Blogging Bootcamp for Wedding Professionals

Okay, so this blog post is specifically geared to all of my wedding industry friends and colleagues.
If you do not have the great fortune of knowing Liene Stevens as I do, now is your chance!
Liene Stevens is the founder of Blue Orchid Designs, a wedding planning firm
with consultants in Arizona, New York and Washington DC. Since the launch
of the Blue Orchid Designs blog in 2006, it has grown to include over 3000
unique daily visitors, including brides, wedding vendors, national magazine
editors and all of her proud aunts.
Known for her honest and pragmatic style, Liene will share specific strategies
and tips on how to find and leverage your unique blogging voice, how to
consistently develop killer content, how to effectively promote your brand
online and more.
Even better--she's my friend!

Here's the deal-io:
Who: Any wedding professional who wants to effectively leverage online
media to grow their business
When: May 7, 2009
Time: 9 am - 4 pm
Where: Celebration Golf Club
Cost: $150 per person
Since the launch of the Blue Orchid Blog in 2006, it has grown to include
over 3000 unique daily visitors and is partially to credit for the launch of
two new Blue Orchid Designs offices on the East Coast. In the Blogging
Bootcamp, Liene will share specific strategies and techniques she has
personally used to grow the Blue Orchid Designs blog to where it is today.
This workshop is open to all wedding professionals, not just wedding
planners. Space is limited and will be filled on a first come, first served
basis so reserve your spot now! Laptops are optional and lunch will be
provided.
Topics covered will include:
*How to discover and leverage your blogging voice
*How to maximize your blogging ROI
*How to develop killer content - consistently
*How to set short term and long term goals for your blog
*How to effectively analyze your stats and blog traffic
*How to increase your readership and keep them coming back for more
*Specific strategies and techniques to use your blog to improve your main
website's SEO or "findability" on Google
*How to promote your brand through your blog's design and content
*Maintaining professional boundaries while still being personable
*And more!
The Blogging Bootcamp will not be a class on blogging philosophy. You
already know that blogging is a good idea. We'll be showing you how to
do it so that it is worth your time. No topic will be off the table, and any
questions you may have will be fair game.

**Don't miss out on this excellent opportunity to build your business via the blogging medium and getting to know one fascinating dame--

Wedding Music and Diversity

I am delighted to share DJ Carl's latest music mix with you this week. Carl will be a regular contributor to the blog monthly, and I will be eager to share his well-prepared music mixes with you to kick off each month.

This month, Carl wanted to illustrate wedding music and diversity:

"The diversity of music has made wedding music programming challenging for experienced professionals. Hiring a band or DJ who can keep the flow non-stop once guests start dancing is an important variable when considering your musical entertainment. Here is a mix that may appeal to diverse guests from different parts of the world who want the music to be really different from traditional wedding play lists, yet the music is themed around the word "DANCING". I hope you like the song transitions because that is what would make these songs successful."

From a planner's perspective, I can tell you that our main "music goal" is to have our guests {every guest!}emotionally and musically engaged at every stage of the evening. Thoughtful and careful planning with your musical host will ensure that very success you expect.

This week's music mix is fantastic and you can listen for yourself by clicking *here*

1. Rock Your Body (Oakenfold Remix) by Justin Timberlake (R&B/Pop)
2. Dance Hall Soca by Byrin Lee & Dragonaires (Soca)
3. La Negra Tiene Tumbao by Celia Cruz (Salsa)
4. Hella Good by No Doubt (Rock)
5. Toot Toot by Rockin' Sidney Simien (Zydeco)
6. I Hate This Part by The Pussycat Dolls (Pop)

I've been enjoying listening to these mixes and hope you are as well-

Cheers!

**Images courtesy of proud new papa, Garrett Nudd**