Steps for Submitting a Wedding for Publication

NOTE: I have paraphrased this fabulous post from Done Brilliantly, Two Bright Lights’ blog, on how to create a submission.

1. Upload Your Event

Upload an Event by clicking “Create an Event” on your Weddings and Events tab. Then follow the prompts. (If you have already uploaded the wedding you want to submit, you can skip this step.) Two things to keep in mind when uploading:

1. Make sure you upload at least 50 publishable images
2. Make sure to attach as many other vendors to the wedding as you can.

Doing these two things will dramatically improve your chances of being selected!

2. Create an Inspiration Board

You’ll create an inspiration board to submit to publishers by doing these steps:

1. Go to the Weddings & Events tab
2. Select the wedding you want to submit
3. Click “Create”, then “Inspiration Board”
4. Choose your favorite images and click “Create” to create the inspiration board.
5. Select a template and drag images and click save.

This Inspiration Board will act as the “cover letter” for your submission, but it is not the only images the editor will see! They will have access to ALL of the images you have uploaded. If they like what they see in the inspiration board, they can click to see more!

3. Create Your Submission

That’s it you’re done!

I’m hardly doing this justice… check out this video for the visual details:

What is Two Bright Lights?

Two Bright Lights is a personal publicity platform that generates media exposure and word-of-mouth marketing to promote your creative business.

Two Bright Lights has 4 key benefits:

• Boosts Your Media Exposure
  TBL gives you the ability to submit your work to over 200 online and magazine publications.  MAGIC!
• Increases word-of-mouth marketing
  It’s a sharing site!  TBL enables you to upload your work and share it easily among colleagues and clientele.
• Showcases your creative work
  TBL allows you to create slideshows and inspiration boards to feature your work and ideas.  Seriously, folks.
• Streamlines your work flow
  TBL keeps it all in one place.  The TBL system lets you share and deliver your work among wedding pros.  (This is especially valuable for photographers who want to share images with other vendors but don’t always have the time to be creating stacks of CDs for every wedding pro after each event.)

I am indeed smitten with all things Two Bright Lights.

Of these benefits, the most powerful is how Two Bright Lights works to boost your publicity.  (TBL makes it EASY-PEASY to have your work published on blogs and magazines.)  I’ll be focusing on this aspect tomorrow.

Who should use Two Bright Lights?

Two Bright Lights is for all wedding pros.  However, because it’s built as a picture sharing platform, photographers are currently the ‘gatekeepers’ of their images. (Photographers are the pros uploading images and can tag wedding vendors, including you, associated with the event.)  ALL wedding professionals can join and can request the photographer to add them to the event album.  Also, any wedding professional can put together a submission as long as it’s approved by the photographer.  (This is to ensure that the photographers’ images are credited and copyrights respected.)   Psssst… I got the inside scoop that they will be allowing non-photographer’s to upload their own images in early next year. Yippeee!  Keep your eyes open for this.

While most submissions through Two Bright Lights are ‘real wedding’ features it is possible for a vendor to submit a pitch for an interest piece.  (For example, an invitation designer who wants to submit a piece on “Trends in Lace Wedding Invites” as a story.)  Again,  the vendor would currently have to partner with a single photographer to upload images and partner with on this project.

Which magazines and wedding blogs use TBL for their submission process?

Two Bright Lights is a super-simple way of reaching out to publishers and getting your work published.  Many of the TBL’s editorial partners are blogs that are looking for fresh content daily.  They NEED your material!  And TBL makes it easy to get into their hands.

This is a partial list of some of the magazines and blogs that are partnered with TBL:

• 100 Layer Cake
• Brooklyn Bride
• Every Last Detail
• Get Married
• Junebug Weddings
• Offbeat Bride
• Oh So Beautiful Paper
• Ruffled
• Sparkle & Hay
• Style Unveiled
• Southern Weddings Magazine
• The Broke Ass Bride

For a complete list of their 200+ editorial partners, make sure to visit their site.

Come back tomorrow and I’ll show you how the Two Bright Lights submission process works!

Have you used Two Bright Lights before?  What do you think?

Image: Creative Commons

Let’s talk about getting some publicity for your business!  I’m going to share 5 quick-n-easy steps for getting your business featured in a magazine or on a blog.  Keep in mind that these are MY steps… OR: general steps on submitting material.  It’s always best to find out how a magazine or blog wants things submitted specific to them.  (I’ll get into that here when we talk about “editorial guidelines”.)

5 Steps for Getting Published

1. SUBMIT

This sounds like a silly first step.  The truth is that most wedding businesses don’t submit their work to be published.  How can you ever get published if you don’t take the first step and submit your work to editors?  Here’s another thing that people don’t know… publishers NEEEEEEEEEEED your work.  They’re dying to have it, see it, and feature it.  Without out your submissions there is very little for them to talk about on their medium.  So, do it.  Submit stuff.

2. KNOW the TARGET AUDIENCE

Do your research on the magazine or blog that you want to submit your work to. What sort of weddings do they feature?  What sort of weddings do you specialize in?  If you specialize in funky far-from-traditional weddings, you’ll want to consider rocknrollbride.com or offbeatbride.com .  If you have a classic style that features outdoor-vintage-rustic weddings you’ll want to consider submitting to stylemepretty.com .  Make sure you study the different magazines and websites and know the difference.  Each has an audience that they are attracting with their features and you’ll have better luck if you submit work that is a match for that audience.

3. Get the EDITORIAL SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Each magazine or blog will have it’s own “submission guidelines”.  You need to get your hands on this.  The guidelines are the publication’s list of rules for submission.  Just following the rules ensures that you’ll have a better chance of getting published. Many magazine websites or blogs will have the submission guidelines or submission instructions listed on the site.  Just dig around.  If you don’t find anything, seek an editor (preferably someone at an assistant level) and phone or email them to kindly ask for the publication’s guidelines.

Some examples of guidelines might be “send 5-10 high resolution images to email@email.com”.  You’re already doing well by reading and following directions.  The people that send 20 images have already made it more challenging for that editor.

4. TELL a STORY

Magazines want sizzle.  Tell the story of the couple.  You don’t need to be a prize-winning writer… show emotion and connection about the wedding and the editor will be intrigued.  Also, be original.  If the magazine has recently featured at wedding at XYZ venue that is sapphire and amethyst, chances are slim that they’ll be featuring another one at the same venue with the same colors any time soon.  If you have a unique story to tell, publishers will listen.  And, by all means, keep it simple.  No need to write a 2000 word essay on the wedding.  Lastly, you’ll want to provide professional images so make sure you know the photographer on the event and work with them to get their images submitted.

5. TRY and TRY again

I love what Beth Helmstetter, Event Planner, shared last year about getting published in magazines: “Don’t be afraid of the word ‘no.’ I send my work into editors, bloggers, publicists and even television producers on a regular basis. Often I am ignored or even get a “we’re not interested” response, but just as often I find someone who does like my work.”

Keep trying!

Whaddya think?  Was this helpful?  TOMORROW – PLEASE come back for more on getting published!  I’m going to talk about how to use Two Bright Lights to get media exposure.

Image: Creative Commons License

When You Need to Use the Phone

Email doesn’t always cut it.  A potential client may email you with some questions about your services.  Often, we can write back and “get the job done”.  But, if the client is truly trying to decide between vendors to set meetings with, you will not always have the chance to shine on email.  When you reply to a potential client via email you are replying with facts.  Those facts are then compared to another vendor.  This is how people make decisions in the technology age.

If you feel this potential client is sizing you up, you need to show them your personality.  After all, the client may care some about facts, but ultimately, people hire personalities.  We are selling relationships, not gear, not powder and sugar, not paper.  People want to hire YOU.

A Chance to SHINE on the Phone

In Tony Hseih’s book Delivering Happiness, the CEO of Zappos discusses THE PHONE as the most powerful tool in the company’s ability to sell shoes.  When the company set out their mission of providing the best service possible (to create a “WOW” factor) it realized that it would need to use the phone to do so.  Service is not typically provided via phone these days.  And if it is, it’s usually substandard.  Zappos stands apart because there are people – live human people – available to answer customers’ questions.  And, they stand apart from the competition because they can add value with a simple conversation.

You too have a chance to shine on the phone.  You have an opportunity to show who you are and to be a problem solver.  When a potential client emails with questions, they want solutions.  By picking up the phone you have the opportunity to add value before they’ve even hired you.  That is an incredible competitive advantage!

Making the Phone Work for YOU

Like I said earlier, the interruption of the phone usually throws my day off.  So, I need the phone to work for me.  I almost always schedule all of my phonecalls.  This ensures that I am prepared and in the right mindset to speak with anyone.  It also gives me a chance to do a little homework before I talk with the client and be prepared to offer them value.

Mind you, this isn’t a full-blown consultation on the phone.  I still would prefer to meet with the person and have that one to one face time.  They need to see what I’m all about, see paper, color, etc.  This is only to see if I can help them in some way and find the best fit for their needs.

This is also a great way to pre-qualify someone. I can find out more about their wedding, more about their vision, and more about them.  I can also identify any red flags in case this is a client that I need to turn away before I meet with them.  It also gives me the opportunity to refer them to someone who is a better fit if I am not.

The purpose of this call is always to get a quick 15-20 minutes to see what they need.  If it goes well, I will attempt to set up an in-person consult at the end of the call.  When I set up the call I simply ask the person in the email, “You have some great questions.  Can we set up a quick 15 minute call so that I can learn more about what it is that you need.” If the person isn’t interested in this call, then I know they aren’t that interested in my service or in ME.  This is another great way to pre-qualify.

Dusting Off Your Phone Skills

Because we’ve been emailing since 1994, our phone skills are DUSTY!  I know some of you are nervous about your phone ability.  You don’t want to lose the sale on the phone.  You’d rather they get the chance to meet you first.  But, the truth is that the email isn’t always cutting it either.  (Again – the potential client is comparing facts.  They can’t see your personality unless you are super funny in your email, like photographer Laurel McConnell.)

This requires PRACTICE.  And, in this increasingly competitive market, phone skills are something you need to improve if you want to SHINE. When I graduated college I was terrified of using the phone.  I hated having people around me listening to my call, even though the calls were business related.  I thought my voice was shaky and unsure.  I got into the practice of rehearsing in my head what I wanted to say.  To this day, I still rehearse a few things in my head – and I jot down a few notes before my call.  This keeps me focused and prepared.  I remind myself that the other person is probably as nervous as I am and it’s my job to make them feel comfortable.  I am a hostess on this phonecall.  By making them feel comfortable, it softens the situation for everyone involved.

Then… the conversation just flows.

You can only become good at this by doing.  Just do it.  And, keep doing it.  And, you’ll get good at it.  I promise.

What do you think?  What is your relationship with the phone?  Has it been helpful in getting the client to meet with you?

I was fascinated by this.  And, I decided that I was going to study Tracy.  I was going to analyze her every move.  How does she do it?  I thought, “I really like Tracy.  I’m going to do everything that she does.”  And I did.  I literally copied her every move.  Well – I tried.  I’d like to think I succeeded, at least for a short while… until the next fad hit me.  I think I did this for a week.

Do you know what I learned while I was studying her every move?  It was simple: SHE WAS NICE.  (I still know Tracy and I’ll tell you, she *IS* nice.)

People sincerely liked her and liked being around her.  She was often voted “nicest” and “friendliest” and “happiest”.  She had this way of making others feel good and feel good about themselves.  Part of it was her natural positivity and part of it was her cheerful soul.  But, mostly, she was just so nice to everyone.

Tracy was nice to every single person in school… which is saying a lot for 6th grade when people aren’t always so nice.

Image: Creative Commons License

Nice Guys Finish First

Honest.  They do.  Eventually karma catches up… for better or for worse it will catch up.  And, the people who are nice are the ones who are often doing the best.

I think of people that I admire in my career (and in my previous careers) and it is the people who were the nicest that are on top.

Why is this?  Well… think about it… when someone is nice to you, don’t you want to do something nice back?  I sure do.  When someone is nice to you, don’t you notice them?  When someone goes out of their way to be nice (even in a small gesture), does it make you see them more clearly?  I know that when people are kind to me, I notice them.  I want to help them back.  I want to help them as people, as business owners.  When people do nice things, I feel better about myself… and, as a result, I feel better about them too.

People do Business with People

I got to listen to Brett Culp, from Brett Culp Films talk last week at Wedding and Event Video Expo (WEVA Expo).  He shared with us his “business plan” which is a core ideology for how he runs his film business.  It’s pretty simple:

• Do Great Work
• Show it to LOTS of People
• Be REAL Nice

I love this!  I love all of it… but I especially love the “Be REAL Nice”.  These days everyone is sweatin’.  We’re sweatin’ about our equipment, our branding, our websites, our gear, our style, and so on.  BUT(!)—- all the client cares about is THE PERSON that he or she does business with.  That’s also the only thing that your colleagues in the industry care about also.  Yes, you have to provide quality and you have to be able to deliver on your promises.  But, at the end of the day… the client is less concerned what kind of camera you own and more concerned with how they are going to be treated.

Shed everything from your business… and what is left?  Are you nice?

Photo of Laura Cassidy, Courtesy of Lindsay Borden

This week is all about getting attention for  your business.  Yesterday, Julianne Smith gave us her 10 tips for Public Relations.  Today, we are going to get you into some magazines!  I love what Beth Helmstetter, Event Planner, shared with us a few months ago about getting into the magazines: “Don’t be afraid of the word “no.” I send my work into editors, bloggers, publicists and even television producers on a regular basis. Often I am ignored or even get a “we’re not interested” response, but just as often I find someone who does like my work.”

Today, Laura Cassidy is here to help you get into Real Weddings features.  Whether the magazine is local or national, getting featured in this section allows you to showcase your skills in action.

Laura Cassidy exudes style.  As style editor for Seattle Metropolitan and editor of Seattle Metropolitan Bride & Groom she *has* to shop for a living – and dress the part.  (I seriously think I mismanaged my career.)  She also is writer of the blog Wear What When where she shares all the goods on how to cultivate a life of style.  Today, she’ll give us the skinny on how to get editorial in wedding magazines.

Ten Tips of “Real Weddings” Advice ~ How to Get Into Bridal Magazines
Laura Cassidy, Wear What When

1. Anyone Can Submit: At Seattle Met Bride & Groom, anyone can submit images from the event; cake bakers, floral designers, grandmothers, nosy neighbors, especially mature flower girls. Anyone. The majority of submissions come from photographers and newly-weds, but so long as you have permission from the starring players, we’re not picky about who takes charge of nominating the big day. We do not set a limit on how many submissions each vendor can send in, though we do have a limit on how many weddings each couple can send in. I mean, it wouldn’t be right if some groom nominated himself in two different ceremonies, would it??

2.  Send 10-20 images: We ask that folks submit between 10 and 20 (not five and certainly not 45) low-res images; when we like what we see, we follow up and ask for a full set of high-res images. Yes we really can make great judgments about whether an event is a good fit for us based on a handful of images. What we can’t do is click through one hundred images for each of the two-hundred and sixty-one submissions we get each issue.

3. Know the Magazine: To that end, do make sure that you’ve selected the types of shots that the mag you’re submitting to tends to print. I suggest that potential candidates cruise through our online galleries and note the prevalence of detail shots over formal portraits. But perhaps the publication you’re submitting to publishes a lot of posed, formal shots. Chances are good they’d like to see what you have in that realm. Photographers always tell me they’re “terrible” at editing their photos. Here’s a chance to grow and get better at it!

4. Know the Magazine’s Mission: I ask that folks in Seattle keep the mission of SMB&G’s Real Weddings in mind: It’s there to inspire readers to create their own totally amazing days. While many think of it as a brag book or photo gallery – and certainly, it’s a place to scout out great photographers and yes, the bragging rights are pretty sweet – the section is all about sharing ideas and enticing couples to be true to their vision and take the day wherever they want it to go.

5. Share the Wealth: We also want to share vendor referrals (a list accompanies each wedding) — or, on the other hand, show off weddings by especially enterprising couples who were good at enlisting talented friends and family. We are open to DIY weddings as well as those that offer a nice long list of the area’s best talent.

6. Be an Original: We look for the best and the brightest; the most romantically elegant and smashingly fun. Novel but not necessarily kooky. Personal but not so specific that others wouldn’t relate. Commitment ceremonies are every bit as welcome as weddings. A union is a union.

7. Know Your Market: We are game to print weddings that took place in the Seattle-area, even if the couple is from out of town, and we are happy to print the destination weddings of those who call this area home. We like city weddings, country weddings, and everything in between.

8. Know Editorial Deadlines: We print weddings that took place in the year prior to the issue date. So, for the issue due out in July ‘10, we’ll consider weddings from July ’09 forward. We accept submissions at any time. Don’t put off til tomorrow what you can do today; editors get busier and busier as their deadlines loom, and you’re better off catching us when our brains are fresh rather than inundated.

9. Give ALL the Details: Don’t forget contact information for the bride and groom (you’d be surprised how often that happens) and the photographer (ditto), and please keep in mind that we cannot confirm receipt or reply to individual submissions. There just aren’t enough hours in the day.

10. Don’t Take it Personally: Have fun with it and don’t be discouraged if nothing from your first round of submissions gets printed. Keep in mind editors are weighing a lot of elements. My art director and I aim to get different colors, different settings, different seasons, and different styles into each set of five to seven weddings in the section, so it’s a crazy balancing act and we always find weddings we love but just can’t include because of this careful mix.

Julianne Smith

I am in awe of how Juliane Smith is making leaps and bounds in the wedding industry with her business, Julianne Smith Garters.  It seems like only yesterday I learned about her, and today she is the talk of the profession.  She has been able to get “in the face” of many influential people… and as result, has been able to get some great press.  She has maximized her career experience in public relations to quickly grow her business.  Juli shared with me her tips on how to get more attention for your company with her 10 PR tips… Take it away Juli…

Ten Tips to Earn More Attention For Your Company
Julianne Smith, www.juliannesmith.com

PR. To some, it is an ugly acronym. Public relations gets a bad rap, as people think of images of slicksters, working for the highest bidder. In reality, PR comes down to telling your story your way. In this day and age, PR is literally every outward expression of your company. It is more than just getting the latest wedding magazine to feature your work. It is your website, your logo, what you Tweet about, your partnerships, what you wear to an industry cocktail party. Everything.

With the power of social media, getting attention for your company is easier than ever. You have more control over the outcome than ever before. But, you have to know what you are doing. You must be purposeful with your actions.

Many, if not all, of the old rules of PR still apply today. After nearly ten years in politics and PR, I turned my energy towards my stylish wedding garter company. I’ve learned a few things along the way, so here are a few tips from me to you. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but rather ten quick things to be mindful of as you work to earn more attention for your company. And yes, I said “earn” because you have to work for it!

1. Be You: Are you boring and stuffy? Well, then don’t send a boring and stuffy pitch. Be you. If it is an email, then it should read exactly as if you were speaking. If you are talking on the phone or in person, then relax and just be you. This is important because it ensures that you are being authentic.

2. Keep it Short: People have the attention span of flies and they have even less time to read emails, so keep your pitches, voicemails and/or whatever else short and to the point. If you are a designer, say a little bit about your product to give it context, but then let the designs speak for themselves. If editors like what they see, don’t worry, they will seek you out to find out more.

3. Do Your Homework: The phrase “cold calling” means reaching out to someone that you haven’t met before. It doesn’t mean reaching out to someone who you’ve never heard of before. Do your homework before you pitch your company to anyone. If it is a magazine, look through the past few issues and get a sense of their style. As you are reading, think about where your product would fit in, so that you can suggest it as a potential way to work together.

4. Target: Only pitch to the those that would be a good fit for your news. For example, it would be a huge waste of time (yours and theirs) to submit a futuristic themed wedding to a vintage inspired blog. Just by the theme of it, you know they aren’t going to write about it, so don’t even bother. Make an effort to seek out those that would have an actual interest in what you have to say. You will be more likely to see results.

5. Make a Plan: If you have something coming up that is worthy of publication, then make a plan BEFORE the actual event. Once the event happens, you should be well into working your plan, not just starting it. Think about the publications that would a be good fit, line up the vendors who contributed and make a “pitch list.” Start gathering contact information and reaching out to your list. There is nothing wrong with teasing your news or sharing a few preview pictures with a reporter to get a sense of their interest.

6. Pick Up the Phone: No one uses the phone anymore. Everyone relies on texts and email. You will be more effective if you actually make a pitch over the phone. (You get bonus points if you can do it in person!) If an outlet has publicized directions for how to contact them, then, of course, you should follow it. But, there is no reason that you can’t follow that up with a phone call.

7. You Are Your Best Advocate: Publicists, ghost writers and others that you can hire to help you promote your company have their purpose and place. Whether you hire someone or not, know that you, and only you, are the best advocate for your company. Work with the person that you hire to get the results you want, don’t just expect them to do it for you. If you have employees, be very clear with them about who can and cannot talk to press and use social media to discuss your company. You are the one who knows the in’s and out’s of your company, and you will be able to give it the best public face.

8. Social Media is PR: Like it or not, when you use social media (Twitter, Facebook and blogs) you are actively engaging in your own PR. Just by its nature, when you are on social media you are, in a very public way, promoting your company. What you say online impacts (positively or negatively) your company, so use it wisely.

9. Acknowledgment: If you use social media (and I think you should!), then it is important that you are actively engaging in the conversation. If you set up a Facebook page, then update it regularly. When a potential client visits your Facebook page and you haven’t updated in three months, what does this say about your company? This also means acknowledging Tweets, emails, comments and other messages that come your way. It is bad PR and bad customer service to ignore anyone. And, yes, an RT on Twitter counts…especially to the younger generation. If you blog, consider anyone who reads your blog as a client. They might not be buying your products directly, but they are reading your words. Customers look to social media as a conversation. They want to talk directly to vendors and designers. Not acknowledging someone who contacts you is the social equivalent of giving someone a blank stare when they come up to you in the coffee shop and say, “I like your shirt.”

10. Consistency is King: As the business owner, you should be saying the same few sentences over and over and over again. And, when you are sick of saying them, say ‘em again. Come up with a few buzz sentences and phrases about your company and use them ALL the time. Use them when you explain your product to a client and use them in a pitch to a magazine. Your website, your blog, your Facebook page, your Twitter should all have the same look and feel, and more importantly, the same consistent message. Yes, that means writing the same few things repeatedly.

I know I said ten, but here is a bonus tip, ‘cause this one is important….

11. Be Humble…Yes, bloggers and magazines need content to fill their pages, but arrogance will get you nowhere. Be thankful for every piece (big or small) of PR your company is given. Make sure that whoever wrote about you knows how thankful you are. And, by the way, with the search-ability of the Internet, there is no such thing as a small media hit.