2009 I would say was my year of discovering. Discovering myself, other people, and websites that kick-ass and actually add value. What I learned was this, there are a gazillion websites and so much ’stuff’ out there that it really is not about the website at all, it is about the people behind it. Sure, it has to work and add value or enable communication to flow, but it is ultimately about the ability to build relationships and trust through your site that will lead to people staying connected. That’s what this game of the web is all about, the power of {re}connection.

So this post is for all you brides and wedding people out there who I think can benefit from my favorite wedding website and people on the internet, Onewed.com. Why? I will let them tell you what they do below but basically it went like this. They took the extra step to reach out and connect with me. The day I signed up, someone called me and told me everything they do, (Cheryl I believe and hope I spelled that right.) I didn’t sign up for a premium account at the time but then I start interacting with them on Twitter and that is where the relationship was made. From this weird old thing we call Twitter. (Click here to listen to my story about how Twitter changed my life.) I can say that the relationship on twitter led back to me becoming a premium vendor therefore validating the value of this stuff called Social Media that we do everyday.

I asked the onewed staff to give me the top 10 reasons why they kick ass. They gave me 12 which just goes to show the personality’s behind this awesome site. Why do you think they called it  a baker’s dozen? Because giving a little more is how real relationships are made. As we grow with the internet and our connections grow astronomically, it will be about those people and companies who take the extra step who will find themselves in a better place. Onewed has got it figured out. Here are their 12 reasons…

1. Best looking wedding website staff around!
2. Coolest wedding planning tools around—hell, you may just enjoy the process of planning your wedding
3. Did I say how good looking we all are?
4. We’re not The Knot
5. Most vendors around—bar none—‘nuff said
6. We care… as cheesy as it sounds..we care about our brides, grooms & advertisers J
7. Fast to change, test, & innovate— unlike some sites that rhyme with Da Rot
8. We don’t hide behind what is “proper”– you get the straight scoop
9. We know that when it comes to weddings, one size/idea/style does NOT fit all
10. Best checklist ever! (we’ve heard this from tons of brides)
11. We have a sense of humor
12. WeddingPreParty.com is the bomb!- where else can you control whose input you want, share all your wedding planning ideas (with the people you choose) and delegate those wedding planning tasks that you just don’t want to deal with!?  Most importantly, with WPP, you will not become one of those STFU brides (* feel free to refer to this post- http://www.onewed.com/blog/savvy-scoop/2009/08/30/stfu-bride )

If you are getting married or know someone who is, send them this post or just tell them about onewed. (And then call me to play it at 309-453-8175 or watch my wedding stuff here.) The power of your word is underestimated and people don’t know if you don’t tell them. Still waiting for my first booking to come through since I set up my paid account… . (I love this stuff and have some ideas if they wanna chat with my company m2volt). Regardless, I am grateful for the award they gave me in 2009 and that alone is worth it. It helps in more ways than one. Thanks onewed for everything and keep on kicking ass in 2010.

I am Shane Mac. I play weddings, bars, corporate events, or any other thing that you can think up and don’t want to be boring as hell. I will travel anywhere in the country too. It’s a half live / half DJ show that is all about you. It can be all live or all DJ too. Heck, it can be whatever YOU want. I use drum and bass backing tracks so it sounds like a full band. You pick any song out of a book, I play it. If I can’t play it, I DJ it. (I want to sing along too…) Cheers to someone who finds a song I don’t have . Why waste time writing a set list and assuming I know what you want to hear? You make it, you create it, and we all have a bad ass time! Let’s make your next event kick ass! Call me 309-453-8175 or email me shane@mac-live.com. I tweet a lot too so say hello @shanemacsays.

If you want to read about my other stuff, like biz and careers, go here-> http://www.shanemac.me