Etiquette and Credit
Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and a slew of other social media sites have the ability to show off a vendor’s work, ideas and designs. Most companies post different status updates concerning work they’re doing or recently have finished. The wedding industry is very big on this strategy because it gives event vendors the opportunity to show what we can do to a large audience. The positives are getting your company’s name out and giving people who might not have otherwise even known that your company exists, a chance to see what you can do. It connects you with past, current, and future clients, as well as, giving you, the vendor, the opportunity to toot your own horn a bit.
But… what to do if pictures or intellectual property that are yours are not being credited to you? Or are posted to a different vendor’s page? It is not just social media etiquette that suggests one ALWAYS credit work to its proper source, it is a workplace ethic that has been around for a long time. Forbe’s magazine noted in one of its blogs (http://www.forbes.com/sites/lisaquast/2013/05/27/stand-up-for-yourself-when-someone-else-takes-credit-for-your-work ) that “one of the most important things you can do to protect your career and career advancement is to stand up for yourself when someone takes credit for your ideas or your work”. I would say this does extend to social media as well. If, a wedding photographer, or a floral and/or decor designer’s work is being shown on a venue’s facebook page there should always be, at the very least, a mention or link to whatever business supplied the items being shown. If a client or user comments on that picture, it would only be fair to acknowledge the vendor whose work is being showcased. A thank you is nice and polite, but does not give the vendor the credit that is due them.
Putting it simply, particularly on social media sites, if you are a venue or vendor, showcasing a photo of an event, and that photo includes another vendor’s work and not your own, let people know.
Taking credit for someone else’s work is tantamount to theft!
One way we have found to remedy that situation is to include a logo on pictures that Brides N Blooms Designs may post on either Facebook or Pinterest. Understandably, sometimes that is not possible, especially if a client or friend posted the picture that has your work in it. I personally see nothing wrong as the vendor, going into the comment section and thanking that person for their review/comment. Keep this in mind as well, No photos should ever be posted of an impending event, prior to the hosts’ arrival! You may be REALLY excited about your work, but, hold off on posting it for everyone to see until the most important people see it live! It’s all about the drama of the moment, especially for the Bride and Groom, why spoil that for them. Why should “Mary in Portland” get to see the beautiful room before the actual bride in Florida? Joseph Grenny, said in a post on Forbes.com, “ Manners will catch up with technology when the silent learn to speak”. While it would be nice if people always did the right thing, a gentle reminder now and again isn’t a bad thing either. Now go and have yourself a polite wholesale fresh flower day!