assume they want based on what  everyone else is doing.

    One of these things is not like the others…

    Anyone else watch Sesame Street as a kid? Remember that song that went, “One of these things is not like the others…” That’s what I want you to focus on.

    Here’s a little exercise. Make a list of what your competitors seem to focus on the most. Now, you may do 98% of the same things they do, but I want you to think about the 2% of things you do differently. What images and stories can you share about those things?

    Who are you?

    No, really, who are you? What’s your personality? If you’re a fun, energetic person, embrace it. If you’re laid back, introverted, or shy, embrace that too!

    You love the things you love, and you have the hopes/dreams/desires you have for a reason. Those things paint the picture of who you are. Don’t share pictures of things you hate just because they’re popular. Share things that are meaningful/purposeful/important to you and your business. By doing so, you’ll connect with your audience in a unique way that other businesses, brands, and influencers can’t.

    Create before you consume

    I have to give Jenna Kutcher full and complete credit for this one. She always says, “Create before you consume.” It’s probably the best piece of advice anyone can give on producing content that is authentic to you and your brand.

    When we see all the pretty things other people are putting out there, it’s easy to think, “I need to do that too!” But the problem is that person’s content is already out there. The world already has one of her… What the world needs is you. Your unique style/passion/vision/point of view.

    The remedy? Create, dream, write, brainstorm, etc. before you hop on social media for the day. That way you’re less likely to be influenced by everyone else’s feeds.

    Care

    This one may seem obvious, but you need to really care about your audience. People can tell when they’re just being sold to. But, if you constantly show your followers that you’re thinking about them and what’s in their best interest, it makes a difference. Your main focus should be, “How can I serve my audience” rather than, “How can I sell [insert product here]?”

    How do you show you care? Solve problems for your followers. Inspire them. Entertain them. Do your best to be a bright spot in their day.

    Be a storyteller

    Usually, the best marketers are the best storytellers. If you can pair your beautiful photo with a captivating story, your audience will be more likely to engage. And with the ever-changing algorithm landscape, one constant is the necessity for post engagement!

    So… what’s the story behind the photo? How do you connect with it? How would you like your audience to connect with it? Is there a special element you could talk about? A memory you could share?

    Action time!

    Inspiration without application usually falls flat. So, what’s one thing you’re going to do today to serve your audience or set yourself apart? Will you poll your audience? Will you brainstorm what makes you different from your competitors? Will you tell meaningful stories? Write it down somewhere and make it happen.

    Try something new that’s working for you? We’d love to hear your breakthrough– drop a comment below!

  • Social Media

    This Book Will Transform Your Social Strategy

    If there’s only room in your schedule to read one book on social media, “Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook” by Gary Vaynerchuk should be the one. Yes, it’s a few years old, but the concepts are solid. And, honestly, I can’t wait to share some highlights with you!

    GIVE, GIVE, GIVE

    For years, consumers have had marketing messages shoved down their throats at every turn. People have grown weary of it. I know I have. The beautiful thing about social media is that it allows companies/brands/influencers to build actual relationships with people.

    The thing about trust and relationships is that they have to be built over time. You have to give something of value (jab) before asking for anything in return (right hook). Actually, you should give, give, give, give, give, then ask. Serve your audience well. Entertain, inform, inspire before asking for the sale.

    TELL GREAT STORIES

    So… what makes a great story? I think this could be best summed up by a quote from the advertising great, Leo Burnett.

    Make it simple. Make it memorable. Make it inviting to look at. Make it fun to read.

    Gary expands on the concept by saying, “Be generous. Be informative. Be funny. Be inspiring. Be all the characteristics we enjoy in other human beings.” That last part is key. You’re a human, communicating with other humans. Be real. Don’t sound like a robot when you’re posting.

    CREATE NATIVE CONTENT

    Twitter is different from Instagram, which is different from Facebook, Pinterest, or Snapchat. The audience for each platform is distinct. Simply creating a post and throwing it up on all your channels isn’t going to be very effective. The imagery you use should feel like it belongs on that platform. And the language you use should be reflective of the audience on each platform.

    EFFORT IS THE GREAT EQUALIZER

    Other companies may have more employees and bigger budgets, but you can level the playing field with effort. As Gary says,

    You can’t be everywhere at once, but when the quality of your communication and community-building efforts is better than anyone else’s, it doesn’t really matter.

    You can show your audience you truly care. Be charming, funny, and personable. Think about who you’re trying to reach and give, give, give– then ask.