Marketing / Gramma Week at Disney/ Ethics in Orlando - 1/02/09

Fri Jan 2 15:17:01 EST 2009

- MARKETING IDEAS
- CRAIG'S LIST AND YELP
- THE KNOT.COM
- CHICAGO WEDDING EXPO MARKETING OPPORTUNITY
- (PARTIALLY) TAX DEDUCTABLE GRAMMA/DISNEY WEEK
- 3 HOURS/CREDITS OF ETHICS AT ORLANDO CONFERENCE

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- MARKETING IDEAS

- CRAIG'S LIST AND YELP

> Hi Diane, 
> We do periodically advertise our Marriage Prep 101 workshops on Craig's list,
> and we do get calls from the free ads.  An important detail is that you need
> to re-list every week as the ads automatically expire at the week's end.
> Another great way to market our workshops has been through www.yelp.com..  The
> SF generation of engaged and newlywed couples often find us via word of mouth
> or online, and Yelp is considered reliable to them. We did not ask for the
> reviews; our couples spontaneously wrote them.
> 
> Hope that helps.
> Michelle Gannon
> www.marriageprep101.com
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- THE KNOT.COM

Diane,

Saw your message regarding marketing on Craig's list.  Thought I would let
you know what we're doing in Michigan.

I researched several websites for brides after noticing that women were
using the on-line organizing systems.

I found two sites worth taking a look at, TheKnot.com and the
WeddingBee.com. 

The Knot offers more services, Wedding Bee is more of a blog chronicling
what women are going through while
preparing for the big day.

Neither site had links for marriage prep or classes --looked like an
opportunity to me.
We chose to put a small banner ad on the Knot for these reasons:
    1) We benefit from Federal dollars hence needing a broader audience,
    2) You can measure who comes into your site easily
    3) The Knot could run a zip code analysis on their membership  This
    showed that there were 10,000 women in Detroit, 36,000 in Wayne Co.
using this site to plan their wedding.
    These are registered women on this site.
    4) You can geographically target your message - just buy the region
you're trying to reach.
    5) No one else is there yet.  (A couple of counselors have signed on but
deeper into the site.)

I'll let you know what we learn after we reach 30 days.  Seems this ought to
be a National buy if we see any results in Detroit.

Sharon Starling
Marketing Consultant for the MI HMC

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- CHICAGO WEDDING EXPO MARKETING OPPORTUNITY

Diane,
I came across the information below and wanted to know if it would be an
opportunity for some of the authors on the mailing list. If so, would you
mind posting it?  

> Chicago, IL - Salem Baptist Church will be sponsoring its 2009 Wedding Expo
> Saturday February 28, 2009 at the House of Hope.  The event is expected to
> draw over 1,000 attendees.  Books Ink will be participating as the organizer
> of event's Literary Cafe'.  We are looking for authors whose books deal with
> relationships, marriage and related issues.   Several authors will be selected
> to conduct workshops during expo.  Additional vending opportunities are
> available.  Interested individuals should contact Constance Shabazz at
> booksink at msn.com or call 773-330-4115.
Angela Smith, CEO
SM Consultants, LLC

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- (PARTIALLY) TAX DEDUCTABLE GRAMMA/DISNEY WEEK
Diane,
You're always telling us about your wonderful Gramma Week trips with your
grandchildren so this one should interest you.  My son-in-law helped me
realize over the holidays that you've provided a way to defray part of the
expense on a very special Gramma Week at Disney World.  I always deduct my
Smart Marriages travel expenses (hotel/flights/etc) as part of my therapist
continuing education.  I can have my daughter and grandsons join me in
Orlando and write off my part of this Gramma trip!   Since dates are so near
July 4th and busy part of year for Disney, you might want to alert people to
make reservations NOW. We just lined it all up.  You might tell others, I
wouldn't have realized it without my son-in-law's help.
M. W.

#################################
- 3 HOURS/CREDITS OF ETHICS AT ORLANDO CONFERENCE
You ask, we deliver.  We're again offering the Ethics option in Orlando that
will include DV ethics requirements, confidentiality, boundaries, informed
consent, etc.  Taught by three experience marriage therapists/marriage
educators: Greg Brock, Mary Ortwein, and Rita DeMaria  - diane

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