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Membership Update: Media Contacts and Editorial Calendars are Ready!

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Media Contact Lists and Editorial Calendars

For our small business members: the Media Contacts and Editorial Lists are ready for you to research! You may have already started poking around and using them, so here are a few tips on how to best use them:

 

  • Search by Magazine: At the top of the lists, you'll see a drop down menu bar called "Media Outlet". Pick this for if you want to search by magazine.
  • Search by Subject: If you are looking for editors who specialize in "golf", for instance, you can use the drop down menu bar called "Category", and select a subject. You'll get a list of editors at different magazines.
  • Search by Magazine AND Subject: The combo. You can use both drop down menus at the same time to see who at Vogue specializes in "Beauty". This does produce a more limited set of results. If you get no results, it just means that no one at that magazine claims to specialize in that subject. This may or may not be true, so search by magazine if you want to find a reason to pitch that magazine.
  • Start Over: To start over with a clean search, just select the <Any> choice from that drop down menu. Or, just select a new Outlet or Category and click Apply.

The Editorial Calendars work much the same way. Be creative as you read through these to see how your brand might fit into their editorial line-up! And then go for the pitch.

PS: Want in on these? Go unlock this benefit and lots more all in one swoop with a Membership with Tin Shingle. Click here for details.

Category: 
Publicity
Membership Goodies

Member Profile Idea: Add Your Pinterest Link

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One of the best parts about when a small business joins Tin Shingle is that we dive in and learn more about them. We sleuth around on the web to check out their website, Twitter, etc. And when that new member follows one of our social networks, we'll get an email from Pinterest, for example, saying that "so-and-so just started following you." And then we'll learn about some bright, beautiful place on the web, like SolEscape's colorful Pinterest collection about beaches, sun hats, beach bags, and all things vacay.

Which got me to thinking: Do members realize they can put a link to their newest social outlet, or newest digital anything on their personal and business member profiles here at Tin Shingle? When customers and clients are browsing Tin Shingle for the best in small business, they visit the profile pages of our members, which we have tricked out to quickly showcase where and how their brand is represented online.

Here's where you can find it in your Member Account Center:

1.) Click on the PROFILE (add/edit) link in the right side column. These are shortcut links to tools available in your member account.

Profile edit area

2.) Fill in the link. Once you're in your personal profile area, scroll down a bit and you'll see a list of text fields. The left column is for the title of your link, and the right field is for the URL of your link. By title I mean what you want to call it. So for your Pinterest account, you'd type in "Pinterest" in the left column, and then paste the URL in the right column. Yes, the sky is the limit as to how many and cleverly named links you add here (well, no spammy links of course...we do monitor to make sure nothing bogus is going on).

It will look like this once you've filled it in. This is a screenshot of my link list:

Profile link list

3.) Click Save and you're done!

That was easy! The profile pages are designed to be your entrepreneurial portfolio. You can also do this for your business ventures, and we know that some of you have more than one business or project that you are promoting. If so, create a unique company profile for those, and create your link list there! It makes it so easy to find where you are everywhere!

PS: Do you want in on what we're talking about? Go check out all of the perks you get with a membership with Tin Shingle, and then activate it for instant access. :)

Category: 
Membership Goodies

#SmallBizSnacks: Palmetto Cheese, the Best “Cheat Food” Your Mouth Will Ever Meet

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Let’s talk about cheese.  Seriously, this post is all about cheese, and not just any cheese: pimento cheese.  If you were like the Sabina of one year ago you’d be all “What the heck is pimento cheese and why should I care?”  I hear you.  In fact I shouldn’t even be writing about - or eating - cheese as I’m on my Get it Right Get it Tight Wedding Work-Out Plan.  That said, there are some things that force you to break the rules.  Palmetto Cheese, the fastest growing pimento cheese company in the country is one of them.  I mean, a cheese company that is a small business and still beats out famous national brands in online likability contests and polls should sway you, and the numbers (and social media fans) don’t lie.  But don’t let that be your only reference.  Let the happy face of my fiancé, “A” (pictured here in this post), and the fact that Palmetto Cheese is currently one of my only cheat foods, along with my words below close the deal.

As a mid-westerner, pimento cheese was simply not part of my vocabulary and definitely not part of my snacking repertoire until the folks at Palmetto Cheese sent an assortment of their goods to a Tin Shingle holiday party.  I decided to humor one of our southern team members who was raving about it (and knew of the South’s "pimento cheese legacy" if you will) and took a bite of it on a cracker.  Let me just tell you that I basically went through half a box of crackers and way too much Palmetto Cheese before the party even began.  The stuff is “like crack” to put it not-so-nicely.  Once you start you cannot stop eating it.  But in a good way, in way that makes you say “wow, that was soooo worth it”. 

How would I describe it….Creamy, cheesy, tangy, hits the savory spot of your tongue and belly in a way I haven’t ever experienced before.  Their flavors (Original,  Jalapeno and Bacon) pack a punch and keep you reaching back to the container for more.  There is no way you will open a carton of Palmetto Cheese and close it and put it back into the fridge.  It will be empty.  Scrape-the-bottom empty.  Lick the container empty (I swear this wasn’t me but I’ve seen it happen).  Put it on crackers, put it on carrots (this is how we lie to ourselves at home and say it’s healthy), but don’t stop there.  The genius husband-wife team at Palmetto Cheese supplies endless recipes via their website, Facebook and Twitter.  

Speaking of their social media communities, just take a gander at them.  They are massive for a small business!  I believe it’s because they’re producing an AMAZING product, have sensational customer service and their team is phenomenal (as an “insider” I know this).  Beyond their product being awesome, I have to take a moment to brag about this small business on a professional level.  What started as a small seed of an idea (as most amazing brands do) the Palmetto Cheese company now sells in over 4,600 locations in 30 states and is the fastest growing pimento cheese company in the country.

I’m sure you’re salivating at the moment so I won’t go on much longer.  Let me just remind you that summer is around the corner and you’ll soon be put to task with bringing something for a cook-out, barbeque, graduation party, beach day or hostess gift.  Heck, within the next week you’ll need a snack for poker night, a baby shower, a dinner party or movie night at your own home.  You know you want to be the person who yells “It was ME!” when someone asked “who brought this amazing cheese dip to the party?”.

Place your order with Palmetto Cheese via their website HERE and check out the rave reviews, recipes and great contests and deals via their Facebook and Twitter pages.  You are welcome.

Category: 
SmallBizSnacks

Small Biz Style: If You Buy ONE “Home Good" this Spring/Summer ComfortSEAT should be IT!

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What do spring and summer mean to me? Picnics, barbeques, outdoor concerts, reading in the park, hanging by the lake at my parents’ home in Michigan, rooftop movie parties in Brooklyn…man am I glad it’s almost summer.  At the risk of sounding like the infomercial guy who sells the Sham Wow or a juicer let me just say... “what if I told you there was a product that would make each of those activities, along with all those you want to add to the list that you enjoy in the warmer weather even better?  What if I told you it would add comfort, be a breeze to transport, is easy to store (even in a cramped New York City apartment), strong as steel (literally) and when you used it  a smile would spread across your face and you’d let out one of those satisfied “happy sighs” only certain things can elicit.

Well folks, look no further.  No seriously, look no further than after this colon: it’s time you meet the ComfortSEAT.  When I met George Varga thanks to Tin Shingle I was introduced to the ComfortSEAT which is bascially an innovative, portable and comfortable seat and my outdoor hanging style was forever changed.  Hand to God I was sold within minutes of testing it out, and as a gal who has limited storage space in her apartment, I am very picky about what I actually keep inside of it   Soon after opening the box and testing it out (it’s seriously easy as pie to figure out) I was fantasizing about all the ways I could use it.  Because I actually received it in the winter, I ended up using it for movie nights at my house when I needed an extra chair in my living room.  Truth be told some people actually fought for the ComfortSEAT instead of an actual spot on the couch.

Now that the weather is warmer and I’m able to tote it along to the park or the beach I’ve realized all the other reasons this innovation rocks.  For starters, unlike beach chairs that sap your relaxation from you because they are so hard to properly set up and they come crashing down at the most inopportune times, the ComfortSEAT is super easy to maneuver and stays put.  On top of that, it’s about 5x softer than any beach chair.  The multiple positions it can be set to mean I can read, chat with my friends, sleep, stare at the sky, and so forth at whatever angle I want.  Other perks?  How about it's super-durable and resists corrosion, cleaning it just requires water, soap and hands, it comes in different styles and colors (perhaps to match your favorite sports team?) and can be adjusted to 14 different positions! 

What I also love about it is that you can probably find other uses for this wonder-seat that you haven’t even realized yet!  Tin Shingle’s co-founder Katie uses it at bath-time with her babies.  We all know (okay, I don’t because I’m not a mom but I hear other parents know this…) that bath-time can be uncomfortable for moms and dads.  You’re on your knees, awkwardly bent over and often stuck in that position for ages.  Enter the ComfortSEAT.  Katie plops it on the floor while bathing her kids and literally called me (and texted me a photo) because it changed the entire experience for the better! Are you catching what I’m throwing?  Exactly: you have to have one.

Not only will you be changing your spring and summer outdoor experiences (and perhaps your bath-time as well), but you’ll probably discover you’ll want to use it as fall rolls in as well (football games, camp-outs, watching the stars at night…) and even winter (I have decided it will be the perfect present-opening throne).  On top of all of that, you’re buying from a small business and boosting the American economy which to me that is equitable to rewards dollars in your heart.

To find out more about ComfortSEAT visit www.comfortseatus.com.

Category: 
SmallBizStyle

#SmallBizSpotlight Featured Member: Agustina Palacio

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Agustina Palacio of Nina Swim“Free spirit,” “Excitement” and “Inspired” are all words Agustina Palacio uses to describe her personal journey to becoming a designer, and it’s clear when looking at her fresh, fun and sexy swimwear that her line, Nina Swim, reflects exactly who she is! Creator of the resort swimwear line Nina Swim, Agustina’s upbeat, sexy approach to looks for the beach is echoed in everything from her designs’ delightful names (Elektra, Jinx and Bonita, to name a few) to the suits’ bright colors, bold cut, and sophisticated and unique leather detailing. With an upcoming line of swimwear inspired by the Bond Girls, and the launch of a Resort Wear collection featuring sophisticated cover-ups for the beach that transition into nighttime attire for a relaxed look, Agustina is busy expanding Nina Swim and growing her creativity alongside her business. In our interview, Agustina revealed keys to business success, including the benefits of her background in marketing, her love of the “behind the scenes” in’s and out’s of a healthy business—everything from line sheets to photo shoots to social media strategies—and how she makes it all work as a mother of four.

What inspired you to get started?
My free spirit was what inspired me to start my own business. In 2000, after completing college, I packed my bag, including my huge bikini selection and headed for Miami.  It was here that other bikini aficionados constantly questioned me about where I bought my bikinis.  So with a friend we decided to start a swimwear line since we were not excited about any of the bikini designs we had seen in the market.  So we traveled to NYC to buy fabrics and started creating. However, shortly after arriving back to Miami, I decided to move back to Argentina. Continuing the work I began in Miami, I did a very small collection and started selling bikinis to my friends and their friends and soon, my swimwear line, Nina Swim was born in Buenos Aires.    

bali dress nina swimWhat was your background?
Marketing. I love designing bikinis, designing is something that it doesn’t take me a lot of time. I can design a whole collection just in one night when I am inspired. But I also really enjoy all the behind-the-scenes of making my business grow from developing the website, lookbook and linesheets as well as social media, PR and marketing strategies, photoshoots and fashion shoots, etc.
 
Was your background in what you are doing now?
Totally. Throughout school I knew that I wanted to do something related to fashion, however just designing was not enough.  I was interested in being able to sell a line more than how to solely design, so that is why I studied marketing.

What challenge have you had to face that led to a big growth for your company?
My biggest challenge was being able to run my business with my growing family. I started my business with one son and now I have 4. So at one point (between my 2nd and 3rd child) I had to stop and take a break to think how I was going to continue. Many thought that that would be it, that I wouldn’t be back designing and running my business. Especially after having my 4th child. But this break gave me a lot of inspiration and desires to make my business grow. I studied the market and also learned more about Nina Swim’s identity. When I first started with the line I was a girl and my designs were very girly, but I grew up with the line and today Nina Swim is a resort line, sophisticated yet still fresh and trendy. And this year I came up with my best collection ever.

What do you have going on in your business right now that you're excited about?
barbarella bikini nina swimSo many things! This year I am re-launching my line with the Goldfingers Collection inspired by the James Bond movies I used to watch as a child. Each bikini style is named for each Bond girl. I am also launching for the first time a Resort Wear collection consisting of sophisticated cover-ups for the beach that transition into nighttime attire for a relaxed look.  I also have a kid’s swimwear collection.  The Mini Nina line is swimwear for girls ages 2-14 and includes miniature versions of the swimsuits and cover-ups found in the adult’s line; perfect for parents looking for fashionable pieces for their chic little It-girls.

Where would you love to see your business in 5 years?
I would love to see my swimwear line being recognized as a trendy swimwear line in the US.

 

Category: 
SmallBizSpotlight

WOW. JCPenney Ad "It's No Secret" Softens the Crazy

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I love it.

In the drama that was JC Penney has just come out in a new TV ad asking for a second chance (we first spotted it on Ad Age). The retail brand just launched a new TV ad owning up to the fact that they changed from their core customers, and asks for them to come back.

The tone of the ad is calm and soft. The images include nostalgic pictures of older JC Penney stores. The brand portrayed in the ad is not a new flashy Something-mista, no dance numbers, no songs, no flashy graphics. It a portrayal of who their customers were - women living everyday lives.

I like it. What do you think?

Category: 
Branding

#SmallBizStyle: Purely You Minerals Makeup WHERE Have You Been All My Life?

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Why yes, that IS me showing off my new, happy lips.  But that wasn't always the case! Here are my two biggest complaints about lip glosses and lipsticks: a) it's impossible to find one that is not just a beautiful color but isn't super sticky/super expensive and b) MOST of them are filled with chemicals and who wants to slather chemicals all over their lips? Not me!  Well it's "complain no more" time in my world because small business (and make-up genius) Purely You Minerals exists, and have made those complaints null and void, and my lips are happy again.  Let me break down why  - if you have lips (that wear makeup) or someone you love does -  you need to order some RIGHT NOW:

  • The color & type choices - From lipstick to powder to blush to bronzer to foundation - they've got all your makeup needs covered in colors you'll use and love.  I mean I can't find a good reddish hue to save my life, then I discovered their Berry Red and I was hooked from the moment I put it on.  It even SMELLS good!
  • It's good for you - Their ingredients are things you'll actually recognize (rose seed oil, beeswax) not chemicals you can't even pronounce.  I mean it's your LIPS for goodness sake, take care of what you put on 'em!
  • The price is RIGHT - Some of you may be down with paying $30.00 or even $18.00 for lipstick.  I'm not, I think that's just plain silly.  My new fave lip color from Purely You Minerals is only $7.00 - I mean that is about the price of a coffee at Starbucks!  PERFECTION!
  • Free Samples - This company has their shiz together! Not only will they supply you with amazing make-up but they'll let you road (or face) test it first!

If those four reasons aren't enough to get you hooked on Purely You wait until hear about their founder Joy Atkisson, because buying from a small business feels so good, trust me.

Joy always struggled with skin problems and cakey makeup until one day she tried mineral makeup and it changed her skin forever. She looked at the jar of makeup and noticed that it only had a few ingredients so she thought, "I bet I could make this." (Ah, the entrepreneurial spark was lit!) Little did she know that it would take four years of formulating to get it just right, so the busy stay-at-home (at the time)  worked during nap times and late into the night. She didn't want to just copy some big company's half-hearted product, made by mass production, using low-quality ingredients.

And now her dream is a reality and really awesome!  Take care of your body, looks and wallet and enjoy that dream with me!  Find Purely You Minerals online and also via Twitter and Facebook!

Category: 
SmallBizStyle
Heart This Biz

How to Pitch for Holidays Part 1: WHAT am I Supposed to be Pitching?

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If you've been checking our upcoming class schedule you may have seen that we'll be doing an encore "How to Pitch for the Holidays" class next week.  That said we wanted to get you started on that work now, and this blog (and a few more to follow until the day fo the class) will help you!. 

Now right now some of you may be thinking: "Holidays? WHAT the heck is she talking about, it's spring?"  I’m talking winter holidays!  Yes that’s right.  holiday gift guides, holiday tip sheets (for all you experts), holiday-themed stories of all kinds – from Christmas to Hanukkah to Kwanzaa and everything in between!

"Why prep now?" you may be asking yourself.  Well let's think about it:  magazines are working 3+ months ahead and the holiday issue won’t come out in December (when would you shop?) and these "special" issues are major undertakings, so they need to start planning ahead – and so do you!  

This doesn’t mean pitch them this week or even this month, but it DOES mean prepare now so that come summer you’re good to go and pitching away!  If you wait until September to get this going you’ll miss the boat and some of the biggest opportunities of the year for your brand whether you're a service or product-based brand.  If you even wait until August in some situations you’ll miss out, so it's time to get ready now and we are going to help you!  For starters, we're going to be doing these "How to Pitch for Holidays" blog posts, and our upcoming audio class will break it down even more as well as answer all your burning questions!

Now where was I, ah yes: What is pitching?  What am I talking about here? What are some examples of topics a small business should be prepared to pitch out?

Holiday is the appropriate way to refer to all the winter holidays you as a business owner want to be taking advantage of in terms of press – this means the obvious holiday gift guides for what to buy loved ones, and also means New Year’s Eve (outfits, resolutions, etc) and if you really want to jumpstart your PR campaign you'll want to at least think about New Years New You concepts that you can keep filed away in the back of your mind.

Be really aware this time of year is a must for pitching for both proudct and service-based businesses!  If you use your pitching brain you can find ideas for both!

This means there is a boundless amount of stories you can come up with including some ideas I’m going to give you now to give your creative juices a jumpstart  including:

  • Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa Gifts
  • Holiday Party "Looks" (what to wear, do with your hair, makeup...)
  • Hostess gifts
  • What to eat and serve at your party
  • How to throw a great holiday paty
  • How to wrap presents creatively
  • How to set up your home for a party
  • Holiday Etiquette
  • New Year’s Eve Outfits
  • Getting in Shape for the Holidays
  • How not to gain weight for the holidays
  • How to travel stress free during the holidays
  • How to pack well
  • How to handle your family during the holidays
  • Holiday Safety Tips
  • Business Resolutions – DING DING DING this always comes up – prep it ahead of time so you can get a biz feature in the press!
  • How to take a great holiday card photo
  • How not to get drunk at a work company party
  • How to get along with your in-laws
  • How to teach kids about gratitude during the holidays
  • Stocking Stuffers
  • New Year New You – this can be applied ot many stories
  • How to stick to your resolutions
  • Changes you should make in the new year (personal or professional)

You get it – you have a LOT to work with!  I truly believe that nearly every type of business, brand, service and expert can find a way to spin themselves into a holiday feature whether it be in a magazine, blog, or TV show on a local or national level!

Now that we've got you thinking about it, get ready to PREPARE for it.  remember: "Plan Your Work, Work Your Plan" is a mantra we use a lot here at Tin Shingle, and we're going to help you do it! 

Keep looking out for more of our How to Pitch for Holidays blog posts and we hope to see you at our full audio class next week!

Category: 
Strategy
Press Features Tin Shingle
Publicity

Membership Update: Media Contacts and Editorial Calendars Getting Updated

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Media Contacts Updated

Media Contact lists for Tin Shingle members are currently being updated for new spring 2013 contacts, which include the range of contacts you love from Wired to ELLE Decor to ESPN the Magazine to Vogue. As always, if there is a magazine from your region or industry that you don't see in our collection, you can email member@tinshingle.com and we can look into pulling it for you!

EDITORIAL CALENDARS GETTING UPDATED
Also look out for fresh new Editorial Calendars, which you can use as guides when pitching their editorial sections. They give you insight into what editors are looking for each month so that your brand can pitch strategically. Remember - some magazines work on a 3 to 6 month lead time, so plan ahead!

Interested in unlocking our collection of Media Contact lists and Editorial Calendars, as well as special PR Leads and member to member insider opportunities? Consider joining Tin Shingle to unlock all of our buzz building tools. Click here for membership benefits and information.

Member success storyClick here for a tripple-member success story that happened at the Handbag Designer Awards judging panel, thanks to an opportunity that one member shared over our private email group!

Category: 
Membership Goodies
Publicity

#SmallBizStyle: Nina Swim Inspires Me to Start Running & Fantasize about Bikinis

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This past spring I took my work out routine from random and rare (thanks to multiple businesses and heck, just plain old procrastination) to ON FIRE!.  My reason for kicking my "Get it Right Get it Tight 2013 Work Out Revolution" (yes I call it this) into high gear has been due to a four key things:

1. Endorphin rush, energy stress relief: Time at the gym has now become my sacred me time, and the time afterwards I'm just buzzing with energy, endorphins and often new ideas I came up with because I disconnected from work for a bit.

2. My health: I've realized that as I get older, my health has become a priority and something I simply don't take for granted anymore.

3. My wedding:  Yup, sometimes you need the thought of two-hundred plus people staring at you to breathe new life into your running routine.

4. Nina Swim:  YES this small business had turned me into one of their most devoted fans.  Photos of their bathing suits are literally taped to my pantry, preventing me from convincing myself that several of its inhabitants are allowed to pass my lips.

Why do I love this swimwear line so much?  I think Agustina (the founder and designer) hit the nail on the head with each of her designs (which range from swimwear to cover-ups to kid's swimwear).  Seeing them makes me think Bridget Bardot/Bond Girl/I-Must-Wear-This-on-the-Sands-of-St. Barts. They are sexy without being trashy, they are classic and modern at the same time (yes, she does that), and there are so many amazing styles to choose from I can't pick just one!  And I'm not going to!  So I tape multiple photos of them up around my house, I visualize myself in them and I they inspire me to head off to the gym every day to kickbox and jog my way into a "Bonita" swimsuit....And an "Ambar"....

Pick out your own favorite on their website and follow Agustina and the Nina Swim team on Twitter & Facebook!

Category: 
SmallBizStyle

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