So it is with event planner blogs. I read avidly, and it's great to see so many people sharing their ideas and best practices. One thing I think is dangerous about blogging though, is when the motive for a blog is not transparent.
Example: the other day, I stumbled across a wedding I had coordinated, on a beautiful, editorial-looking blog. The writing was well-crafted, and the blogger advertised that they accepted submissions through Two Bright Lights. In every way it appeared to be an editorial post, although I thought it was weird that, except for some fine print at the bottom, there was no mention of my company specifically as the wedding coordinator. On the other hand, vendors for the cake, flowers, and attire were mentioned and name-checked in detail.
A few weeks later I saw an update, where the blogger shared a brand new social media page and excitedly announced a new division of their coordinating business. Confused, I went back to their About page. After reading, I realized the blog belonged to an event planner in the Portland area and that it doubled as their business blog and website.
I recommend that businesses not do this. Posting a detailed blog post about an event called a "Real Wedding" on your event planning business blog implies that you have some connection to the event. If you are blogging to increase awareness of your event planning business, you are subtly passing off these "Real Weddings" as your own work.
If you want to be a journalist-blogger that covers real weddings, great. If you wish to be an editor of beautifully curated content, that's wonderful! (Offbeat Bride and Every Last Detail are some sites that do this very well.)
On the other hand, if you are a planner marketing your business by blogging, post "Real Weddings" of only your own events. Be very clear about the use of pictures for events that you're not connected with. That way your motives are clear, and you won't appear to be trying to mislead the public.
Agree? Think I'm way off base? Leave it in the comments.
Image of me, working the Oregon Nurses Association 2011 convention, courtesy Casey Campbell.
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3 comments:
Agree! At Vibrant Table, we offer so many services and every client customizes these services to their needs. It's quite the challenge when selecting pictures for materials. (i.e. Did we do the flowers and decor or just the catering?) We started naming every image with the client, event date, and photographer so I can go back and check our records.
Yeah, you are on the money with this post. It can be a hassle but using my web blog to be solely about business was the best focus. I let my blogger posts to be anything and everything about photography. Sometimes business related but I am more then just business.
I totally agree. I am an event planner in Idaho. I see some of the "newbies" in my area doing exactly what you stated, giving the impression they planned numerous events they didn't. I am careful to post photos on my blog that I have personally taken or that I have received permission from the photographer to post, with credit given. I am also careful about blogging about events if there may be a privacy issue involved.
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