{"id":276287,"date":"2015-08-31T09:01:30","date_gmt":"2015-08-30T23:01:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/au\/pro-education\/get-free-publicity-wedding-business\/"},"modified":"2015-08-31T09:01:30","modified_gmt":"2015-08-30T23:01:30","slug":"get-free-publicity-wedding-business","status":"publish","type":"au-pro-education","link":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/pro-education\/get-free-publicity-wedding-business\/","title":{"rendered":"Eight ways to get free publicity for your wedding business"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Securing\u00a0publicity for your wedding business is all about “getting ink<\/a>” – and no, we’re not talking about wedding tattoos<\/a>. We’re referring to unpaid appearances\u00a0in print media such as\u00a0newspapers and magazines, and more recently digital\u00a0platforms like social media and blogs.<\/p>\n

Publicity\u00a0tells a compelling human interest\u00a0story, announces a product release, delivers a client case study and\u00a0other timely, relevant and\/or entertaining news that shines a favourable light on your business.\u00a0It’s the resourceful alternative to advertising\u00a0and can yield some positive media\u00a0attention\u00a0using\u00a0these strategies\u00a0for getting free publicity for your brand…without even\u00a0writing a press release<\/a>!<\/p>\n

1. Offer educational courses<\/h2>\n

Local libraries run year-round events offering courses\u00a0ranging from\u00a0photography and card making\u00a0to gardening and vintage fashion. If you have skills or expertise you can\u00a0share with the community, local libraries will promote your course (and brand!) across their social media, newsletters and website in an attempt to fill the course, costing you nothing but an hour or two of your time. You might not book out\u00a0with brides, but you never know whose daughter, sister, aunt or cousin might be recently engaged and in the market\u00a0for an experienced wedding florist or couture designer… “Oh, I met this lady last week at the library – you’ll love her!”<\/p>\n

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2.\u00a0Take advantage of ‘owned media’<\/h2>\n

Owned media refers to any media\u00a0property created by your\u00a0business, giving you complete control over the messages distributed, including your website<\/a>, landing pages<\/a>, blog, newsletters, social media and any lead magnets used for list building activities<\/a>, like\u00a0look-books, eBooks, infographics and reports.<\/p>\n

Social media is another form of owned media, which despite declines in organic reach, can still generate free publicity, provided your posts\u00a0deliver\u00a0high quality content<\/a>. For attracting the attention of local journalists,\u00a0blog regularly\u00a0about\u00a0timely, controversial, seasonal or entertaining wedding topics\u00a0using the\u00a0keywords<\/a> and phrases in headings that you would search if you were looking for that topic. Remember to\u00a0hashtag effectively<\/a> to increase social reach.<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0Host an online talk show<\/h2>\n

Becoming an expert on your wedding product or service makes you a\u00a0go-to resource for prospective clients and journalists alike, and starting your own podcast is an excellent way to build your profile.\u00a0As Digital Trends<\/a> points out, “anyone with a little ambition and elbow grease can make a terrific podcast. Though creating a regular talk show is hard work, it\u2019s also part of the appeal, relishing in a collaborative nature and DIY spirit that\u2019s as admirable as it is daunting to undertake<\/em>.” Reach our to suppliers and clients to join your podcast series and offer to return the favour where possible, through blogs or social media mentions.<\/p>\n

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4.\u00a0Become a source<\/h2>\n

SourceBottle<\/a> is a free service\u00a0for business owners seeking publicity opportunities relevant to their business or area of expertise. Check out the Lifestyle & Fashion<\/a> category for wedding related callouts, or even post your own advertisement seeking influential wedding bloggers for product or service reviews you can use in your content marketing<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Source: SourceBottle<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

5. Talk to us!<\/h2>\n

There are so many avenues for publicity available to our clients, including Facebook shout outs, Real Weddings, news stories and video testimonials, so be sure to submit your gorgeous pictures and fabulous stories to our Content Manager<\/a>!<\/p>\n

6.\u00a0Blow your own trumpet<\/h2>\n

Entry into business awards such as the\u00a0Telstra\u00a0Australian Business Awards<\/a>\u00a0can enhance brand credibility\u00a0and generate free publicity for your business\u00a0through local and national media coverage arranged\u00a0courtesy of award organisers. And as a bonus, by adding an award badge to your homepage\u00a0header you could potentially\u00a0increase conversion by up to a whopping\u00a072.05%<\/a>!<\/p>\n

7. Explore\u00a0joint ventures<\/h2>\n

Teaming up with your charity of choice to donate\u00a0your time to\u00a0a car wash fundraiser, distribution drive or even office support\u00a0are great ways to give back to the community in a mutually beneficial relationship that both your business and your partnered charity can promote across your owned media through newsletters, blogs and social media promotion.<\/p>\n

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8. Create\u00a0uniqueness<\/h2>\n

Journalists LOVE\u00a0to report on superlatives; the cheapest, the fastest, the tallest, the longest, the greenest… the UNIQUEST. If you can’t beat a world record for the largest dog wedding ceremony<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0the most expensive wedding dress<\/a>, and your kitchen’s not big enough to make a\u00a0million dollar wedding\u00a0cake, strive\u00a0for something slightly less ambitious but no less\u00a0interesting to local media. Figure out what your business can offer that no other business in town is willing to do and you’ve got yourself uniqueness; one of the most powerful weapons in the publicity game.<\/p>\n