This document discusses how to brand yourself online as a wedding professional. It covers managing your online footprint through tools like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and blogs. It emphasizes why having an online presence is important, as digital wedding trends show more people use social media and mobile apps to plan weddings. Statistics on top social media influencers in the wedding industry are provided. The document also discusses personal branding, questions to consider, and tips for expanding your online footprint through networking, maintaining professional social profiles, using Twitter and blogging.

1. Branding Yourself Online
Louisville Wedding Association
02.06.12

2. Christy Belden 2
Vice President of Media & Marketing
Experience: 12 years
The Courier-Journal
University of Louisville
SEMPO Certified
Google AdWords Individually
Certified
Christy knows marketing.
PPC, SEO, social
media, email, mobile, event
marketing, traditional—she’s been
there and done that. She continues to
build a deep well of experience and is
always in touch with the trends and
strategies that provide a solid return on
clients’ investments.

3. LeapFrog Interactive 3
Twitter: @LFI
#DigitalFootprint
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LeapFrogInteractiveAgency
Blog: www.leapfroginteractive.com/blog

4. Agenda 4
+ Managing Your Online Footprint (Brand & Reputation)
- Why It’s Important
+ Google Yourself
+ Personal Brand Management Tools
- Facebook
- Twitter
- LinkedIn
- Google+
- YouTube
- Blog – Wordpress, Tumblr
- Slideshare
- About.me
- Personal Website
+ Infographic Resume Builders
+ Pinterest

5. Managing Your Online Footprint

6. Managing Your Online Footprint 6
Why It Matters
+ Search Engines
+ Social Media
+ www.google.com/weddings

7. Digital Wedding Statistics 7
Top Reasons You Should Have an Online Presence
• 1 in 5 use a mobile app to help plan, shop for or register for their wedding
• 17% use a social media app to plan, shop or register for their wedding
• 78% more people use social media today to communicate wedding details (since
2008)
• 40% are more likely to use an online service to create/send save-the-dates or
invitations (since 2008)
• 31% more people are using an online RSVP service (since 2008)
• Brides today are more likely to have a personal wedding website
• Brides are increasingly using online wedding planning tools
Source: www.weddingindustrystastics.com

8. Top Social Media Influencers in the Wedding 8
Industry
• The Knot
• Style Me Pretty
• Wedding Wire
• Brides.com
• Get Married
• Martha Stewart Weddings
• Project Wedding
• OneWed
• Green Wedding Shoes
• Broke Ass Bride
Source: www.wedthemagazine.com

9. Top Social Media Influencers Among Industry 9
Professionals
• Bridal Tweets/Christine Dyer
• eWedNews/Paul Pannone
• Wedding Market
• Leila Kahlil
• Think Splendid/Liene Stevens
• Engage10!/Rebecca Grinnals
• The Wedding Report
• The Wedding Marketing Authority/Andy Ebon
• Bride Attraction/Natalie Bradley
• Wedding Wire/Sonny Ganguly
Source: www.wedthemagazine.com

10. Managing Your Online Footprint 10
Top Reasons for Hiring Based on Information Found on Social Networking Profile
1. Gave positive impression of personality & organizational fit
2. Profile supported professional qualifications
3. Profile showcased candidate was creative
4. Candidate had good references posted by others
5. Showed solid communications skills
6. Profile showcased candidate was well-rounded
Source: How Recruiters Use Social Networks to Screen Candidates,
http://mashable.com/2011/10/23/how-recruiters-use-social-networks-to-screen-candidates-infographic/

11. Managing Your Online Footprint 11
Social Media Recruitment Test (a sample)
LinkedIn Twitter
+ Genuine recommendations from + Tweets often (2-10 times per day)
peers, managers & colleagues + Healthy followers to following ration
+ Completed profile including outside of + Healthy balance between personal &
work hobbies & interests professional tweets
+ Member of industry-related groups + Responds & engages with others –
+ Participates & highlights involvement personal & professional
in non-work related activities such as
volunteer projects
Blog
Facebook + Provides links to other social profiles &
+ Non-controversial posts resume
+ Member of groups relevant to + Updates content regularly
profession + Provides interesting industry-related
insight & opinions
Source: Do You Pass the Social Media Recruitment Test?, Boris Epstein, Mashabl,
http://mashable.com/2009/04/08/social-media-recruitment/

12. Managing Your Online Footprint 12
Personal Branding
Top Questions to Think About When Branding Yourself
1. If I publish something, who will see it? Not just now, but later
2. Am I going to feel this same way/have this same opinion one year from
now?
3. Am I promoting my expertise, not just showcasing my opinion?
4. Do I promote myself too much? Not enough?
5. Am I consist in my messaging?
6. Am I searching myself enough to know what is being said about me or
what I have said in the past?
7. Do I have real value to add to a subject?
8. Have I done enough research on the topics I discuss?
9. Photos – what type are public? Are they offensive?
10. Have I quadruple checked my grammar and spelling?
Source: Establishing the Brand of You, socialmediatoday,,
http://socialmediatoday.com/node/382770?utm_source=smt_daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter

13. Google Yourself

14. Personal Brand Management Tools

15. Personal Brand Management Tools 15

16. Pinterest 16

17. Infographic Resume Builders

18. Infographic Resume Builders 18

19. And Remember…

20. And Remember… 20
Best Practices for Expanding Your Online Footprint
+ Network – online & offline
+ Maintain professional social media profiles free of inappropriate content
+ Use twitter
- Complete your profile with a short bio with links to blogs and an
online resume
+ Blogging
- Post industry opinions & personal thoughts
– Showcase your industry expertise
Source: Modern Ways to Job Search, http://visual.ly/modern-ways-job-search

21. And Remember… 21
Some Notes About Video Resumes
1. Keep it short
2. Use a storytelling format
3. Describe your value for the position
4. Explain why you are the best for the job
5. Take your time & make sure it’s right before uploading to YouTube
Source: The Perfect Modern Resume, http://visual.ly/perfect-modern-resume

22. 22
Questions?

23. 23
Thank You!