This post is the fourth of a recap series about a meeting of the Las Vegas Wedding Network. Seven brides spoke and answered questions about their wedding planning experience.
Jazmine told a story about a vendor she met a bridal show who took the time to look up her Facebook profile, find out a little bit about her, and connected with her. The vendor was able to look her up, using the email address she provided.
One of the meeting attendees was aghast and agitated, shouting out her question: “Isn’t that stalking?”
Calmly, Jazmine responded with the following… paraphrasing:
“At the time, my profile was public, so anyone on Facebook could have seen my complete profile. I have since made much of my profile less public, until I’ve made a friend-connection. I thought it was ‘sweet’ that the vendor took a little time to learn a little about me, see I had a child from a previous marriage, and more. It showed me they were interested in me.”
More than once, during the evening, Jazmine pointed out the importance of people remembering names and faces, particularly at bridal shows and showcases. She remembered a specific instance where one exhibitor at a bridal show had shoved a business card at her, three separate times. Other people, seeing her on multiple occasions, remembered her by name.
Opinion – What to make of this: First of all, it’s not stalking. Not by a long shot. If some approaches you to friend them on Facebook, if you don’t want that to happen, just press ignore. If they persist, and annoy you, it’s one click to BLOCK them.
If you approached 100 brides via Facebook to follow your business group page or connect as a friend, some percentage would connect with you and others would not. Your approach might go like this:
Dear Jazmine,
Enjoyed meeting you at the Bridal Spectacular. I know you’re still in the decision making process, and thought you might want to follow my business fan page, and learn more about what my company is about, and see what we’re doing. Hope you’ll become a fan.
Andy
That’s a pretty benign approach, and, again, some brides will become a fan, others won’t. Don’t over analyze it. Having a soft Facebook strategy is a perfectly reasonable marketing move.
It’s important to remember that what YOU prefer as a customer, is not relevant when you are the business owner. Don’t project your likes and dislikes on the bride. This is an opt-in approach. Those brides that choose to follow you are exercising Permission Marketing.
Andy Ebon
The Wedding Marketing Blog
Great article, Andy. And, it’s so true that it all goes back to making that personal connection with a bride.
How about this? For wedding folks worried about being perceived as a stalker, how about collecting emails at your both or networking events with the express person of later inviting that bride to like your fan page and receive a special treat.
Your fan page is a great way to offer a ‘sampling’ of you and for the bride to see comments from others who are interested in or appreciated your work.
This is a great topic that I think we’ll cover at the Communal Table soon.
Warmly,
Dina