Submitted by Jackie Nees on | 0 Comments
Member Kathy Pickus of Dot Girl Products discovered that consistency and tuning into our #TuneUps paid off when she recently snagged press on American Express Open Forum.
By following our advice and even using a PR trick she learned during one of our #TuneUps to craft a snappy subject line, Kathy caught the attention of one of Open Forum's editors with her pitch and within a month, she found herself featured in an article on their site.
Kathy stresses the importance of reading the Tin Shingle PR Leads each week and try to answer leads even if it has nothing to do with your product. It definitely worked for Kathy and we're so excited to share her story with our readers!
How often have you been working on your own PR?
I try to do something every day, even if it's only to search for new blogs to contact or read tips on Tin Shingle.
What press opportunity did you snag and how did Tin Shingle contribute to your success?
American Express Open Forum article entitled: Caffeine Nation: 3 Ways to Kick the Habit. The lead was posted in one the 'Your Latest PR Leads'. I've taken a few Tin Shingle classes on how to pitch the media and I tried to use a clever title which is a trick mentioned in the classes.
How long did the entire process take?
Less than a month. I replied to the lead on January 28th and the story posted on Feb 11th.
Can you walk us through the process, from pitch to placement?
It was fairly simple! Coming up with an angle was the hardest part and I decided to use the fact that I live in WA state, home of Starbucks, and don't drink coffee. The reporter contacted me a couple of days later to say he was going to include my comments. He then said to watch for the post as he didn't know when it would go up.
What made your pitch extra special? What type of highlights did you include in your pitch to make it stand out? Was your subject line snappy or clever?
Fortunately what I was saying was true! I don't drink coffee and I do exercise to make sure I have enough energy to manage my days. That made it easy to answer the lead. My subject line helped I think: "A non caffeine drinker in the land of Starbucks". It just fit perfectly. Also, I was able to link it to data that does exist. Notice that he uses the mention about endorphins in his post.
Did you learn anything through this process that you can share with other small business owners?
Always read the Tin Shingle emails with PR leads no matter how busy you are. And always try to answer general interest leads even when it has nothing to do with pitching your product. The Open Forum post has a link to my website, that is valuable.
Would you like to share your “Winning Pitch” with readers?
Hello Geoff,
How are you? My name is Kathy Pickus and I am responding to your Tin Shingle query regarding entrepreneurs who never drink caffeine.
Even though I live in the home state of Starbucks, I have never touched the stuff. How then am I able to remain productive and have stamina to build my business? By exercising religiously which also helps me get a good nights sleep which of course increases my energy level to get me through the next day.
My routine is a mix of early morning swims, late afternoon outdoor walks when the weather allows and Zumba dance classes when days aren't too hectic. Each of these activities brings me back to my desk with renewed energy and a positive outlook. What the doctors say about exercise endorphins really is true!
And since I do my best thinking when I'm swimming laps or walking through my neighborhood, I can stay productive even when I'm away from my desk plus it also helps keep the weight in check. A constant complaint from over worked business owners and not something caffeine can do!
Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you for your consideration and good luck with your article.
Great job Kathy! Thank you so much for sharing your story AND your pitch with us!
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Want more SNAGGED! stories like Kathy's? Click here and don't forget, you can get access to juicy PR Leads and unlock other exclusive Tin Shingle benefits by becoming a member. We'd love to feature you in our next SNAGGED!
