1 00:00:00,150 --> 00:00:03,090 Meghan: There are gonna be listeners of yours who hear this and say, 2 00:00:03,090 --> 00:00:06,040 you know, this sounds like this is gonna be great, da da da da 3 00:00:06,040 --> 00:00:07,680 da, and they just wanna go for it. 4 00:00:09,780 --> 00:00:12,150 Becca: I'm Becca Pountney, wedding business marketing expert, 5 00:00:12,150 --> 00:00:14,565 speaker and blogger, and you are listening to the Wedding Pros 6 00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:16,440 who are ready to grow podcasts. 7 00:00:17,310 --> 00:00:20,670 I'm here to share with you actionable tips, strategies, and real life 8 00:00:20,670 --> 00:00:23,685 examples to help you take your wedding business to the next level. 9 00:00:24,255 --> 00:00:28,005 If you are an ambitious wedding business owner that wants to take your passion 10 00:00:28,005 --> 00:00:31,395 and use it to build a profitable, sustainable business doing what you 11 00:00:31,395 --> 00:00:33,045 love, then you're in the right place. 12 00:00:33,435 --> 00:00:35,265 Let's get going with today's episode. 13 00:00:36,420 --> 00:00:40,680 Today I'm chatting with Megan Ely, founder of Ofd Consulting, a PR and 14 00:00:40,680 --> 00:00:44,100 marketing firm that works exclusively with the wedding industry, using 15 00:00:44,100 --> 00:00:45,960 her own experience working weddings. 16 00:00:46,110 --> 00:00:49,050 She's passionate about getting her clients in front of new audiences 17 00:00:49,050 --> 00:00:50,850 through PR and marketing strategies. 18 00:00:51,300 --> 00:00:54,120 I first came across Megan on Clubhouse back when that was 19 00:00:54,125 --> 00:00:57,090 a thing, and I'm thrilled to welcome her to the podcast today. 20 00:00:57,120 --> 00:00:58,590 Megan, it's great to have you. 21 00:00:59,385 --> 00:01:01,425 Meghan: Oh, thank you so much for having me. 22 00:01:01,425 --> 00:01:03,885 And do you remember when Clubhouse was a thing? 23 00:01:03,885 --> 00:01:05,385 I remember those days. 24 00:01:05,385 --> 00:01:06,855 So I love that you brought that up. 25 00:01:07,455 --> 00:01:11,295 . Becca: I loved Clubhouse even though it was only a small moment of time, 26 00:01:11,385 --> 00:01:14,235 I made so many connections and got to know people all around the 27 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:15,615 world that I'm really thankful for. 28 00:01:15,705 --> 00:01:16,515 Meghan: Absolutely. 29 00:01:16,605 --> 00:01:17,895 Well, it's great to have you here. 30 00:01:17,895 --> 00:01:21,375 Why don't you start by telling people where you are based and what. 31 00:01:22,070 --> 00:01:22,699 Absolutely. 32 00:01:22,699 --> 00:01:24,229 So I'm based in the us. 33 00:01:24,229 --> 00:01:27,949 I'm on the East Coast in Virginia, specifically Richmond, Virginia. 34 00:01:27,949 --> 00:01:31,369 But you know, we really work with people all over domestically here in the 35 00:01:31,369 --> 00:01:34,580 States, as well as abroad as well here. 36 00:01:34,610 --> 00:01:38,720 And so working with Wedding Pros and have been doing that for about 14 years. 37 00:01:38,725 --> 00:01:39,259 Becca: Incredible. 38 00:01:39,350 --> 00:01:40,340 Have you ever been to the uk? 39 00:01:41,310 --> 00:01:41,820 Meghan: Oh yes. 40 00:01:41,820 --> 00:01:43,200 I was there a few weeks ago. 41 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:47,730 I was there for an event and I made a long weekend out of it and just 42 00:01:47,730 --> 00:01:49,980 had a spectacular time and plan on. 43 00:01:49,985 --> 00:01:53,730 I was, I mean, at that point I was in London for the most part, ready to send 44 00:01:53,730 --> 00:01:55,740 for my family to come over with me. 45 00:01:55,740 --> 00:01:59,970 And so it was a spectacular time and looking forward to doing that again soon. 46 00:02:00,510 --> 00:02:01,080 Becca: Incredible. 47 00:02:01,080 --> 00:02:04,350 Well, if you come back to England, as I always say to my guests, make sure 48 00:02:04,350 --> 00:02:05,610 you let me know and we can go for a. 49 00:02:06,375 --> 00:02:07,545 Meghan: Yes, I would love that 50 00:02:08,264 --> 00:02:09,945 . Becca: We can have a lovely drink in London. 51 00:02:10,005 --> 00:02:13,785 Okay, so I explained in the intro a little bit about what you do, but I 52 00:02:13,785 --> 00:02:16,785 know for some of the listeners, they won't really understand what that means. 53 00:02:16,785 --> 00:02:21,375 So can you explain in really simple language what on earth PR and 54 00:02:21,375 --> 00:02:24,735 marketing is for the wedding industry and why they should be interested? 55 00:02:25,394 --> 00:02:26,174 Meghan: Absolutely. 56 00:02:26,174 --> 00:02:29,864 You know, it took me a long time to, funny enough, being a communicator to be able 57 00:02:29,864 --> 00:02:34,364 to communicate what I do, and I finally landed on you and I both, we talked 58 00:02:34,364 --> 00:02:38,054 offline that we have children of the same age, and so you'll appreciate this. 59 00:02:38,325 --> 00:02:41,894 I was, during my son's kindergarten year, I went to career day and I had 60 00:02:41,894 --> 00:02:46,695 to explain what I do and I blurted out, well, you know, we work with wedding pros. 61 00:02:46,695 --> 00:02:47,265 They got that. 62 00:02:47,265 --> 00:02:49,484 And I said, we see the best in people and we. 63 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:51,650 Everybody else knows about it. 64 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:54,629 And I was like, oh, I landed on something. 65 00:02:54,629 --> 00:02:56,879 I'm gonna explain it like that for the rest of my life. 66 00:02:57,149 --> 00:02:59,790 But essentially we work with people to get them published. 67 00:02:59,790 --> 00:03:02,279 We take the best parts of what they're doing in their brand. 68 00:03:02,279 --> 00:03:05,129 That could be their beautiful work, that could be their expertise, that 69 00:03:05,129 --> 00:03:07,890 could be their ability to have these great conversations with podcasts. 70 00:03:08,429 --> 00:03:09,839 And we're the ones who spread the word. 71 00:03:09,839 --> 00:03:13,140 We're the one, you know, holding the megaphone for them to get the word out. 72 00:03:13,140 --> 00:03:16,499 And so, you know, that manifests in a few different ways. 73 00:03:16,499 --> 00:03:20,670 It could be from having gorgeous events that we take and we submit to 74 00:03:20,670 --> 00:03:22,890 blogs and publications that could be. 75 00:03:23,739 --> 00:03:26,709 You know, they'd be fantastic on a podcast and we'll go ahead and, you 76 00:03:26,709 --> 00:03:29,799 know, review the podcast and then pitch some ideas on behalf of the client. 77 00:03:30,010 --> 00:03:32,140 That could also mean working with journalists who say, 78 00:03:32,350 --> 00:03:33,640 what are the next trends? 79 00:03:33,644 --> 00:03:36,970 What, you know, how are people saving money right now, so and so 80 00:03:36,975 --> 00:03:40,390 forth, and bringing my clients in to be able to provide that sort 81 00:03:40,394 --> 00:03:42,250 of guidance and so that, that's. 82 00:03:42,304 --> 00:03:46,174 Pretty much what we do, and we find that the people who benefit from 83 00:03:46,174 --> 00:03:47,644 that, there's a few different folks. 84 00:03:47,644 --> 00:03:51,844 It could be those who, you know, frankly, they're at nearly the top of their game, 85 00:03:51,849 --> 00:03:55,954 but they find themselves competing with people not on price, but maybe expertise. 86 00:03:55,954 --> 00:03:59,885 Like what are those extra things that discerning couples are looking for? 87 00:04:00,064 --> 00:04:03,575 But it's also from, if I can be a geek for a second, it would be 88 00:04:03,754 --> 00:04:05,644 from the SEO standpoint as well. 89 00:04:05,644 --> 00:04:07,265 I want links back to my site. 90 00:04:07,265 --> 00:04:07,624 I want. 91 00:04:08,204 --> 00:04:11,385 Websites linking back to me, and I know there's a lot of power with that. 92 00:04:11,475 --> 00:04:14,594 And I think overall, just people who, you know, statistically, it 93 00:04:14,594 --> 00:04:20,534 shows that couples all over the world will in part, find their wedding pro 94 00:04:20,534 --> 00:04:22,755 team through real wedding features. 95 00:04:22,784 --> 00:04:25,215 And that's gonna be more the your audience. 96 00:04:25,365 --> 00:04:28,805 Who are the photographers, venues, designers, planners. 97 00:04:29,349 --> 00:04:33,009 They will particularly benefit from having their events out and about. 98 00:04:33,099 --> 00:04:33,640 That's a really 99 00:04:33,645 --> 00:04:34,659 helpful explanation. 100 00:04:34,659 --> 00:04:38,739 I love that you decided on your explanation based on talking to children. 101 00:04:38,739 --> 00:04:39,909 That is such a good tip. 102 00:04:40,090 --> 00:04:43,179 Well, it just finally helped because how many times have I explained 103 00:04:43,179 --> 00:04:47,259 this and I'll take five minutes and then someone at the end will say, 104 00:04:47,349 --> 00:04:49,030 so you're a wedding planner, right? 105 00:04:49,030 --> 00:04:49,879 And I'm like, I. 106 00:04:50,205 --> 00:04:52,034 What did I just do with these last five minutes? 107 00:04:52,034 --> 00:04:53,414 What did I, where did I go wrong? 108 00:04:53,414 --> 00:04:56,775 And so that really, inspired that definition 109 00:04:57,465 --> 00:05:00,224 . Becca: So for anyone listening, if you can't explain to your kids or 110 00:05:00,224 --> 00:05:03,434 kids that you know what you do, then you need to go back and simplify it. 111 00:05:03,434 --> 00:05:07,125 If you ask my kids what I do, which is hilarious, they always say, mommy 112 00:05:07,130 --> 00:05:10,784 just spends all her time making videos to help wedding businesses be better 113 00:05:11,684 --> 00:05:13,875 Meghan: I think that's a wonderful definition. 114 00:05:13,875 --> 00:05:14,655 I think that's great. 115 00:05:14,655 --> 00:05:15,825 Maybe I should hire. 116 00:05:16,265 --> 00:05:19,775 Them to go ahead and work on some sort of taglines for me. 117 00:05:20,674 --> 00:05:20,885 . Becca: Yeah. 118 00:05:20,885 --> 00:05:23,104 I think a six and a nine year old could come up with some 119 00:05:23,104 --> 00:05:24,094 really good business taglines. 120 00:05:24,094 --> 00:05:24,364 Absolutely. 121 00:05:24,364 --> 00:05:25,715 They say it as it is, right? 122 00:05:26,044 --> 00:05:26,734 Meghan: Yeah, they do. 123 00:05:27,905 --> 00:05:28,205 . Becca: Love that. 124 00:05:28,234 --> 00:05:31,325 Okay, so my wedding pros, I know they're super busy and they 125 00:05:31,325 --> 00:05:33,484 are so heads down in weddings. 126 00:05:33,489 --> 00:05:33,575 Yes. 127 00:05:33,784 --> 00:05:37,594 So why should PR matter to them and what kind of return are they gonna see from. 128 00:05:38,384 --> 00:05:41,174 Meghan: That's a great, and that's kind of a difficult question to 129 00:05:41,174 --> 00:05:42,734 be, you know, honest with that. 130 00:05:42,734 --> 00:05:45,164 So why, let's start with why it matters to them. 131 00:05:45,164 --> 00:05:49,335 So again, it goes back to some of the statistics that say is splinted insights 132 00:05:49,335 --> 00:05:54,734 in particular that couples will impart find their wedding pro team through 133 00:05:54,765 --> 00:05:58,734 real wedding features, but also through Google rankings, also through referrals. 134 00:05:58,874 --> 00:06:00,825 So peer helps tie that all together. 135 00:06:00,825 --> 00:06:03,405 It provides the features the couples are looking at. 136 00:06:03,765 --> 00:06:08,180 It provides the backlinks for SEO to help you in part get to the top 137 00:06:08,180 --> 00:06:12,020 of Google, but it also keeps your, your fellow wedding pros happy. 138 00:06:12,020 --> 00:06:15,140 I have wedding photographers in particular who work for work with me, 139 00:06:15,170 --> 00:06:18,620 right, to get their weddings featured and their big thing is I wanna keep 140 00:06:18,620 --> 00:06:21,890 the planners happy, I wanna keep the venues happy for the referrals. 141 00:06:21,890 --> 00:06:25,190 So it all goes back to kind of, you know, the lead generation 142 00:06:25,219 --> 00:06:26,390 for the couples as well. 143 00:06:26,390 --> 00:06:27,440 So that's part of it. 144 00:06:27,740 --> 00:06:29,000 There's also some who. 145 00:06:29,180 --> 00:06:31,460 Are ready to explore and diversify. 146 00:06:31,465 --> 00:06:33,950 Maybe they've done weddings 10, 15, 20 years. 147 00:06:34,130 --> 00:06:36,680 There's, you and I both agreed there's a physicality to it. 148 00:06:36,860 --> 00:06:38,690 There's gonna be a point where they maybe don't wanna spend 149 00:06:38,690 --> 00:06:39,890 every weekend doing events. 150 00:06:39,890 --> 00:06:44,750 And so how can I diversify, be seen as an expert and go out there 151 00:06:44,750 --> 00:06:47,990 and make money different ways in an industry that I love so much? 152 00:06:47,990 --> 00:06:52,190 So that's, I've seen that, you know, I've seen that journey for people as well. 153 00:06:52,190 --> 00:06:55,520 And it's been very satisfying to see people go in, go in that direction. 154 00:06:55,580 --> 00:06:56,690 And then when you talk about. 155 00:06:57,585 --> 00:07:02,685 Boy, is that hard because I always say public relations is not a vending machine. 156 00:07:02,865 --> 00:07:06,285 You don't put in a quote from the New York Times and suddenly 157 00:07:06,285 --> 00:07:09,045 you get 800 new leads coming in. 158 00:07:09,075 --> 00:07:11,865 I, and maybe that makes me a bad salesman, but that makes me very 159 00:07:11,865 --> 00:07:14,925 honest about what PR can do for you. 160 00:07:15,165 --> 00:07:19,455 So instead, what it does is, when I find it comes to roi, it's how much 161 00:07:19,455 --> 00:07:21,195 traffic does it send back to your site? 162 00:07:21,435 --> 00:07:22,844 How much traffic does it send? 163 00:07:23,299 --> 00:07:26,689 Your social media profiles, you know, if you get featured in Martha Stewart 164 00:07:26,689 --> 00:07:30,710 Brides, all these places, you know, if they go ahead and feature it as 165 00:07:30,710 --> 00:07:33,319 well, like how much traffic is that sending and then what do you do with 166 00:07:33,319 --> 00:07:35,030 that traffic once it gets there, right? 167 00:07:35,179 --> 00:07:38,539 Like we can lead PR will lead people to your website. 168 00:07:38,539 --> 00:07:41,359 It will lead people to your social media, but then the ROI 169 00:07:41,389 --> 00:07:45,379 really does rest in the ability to convert that into business as well. 170 00:07:45,609 --> 00:07:49,705 I would also say from an ROI standpoint, For those looking on the SEO side, what's 171 00:07:49,705 --> 00:07:51,715 the value of the links coming in as well? 172 00:07:51,715 --> 00:07:53,245 So it really just depends. 173 00:07:53,245 --> 00:07:56,785 I mean, anyone who comes in the door, we have a whole guide on ROI for pr, and we 174 00:07:56,785 --> 00:08:01,105 tell them, please ask every single human being who comes in through your door. 175 00:08:01,345 --> 00:08:02,545 How did you hear about you? 176 00:08:02,695 --> 00:08:05,395 Please make sure you have analytics on the back end of your site. 177 00:08:05,575 --> 00:08:07,945 So if you get featured on a beautiful blog, you can see 178 00:08:07,945 --> 00:08:09,175 how much traffic it sends you. 179 00:08:09,175 --> 00:08:11,094 But I don't know if that helps a little bit. 180 00:08:11,094 --> 00:08:13,284 It's always a very, it's a great question to ask. 181 00:08:13,284 --> 00:08:14,905 It's complicated to answer. 182 00:08:15,055 --> 00:08:17,155 Becca: Oh, I think it's really important to be honest about it. 183 00:08:17,155 --> 00:08:20,094 And presumably as well it builds a trust factor 184 00:08:20,125 --> 00:08:20,935 for clients. 185 00:08:20,940 --> 00:08:22,015 Meghan: Yes, absolutely. 186 00:08:22,495 --> 00:08:23,695 We call it social proof. 187 00:08:23,695 --> 00:08:27,565 So the idea of, you know, someone comes to your site and let's say 188 00:08:27,565 --> 00:08:32,549 they are comparing one planner to another planner, and they look at the 189 00:08:32,549 --> 00:08:34,079 two and you know, its very similar. 190 00:08:34,289 --> 00:08:38,549 Great look, great portfolio testimonials, but then one has that 191 00:08:38,549 --> 00:08:42,390 coveted as seen in, and then you put all these different media outlets. 192 00:08:42,395 --> 00:08:47,460 Suddenly this person has this discerning quality of I'm an expert. 193 00:08:47,880 --> 00:08:49,200 The media trusts me. 194 00:08:49,410 --> 00:08:51,480 I'm sort of guiding light in the industry to help. 195 00:08:52,244 --> 00:08:57,224 Crises and of course pandemic and economic problems and things like that. 196 00:08:57,405 --> 00:08:59,744 There is something to that social proof. 197 00:08:59,744 --> 00:09:03,224 I always say, and I have borrowed this quote, I wanna say first and 198 00:09:03,224 --> 00:09:08,145 foremost that PR is when someone else says that you're great. 199 00:09:08,385 --> 00:09:12,825 Advertising is, when I say I'm great, PR is when somebody else says I'm great. 200 00:09:13,125 --> 00:09:16,484 And this generation coming in, they're all about reviews. 201 00:09:16,545 --> 00:09:18,795 They're all about third party credibility. 202 00:09:18,800 --> 00:09:20,655 You can't buy anything on Amazon. 203 00:09:21,010 --> 00:09:25,519 Without, and you could buy a straw on Amazon and there's 800 reviews 204 00:09:25,519 --> 00:09:28,609 about it, and that's the generation that we're, we're selling to. 205 00:09:29,029 --> 00:09:30,529 Becca: That is really, really true. 206 00:09:30,589 --> 00:09:33,199 Okay, so someone's listening to this, they're thinking, 207 00:09:33,289 --> 00:09:34,429 Megan, this sounds great. 208 00:09:34,429 --> 00:09:38,329 I definitely wanna get my stuff featured in some press or on some 209 00:09:38,329 --> 00:09:42,109 blogs, like practically, where do they even get started with that? 210 00:09:42,619 --> 00:09:44,719 Meghan: Well, first, don't get overwhelmed. 211 00:09:44,719 --> 00:09:46,369 Like, isn't that easier said than done? 212 00:09:46,369 --> 00:09:49,199 As someone who's been doing it fourteen years, don't get overwhelmed. 213 00:09:49,679 --> 00:09:52,919 I would say first and foremost, you've gotta set goals. 214 00:09:53,069 --> 00:09:57,059 You have, you know, you probably have business goals, don't get me wrong, but 215 00:09:57,059 --> 00:09:58,679 you've gotta connect them to the PR goals. 216 00:09:58,859 --> 00:10:00,569 Why do I wanna do this in the first place? 217 00:10:00,569 --> 00:10:04,139 Because there are gonna be listeners of yours who hear this and say, 218 00:10:04,139 --> 00:10:05,069 you know, this sounds like. 219 00:10:05,124 --> 00:10:07,284 This is gonna be great, da da da da da. 220 00:10:07,314 --> 00:10:08,754 And they just wanna go for it. 221 00:10:08,964 --> 00:10:12,414 But I'd love, I mean, I know I don't know your listeners, but none of us have 222 00:10:12,414 --> 00:10:16,974 unlimited time or money to just throw things out there to see what works, right? 223 00:10:17,094 --> 00:10:19,944 And so what they wanna do is really look at their business goals. 224 00:10:20,244 --> 00:10:21,474 What am I hoping to achieve? 225 00:10:21,504 --> 00:10:23,274 Where do I wanna be in one year, five years? 226 00:10:23,454 --> 00:10:25,104 And how does PR connect to that? 227 00:10:25,434 --> 00:10:30,204 And you know, I always say it's not a very sexy formula, but great PR to get 228 00:10:30,209 --> 00:10:32,604 you started is when you have a message. 229 00:10:32,634 --> 00:10:33,924 So you have to figure out what that message is. 230 00:10:33,924 --> 00:10:34,524 I'm the. 231 00:10:35,149 --> 00:10:38,119 Destination venue in this region, for example. 232 00:10:38,509 --> 00:10:40,489 You wanna get it out to a particular audience. 233 00:10:40,489 --> 00:10:42,169 You have to figure out who that, that's step two. 234 00:10:42,169 --> 00:10:43,079 Who's that audience? 235 00:10:43,084 --> 00:10:44,569 Is it couples? 236 00:10:44,569 --> 00:10:48,709 Which typically is, but some people, I know a lot of stationary people who 237 00:10:48,714 --> 00:10:51,949 really sell to the planner, they want the planners to refer business to them. 238 00:10:51,954 --> 00:10:52,339 Right. 239 00:10:52,339 --> 00:10:53,659 And so who's that audience? 240 00:10:54,154 --> 00:10:54,754 And where? 241 00:10:54,814 --> 00:10:56,104 Where do they consume the media? 242 00:10:56,104 --> 00:10:57,064 That's what I need to know. 243 00:10:57,064 --> 00:11:00,004 So you kind of start with more bigger picture thinking. 244 00:11:00,154 --> 00:11:03,754 I wish I could say, oh, you just write your favorite magazine and go from there. 245 00:11:04,024 --> 00:11:06,574 But the planning is worth the time. 246 00:11:06,579 --> 00:11:07,774 So you start there. 247 00:11:08,254 --> 00:11:11,974 If you're someone who is interested in getting your events featured, 248 00:11:12,394 --> 00:11:14,044 you need to take a good hard look. 249 00:11:14,954 --> 00:11:18,734 The events you've done in the last, I'd say, six months or so, and 250 00:11:18,734 --> 00:11:23,114 ask yourself which ones were shot well and really had details that 251 00:11:23,264 --> 00:11:25,754 were unusual in a, in a good way. 252 00:11:25,754 --> 00:11:26,864 Something that people haven't seen. 253 00:11:26,864 --> 00:11:29,414 Cause those are gonna be the most strong to start with. 254 00:11:29,474 --> 00:11:31,424 And really to start taking in the media. 255 00:11:31,634 --> 00:11:34,664 Get an idea, like, see, why am I doing this? 256 00:11:34,874 --> 00:11:36,404 What do I have to leverage? 257 00:11:36,494 --> 00:11:38,204 And then start taking in the media. 258 00:11:38,234 --> 00:11:41,984 Take baby steps to go ahead and read the blogs, read the sites, 259 00:11:41,984 --> 00:11:43,394 the places that you admire. 260 00:11:43,864 --> 00:11:46,084 , the places where, listen to the podcast. 261 00:11:46,084 --> 00:11:46,504 Right? 262 00:11:46,834 --> 00:11:51,034 Get to know, like, I was gonna say back, you know, I pitched you, I 263 00:11:51,034 --> 00:11:55,474 listened to your episodes, I went through your episodes before I pitched 264 00:11:55,474 --> 00:11:58,924 you because it, it just wouldn't have made sense if I just threw myself 265 00:11:59,224 --> 00:12:01,264 at you and said, so what do you say? 266 00:12:01,264 --> 00:12:03,724 You know, we should have more value than that. 267 00:12:03,934 --> 00:12:06,424 So start with looking internally. 268 00:12:07,249 --> 00:12:10,039 Paying attention to the media that's in front of you to 269 00:12:10,039 --> 00:12:11,629 decide what your next moves are. 270 00:12:11,869 --> 00:12:15,079 Becca: I think that's a really important step that so many people forget 271 00:12:15,079 --> 00:12:18,859 and just become totally overwhelmed because they don't know where to start. 272 00:12:18,859 --> 00:12:22,099 So once they've identified the place where they wanna pitch to 273 00:12:22,099 --> 00:12:26,149 you and they've identified what they wanna pitch, like now what? 274 00:12:26,149 --> 00:12:26,749 How do they go back? 275 00:12:26,749 --> 00:12:27,409 Where do we go from? 276 00:12:28,064 --> 00:12:29,024 Meghan: Yeah, absolutely. 277 00:12:29,024 --> 00:12:30,104 We'll go two different ways. 278 00:12:30,104 --> 00:12:30,734 If you don't mind. 279 00:12:30,734 --> 00:12:32,294 I'm gonna answer this a couple different ways. 280 00:12:32,624 --> 00:12:35,924 If you have an audience, which some people will, they'll say, you know, I wanna get 281 00:12:35,924 --> 00:12:38,204 my weddings to these particular outlets. 282 00:12:38,209 --> 00:12:42,014 That's the PR I wanna do, which is what a lot of people start with because 283 00:12:42,014 --> 00:12:43,424 they already have the great content. 284 00:12:43,664 --> 00:12:47,054 What they're gonna do again, is take some time to look at that blogger 285 00:12:47,054 --> 00:12:49,244 publication, go ahead and buy it. 286 00:12:49,244 --> 00:12:50,114 Go ahead and read it. 287 00:12:50,114 --> 00:12:52,694 Go ahead and you know, take a look at their content. 288 00:12:52,964 --> 00:12:54,914 Then you're gonna go to their submissions. 289 00:12:55,759 --> 00:12:56,929 Everybody has one. 290 00:12:57,109 --> 00:12:58,249 I need to fight me on it. 291 00:12:58,249 --> 00:13:00,079 If they don't, everybody has one. 292 00:13:00,109 --> 00:13:04,339 And it's a submission page that really digs into, Hey, do you have a beautiful 293 00:13:04,339 --> 00:13:05,479 wedding you wanna share with us? 294 00:13:05,509 --> 00:13:06,949 Here are the steps to do that. 295 00:13:06,979 --> 00:13:08,779 And you're gonna follow it like a checklist. 296 00:13:08,959 --> 00:13:11,719 It's gonna say, I need 60 images, a hundred images. 297 00:13:11,724 --> 00:13:15,439 I want this size, I need this pertinent information about the day. 298 00:13:15,859 --> 00:13:20,119 Just go ahead and go through that list, and from there you're ready to send in. 299 00:13:20,119 --> 00:13:21,859 And it's as easy and as hard as that. 300 00:13:22,504 --> 00:13:24,574 You don't get anywhere unless you try, right? 301 00:13:24,579 --> 00:13:25,744 So that, that's step one. 302 00:13:25,744 --> 00:13:28,624 Now, if you've got other parts of your audience as well, 303 00:13:28,624 --> 00:13:29,974 that's not my thing, right? 304 00:13:30,124 --> 00:13:35,344 Stationary cake rentals, those guys don't benefit from those features. 305 00:13:35,674 --> 00:13:39,069 What you're gonna do again, is consume that outlet, maybe it's a 306 00:13:39,074 --> 00:13:41,989 great wedding website that quotes people often and you think, you 307 00:13:41,994 --> 00:13:43,369 know, I, I have something to say. 308 00:13:43,369 --> 00:13:44,449 I could be great for that. 309 00:13:44,749 --> 00:13:48,409 What you're gonna wanna do is either go to their staff section, a lot of 'em will 310 00:13:48,409 --> 00:13:52,204 have a contact page with staff people, or you're gonna go ahead and start reading 311 00:13:52,429 --> 00:13:54,529 the articles and land on the writers. 312 00:13:54,529 --> 00:13:57,079 You're gonna see that there's gonna be a list of writers somewhere, 313 00:13:57,079 --> 00:14:00,109 and you're gonna match your expertise to what they cover. 314 00:14:00,109 --> 00:14:04,029 So if you're in cakes, in catering, you're gonna find the person who writes about. 315 00:14:04,499 --> 00:14:09,359 All you're gonna do again, as easy as and difficult is start with an easy email. 316 00:14:09,749 --> 00:14:10,709 Introduce yourself. 317 00:14:10,709 --> 00:14:11,579 Hi, my name is. 318 00:14:12,439 --> 00:14:14,899 I've read what you've been doing on this website. 319 00:14:14,959 --> 00:14:16,369 I just wanna introduce myself. 320 00:14:16,369 --> 00:14:18,649 I'd love to be considered an expert for the future. 321 00:14:19,039 --> 00:14:20,689 Give them a few lines about yourself. 322 00:14:20,959 --> 00:14:21,379 Boom. 323 00:14:21,409 --> 00:14:22,189 Get out of there. 324 00:14:22,369 --> 00:14:26,389 That's all you have to do to get started is I admire your work. 325 00:14:26,389 --> 00:14:30,109 Talking about wedding cakes, rentals, stationary photography, 326 00:14:30,379 --> 00:14:32,419 and I'd love to introduce myself as. 327 00:14:32,829 --> 00:14:35,439 I've been doing photography for 10 years now. 328 00:14:35,619 --> 00:14:39,159 My specialty is X, Y, and Z, and I just wanted to say hello in case 329 00:14:39,159 --> 00:14:40,599 I can ever assist in the future. 330 00:14:40,809 --> 00:14:42,069 Becca: That is it. 331 00:14:43,059 --> 00:14:45,459 . You make it sound so simple, 332 00:14:46,059 --> 00:14:47,049 Meghan: don't I? 333 00:14:47,079 --> 00:14:50,979 Don't I, but, but I've gotta tell you, this is where I got started when? 334 00:14:50,979 --> 00:14:51,519 All these years. 335 00:14:51,609 --> 00:14:53,619 So what you may not know about me, I was. 336 00:14:54,074 --> 00:14:55,544 For a long time I did. 337 00:14:55,724 --> 00:14:58,994 I was at venues and I did all sorts of events. 338 00:14:58,994 --> 00:15:02,594 And then when I had to change the conversation and really turn into 339 00:15:02,594 --> 00:15:06,164 this kind of wedding industry expert, everything I'm telling you, I did. 340 00:15:06,164 --> 00:15:10,874 I wrote all the outlets, all the people, just a simple email and you 341 00:15:10,879 --> 00:15:12,794 know, some of them will never respond. 342 00:15:13,189 --> 00:15:15,979 No one will ever be rude about it, but some people just won't respond. 343 00:15:16,279 --> 00:15:18,469 But a lot of people will say, okay, thanks. 344 00:15:18,769 --> 00:15:22,249 And they'll set you aside and when they need you, they'll be in touch. 345 00:15:22,759 --> 00:15:23,299 Becca: I love that. 346 00:15:23,299 --> 00:15:26,209 And that is so true because we do go back through our emails now, what 347 00:15:26,214 --> 00:15:27,379 do you think about following up? 348 00:15:27,379 --> 00:15:31,569 Because I own a wedding blog myself and I'm very busy, and sometimes people 349 00:15:31,569 --> 00:15:33,819 pitch me and I think it's a great idea. 350 00:15:33,819 --> 00:15:35,889 And then two weeks later I realized I forgot to. 351 00:15:36,989 --> 00:15:37,439 Meghan: Yes. 352 00:15:37,469 --> 00:15:42,989 So I am not, let me just tell you, I'm not a very aggressive publicist. 353 00:15:43,199 --> 00:15:44,819 Publicists can be very aggressive. 354 00:15:45,179 --> 00:15:50,729 I am a rule follower and I serve two sets of people. 355 00:15:50,729 --> 00:15:54,959 I serve the wedding pros, but I serve the editors, the bloggers, the, the 356 00:15:54,959 --> 00:15:57,329 podcast hosts and all those things. 357 00:15:57,329 --> 00:15:59,699 And so I'm very protective of their time. 358 00:15:59,789 --> 00:16:01,589 And if there's one thing I hear. 359 00:16:02,199 --> 00:16:03,039 All the time. 360 00:16:03,069 --> 00:16:06,639 It's only follow up with purpose, right? 361 00:16:06,819 --> 00:16:11,139 So if I am submitting to a blog and their submission page says 362 00:16:11,319 --> 00:16:14,739 we will be back in touch in six weeks, what I do is we'll submit. 363 00:16:15,384 --> 00:16:17,664 We'll set up something for seven weeks. 364 00:16:17,664 --> 00:16:20,484 Notice I didn't say six because we are all human. 365 00:16:20,664 --> 00:16:22,824 What if six weeks lands on Christmas Day? 366 00:16:22,824 --> 00:16:23,664 What are we gonna do? 367 00:16:23,669 --> 00:16:23,934 Right? 368 00:16:23,934 --> 00:16:25,974 People, but people think like that. 369 00:16:26,244 --> 00:16:30,864 I use an app called Boomerang app for Gmail, which is, can be used globally. 370 00:16:31,104 --> 00:16:34,404 It also has one for Outlook for anyone who uses the Gmail interface. 371 00:16:34,674 --> 00:16:36,894 What it does is it will send an email back to. 372 00:16:37,499 --> 00:16:39,149 On whatever date I ask it to. 373 00:16:39,359 --> 00:16:43,199 So what we'll do is that's when we will follow up and say, you know, and 374 00:16:43,199 --> 00:16:46,709 that's with purpose because we expected a response and we didn't get one. 375 00:16:47,009 --> 00:16:51,779 Now, if you're just submitting, let's say, um, just yourself to 376 00:16:51,779 --> 00:16:55,289 someone as, Hey, I'd love to help in the future, just let that lie. 377 00:16:55,294 --> 00:16:58,589 There's no need to come back unless you have discovered a 378 00:16:58,594 --> 00:17:00,119 cure for an incurable disease. 379 00:17:00,119 --> 00:17:02,579 That's what I tell people, unless you've suddenly done. 380 00:17:03,459 --> 00:17:04,509 Massively. 381 00:17:04,750 --> 00:17:07,239 You know, it doesn't, it's okay, let it be. 382 00:17:07,239 --> 00:17:10,959 So if there is an But, when I tell people this, listen, if you write a 383 00:17:10,959 --> 00:17:15,730 writeup and it's very well researched, and there is an ask, and it requires 384 00:17:15,730 --> 00:17:17,980 a response, remember, they're human. 385 00:17:17,980 --> 00:17:20,169 Give them time and follow up with purpose. 386 00:17:20,169 --> 00:17:23,819 But otherwise, no response is a response. 387 00:17:23,909 --> 00:17:27,339 So, So, but you can correct me on that because you're 388 00:17:27,339 --> 00:17:28,839 on the receiving end, right? 389 00:17:28,839 --> 00:17:31,299 So I know everybody's different when it comes to that. 390 00:17:31,899 --> 00:17:32,109 Becca: Yeah. 391 00:17:32,109 --> 00:17:34,209 I think what you're saying is really helpful. 392 00:17:34,209 --> 00:17:38,949 I think definitely a soft response, not a hard, like anything that's just sending 393 00:17:38,949 --> 00:17:43,329 me emails all of the time, I tend to block and get rid of because it drives me crazy. 394 00:17:43,329 --> 00:17:46,959 But equally, there is a balance where I flag things and there's things 395 00:17:46,959 --> 00:17:48,219 and conversations I really wanna. 396 00:17:48,604 --> 00:17:51,484 And then something comes into my inbox and I just totally forget about it. 397 00:17:51,724 --> 00:17:55,564 And in that case, sometimes the follow up is what I need to make sure it. 398 00:17:56,049 --> 00:17:56,829 Meghan: It's difficult. 399 00:17:56,829 --> 00:17:59,259 I think, you know what, there's kind of a marker people have to 400 00:17:59,259 --> 00:18:03,369 think about is, I always say, you know, public relations, yes. 401 00:18:03,399 --> 00:18:07,599 It's the, the benefit is when you know what you're doing as newsworthy. 402 00:18:07,779 --> 00:18:10,269 But the other side is when you understand it's not newsworthy. 403 00:18:10,449 --> 00:18:13,779 So if some, if you write, and by you I mean the royal you, if 404 00:18:13,784 --> 00:18:18,819 you write an editor, writer and following up is in their best. 405 00:18:19,809 --> 00:18:20,919 Like you, right? 406 00:18:21,369 --> 00:18:23,589 You and I have some great repertoire back and forth. 407 00:18:23,829 --> 00:18:25,359 We kind of knew each other from Clubhouse. 408 00:18:25,359 --> 00:18:26,469 I really think this could be a fit. 409 00:18:26,559 --> 00:18:29,829 I'm gonna follow up with you because it is like, I think you and I universally 410 00:18:29,834 --> 00:18:32,799 could have a good, like I've got other people who could come on your 411 00:18:32,799 --> 00:18:33,969 wonderful book, things like that. 412 00:18:34,704 --> 00:18:38,034 But if it's only in my best interest, I'm not gonna follow up again. 413 00:18:38,064 --> 00:18:40,044 That's a really good marker to determine. 414 00:18:40,074 --> 00:18:42,414 And I get say, as humans, we're not great at that. 415 00:18:42,414 --> 00:18:45,504 We think everything about ourselves is important, but you 416 00:18:45,504 --> 00:18:47,424 just gotta think beyond yourself. 417 00:18:47,429 --> 00:18:50,634 If it, if it's to the benefit of the end receiver, then follow up. 418 00:18:51,329 --> 00:18:51,749 Becca: Yes. 419 00:18:51,749 --> 00:18:54,849 And I'm all about that and what I teach about thinking how we can 420 00:18:54,854 --> 00:18:56,729 serve rather than how we can take. 421 00:18:56,729 --> 00:19:00,389 So if it's a way you can serve someone then absolutely follow up on it. 422 00:19:00,419 --> 00:19:00,749 Okay. 423 00:19:00,749 --> 00:19:02,669 So people are making mistakes all of the time. 424 00:19:02,674 --> 00:19:04,649 I see them coming into my own inbox. 425 00:19:04,799 --> 00:19:08,999 One of the mistakes I had recently is someone pitched to my blog and it was 426 00:19:09,004 --> 00:19:13,349 a great idea, but they pitched to my business blog instead of my wedding blog. 427 00:19:13,559 --> 00:19:16,319 And so therefore it made no sense because they pitched an article for 428 00:19:16,319 --> 00:19:18,269 brides and grooms to my business blog. 429 00:19:18,329 --> 00:19:18,809 Yeah. 430 00:19:18,809 --> 00:19:18,810 And. 431 00:19:19,514 --> 00:19:22,004 I went back and said, I think you pitched to the wrong blog, but you've 432 00:19:22,004 --> 00:19:24,494 already lost me at that point, because you haven't done your research. 433 00:19:24,644 --> 00:19:28,394 So what other mistakes are you seeing people making when they're pitching? 434 00:19:28,964 --> 00:19:31,934 Meghan: Well, I think you just, and I love your insight on this because I think 435 00:19:31,934 --> 00:19:37,004 you really speak to the number one, it is reaching out, making all about ourselves 436 00:19:37,004 --> 00:19:38,564 and not doing the research ahead of time. 437 00:19:38,564 --> 00:19:42,914 So I wanna augment that by saying a hundred percent it is. 438 00:19:42,944 --> 00:19:46,154 I hear journalists, writers, bloggers, editors, what have 439 00:19:46,154 --> 00:19:47,834 you, lament all the time. 440 00:19:48,414 --> 00:19:50,424 People pitch me for the wrong reasons. 441 00:19:50,484 --> 00:19:53,154 You know, it's like when people come to me and say, oh, do you? 442 00:19:53,154 --> 00:19:54,324 And they think I'm a planner. 443 00:19:54,324 --> 00:19:58,644 I'm like, you didn't take five seconds to see what I actually did for a living. 444 00:19:58,644 --> 00:19:58,944 You know? 445 00:19:59,184 --> 00:20:00,234 So that's number one. 446 00:20:00,624 --> 00:20:03,294 Number two is not following the rules. 447 00:20:03,294 --> 00:20:06,024 I kind of joke that this discipline's great for me because I'm such 448 00:20:06,024 --> 00:20:07,644 a real follower by nature. 449 00:20:08,064 --> 00:20:13,314 If a wedding blog says, as you know, I need a hundred images, I need them sized 450 00:20:13,314 --> 00:20:15,844 like this, and I don't want watermarks on. 451 00:20:16,719 --> 00:20:20,919 You send them a hundred, you size them correctly and you 452 00:20:20,919 --> 00:20:22,389 take the watermarks off of them. 453 00:20:22,869 --> 00:20:25,719 We don't deviate from the guidelines. 454 00:20:25,724 --> 00:20:30,099 The guidelines were put in place editorially for the right reasons, right? 455 00:20:30,104 --> 00:20:33,849 And so you wanna make sure that you follow all the rules because there's 456 00:20:33,849 --> 00:20:37,539 something to be said for when you submit to somebody, when you send 457 00:20:37,539 --> 00:20:41,079 something in following the rule said, I took the time to do my research. 458 00:20:41,319 --> 00:20:44,319 I respect your time, I respect your. 459 00:20:44,799 --> 00:20:46,959 Guidelines and workflows that work for you. 460 00:20:47,019 --> 00:20:48,609 And that's what people need to do. 461 00:20:48,609 --> 00:20:51,159 I mean, even when you and I were speaking about the podcast, it was, 462 00:20:51,429 --> 00:20:54,849 you know, I worked hard to make sure where there's certain forms I needed 463 00:20:54,849 --> 00:20:56,079 to fill out what, you know what I mean? 464 00:20:56,079 --> 00:20:57,249 Cuz we don't wanna waste anybody's time. 465 00:20:57,699 --> 00:21:00,069 I would say accuracy also is key. 466 00:21:00,279 --> 00:21:00,849 Being mindful. 467 00:21:00,849 --> 00:21:01,719 I use Grammarly. 468 00:21:01,749 --> 00:21:04,839 I actually pay for Grammarly, but there's a great free option. 469 00:21:05,019 --> 00:21:06,069 I just make sure. 470 00:21:06,304 --> 00:21:08,854 All my grammar is good to go, so and so forth. 471 00:21:09,194 --> 00:21:13,274 I also run a plagiarism check on, even though we've been very fortunate with 472 00:21:13,274 --> 00:21:17,264 that on all quotes coming in, because everything, that's another mistake. 473 00:21:17,264 --> 00:21:18,374 Everything has to be unique. 474 00:21:18,734 --> 00:21:20,294 We can't borrow from ourselves. 475 00:21:20,294 --> 00:21:22,754 That's the thing is I think most your audience is smart. 476 00:21:22,934 --> 00:21:26,124 They know, well, of course I'm not gonna like, Steal quotes from other people. 477 00:21:26,154 --> 00:21:29,544 I know that, like we all know that, but you can't steal from yourself either. 478 00:21:29,754 --> 00:21:33,654 You can't pull off of your blog, you can't be quoted by this 479 00:21:33,659 --> 00:21:36,774 outlet, and then go ahead and, and take that quote and reuse it. 480 00:21:36,779 --> 00:21:38,514 Everything needs to be fresh. 481 00:21:39,154 --> 00:21:40,834 Inspiring and accurate, 482 00:21:41,104 --> 00:21:47,554 Becca: so, so many great tips in there, . Okay, so I know because I know my audience 483 00:21:47,559 --> 00:21:51,634 well, that many of them are already gonna be stuck before they take any action 484 00:21:51,639 --> 00:21:53,674 because of that dreaded imposter syndrome. 485 00:21:53,914 --> 00:21:56,884 They're gonna be thinking, why does anyone care about me? 486 00:21:56,884 --> 00:21:58,234 Why does anyone wanna hear from me? 487 00:21:58,834 --> 00:22:01,324 Everyone's gonna ignore me, therefore, I'm not good enough. 488 00:22:01,324 --> 00:22:03,334 And when I'm good enough, then I'll start pitching. 489 00:22:03,514 --> 00:22:03,874 Mm-hmm. 490 00:22:03,880 --> 00:22:05,134 , what are you gonna say to those people? 491 00:22:05,524 --> 00:22:11,644 Meghan: I would say . Fake it till you make it . I would say go 492 00:22:11,644 --> 00:22:13,354 talk to a therapist like it is. 493 00:22:13,414 --> 00:22:18,364 It's one of these, here's the thing, one foot in front of the other, you cannot 494 00:22:18,484 --> 00:22:20,224 worry what other people are doing. 495 00:22:20,974 --> 00:22:23,374 You've got the work you're doing, the bookings. 496 00:22:23,914 --> 00:22:28,144 What is the worst thing that can happen by putting one foot in front of 497 00:22:28,144 --> 00:22:30,124 another with public relations, right? 498 00:22:30,574 --> 00:22:33,784 If you send out a wedding, and let's say you're very hard on 499 00:22:33,789 --> 00:22:37,294 yourself about it, but, but, but that's just your stuff, right? 500 00:22:37,594 --> 00:22:41,734 You send a wedding out there to a blog in publication, the worst thing that 501 00:22:41,734 --> 00:22:43,834 does happens is it doesn't get picked up. 502 00:22:44,104 --> 00:22:45,034 That is fine. 503 00:22:45,124 --> 00:22:46,774 You've already been paid for the event. 504 00:22:47,179 --> 00:22:48,469 People are none wiser. 505 00:22:48,589 --> 00:22:51,499 There's no, some big sign that says, guess what? 506 00:22:51,709 --> 00:22:53,149 Megan's wedding wasn't picked up. 507 00:22:53,179 --> 00:22:53,959 You know what I mean? 508 00:22:53,959 --> 00:22:57,349 As not picked up by, you know, that doesn't happen. 509 00:22:57,439 --> 00:23:01,249 And so I would say that's an internal battle. 510 00:23:01,399 --> 00:23:03,709 I'd say stop worrying about your competitors. 511 00:23:03,714 --> 00:23:04,879 Easier said than done. 512 00:23:04,884 --> 00:23:08,449 I personally don't pay attention to my, I know what I do is a little bit different. 513 00:23:08,599 --> 00:23:09,749 I don't look at anybody's stuff. 514 00:23:10,259 --> 00:23:10,849 It doesn't. 515 00:23:10,864 --> 00:23:11,554 It doesn't. 516 00:23:11,824 --> 00:23:15,184 I have different markers for success, and that's the thing too, at the end of the 517 00:23:15,184 --> 00:23:20,194 day, is create markers for success that have nothing to do with your competitors. 518 00:23:20,434 --> 00:23:23,014 That's being sustainable, that's being able to pay your bills, 519 00:23:23,014 --> 00:23:26,374 that's having, you know, more of the right people coming in the door. 520 00:23:26,374 --> 00:23:29,104 Don't worry about the rest of it and just ask yourself, what's the worst that 521 00:23:29,104 --> 00:23:31,504 could happen by taking these teeny, tiny. 522 00:23:32,209 --> 00:23:33,049 In publicity. 523 00:23:33,169 --> 00:23:35,659 Becca: That's a question I say to myself all of the time. 524 00:23:35,659 --> 00:23:37,549 What is the worst thing that could happen? 525 00:23:37,549 --> 00:23:40,009 They say no, and nobody else knows about it. 526 00:23:40,009 --> 00:23:41,269 It's just in our own heads. 527 00:23:41,539 --> 00:23:42,829 Meghan: None the wiser. 528 00:23:42,834 --> 00:23:43,909 A hundred percent 529 00:23:45,139 --> 00:23:47,869 . Becca: Exactly, and if you are listening to this and you're thinking, I wanna 530 00:23:47,869 --> 00:23:51,049 get going with this, I'd like to have a go at pitching, but I'm feeling 531 00:23:51,049 --> 00:23:55,069 a bit nervous, then I always say, pitch to me if you are in my world. 532 00:23:55,259 --> 00:23:58,529 Pitch to me, pitch to be on vicinity weddings, I, we are 533 00:23:58,529 --> 00:24:00,749 very open to helping you out. 534 00:24:00,779 --> 00:24:03,569 That's why I started the platform was to help the wedding pros that I 535 00:24:03,574 --> 00:24:06,719 work with have a starting place to get their confidence and to build. 536 00:24:06,719 --> 00:24:09,329 So if you're listening to this and you're looking for somewhere to pitch, 537 00:24:09,719 --> 00:24:13,034 pitch to me and Natalie at Vicinity Weddings, Natali's my features 538 00:24:13,034 --> 00:24:14,534 editor, so she does the hard work. 539 00:24:14,534 --> 00:24:17,594 I'm just the beautiful face and, yeah, pitch to us. 540 00:24:17,744 --> 00:24:21,254 And if you're unsure about it, it's a great starting place because you can pitch 541 00:24:21,254 --> 00:24:24,374 to us and say, I'm not sure if this is good enough, and we will help you hone 542 00:24:24,379 --> 00:24:27,884 that content and tell you what you need, and then you'll have the confidence to 543 00:24:27,884 --> 00:24:29,534 pitch to those bigger publications too. 544 00:24:29,534 --> 00:24:30,514 So go ahead and do that. 545 00:24:31,104 --> 00:24:34,524 Meghan: And I think that's very generous of you and believe me when I 546 00:24:34,529 --> 00:24:38,874 say it was definitely intimidating to come on here and talk pr knowing your 547 00:24:38,874 --> 00:24:40,824 background in vicinity weddings as well. 548 00:24:41,004 --> 00:24:44,274 Can I, if I may add an extra tip to that if you don't mind, cuz I think 549 00:24:44,279 --> 00:24:46,434 that's very generous of, of you to do. 550 00:24:46,674 --> 00:24:49,119 There's another also platform that free. 551 00:24:49,119 --> 00:24:50,109 It's called Haro. 552 00:24:50,349 --> 00:24:51,669 It's help a Reporter Out. 553 00:24:51,879 --> 00:24:54,099 It is US based, but it is global. 554 00:24:54,099 --> 00:24:55,689 So really people from all over. 555 00:24:55,749 --> 00:25:00,039 And so what happens is Monday through Friday during, non holidays, of 556 00:25:00,039 --> 00:25:02,259 course they won't have anything on, on Thanksgiving here in 557 00:25:02,264 --> 00:25:03,279 the United States, for example. 558 00:25:03,279 --> 00:25:06,849 But you receive emails three times a day and I would say if you're five 559 00:25:06,849 --> 00:25:10,599 hours ahead, we're looking at, you'd receive it at 10:00 AM UK time. 560 00:25:10,849 --> 00:25:13,669 And then you'd receive it again at five and then 10 o'clock at night. 561 00:25:13,669 --> 00:25:16,549 So that, that last one's a little late and it's gonna be. 562 00:25:17,189 --> 00:25:20,969 All sorts of different people who are already working on articles, 563 00:25:21,149 --> 00:25:22,319 who are looking for sources. 564 00:25:22,319 --> 00:25:28,079 Now, they may not be wedding event hospitality specific, but I'm looking 565 00:25:28,079 --> 00:25:31,529 for small business owners who can talk about working from home with two kids. 566 00:25:31,534 --> 00:25:33,269 I'm looking for someone with chronic back pain. 567 00:25:33,269 --> 00:25:34,649 I mean, whatever that is. 568 00:25:35,069 --> 00:25:39,389 And all you do is you click on that, that email address and you pitch them. 569 00:25:39,599 --> 00:25:42,719 So if you're looking for some more broad based media pitching, 570 00:25:42,749 --> 00:25:44,249 that's a great free way to do it. 571 00:25:44,249 --> 00:25:45,569 Good practice makes perfect. 572 00:25:46,709 --> 00:25:47,639 . Becca: Absolutely. 573 00:25:47,819 --> 00:25:49,739 And we just gotta go for it. 574 00:25:49,769 --> 00:25:50,939 Just go for these things. 575 00:25:50,939 --> 00:25:53,309 I'm gonna tell you another story about why we should let our six 576 00:25:53,309 --> 00:25:54,729 year olds run our businesses. 577 00:25:54,869 --> 00:25:59,159 So I saw one of those, I saw one of those things on Help a reporter out when 578 00:25:59,159 --> 00:26:01,939 it was, the Queen Jubilee this year. 579 00:26:01,939 --> 00:26:04,729 And they were looking for six year olds to give comments on the Queen. 580 00:26:04,729 --> 00:26:07,159 So I said to my six year old, too fancy doing it. 581 00:26:07,699 --> 00:26:12,409 And so she did it and they paid her 100 pounds, which to a six year old. 582 00:26:12,794 --> 00:26:14,414 Is ridiculous. 583 00:26:14,474 --> 00:26:17,144 So if a six year old can do it and get a hundred pounds, 584 00:26:17,844 --> 00:26:20,534 everyone listening to this, just be brave and put yourself forward. 585 00:26:21,634 --> 00:26:24,764 Meghan: I will use that example for the rest of my life. 586 00:26:24,764 --> 00:26:28,664 Like I will credit you and your six year old to it, but because for 587 00:26:28,664 --> 00:26:32,174 years I would always tell people I taught at a local university. 588 00:26:32,174 --> 00:26:35,804 I taught pr, and the extra credit project was using help a reporter out. 589 00:26:36,334 --> 00:26:39,154 The entire, you know, if you got picked up, you got a huge bump in your grade. 590 00:26:39,154 --> 00:26:42,814 Cuz it's a lot of work, but, and so I say, well, college can do it, do it. 591 00:26:42,814 --> 00:26:44,404 But I mean, there's something to be said. 592 00:26:44,614 --> 00:26:46,624 What did your six year old say? 593 00:26:46,684 --> 00:26:48,184 Do I, can I ask? 594 00:26:48,214 --> 00:26:48,484 Yes. 595 00:26:48,489 --> 00:26:49,174 Do you remember? 596 00:26:49,204 --> 00:26:49,444 Becca: Yes. 597 00:26:49,449 --> 00:26:50,554 She had to answer questions. 598 00:26:50,554 --> 00:26:52,594 I'll send you a link to it because it was in the national 599 00:26:52,594 --> 00:26:54,574 tabloid newspaper here in the uk. 600 00:26:54,844 --> 00:26:58,594 But she had to say what she thought about the queens tiara and she said, 601 00:26:58,744 --> 00:27:00,304 I think it would be really heavy. 602 00:27:01,174 --> 00:27:03,254 Probably too heavy for me to hold or something like that. 603 00:27:03,254 --> 00:27:06,314 It was the most basic of clothes, which is true, but they picked it up, they 604 00:27:06,314 --> 00:27:09,254 loved it, and she got her a hundred pounds and she doesn't stop telling 605 00:27:09,259 --> 00:27:10,964 everyone how easy it is to earn money. 606 00:27:10,969 --> 00:27:11,234 Meghan: I love it. 607 00:27:12,164 --> 00:27:15,314 , please tell her I will be here in Virginia telling everybody about that. 608 00:27:15,314 --> 00:27:15,974 So I love it. 609 00:27:16,334 --> 00:27:17,414 Becca: I definitely will. 610 00:27:17,419 --> 00:27:17,814 Okay. 611 00:27:18,254 --> 00:27:21,854 Before we close, I wanna ask you a few quick questions to help people 612 00:27:21,854 --> 00:27:24,524 get more yeses to their pictures. 613 00:27:24,704 --> 00:27:26,714 So how important are the images that. 614 00:27:27,544 --> 00:27:27,964 Meghan: Submit. 615 00:27:28,684 --> 00:27:31,114 They are as important as the content. 616 00:27:31,144 --> 00:27:32,014 A hundred percent. 617 00:27:32,014 --> 00:27:35,794 You need images that have, they're not only shot. 618 00:27:36,944 --> 00:27:40,504 Incredibly well, but they also have to really feature the right things. 619 00:27:40,594 --> 00:27:42,694 I mean, you know, you know this as much as I do, right? 620 00:27:42,694 --> 00:27:47,674 With people are looking at not only the, you know, of course the professionalism 621 00:27:47,674 --> 00:27:50,764 of the photos and it's gonna be the details, but they have to be shot. 622 00:27:50,764 --> 00:27:54,094 Well, that means, you know, if you gravitate more towards Dark and 623 00:27:54,099 --> 00:27:57,514 Moody, that works for particular publications, but not all of them. 624 00:27:57,774 --> 00:28:00,864 You know, you're looking at someone who can you, I've had 625 00:28:00,864 --> 00:28:02,184 so many planners who have a. 626 00:28:02,979 --> 00:28:05,079 Indoor space for weddings, right? 627 00:28:05,109 --> 00:28:08,439 And it's outdoor for the ceremony and it's all shot beautifully outside. 628 00:28:08,439 --> 00:28:12,909 But the photographer has really just did not go to school the day they were 629 00:28:12,909 --> 00:28:14,409 supposed to learn how to light a ballroom. 630 00:28:14,469 --> 00:28:17,979 And so there's an inconsistency with the photos that's gonna be a problem. 631 00:28:17,979 --> 00:28:22,979 So the photos matter more than anything else, I would say, in my 632 00:28:22,984 --> 00:28:24,469 humble opinion for submissions. 633 00:28:25,284 --> 00:28:26,844 Becca: Okay, so have good images. 634 00:28:27,054 --> 00:28:29,574 Now what about if people finally get a yes? 635 00:28:29,574 --> 00:28:31,794 So someone goes ahead and features them. 636 00:28:31,944 --> 00:28:36,584 How can they make the most of that feature in their Marketing. 637 00:28:36,894 --> 00:28:37,914 Meghan: I'm so glad you asked that. 638 00:28:37,944 --> 00:28:41,454 I actually just did a webinar on this and I spent 35 minutes, I'll keep it shorter 639 00:28:41,454 --> 00:28:44,274 than that, but I did 35 minutes on this. 640 00:28:44,279 --> 00:28:47,214 So what there, there's a few things to consider here. 641 00:28:47,434 --> 00:28:50,554 First and foremost, if you can, I mean, don't get me wrong. 642 00:28:50,834 --> 00:28:52,934 If the news comes and it surprises you, great. 643 00:28:52,964 --> 00:28:53,804 Come up with a plan. 644 00:28:54,044 --> 00:28:57,524 If you can come up with a bit of a checklist ahead of time of how 645 00:28:57,524 --> 00:28:58,934 can I make sure to maximize this? 646 00:28:59,144 --> 00:29:02,654 But that's making sure you take time to post it on your social media. 647 00:29:02,659 --> 00:29:05,384 That's wherever you're doing social media makes the most 648 00:29:05,384 --> 00:29:06,524 sense when it comes to that. 649 00:29:06,704 --> 00:29:08,354 You know, for us it's gonna be Instagram. 650 00:29:08,354 --> 00:29:12,914 I often take the photo and we will embed it with the logo of the publication, 651 00:29:12,914 --> 00:29:14,954 of course, so that they can see that. 652 00:29:15,164 --> 00:29:17,414 So doing that, it's insta stories. 653 00:29:17,414 --> 00:29:18,014 Oftentimes. 654 00:29:18,014 --> 00:29:18,524 I've had a few. 655 00:29:19,549 --> 00:29:23,089 where they've been quoted in something like an article, and they will do 656 00:29:23,089 --> 00:29:24,709 an Insta story and show everything. 657 00:29:24,709 --> 00:29:27,259 But what they'll do is also give additional tips that maybe didn't 658 00:29:27,259 --> 00:29:28,819 make the cut for the article. 659 00:29:28,824 --> 00:29:29,719 I think that's brilliant. 660 00:29:29,929 --> 00:29:31,279 That provides great content. 661 00:29:31,279 --> 00:29:32,719 It's that continued social proof. 662 00:29:32,719 --> 00:29:34,189 So social media for sure. 663 00:29:34,609 --> 00:29:36,859 You're gonna make sure that you set up a press page on your site 664 00:29:36,889 --> 00:29:38,539 once you have three or more. 665 00:29:39,624 --> 00:29:40,734 Great press pickups. 666 00:29:40,734 --> 00:29:43,344 You're gonna have what's called a press page where it showcases your press. 667 00:29:43,344 --> 00:29:49,134 So I want people thinking about doing that as well at also on their website as they 668 00:29:49,134 --> 00:29:53,514 hit these, you know, these kind of goal blogs and publications for themselves. 669 00:29:53,934 --> 00:29:58,704 I wanna make sure you know, your homepage has 400% more likely to have 670 00:29:58,704 --> 00:30:00,894 interaction if you have logos on. 671 00:30:01,259 --> 00:30:06,179 Social proof as seen in vicinity, weddings as seen in, you know, and so and so forth. 672 00:30:06,389 --> 00:30:07,919 So putting that on there. 673 00:30:08,169 --> 00:30:10,779 For the largest ones, for any awards, things like that, you may 674 00:30:10,779 --> 00:30:14,139 want to, you know, every, I would say I'm a repeatable task kind of 675 00:30:14,139 --> 00:30:15,879 gal myself, so every six months. 676 00:30:16,149 --> 00:30:19,689 Revisit your press and say, should anything be added to my biography? 677 00:30:19,869 --> 00:30:23,829 Should anything be added to my general, like introductions from there? 678 00:30:24,109 --> 00:30:27,739 For those who focus on email marketing, putting it into your newsletter, 679 00:30:27,949 --> 00:30:30,919 for those who maybe don't have a regular newsletter, that's fine. 680 00:30:31,099 --> 00:30:34,219 One of the most clever ways I've seen, or for people to go ahead. 681 00:30:34,219 --> 00:30:36,849 It's one thing to say we've been published, but to actually 682 00:30:36,854 --> 00:30:39,109 give benefit to the end user. 683 00:30:39,109 --> 00:30:43,219 So it's a top tips for having a destination wedding in the uk. 684 00:30:43,869 --> 00:30:47,419 We're so thrilled that we were quoted in da, da, da da da da. 685 00:30:47,424 --> 00:30:51,279 Here's three more tips to get you started, so giving a little bit of 686 00:30:51,279 --> 00:30:52,749 content and linking to it as well. 687 00:30:52,749 --> 00:30:54,789 So it all goes to social. 688 00:30:54,819 --> 00:30:58,539 Your website, email, making sure you get it out there, that's 689 00:30:58,539 --> 00:30:59,919 gonna be absolutely imperative. 690 00:31:00,249 --> 00:31:04,629 Press only lives as long as you allow it to, so we have to remember that. 691 00:31:04,629 --> 00:31:05,559 That's in our hands. 692 00:31:06,579 --> 00:31:09,069 Becca: That's such a great quote, and it's true. 693 00:31:09,069 --> 00:31:12,519 I see again, people making this mistake that they get this huge feature or they 694 00:31:12,519 --> 00:31:16,479 get an opportunity to be on TV and then they're too embarrassed to talk about it. 695 00:31:16,479 --> 00:31:18,939 They don't wanna feel like they're showing off, but actually it's 696 00:31:18,939 --> 00:31:20,049 really important they do that. 697 00:31:20,049 --> 00:31:20,379 Right. 698 00:31:21,159 --> 00:31:24,219 Meghan: Well, it's a business transaction between you and your prospective 699 00:31:24,219 --> 00:31:25,809 audience that that's what it is. 700 00:31:25,809 --> 00:31:28,599 Those in a position to refer business to you, people have to understand. 701 00:31:28,779 --> 00:31:32,259 None of us like to go into a job interview and talk about ourselves. 702 00:31:32,289 --> 00:31:35,019 I think it's human nature that most of us are not gonna wanna do that. 703 00:31:35,349 --> 00:31:39,579 But in this instance, it's, it's a part of our sales and marketing. 704 00:31:39,579 --> 00:31:42,789 I mean, if we were gonna have a promotion, we're certainly gonna promote it. 705 00:31:42,789 --> 00:31:43,959 We're certainly gonna advertise it. 706 00:31:43,959 --> 00:31:46,029 Why wouldn't we showcase beautiful feature? 707 00:31:46,029 --> 00:31:47,709 And I think people have to get in the mindset too. 708 00:31:48,484 --> 00:31:51,784 You're showing off your work, but you're showing off the work of a big team. 709 00:31:51,964 --> 00:31:56,044 So it's not just you benefiting from it, it's all the other pros that 710 00:31:56,044 --> 00:31:57,934 could be benefiting from it as well. 711 00:31:57,934 --> 00:31:59,614 So sing, you're singing their praises. 712 00:31:59,794 --> 00:32:02,674 You're doing them a favor as much as you're doing yourself a favor, 713 00:32:02,854 --> 00:32:03,934 Becca: that's a great way to look at it. 714 00:32:03,934 --> 00:32:06,634 And we need to channel that in a six year old, because I can tell 715 00:32:06,634 --> 00:32:10,384 you now, my six year old took that newspaper with her everywhere. 716 00:32:10,384 --> 00:32:13,774 She went for a week, and she did not stop talking about it. 717 00:32:13,774 --> 00:32:15,244 And we could learn so much from that. 718 00:32:15,759 --> 00:32:19,999 Meghan: A paid authority on the queen of all people. 719 00:32:19,999 --> 00:32:23,299 I mean, that that is cause for celebration, I would say. 720 00:32:23,689 --> 00:32:24,319 Becca: I love it. 721 00:32:24,319 --> 00:32:25,279 It's just so funny. 722 00:32:25,459 --> 00:32:29,239 Okay, Megan, before I let you go, I always finish my podcast with the same 723 00:32:29,239 --> 00:32:33,139 question, which is, what is one thing you yourself wish you'd known sooner 724 00:32:33,289 --> 00:32:34,249 Meghan: in your business? 725 00:32:34,549 --> 00:32:35,689 I love this question. 726 00:32:35,689 --> 00:32:38,989 I kind of alluded to it before, but I'm gonna dig in a little bit more. 727 00:32:38,989 --> 00:32:41,689 If I mean, now create your own markers for. 728 00:32:42,834 --> 00:32:45,264 Your success doesn't look like anybody else is. 729 00:32:45,264 --> 00:32:48,684 And, and I'm gonna speak as a publicist for a second knowing 730 00:32:48,684 --> 00:32:50,394 that what I do is different. 731 00:32:50,394 --> 00:32:52,824 I'm more b2b, but I think people resonate from this. 732 00:32:53,154 --> 00:32:56,634 You know, my first three, four years, there are different markers for, of 733 00:32:56,639 --> 00:33:00,564 course going full time was a marker and, but then I would look out and there's 734 00:33:00,564 --> 00:33:01,974 so few of us who do what I do, right? 735 00:33:01,974 --> 00:33:05,904 There's like, Eight of us in the whole world, you know, so you would kind of 736 00:33:05,904 --> 00:33:08,634 pay attention to some of the folks and maybe somebody else would have this dinner 737 00:33:08,634 --> 00:33:12,504 with a bunch of editors and bloggers, and I'd think, oh, I wish I was doing that. 738 00:33:12,504 --> 00:33:14,274 Like, why am I, and I'm so hard on myself. 739 00:33:14,274 --> 00:33:17,634 It's like, wait a minute, I went full time after a year of doing 740 00:33:17,634 --> 00:33:19,164 this, you know, I can pay my bills. 741 00:33:19,164 --> 00:33:20,064 I have happy clients. 742 00:33:20,064 --> 00:33:20,784 I love what I do. 743 00:33:21,594 --> 00:33:22,674 Those should be my markers. 744 00:33:22,914 --> 00:33:25,794 It was a real moment for me, and I wish I had told myself early on. 745 00:33:26,349 --> 00:33:29,439 Create your own markers, even if you have to bring people from the outside. 746 00:33:29,439 --> 00:33:31,659 I actually have a wonderful financial person. 747 00:33:31,659 --> 00:33:35,049 I have other people to create your own markers for success. 748 00:33:35,349 --> 00:33:38,139 Do not worry what other people are doing because their success 749 00:33:38,139 --> 00:33:39,219 will look different than yours. 750 00:33:39,369 --> 00:33:41,139 Does it make it more or less successful? 751 00:33:41,319 --> 00:33:41,950 I wish I had. 752 00:33:42,199 --> 00:33:46,099 Been easier on myself in those earlier years, and I, I hope other people can kind 753 00:33:46,099 --> 00:33:47,989 of garner that for their own companies. 754 00:33:48,079 --> 00:33:48,739 Becca: Absolutely. 755 00:33:48,739 --> 00:33:53,329 And there'll be a lot of people listening who need to heed that advice and listen 756 00:33:53,329 --> 00:33:57,049 to it, because I know they, they put themselves down and they feel like they've 757 00:33:57,054 --> 00:34:00,979 always gotta be better and actually they can have their own markers for success. 758 00:34:00,984 --> 00:34:03,289 Megan, it's been such a pleasure to chat with you. 759 00:34:03,289 --> 00:34:04,009 I could have talked. 760 00:34:04,279 --> 00:34:06,139 All day about PR on market. 761 00:34:06,409 --> 00:34:06,739 Keep going. 762 00:34:06,919 --> 00:34:08,629 You'll have to come back another time. 763 00:34:08,629 --> 00:34:12,649 If people wanna find out more about what you do, the services you offer, and find 764 00:34:12,654 --> 00:34:15,529 out more about your webinars that you've mentioned, where can they find you? 765 00:34:16,199 --> 00:34:18,629 Meghan: You can find me over at OFD Consulting. 766 00:34:18,629 --> 00:34:20,519 That's pretty much will take you anywhere else. 767 00:34:20,549 --> 00:34:23,244 That's also OFD consulting over at Instagram as well. 768 00:34:23,244 --> 00:34:25,764 Those, those two paths will lead you pretty much everywhere. 769 00:34:26,499 --> 00:34:26,859 Becca: Great. 770 00:34:26,859 --> 00:34:29,649 I will make sure I put all of the links in the show notes. 771 00:34:29,829 --> 00:34:30,939 Megan, it's been a pleasure. 772 00:34:30,939 --> 00:34:33,369 Come back to the UK again soon and we'll go for that drink. 773 00:34:33,999 --> 00:34:34,989 Meghan: I look forward to it. 774 00:34:35,619 --> 00:34:37,839 Becca: I hope you enjoyed that chat with Megan as much as I did. 775 00:34:38,109 --> 00:34:41,409 Sometimes I meet people in this industry and instantly I know that 776 00:34:41,414 --> 00:34:42,429 we're gonna work together again. 777 00:34:42,434 --> 00:34:46,239 So I'm hoping we'll get Megan back either in the members lounge or on the podcast. 778 00:34:46,309 --> 00:34:47,419 Again, very soon. 779 00:34:47,899 --> 00:34:50,779 If you take action on anything you heard today, if you manage to get any press, 780 00:34:50,779 --> 00:34:54,859 publicity, or features on a blog, why not Let me and maybe even Megan know, 781 00:34:55,039 --> 00:34:56,479 so that we can celebrate with you. 782 00:34:56,629 --> 00:34:57,319 Get in touch. 783 00:34:57,349 --> 00:34:58,129 You know where I am. 784 00:34:58,279 --> 00:34:59,149 I'll see you next week.