The Tin Shingle Blog

San Francisco jewelry designer Peggy Li hails her professional journey as a chemical engineering major in college and has ended up as a highly sought after talent in the accessories world with her own design studio. Her minimalist, clean and delicate pieces have adorned women across the country, had can be seen in coveted, buzzworthy places like the pages of national magazines including Oprah Magazine, Lucky and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue to the hands of stylists who put them on shows like The Bachelorette, Vampire Diaries, Elementary and Hart of Dixie.  She’s also a Tin Shingle member who is the brain and muscle behind her PR and buzz building campaign – and a regular viewer on our weekly #TuneUp webinars.  Shout out to you Peggy, you work hard and deserve great success!

We first interviewed Peggy a couple of years ago to hear her story just after she went full-time jewelry designer, and this week we check back in on the world of Peggy Li Creations. Peggy shares some of the exciting things that have happened to her business since then, and reveals how she is making her buzz building happen!

Get inspired by her interview below and then be sure you head on over to her website to see the jewelry that makes Hollywood and gals like us at Tin Shingle go crazy!

With live tweeting growing so popular, has anything changed with getting your jewelry onto actresses  on TV shows? In terms of stylists and producers, to viewers watching the show and wanting the jewelry?
Twitter is a huge part of the TV watching experience and small business experience. By being present on Twitter while shows are on and being part of the conversation is important exposure, especially with my jewelry which is tied so closely to different shows. As Tin Shingle tuneups have covered, Twitter is also extremely useful for small business to get to know influencers in their industry – a lot of TV shows/studios are asking their talent to be on Twitter and it’s a fun, easy way to get to “know” them a little better.

You created a special “As Seen On” shopping section on your website. How has that gone for you? Are people shopping by show?
People definitely shop by show. They arrive on my website usually doing specific searches for a character they love.

Since you’ve gone full time designing, what has changed in your business? Have you added different types of products?
I’ve gotten to have more balance in my life since going full-time! I was burning the candle at both ends before so it’s been great to focus on just one thing. Instead of adding products, I’m working slowly but surely trying to tighten up my collections to be more strongly reflective of my style and brand. With the extra time comes the realization I need to have a little more discipline!

Since going full time, what new pressures have you faced?
Full time or not, there is always pressure on a small business owner to 1) stay educated 2) stay focused 3) stay motivated. I wanted to add 4) stay ahead of the competition, but that’s not the right attitude. By working on 1-3, I believe you’ll achieve #4. But it’s tough! You’re in charge of every detail and that can often be overwhelming. Having “extra” time is almost more difficult because I am more easily distracted.

Where is your studio?
In my apartment!

Are you employing any makers to help you hand craft the jewelry?
I have a few outside resources, but the majority of pieces are made by me in my studio.

You have a shop at Etsy, do you sell there?
I had my website before Etsy existed. I’ve created a page there just to hold that real estate, it has never been a primary selling platform for me.

Have you changed how you make your jewelry or the materials you use?
I’m always experimenting with new materials, products and skills.  It helps with the motivation to keep trying new things.

Years ago you toyed with the idea of having a chat box on your website for customers to chat directly with you. Are you liking the chat box option?
Yes, the chat box has been great! But it does require someone to monitor it to get the “live” feature benefits.

Has Instagram made an impact in your business? What are your favorite marketing methods you use on Instagram?
This year I’ve really been focusing on Instagram. I’ve discovered that it’s a wild and wooly world with a lot of its own rules, different than Facebook or Twitter. So far I’m not sure it’s had a huge impact on my business, but it’s been very successful for others so I’m putting the time in. With Instagram, the first rule is to have great images.

Has Pinterest made an impact in your business?
Initially Pinterest was great! I think as it has grown and changed how users interact with it, I’ve seen traffic drop. Like any social media, it also needs to be fed constantly and consistently and I don’t have the time to give it the love it needs.

How are you using Facebook to entice your customers?
Facebook also has changed in terms of how your fans can interact and discover you there. I’ve found it a useful platform to do specials for my fans and announcements as well as to try and get feedback from them.  Off the top of my head, here is how I see these top social platforms:

• Twitter = instant gratification
• Pinterest = projects
• Facebook = deals and conversations
• Instagram = create a mood

What is one of your big buzz building goals for the next year?
Instagram, definitely. As well as continuing to blog, send emails and hopefully get back to channels like Pinterest. I’m looking also to partner with the right influences on Instagram to see if that helps drive buzz – so far, it’s been hit or miss, but I think it’s revealing interesting things about my brand that I need and want to work on.  While so much about the Internet is constantly changing, I firmly believe one thing never does – great content is king. Always.

Connect with Peggy Li on social media by clicking on the links below!

Story disclaimer:
Be sure you read this blog post to the end, because we're not only laying down a fresh and digitally-based way to give gratitude in real life (a big part of growing relationships in business and with the press) but we're also going to tell you how you, my friends, can share your products with the world via this awesome, connection-creating App!

Last summer I was singing the praises of GotoWebinar (our go-to way to lead our weekly live #TuneUp webinars, host vitural team meetings, conduct podcast interviews, you name it) on Twitter. I can't help myself, when I love something I have to share it with the small business and entrepreneurial community. I had my online lovefest, got a gracious tweet back from GotoWebinar's social team and that was that, or so I thought.

Fast forward a week or so later when a cupcake in a mason far arrived at my doorstep, sent with thanks from GotoWebinar.  Yes, that's right, a cupcake arrived at my doorstep - how awesome and lovely a surprise is that?!  After I inhaled my afternoon treat I began to think, well how did that happen? Then I remembered: the day I was chatting away with my fave webinar program on Twitter I received another tweet from TwitGift asking me to "claim my TwitGift" after which I filled out a simple form.  Yes, that was how simple it was for me to connect with my cupcake, and how simple it was for GotoWebinar to get it to me.

While basking in my post-cupcake sugar high the wheels in my head began to turn: "I must use this to say thank you to people in my own life and business as well!" And also, "I wonder if I can send things beyond cupcakes, because not everyone is down with desserts?" As well as, "How easy is this thank you process, because sometimes I don't show enough business gratitude simply because it feels like one more thing on my to do list."

Well good news for me! Firstly, there are a variety of gifts you can elect to send (none over $15.00) from artisinal marshmallows to ground coffee). It was also a relief to discover that using TwitGift is basically as simple as sending a tweet - but you don't even have to do that!  Here's how simple it is to send a little gratitdue in a creative way to people who have added to value in ways great or small to your business (or simply, as a "just because" gift)

• Head over to TwitGift.Me

• Login to it with your Twitter account

• Pick out the TwitGift you want to send out

• Enter the Twitter handle of the person you'd like to thank via their online form

• Pay for the gift (less than sending flowers my friends, and much more fun and clever)

• TwitGift will take care of the address collection, delivery and the tweet alerting your recipient to their gift.

• Enjoy the feeling you get when you do something awesome for someone else.

Listen, relationship building is a big part of business and the business of building buzz - and life! A big part of any relationship is saying thank you and showing gratitude to people, whether press, employees or influencers who help you grow your business.  That's why we are a big fan of TwitGift, because it allows you to do just that with a social twist!

Want YOUR products featured as one of the TwitGift gifting options?

Soon after we became hooked on TwitGift we began to wonder: how could other, cool small businesses (because we know a slew of those babies) share their products with the TwitGift team, for possible inclusion on their site?  Well, we found out for you, and if you're a Tin Shingle member you can take advantage of that opportunity by submitting to them via this exclusive PR Lead!

Onward relationship builders and gratitude givers!  Have any other tactics you use to share love and say thank you in your business? Share it in the comments below!