Wedding Advertising: PWG

is anyone else using PWG "Perfect Wedding Guide" in their town? If so what kind of results are you having?
Im trying to decide what to cut back on next year and what to increase.

Kyle -

I had a real long talk with Gail this afternoon, and she sent me the rates for the coming July print issue. I misunderstood her, and she sent me an updated email, and with the package deal she's offering, even with the bronze listing, 1" x 3" print ad and leads program, $157 a month just seems to be rather steep to me. Granted, the PWG is strictly targeted to brides, and her Triad and Triangle circulation is nearing the 120k mark, but my question would have to be - with the economy the way it is here in the south, is there enough pie to go around for you, me and our direct competitors here in the area?

Just my thoughts. I'd welcome the opportunity to chat business strategy this coming week over breakfast.

Call me.

Greg.
just got off the phone with you on this. Also when you're talking PWG and circulation, its distribution not circulation which is a KEYfactor.

I was actually about to contact them to get their rate card, I wonder if the pricing is regional.

I was actually about to contact them to get their rate card, I wonder if the pricing is regional.


All of their pricing is regional because its a franchise operation so the owner of your PWG isnt the owner of the one out here. They have a decent leads program too and unlike theknot.com they give you everyone's email address as well.

Leads are published once a week on Wednesdays and here in North Carolina its usually between 75-100 fresh leads. I email them wednesday night and postcard them thursday morning for a double kick.

conversions only been fair based on demographics out here.

I was with Atlanta's PWG for four years and I thought it was a good ROI. Then my wife ran the numbers, and we found that over 4 years I had netted a whopping $400!! :sqerr:

Dropped 'em like a hot potato.

PWG is our only real source of advertising besides the website. We have a 2 page Ad as well as the back cover. We also DJ and MC most of the fashion shows at the bridal shows.

Howdy,

I don't do print ads. I did advertise on the KNOT. 1 year. 1 wedding. Dropped it. I have two websites, a blog and my marketing system. That's all that sustains me. I want something more interactive with my clients. I want to get as many bookings/referrals out of the people I've already met.

Read anything by Seth Godin or Jay Conrad Levinson about marketing and how its changing from interruption marketing (magazines, TV, Radio) to permission based.

Best,

Dave

Howdy,

With Send Out Cards for the same monthly amount spent in the magazine, I can:

Send 167 Custom designed postcards
116 Custom designed greeting cards
84 Custom designed Tri-fold cards.

All these are personally addressed and contain relevant photos.

Peace.

Dave

Based on my experience, in my area, brides use PWG more like a phone book then anything. You cannot count on a print ad alone to get you business but I want brides to be able to find me as easily as possible. When the location, photographer, coordinator, videographer, etc... have all referred me, and then they love the ad that they see in PWG, my phone rings. Referrals and PWG is what makes my company run.

Based on my experience, in my area, brides use PWG more like a phone book then anything. You cannot count on a print ad alone to get you business but I want brides to be able to find me as easily as possible. When the location, photographer, coordinator, videographer, etc... have all referred me, and then they love the ad that they see in PWG, my phone rings. Referrals and PWG is what makes my company run.

Nobodys counting on a print ad alone

I change up a lot but heres what we are running now

1/2 page in PWG $300/mo
$600/mo paid google
24 All Over Media Signs at $400/mo
Trying a new womans magazine in our county for $240/mo
4 phone books
And we'll run a schedule adjacent to the brial show on 2 radio stations

kyle