Submitted by Sabina Hitchen on | 0 Comments
YES! Our mantra this week is a quote from Tim Ferris: "Focus on being productive instead of being busy." And my favorite time saving apps this week help you do just that!
Submitted by Katie Hellmuth on | 0 Comments
Hello DIY Marketing Month! For most successful entrepreneurs, every month is DIY Marketing Month. In fact, every day most small business owners are marketing their businesses. The savviest businesses rise to the top not by using tools available to everyone, but using them in a super special way that makes their brand stand out. Here is a collection of my favorite strategies to build buzz right now:
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GOOGLE PLUS
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INSTAGRAM I'm talking about conversing with individuals in the Comments section of a photo - and letting them know you are conversing with them. Instagram can be an accidentally one-sided dialogue place. Here's what I mean: Even though Instagram is owned by Facebook, it doesn't behave like Facebook (yet). You know how when you are on Facebook and you comment about something in someone's status update, you get notified of when most other people also comment or "like" it? Well you don't in Instagram. In order to let someone know that you are responding to them is to include their @ name in your comment. For example: You posted a photo. Someone commented on it. Great! You get notified via your notification center in Instagram. You go to write them back in the Comments section. Trouble is, they don't get notified that you commented back. They will get notified, however, if you include their @ name in your comment. It's an easy strategy to implement to keep conversations going and build new relationships in this social platform!
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INSTAGRAM
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SOLDSIE
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SHOPIFY
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FACEBOOK - CAUTION
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What are your favorite DIY Marketing tools?
Submitted by Sabina Hitchen on | 0 Comments
Everyone needs some power tools in their DIY PR and marketing tool belt, and mine have proven so useful to me (and everyone I have shared them with) that I was pumped to get a chance to share them with our readers. It's hard to narrow them down but these are my top picks at the moment. I use them almost daily, two of them are free (and the other two are less than ten bucks) and they instantly change and improve your outreach efforts. Read them, try them out this weekend, and high five me virtualy from your desk!
FOTOR
The power of a pitch to the media (or anyone for that matter) or a blog post is multiplied exponentially when they can see what you’re actually talking about. Whether it’s pictures of your products or of yourself and you “in action” sharing your expertise or service, a picture truly speaks a thousand words. But who has the hours it can take to size, resize, and somehow stitch together multiple images into a collage, or include descriptive copy on it? Not this entrepreneur. That’s why I am OB.SESSED. with Fotor. This (FREE!) photo editing tool that you can access online and download to your computer or mobile phone is perfect for anyone, no matter how minimal your design skill is (for instance, my level of design skill is zero). I use Fotor nearly every week for creating images to use in pitches, editing images, posting them in blog posts and even spicing up my presentations. I’ve recommended it to countless small biz owners and they sing its praises as well. Try it, love it and then tweet me a photo collage of your multiple excited faces after realizing how awesome it is!
IMDB PRO
If you’re a small business working on your own DIY marketing and public relations campaign, at some point or another you may want to get your products or offer your services to a celebrity. But where do you find out who their best contact or “handler” information is? Where can you find out what upcoming movies or TV shows are on the horizon so you can reach out to the actors and actresses who star in them? It’s all in IMDB Pro (Internet Movie Database) and I use this trusted resource anytime I need to reach out to a publicist and ask if I can send their client product. It works like a charm and is simple and fascinating to use. If getting some type of celebrity attachment to your brand is important to you, or if you simply want to expand your knowledge of who “matters” in Hollywood (or who will soon – be ahead of the game) IMDB Pro is a tool you definitely want in your tool belt.
PINTEREST FOR…PRESS STORY & BLOG INSPIRATION
Forget recipes – though I love using Pinterest for collecting and discovering them, in terms of business I have another MUST in terms of DIY marketing. Via this online, digital “vision board” I have created a secret board for articles, videos or anything online that spurs an idea for a segment, story or blog post I can create in the future. I simply pin things I read online and save them in this hidden board (why share my secrets) and I know I won’t ever lose them and can come back to the board when I need ideas for press outreach. Even if I find a story that is about something that isn’t necessarily my niche sometimes I like the feel or the story angle so much I “pin it” as it may work if I modify it to fit my own business. Another great way to use Pinterest? Pin stories that editors or reporters you are pitching have done in the past so you have an easy way to check out their tone and past pieces before you create your own pitch intended for them!
GOOD STATIONERY FOR THANK YOU NOTES
Nope, it’s not technical at all and that is the key. We live in a world that is all electronic all day long, which is why there is something super magical and special about sending paper stationery notes. It goes a long way with building relationships with the press, marketing partners, advertisers and anyone else you want to remember your business. If you need a couple suggestions, I say you go the #SmallBizStyle route and check out Effie’s Paper or Mom Bomb.
THE POWER OF GOOGLE DOCS & DRIVE
Okay, so it’s not a secret to some of you, but if you’re not using Google Docs yet to virtually organize your marketing and PR outreach it’s best you get on it ASAP! There’s nothing worse outreach wise than not tracking who you are emailing, following up with, “stalking” and more. You need to have their phone numbers emails, and the status of your contact all in one place, and all accessible from anywhere you are, location wise. Visiting family? Hop into your Google Docs. On vacation but need to check out a media contact’s email? Google Docs. On a business trip but someone needs an email pitch from you? No problem because you can login to your Google Docs and send it to them in seconds. Just imagine all your Microsoft Office documents online. It’s easy to use, it’s fast and again, it’s online which means you no longer need to travel with stacks of papers, you can just travel with access to your Google drive. Cherry on top? It also works from your phone, computer or iPad. Try it, love it, improve your PR and marketing campaign and speed of delivery instantly!
Submitted by Katie Hellmuth on | 0 Comments
As the Capital One Spark #SmallBizProud tour rolled through the great states of Oregon and Washington, Trisha Dalton and John Sears’ small business vid-spiration was all about changing lives and having fun. For some, starting their business was about building on a dream, and experiencing that dream as it came life. Enjoying work makes the everyday pass faster and fuels a different kind of success (and stress) for these #smallbiz bosses, making business as much about the number of smiles as the number of dollars. These small business owners will get you energized with their success stories, laughter and smiles. Sure, it’s hard work, but when you get to see your dream becoming a reality? It just feels great!
Ergo Depot: Portland, Oregon
For David Kahl, owner of Ergo Depot, an aerodynamic chair business, running a business is his life’s unexpected surprise. As David puts it, “I didn’t really know that this was going to be a business, I just knew that I loved what I did.” After finding a solution to back, neck and shoulder pain related to sitting at a desk, and changing his life for the better, he decided to share his discoveries with others. The result? His small online business with one or two ergonomic chairs met with such a positive response that David started a full-fledged company. Today, David has a showroom where visitors can try out his products first-hand and his chairs bring better posture and healthy sitting to people of all ages and body types. People regularly tell him that his product has changed their lives. For David, this is what it’s all about: “it helps me get up early and go to bed late at night because I know people’s lives are better because of this.”
Watch David’s full startup story:
Clever Cycles: Portland, Oregon
For Dean Mullin and Eva Frazier of Clever Cycles, making it work means making it fun, especially when it comes to making their bike shop stand out from over 70 other bike shops in Portland. They made a name for themselves by making a splash (literally), starting a service that delivers hot tubs by bike. They soon got a reputation as a “toy store for grown ups” that offers a unique biking experience for families, commuters, and riders of all skill levels and styles. Dean’s path to owning his own business started after ditching a high-stress career, where he was “stressed beyond belief”. Starting his bike shop was a “lifestyle choice”. How do Dean and Eva measure success? By the smiles on customers’ faces.
Hear Dean’s startup story for yourself, as he describes life in small business:
Board and Vellum: Seattle, Washington
Jeff Pelletier of Board & Vellum took a “running leap” into the unknown to launch his dream career, leaving his stable job to work one-on-one with clients and start his own firm. The pressure was on; he went from being given a project, to getting a project. But Jeff worked “non-stop,” networking and hustling, and it paid off. Now, every day he’s excited to go to work and working on what he loves is like “being in school and getting to dream what you want to build and then just getting to do it.” Today, he as a team of people working with him and feels empowered to be part of the community’s small business buzz. He feels that he’s changing the way that architects build things, and, he says, “once you have that, there’s nothing better. It’s awesome.”
Hear Jeff’s story and check out the truly unique bookstore he created:
Clear Focus Law: Richland, Washington
Eric Hsu “just kind of fell into” starting his own business when friends seeking his legal advice asked him what he would charge. Soon, Clear Focus was born. Eric is a master of keeping his business streamlined, accessible and modern, even if it means taking a profession rooted in tradition—law—and working it into the digital age. Bucking tradition, Eric does everything online, skipping costly printed documents in favor of a digital cloud-based practice management. This keeps things easy for his clients, who can access documents online 24/7, and keeps costs down, too. Letting go of the old and embracing the new is what Eric’s all about, and it’s what attracts him to working with entrepreneurs, too. As Eric puts it “I like to think that it’s possible to take something and do it differently” and, for him, that’s what makes business fun, and him in the driver’s seat.
Check out how Eric’s changing the way law gets done:
Capital One Disclosure: The #SmallBizProud content series is sponsored by Capital One Spark. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Capital One.
Submitted by Katie Hellmuth on | 0 Comments
This week’s #SmallBizProud selections are all about growing businesses close to the heart. Award-winning filmmakers, Trisha Dalton and John Sears, courtesy of Capital One Spark Business, traveled from Utah to Colorado to Idaho exploring a handful of small businesses that are a testament of unwavering determination. Whether it’s falling in love with a career and switching businesses, growing crops and their businesses on land that they love, or serving the heart of the community, these #smallbiz owners are driven to work for something greater than themselves.
For a farmer in Utah and a couple who own a vineyard in Colorado, it’s not just about loving the acres they own, but growing the community around them, too. The owner of ski shop in Utah learned the business ropes the hard way, through failure, but a love of the sport keeps him going. And, for a mom and speech pathologist who helps children overcome challenges in Idaho, running her business is a passion and commitment that’s like having another member in her family. These amazing small business owners inspire others with passion for what they do, and their devotion to the land and communities where they work is living proof that love and hard work thrive in the heart of successful businesses across the country.
Petersen Family Farm: Riverton, Utah
Most businesses make it their goal to be the number one, big name in their field. But for Luke Petersen, hearing members of his Utah community call the Petersen Family Farm “the farm” is the highest praise: it means that people think of his farm as their own. Petersen and his family faced incredible challenges in building their business. A four-lane highway built in the middle of his farm, rough economic times that threatened to shut them down, and neighbors quitting and leaving made things seem bleak. Instead of working against the community, Luke decided to with work it. His farm began growing fruit and vegetables based on demand, and the next thing they knew, they had 70 acres worth of veggies. As Luke sees it, sharing the farm with the community is how they will preserve it. It’s why the Petersen’s started a farm-based preschool, where kids have chores on farm, get to know animals and crops, and see the cycle of life starting with baby chicks and goats. As Luke puts it, agriculture, like art, is close to our hearts as people. It’s about way more than money. For Luke, a reward you can’t put a price tag on is hearing people say that their favorite thing about living in the area is his farm.
Get to know Luke and his amazing farm and farm-based preschool:
Whitewater Hills Vineyard: Grand Junction, Colorado
What do computers and a glass of red wine have in common? For Nancy Janes and John Behrs, former software and electrical engineers, it’s all about the love of the challenge. Drawn to winemaking by a love of the wonderful wines being made in Colorado, the Behrs took the leap from wine festival attendees to business owners, buying property in 1998. When they found the land, grapevines were already planted and it seemed like it was meant to be. But the road ahead of them was not easy! The land was empty; other than dead beech trees, there was nothing there. Despite the fact that, as John puts it, “we didn’t know anything,” the brave couple dove in to their new business. Today, they work together at juggling the romantic side of the business—wine made from their very own grapes—to the things that keep the business going that, for Nancy, “aren’t as much fun.” But they are fueled by their passion and love of what they do and their community loves seeing their vineyard create “something out of nothing.” For John, who loves being outdoors and solving problems every day, the rewards are rich. His advice for anyone is: “if they have the chance, you should take it, and do what you want.”
Hear how Nancy and John made the leap from office space to wide open spaces:
DPS Skis: Salt Lake City, Utah
“Chasing storms and really good mountains:” adventure and a love of skiing is what drives Stephan Drake of DPS Skis. After going to Europe with friends in the early 2000’s, SD came to the realization that the equipment they wanted didn’t exist—and neither did a celebration of the “vagabond” ski culture. So he decided to pursue creating equipment worthy of that same passion that was also performance-driven. His goal? To create an “inanimate object that has a spiritual connection:” skis that perform at the top of the line for adventurers experiencing natural wonders on the mountains they ski. Stephan started making skis in 2003, and DPS started in 2005. In between were two challenging years when Stephan fell hard and learned from his mistakes. His initial failures taught him about the business side, and now Stephan considers the company “my MBA.” The favorite parts of his job? Solving the “brain puzzle” of tinkering with new ideas. And of course, making a product that will make people happy when they’re skiing!
Learn about Stephan’s skiing adventures and great business journey:
Children's Therapy Place: Boise, Idaho
Sondra McMindes’ business is like a member of her family: as she puts it, “if something goes wrong in the middle of the night, you have to take care of it.” A passionate speech pathologist, Sondra gives children without a voice the chance to speak at the Children's Therapy Place, one of the first establishments in Boise, Idaho outside of hospitals to be a comprehensive environment for children struggling with fine motor skills, speech and other challenges. Sondra and her team of 70 employees help children ranging from a three year old struggling with pronouncing his name, to children with cleft palates and cerebral palsy. Sondra loves working with parents to see the children she works with improve. She also loves business and figuring out what else she can do to make her business a comprehensive “one stop shop” where you can get all the services needed for the children she works with. As she says, there are “always new problems to solve, but that’s part of the fun of business, you never know what’s going to happen next.”
Meet Sondra and learn more about the amazing work she does for children:
Past Episodes:
You can catch up on other past short features (warning that will have you glued to your computer! but are super short) as well as follow the team in real time by following their mapped out route, their YouTube channel and their social media feeds: Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.
Capital OneDisclosure: The #SmallBizProud content series is sponsored by Capital One Spark. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Capital One.
Submitted by Sabina Hitchen on | 0 Comments
Dating or being married in “regular world” is hard enough, but at least you know that after a long day's work you can meet up for dinner or happy hour because "quittin' time!" is (for most) around 5 or 6 pm, and weekends are fair game. But what about when one love bird runs their own business? Working hours are usually set by how long a project takes, their free time may not begin after their real or virtual store closes and the concept vacation is entirely different than the norm. But it can be done! Co-founders of Tin Shingle Katie and Sabina are both married, one with children (Katie) and one still reveling in newlywed bliss. That said they both have run a business while also growing relationships and families. In honor of summer wedding season, and packed with their own, honest, experienced-based tips we give you our "How to Date or be Married to an Entrepreneur Survival Guide". Print it out and hand it to your partner, or read carefully if you are said (patient) partner!
Feel free to add your own tips in the comments below!
DATING AN ENTREPRENEUR…
HOW TO BE (& STAY) MARRIED TO AN ENTREPRENEUR…
Submitted by Katie Hellmuth on | 0 Comments
These #TuneUp meetings are a chance for us to do just that – Tune Up on our Buzz Building Skills, meet up and connect with fellow business owners, share ideas, ask questions and tap into the power and energy of the group! If you couldn't make it to the live call, or if you wanted to review, here are the notes:
This week, we talked about using Promoted Twitter Ads. We followed along on my computer screen as I walked everyone through the overview of Promoted Tweets, and introduced some strategy into how to use them.
Topics that we covered in this #TuneUp are below, but the full answers are in our Forum, which is available to our private membership. Join Tin Shingle as a member anytime to see the full recap for this and other #TuneUps!
INSPIRATION
Running a business is a big deal. You are the bottom line, but there is only so much of you. If you’re feeling scared, take a moment to step away from your work to get to a clear space. In that space, think about the things that are troubling you or causing you fear. Ask yourself what would solve these problems? Because you are a business owner, you...
Read more >
EDUCATION
We’re talking today about Promoted Twitter ads. If you run a blog or website, or are selling products or your services, you’ll want to use these ads. Let's go over what you are going to need to think about before starting:
1. What is your goal for an ad?
Each ad is very, very targeted. Figure out your overall goal, and then how you are going to chip away at that goal with little tweets.
2. Types of Twitter ads: Promoted Tweets & Promoted Accounts.
The Promoted Tweet is a tweet that goes into the newsfeeds of other people who don’t follow you. This is key because you can reach SO MANY people!
Read more >
3. Overview of Promoted Tweets
Let’s get a lay of the land before we dive in.
First, you have to sign up with the promoted tweets by giving Twitter your credit card. Then you will see all of these tools.
Let’s look at the top area of the navigation:
Campaigns
This is where each of your campaigns live. You can have several campaigns. The idea of a campaign is: are you promoting a tweet or an account. And from there, WHO are you promoting it to. If you have different groups or types of people you want to promote to, you will have different campaigns.
Creatives
Creatives is where you can write tweets directly into Twitter, AND where you can assign it as a promoted tweet.
Analytics
This tells you about your followers and your tweets.
Followers: Click this to get general stats about your followers. Look at their Interests. Look at who else they follow. This can help you target what types of people you are going to set out to target your ad to.
Tweet Activity: Refresh this puppy all day. It’s addicting to see if your tweets got clicks, RTs, Favorites, or Replies.
Creating a Promoted Account
Ok, so let’s create a promotion. Let’s create a basic Promoted Account tweet first to get that rolling. The goal here is to get followers. Not to promote a page on your website. So, consider the following:
- Maybe don’t include a link to your website.
- Maybe don’t include a picture. But try it to see what kinds of pictures work or distract.
You can also target your competitors here. They won’t get a notification that you’re doing this.
Read more >
Analyzing How You Are Doing
Watch your analytics very carefully. The more you study it, the more you’ll know what kinds of tweets work.
Tweets: Let’s look at Tweets. Look at the Promoted Account ones, and notice how the ones with #hashtags got less follows.
Analytics: Click the Analytics tab to see which tweets got RTs, Favorites, Replies, and if anyone clicked on any clinks within your tweet.
Google Analytics: Always keep an eye on your Google Analytics to see if traffic is coming from Twitter.
Submitted by Sabina Hitchen on | 0 Comments
In just a couple of weeks summer will officially be upon us. Though your kids, your business or even your mind may be on summer vacation, not all of the media is. Yes, daytime talk shows like The View, Dr. Oz, Wendy Williams and Ellen will be on hiatus for the summer, but the "short lead" press like television news (from local to national),websites, newspapers and weekly magazine will keep on creating content and sharing stories, which means they need stories, products, experts with tips to share to make fresh content possible!
That's where this month's #PitchNow comes in, it's packed with both ideas that you can use as is, tweak and use for your own business, or simply use this list as a brainstorming catalyst and #pitchspiration for summer stories of your own creation!
Summer Parties, BBQ's and Sporting Events:
Warm weather brings people of all interests, types, ages, and locations out of winter hibernation which means you can expect stories related to summer parties, barbeques and sporting events to fill the short lead stories. Whether you make products good for these types of events (from food to fashion to kids outdoor toys), or you have tips or a service that can make them safer, more fun, innovative, or exciting this is your time to shine! For example: Are you a food based buisness with products that can be a part of a great summer recipe? Offer to share recipes (and your story) with your local press! [Peg's Salt & Vixen Vodka, I'm looking at you ladies...]
Here's a pointer: don't assume that someone will instantly know where or how your product, service or tips fit in. Set up the pitch in a way that makes it clear (via copy, bullets and even images) how your business is perfect for this time of year. Also, don't forget to make the pitch angles and ideas you have work double time. What does this mean? This is also a great time of year to make sure your social media fans, website visitors and even blog readers are reminded of why they should be using your goods and services right now! Illustrate this to them on the other areas where you share your brand story, and perhaps even give them a discount to make it impossible to say no!
Summer Health & Safety
Along with great excuses to head outdoors, a new season, especially one that brings sun, water, travel and more means an increase in seasonal health and safety story opportunities. These can mean anything from firework safety, tips on keeping kids safe at the beach, healthy road trip food, how to work out better in the sun....you get it! These are only a few ideas, but you're free to really dig deep in the areas of health (who doesn't want to get healthier when warm weather arrives?) and safety to find an angle authentic to your brand.
Along with tips and advice you can also do a little online research and see if there are any actual health, wellness or medical awareness, observrances or celebrations going on this month that you can connect your story with. Examples of this include: June: National Safety Month, Men's Health Month, National HIV Testing Day, Eat All Your Veggies Day, Sun Safety Week and so much more. Want an amazing and comprehensive (not to mention pretty to look at) list? We did the online research for you, hear you go!
Want more pitch ideas to help keep you current and in front of local and national media (and potential customers)? Head over to the Forum, members have all access! Not a member? Head over here first!
Submitted by Jackie Nees on | 0 Comments
This week our very own Tin Shingle co-founder Sabina Hitchen appeared on the Better TV Show and Hallmark Channel to share out #TinShingleTips and tricks sure to help you feel less busy and remove that frantic, "I'm TOO busy" feeling out of your day for good. It's time you all start taking back your schedule! Watch the segments below, start incorporating these do-able strategies into your life and you'll begin to see changes almost immediately!
We've created an outline of Sabina's tips below but you can catch all of the juicy and actionable strategies in this two-part segment.
Just click on the images below to watch her in action!
Strategy #1 – Break bad habits that are making you flustered and over-busy. This means:
Strategy #2 – Learn How to Say No in Three Steps – it will be the Most Powerful Lesson You Ever Master
Strategy #3 Become a Master & Commander of Your Time
Submitted by Sabina Hitchen on | 0 Comments
This year has definitely been full of media changes and shake-ups. The much celebrated Katie Couric and Bethenny shows were canceled. Chelsea Handler announced her departure (coming in August) from the E! network. Others to add to that list include America Now, The Couch (on CBS), Piers Morgan...the list goes on and on. Let's not forget the magazine and website shut downs as well which surprise and sadden us ( Daily Candy!) on a regular basis.
Not only is this often sad to see happen from a media-loving and business perspective, but for many of you reading this, it throws a wrench in your brand's public relations campaigns! Who to pitch next? What to do? Can you reach out to editors who have left for other publications or producers now moving on to other shows? Where do you find out where they went?
Let us help ease your worries and answer your questions in this set of tips we created to answer just those questions about what to do when a media outlet you're pitching closes, and more!
