This year marks the 40th anniversary of my high school graduation. These sorts of milestones are cause for all kinds of thoughts, emotions and actions. In my case, it has motivated me to seek out some of my classmates and see what has become of them. Primarily, I was curious about their work and careers.

One such classmate of mine is Cliff (Clifford) Ross. In simple terms, one would refer to Cliff as a photographer. In reality, he is an artist, and an inventor.

His work has been shown in exhibitions since the mid-1970′s, but it is his more recent interest in extremely high-definition panoramic images that is most interesting. Cliff’s eye and mind saw detail that existing cameras could not capture. And that’s where the fun began.

He set out to design a new kind of device that would capture images down to the most minute detail, at impossible distances. He cobbled together a bit of magic to accomplish his goal. Even Cliff was surprised to discover that his device could become patented (and did). Cliff was just glad it worked as he had envisioned.

In this 7-minute video, you’ll meet Cliff, see his finished work, and learn how he came to develop this incredible camera.

To me, the interesting elements are innovation, creativity, and seeing beyond what is now, toward what is possible. He didn’t set out to be an inventor, but his curiosity and art drove him to this end. To me, it is also a reminder that whatever-the-tool, the most important element of a photograph is the eye, behind the camera.

In world of too many formulas, knock-offs, and repetition, Cliff’s story is a rare one. It is the quintessential example of thinking-outside-the-box. I find it fascinating and motivating. I think our 4th grade art teacher, Mr. Nohn, would be blown away.

Andy Ebon
The Wedding Marketing Authority

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Magazines on iPad

Last week I spent a full day presenting to Nashville-area wedding businesses on various elements of wedding marketing. My fellow presenter was Sonny Ganguly from Wedding Wire.

I had last talked to Sonny when we were both attending the BSPI (Bridal Show Producers International) conference, here, in Las Vegas. That was late April, and Sonny already had his Apple iPad in hand.

Even as the Apple aficionado that I am, I had elected to wait before buying my first iPad, preferring to see which model and capacity would suit me.

So, it was with great curiosity that I asked Sonny, “After a couple of months, how are you using your iPad, and how has it affected the way you use other computers, desktop or laptop?”

He gleefully explained how using email and surfing the web were dramatically superior to a desktop or laptop computer. But his bigger excitement was two-fold: how he sees the iPad as a reading device for books, magazines, and documents… and, how he is comfortable leaving the laptop at the office, coming home with only the iPad.

Sonny further described that for many or most business trips, the iPad would be sufficient for his needs.

Apple has sold 3 million iPads in the first 80 days of availability. That’s a nice statistic, but I’m far more interested in talking to Sonny and other peers, to understand how each person is using theirs. This is a complex device, and has features that will appeal to, or have specific use, differently, for different people.

I would anticipate that as more magazines and books develop enhanced content and features for the iPad the rapid evolution via this new medium will pick up speed. The Apple iPad is more than just another shiny new object. It looks to be a quantum leap forward, and will be curious to see how all this will apply to wedding marketing.

Still curious? See this video from the folks at Wired Magazine, and see what they have cooking on the Apple iPad.

Oh… and when you’re done watching the video. If you’re an iPad owner, please share YOUR experience with other readers.

Andy Ebon
The Wedding Marketing Blog

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Half full or half empty?

It is incredibly challenging to keep a positive outlook on your business and the wedding industry when one is bombarded by a seemingly endless amount of lousy news, information and statistics.

When one is struggling, it’s normal to look outward for signs of prosperity on the horizon. For the small business, world and national events are more of distraction than anything else. The smaller business is too far down the food chain to measure the effect of good or bad news.

Even so, as a Las Vegas resident, I couldn’t help but wonder, out loud, as to how the Tiger Woods fiasco might affect tourism, with all the sleazy news about ‘night club hosts’ providing ‘hook-ups’ for big spenders. Tiger has single-handedly made mince meat of the slogan: “What happens here, stays here.”

Foreclosures in Las Vegas have slowed, slightly, but the big damage is already done, and it will likely take years for the situation to move in a positive direction. From my view, foreclosures are an indicator. They are a tangible measurement of job losses and an exodus of residents from Las Vegas, and Nevada, generally. The state population has been decreasing since early 2008. The population shrinkage is completely counter to the rapid increase of the last couple of decades.

So where is the half full part?

Last week I went to a Las Vegas NACE meeting, and chatted with my friend, Frank Gregory, CPCE. Frank had worked as a Senior Catering Manager, almost exclusively for Bally’s for the better part of two decades, before being unceremoniously squeezed out, last fall, in a reorganization of its catering department, citywide.

It took him months to catch on with a different hotel, Excalibur. OK, for the moment.

Aria Resort & Casino

Last Tuesday, Frank had a huge smile on his face, because he had been hired by the new Aria Resort & Casino, part of the MGM/Mirage City Center, which opens this week. City Center is a massive project, with a half-dozen hotels, a monster retail mall, restaurants, clubs, and beautiful art.

As I’ve absorbed the steady stream of news and information about City Center, I’ve finally begun to understand it. It’s a cohesive, well-designed urban center, within the Las Vegas strip. It’s a walkable, beautiful setting, decidedly different than the rest of the city.

The big question is: “Will City Center bring new business to Las Vegas or just cannibalize business from other parts of town?”

I am now ‘off the fence,‘ and am decidedly upbeat about the prospects of success for City Center, and in turn, its positive effects on increasing travel to Las Vegas.

I admit that I’m am influenced by the enthusiasm of Frank Gregory and his new job in the crown jewel of City Center, Aria Resort & Casino, Las Vegas.

Frank has become one of my symbols of good news, heading into the New Year. I’m sure there is plenty of bad news where you are. But if you, look around, you can find specific examples of great news.

Find your reasons for optimism, and let them buoy your outlook.

Andy Ebon
The Wedding Marketing Authority

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There will not be an InStyle Weddings Magazine in 2010. Its final edition is slated for December 25, 2009.

InStyle Weddings is the third wedding magazine to close during the past few weeks. Elegant Bride and Modern Bride, both Conde Nast publications, ending last month.

These closing of these three publications is, in contrast, to the recent launch of Get Married Magazine.

Andy Ebon
The Wedding Marketing Authority

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Annie Payton, CPCE is a 5-time winner of various NACE (National Association of Catering Executives) awards for excellence in events. She received a stunning three awards for work at Reflection Bay, Lake Las Vegas, this past July at the NACE Conference in Charlotte, NC.

Unfortunately, Annie was not at the conference as she had just been laid off by Reflection Bay, due to the closure of the facility. Great events, aside, its closure was a by-product of the ongoing weakness in the Las Vegas economy.

After considering her options for employment, Annie decided to turn lemons into lemonade: She began the process of opening her own restaurant, Annie’s Gourmet Italian in Henderson, NV.

As the Las Vegas economy has plummeted, since early 2008, many businesses have downsized or closed their doors. In her planning and search for a location, Annie found a vacant restaurant space that had been completely built out. She negotiated the deal with her new landlord, purchased the necessary kitchen equipment, furniture, signage, and navigated the local license and permit process.

Yesterday, Annie’s Gourmet Italian opened its doors for lunch and dinner. Business neighbors, friends, and random customers dined on family style, traditional Italian food, in the cozy eatery. The restaurant seats about 40 inside and has a patio that accommodates 50. The patio is an ideal setting for lunches, dinners, and  wedding rehearsal dinners in warmer months. Off-premise catering and take-out are also part of the mix at Annie’s.

Comment: The entrepreneurial spirit is an interesting quality. It is often said that ” When one door closes, another one opens.”

Annie Payton, CPCE has put that saying into practice by bucking the economy blues and any other hurdles thrown in her way.

If you’re in the area, stop in and enjoy fine family food and the warmth of spirit that is Annie’s Italian Gourmet.

Pat & Jodi Harris, Andy Ebon, Michelle & Russ Howard

Andy Ebon
The Wedding Marketing Authority

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A technology breakthrough? In a magazine?

Yes, that would be correct! Read on, about the dramatic new feature that will be part of Get Married Magazine, beginning with its Premier Issue (October 2009). An addition that will intrigue and inform brides. And benefit advertisers with a new and different connection to online content, directly from Get Married Magazine.

GET MARRIED MAGAZINE IS THE FIRST BRIDAL PUBLICATION TO USE THE CUTTING-EDGE MICROSOFT TAG, BRINGING PRINT PAGES TO LIFE

With the click of a smart phone camera on the pages of Get Married magazine, busy brides connect instantly to videos, websites, photos and information – while on the go

ATLANTA, August 4, 2009 – Get Married Media, an integrated tri-media wedding planning resource with national platforms online, on television and in print, announces today that Get Married magazine is the first bridal publication to ever use the new Microsoft Tag technology, giving readers instant entertainment and connection to videos, website, photos and information on a mobile phone.

The Get Married Microsoft Tage

Throughout Get Married magazine, select editorial and advertisements will have a Microsoft Tag printed directly onto the pages.  After a quick download of the free application to an internet-enabled camera phone, busy and on-the-go brides just aim and snap any Tag within Get Married magazine, immediately turning the still Tag into rich, interactive content on their phone.

As part of its fresh approach to planning weddings, Get Married is using multi-media in an innovative way as never seen before – integrating its expertise in TV and production, along with its internet proficiency, with a print medium - Get Married magazine.

Microsoft Tags, the sophisticated technology powered by High Capacity Color Barcodes (HCCBs), will enhance the Get Married magazine readers’ interactive experience.  The technology allows the users to interact with the content in the magazine in new ways using their mobile device, making it more informative, immersive and fun.  “Tagged” editorial and advertisements will turn traditional magazine reading into ground-breaking, rich, multi-media experiences within the wedding and bridal industry.

“Get Married magazine’s promise to reinterpret the rules starts with the publication itself, and integrating Microsoft Tag changes the way brides read a magazine, gather inspirations and connect with advertisers,” said Stacie Francombe, founder and president of Get Married Media.  “We are bringing our expertise in video and online to the magazine pages, moving beyond the traditional ways of delivering a bridal publication — from the newest interactive technology and latest trends in bridal shopping and style to a colorful, fresh voice in the wedding genre.”

With the small, colorful Microsoft Tags, Get Married magazine offers brides – who are busy working, planning and playing – quick, easy and convenient connectivity to information when and where they want it – with no typing, fumbling with URLs, texting short-codes or launching browsers.  Brides can learn more about a product, save Tags for later viewing, and make a purchase – directly from their phones.  With Tag, Get Married makes the process of planning a wedding more convenient and even more fun.

“Get Married is taking user interaction to the next level with Tag.  They have brides who are really engaged, incredibly focused on planning and shopping for their weddings, and Tag allows them to stay in the moment,” said Aaron Getz, business leader for Microsoft Tag. “Advertisers in Get Married magazine can deepen the relation with the brides making their ads immediately actionable and more entertaining. Besides they can track the actions brides are taking and inform their marketing strategy.”

Get Married is working closely with advertisers to incorporate Microsoft Tag in their print ads and to track and monitor the success of the campaigns.  The Tags enable advertisers to further connect brides and consumers with their brand, while influencing purchase decisions and enhancing brand loyalty.  For its first issue launching October 2009, Get Married magazine is offering free Tags to advertisers on full- and half-page ads.  In addition, advertisers can provide the video or Get Married will produce with existing advertiser footage and content.

For more about Get Married magazine’s Microsoft Tag, please visit www.getmarried.com/magazinetag for a step-by-step, including free application download, list of Tag-friendly phones, as well as actual Tag to test on your mobile phone.

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This news release will be followed with more items on The Wedding Marketing Blog, including testing of the new feature.

Andy Ebon
The Wedding Marketing Blog

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On the 4th of July (Independence Day), many Americans think of  Baseball, Hot Dogs, and Apple Pie. They have barbecues, set off fireworks, and consume large amounts of beer. I think of the good fortune of United States citizenship.

I didn’t have to acquire mine. I had the good fortune of being born in New York City. My parents, on the other hand, both made the trip from Europe.

My dad, Martin Ebon, made the edgy move from Hamburg, Germany in 1938, moving the rest of his immediate family, shortly there after. My mother, Koutsie Ebon, met my dad in her native Athens, Greece, in 1948. They married in 1949, and returned with him to New York City.

Both of them became naturalized citizens the old fashioned way. They came here legally, applied for citizenship, and completed the process. From a very early age, through high school, I traveled with them, over much of Europe. I came to believe that many people born into United States citizenship didn’t have a full appreciation of the good fortune of being born here.

Over time, I have come to appreciate both the variety of cultures and countries around the world, and the regional individuality of states and cities across the United States. I have only South Dakota to visit to complete my travel to all fifty states.

Enjoy today and if you are a United States citizen, pause awhile to think about how lucky we are.

Andy Ebon
The Wedding Marketing Blog

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Click to follow me

The fine people at Hubspot specialize in optimization and testing of various kinds. Previously, on the site, I have recommended Website Grader, a free service that analyzes and helps you tweak your website.

More recently, Hubspot has introduced similar services to better understand your Facebook, Blogging and Twitter performance. As part of the Twitter Grader service. Without disclosing the exact scoring algorithms, Hubspot explains that your Twitter Grade is based on Followers, their ReTweets of your Tweets (forwarding to their followers), and various other levels of interaction and relevancy.

When I checked my Twitter Grade, it came up at 96.6, which seemed pretty high (out of 100). As The Wedding Marketing Blog is a niche business blog, comparing it to general consumer sites doesn’t typically play very well, as that is an Apples and Oranges situation.

Within the Twitter Grade service, there is Twitter Elite (Top 50). There are various subsets of Twitter Elite. Just for fun, I thought I’d see how I compared to the TOP 50 Twitterers in Las Vegas, NV. To my surprise and amazement, this site (and I) ranked #46, just a couple of slots below MGM Grand and the Tony – CEO of Zappo’s; just a couple of slots above the world famous Las Vegas Sign.

What does that mean to me?

It means this: In order to have influence, one must have an audience. In terms of my goals, it means have loyal readers on this blog. Twitter and Facebook, in particular, are part of my social media plan to direct focus toward The Wedding Marketing Blog.

None of that works unless the content on this blog is interesting and helpful to its readers. Clearly, the stars have aligned as June 2009 is this blog’s best month ever.

The challenge to you: What is it, you can do, to make your blog and website the thought leader in your industry, in your market?

Think about it, make a plan to leverage awareness of your brand, and go do it!!

Andy Ebon

The Wedding Marketing (and Twitter) Authority

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Thanks to so many fathers (and mothers) who help fund the wedding of their daughter’s dreams.

Andy Ebon

The Wedding Marketing Authority

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