Thursday, January 29, 2015

Hamptons Wedding Venues: Indoor or Outdoor?

Are you currently scouting Hamptons wedding venues? One of the biggest questions you have to face is whether you would like an indoor or outdoor wedding. Here are some of the points to consider in making this big decision.

The guest list. Is it going to be a big, or a small wedding? If you want a simple ceremony leading to a sit-down reception for about twenty people, an indoor space may be all you need, although nothing stops you as well from holding it a la Miranda Hobbes in Sex and the City, in a small garden. Or like Carrie Bradshaw in the movie, who rented the New York Public Library for a guest list of 200.

Think of your theme. Do you fancy an opulent wedding that’s Great Gatsby-esque? An indoor venue will be easier to execute, décor-wise. Or would you like a more laid-back beach wedding? Obviously you need to hold it outside, where you and your future husband can probably look at where the sun strikes the sea as you get married. A rustic get-together in a barnyard, meanwhile, can be held inside or outside.

How is the weather and season? When do you want to hold your wedding? While the weather forecast for the specific date is impossible to know a year ahead, you need to prepare contingency measures in case it rains on your big day. If it will be on fall or winter, an indoor wedding may be more ideal, but may be you’d like the colors of autumn or the enchanting snow-covered trees and ground to be your wedding’s backdrop. You can still hold it outside, for as long as your guests are protected from the elements. After all, Phoebe Buffay in Friends was able to pull a winter wedding off, on a day a blizzard hit New York (although they most likely held the reception indoors)!

Keep in mind the special touches you want. Sometimes it all boils down to the little things you would like to see or have for your party. Maybe you’d like to be outside to dance under the moonlight with your groom, or watch fireworks mark the day of your union. Or maybe you want to listen to an orchestra play your favorite songs, in a room with good acoustics. Then an indoor space is the ideal pick.

The Southampton Social Club of New York is one of today’s finest Hamptons wedding venues. Whether you intend to hold your wedding it indoors or outdoors, they can serve as your perfect venue for this special day.

Monday, January 19, 2015

Are Wealth Managers Missing the Mark by Shunning Social Media Marketing?

There is no doubt that social media is a powerful marketing platform for many businesses. However, is there a place for more traditional, conservative businesses such as wealth management companies on platforms like Facebook, Twitter or Instagram? Historically, financial service companies such as wealth management firms have shied away from implementing a social media marketing campaign. However, they are also missing out on marketing to potential customers who are ripe to begin establishing the financial habits that will secure a more stable financial future.

The financial services industry is a highly regulated industry that has typically shunned social media for a number of reasons including trust concerns associated with both security breaches and reputation control. However, are wealth management companies limiting their ability to expand and grow by opting out of wealth management marketing on social media?

Customer Service and Target Audience

It’s no secret that today’s youth are probably the least educated in terms of their finances and probably the one demographic that is the most need for sound financial guidance. They also live life online. Experts agree that the key target demographic for wealth management companies are recently graduated and just getting started in their professional lives. However, while wealth management companies understand the need to reach out to these individuals, they are disengaged from the social media platforms that provide the path to their front doors.

By instituting a wealth management marketing campaign and building a following on Twitter or Facebook, wealth management companies can create an open line of communication with the Millenials that desperately need their services and give them the instant access they want to sound financial advice. By giving your company a voice through social media, you make wealth management services more accessible to those who truly need it. This process builds the trust that wealth managers need to help clients reach their financial goals.

Social Media Analysis

The other benefit to using social media as a wealth management marketing platform is the ability to see real time analytic data. All social media platforms provide you with the ability to reach out to new demographics. They also allow you to see how well your marketing efforts are doing. Wealth managers can quickly see which demographics are responding to what content and allowing them to capitalize on those efforts while tweaking others. In addition, wealth managers can see what financial topics are trending in their own communities and contribute valuable information on those topics, allowing them to continue to establish their authority in the financial world and attract new business.

Savvy wealth managers can also use social media to track which demographics are the strongest within their communities and then develop targeted content based around specific milestones. For example, young professionals might be ready to begin investing for their financial futures and might have questions about starting a 401k or IRA. By getting out in front of those questions, you can position yourself as the leading authority and potentially land new business.

There is no doubt that there are risks in wealth management marketing on social media platforms. However, the risks of becoming obsolete are also very real. By taking a managed approach to social media, wealth management companies can control many of the potential risks while reaping the benefits of this powerful wealth management marketing tool.