Businesses Experience Shifts During Tin Shingle’s Member Only TuneUp

These every-other TuneUp weeks are fun! When we open up the Training TuneUp to All Access Members of Tin Shingle and listen directly to their challenges, and identify missed opportunities, shifts happen!

Lately, we have been talking about what their pitches to the media read like (after reviewing them in our Pitch Whisperer group feedback forum), and what their websites look like. If you catch the attention of a very busy media person with your email pitch, they are going to go to your website to investigate. What are they seeing there? You know what you sell and how you sell it, but is that translated effectively on your website and in your social?

Big website changes have resulted from these meetings for Tin Shingle Member Fluid Running. Mike, the Communications Director at Fluid Running, the app-based coaching program for people who run in water (I know!!!), has been doing a superb job making adjustments to their website to illustrate how “deep water running” works for different types of people. This is a challenge because it’s a new concept to most people, but a niche training method for hard core runners, yet very beneficial to all.

Our newest attendee to the special Members Only TuneUp is Paola from Bag Romance, a high end luxury bag rental company. Bag Romance has quietly been around for a bit, but has been refining their website and branding. Paola joined Tin Shingle because she is ready to introduce Bag Romance to the media, and is looking for the best ways to do so. She’s also looking for a support system, because pitching the media requires endurance training! And that’s what we provide here at Tin Shingle.

Join is for the next TuneUp! See the schedule in the TuneUp section.

#SelfCareSunday Gets Added To Tin Shingle’s Hashtag Cheat Sheet

JUST UPDATED: Tin Shingle’s Hashtag Cheat Sheet (for Members Only)

Found this gem - #selfcaresunday - in Family Circle magazine’s February issue. They are promoting and keeping their eye on #selfcaresunday. PS: Tin Shingle has Family Circle’s 2019 Editorial Calendar should you want broad insight as to the themes the issues they are working on next, should you want to pitch them with an idea about your business, project or initiative. Family Circle is geared towards women and covers Career, Food, Health, Style, and Teens.

The Following Sections Have Been Updated in Tin Shingle’s Hashtag Cheat Sheet:

Need inspo on what hashtags to use for your brand, which should be unique to every post? Tin Shingle has a Cheat Sheet for that, and you can instantly access it with an entry level Membership with Tin Shingle (starts at $45/month, totally flexible and monthly).

“Hashtags Magazines Are Using Now”

“Days of the Week Hashtags”

“Self Care” (NEW)

What Are “Hashtags Magazines Are Using Now”?

When we see a magazine promote a hashtag in their Table of Contents, Letter From The Editor, or other page in their book, we make note of it for our Tin Shingle Members in our Hashtag Cheat Sheet so that they can have easy insight into what hashtags magazines are paying attention to.

Here’s a sampling of what you’ll find in the “What Magazines Are Using Now” section:

Cooking Light
#TheNewHealthy

Cosmopolitan
#Glamming
#MondayFunday

Darling Magazine
#ThatsDarling - pretty

Family Fun Magazine
#HowWeFun

Family Circle
#WorkLife

Fashion Magazine
#MustHave
#Recos - Used for recommendations on podcasts, shows, books, and music

Family Circle
#SelfCareSunday

Folk Magazine
#LiveAuthentic - outdoorsey

Food & Wine
#HowISummer

Rachael Ray Every Day
#LikeABoss - Used for women who are changing the culinary landscape

Marie Claire
#GetFramed

Outside Magazine
#LiveBravely

Parents Magazine
#parentsoftheyear
#goals

Seventeen Magazine
#timesup
#perfectlyme

Vogue
#timesup

Women's Health
#WHStrong (fitness moves or something cool you did while working out)

This section of Tin Shingle's Hashtag Cheat Sheet is just one of dozens of deep dives you could do to discover a broader, yet niche audience.

Sometimes, brands like yours who post regularly to Instagram will get reached out to from a magazine, TV, radio show or podcast because someone there found something you posted while they were digging down a hashtag rabbit hole.

Make Your Own Luck

Strategies like these help you make your own luck. Activate your membership today to start making that happen! You need ideas - Tin Shingle can help!

GQ's 2019 Editorial Calendar Available At Tin Shingle

The 2019 Editorial Calendar for GQ has been added to Tin Shingle's PR Center. Get ideas on where the print version of the magazine is headed over the year. Enjoy it, it’s one of the few remaining titles at its publisher, Condé Nast, that is producing a monthly print book.

Themes to look forward to include a Mothers Day Gift Guide. Followed by a Fathers Day Gift Guide. And sports! Lots of NBA. They are even doing a Wedding Season feature. Lots of fashion over there at GQ.

Oh! And they have made a point to celebrate Amazon Prime Day. Why you ask? Well, readers might love their Amazon Prime memberships, but magazines are getting in on the affiliate link trend that very, very small businesses and bloggers started doing years ago - a decade ago at this point. Amazon affiliate links. Yes, that old trick. The old dogs are trying it! GQ started a few years back (see here with their “Best Stuff” newsletter discovery). Seventeen Magazine was a big user of it in their print magazine with Q-code like picture snapping to go shopping from the print pages. BTW, Seventeen Magazine stopped publishing their monthly cycle, but are staying digital.

All Access Tin Shingle Members can gain instant access to this and our entire Editorial Calendar Catalogue when logged in.

2019 Editorial Calendar for WSJ. The Magazine Now Available at Tin Shingle

The Wall Street Journal Magazine’s editorial calendar has been added to Tin Shingle’s Editorial Calendar database, which makes discovering article ideas easier for you!

As the world’s leading luxury magazine covering art, entertainment, fashion, travel, design and more, there is ample opportunity for pitching your unique brand to the magazine of WSJ. Recent articles at the publication include:

Jazz Musician Kamasi Washington’s Favorite Things

Ghetto Gastro Opens Labyrinth 1.1, Their New HQ in the Bronx

The 16 Best Denim Looks for Him and Her

What’s On Deck for 2019 WSJ. Magazine Issues

This year’s themes at WSJ. include a hotly anticipated Spring Fashion series, with one issue dedicated towards women’s fashion and another focused on men’s styles. What or who will you be wearing this season? Or will they be wearing you? They just might!

Their summer issue will focus on seasonal destinations, escapes and activities. Who can resist a relaxing getaway, a well deserved respite from the bitterness of winter. Also, an entire issue is being dedicated to the INNOVATORS of our time.

Be inspired and find your creative launchpad with the WSJ. editorial calendar, available in Tin Shingle’s PR Center with an All Access Pass of Membership (Level 4). Find every deadline, every theme and anything else you need to know to make your pitch a successful one.

Additionally, Tin Shingle’s community is available to you to bounce ideas off of. Everyone needs support when getting ideas out there. All Access Pass Members get free group-consulting sessions every other Wednesday during our Private Training TuneUp sessions.

NEW 2019 Editorial Calendars Added: Elle, O The Oprah Magazine, Men's Health, Shape

THESE 2019 EDITORIAL CALENDARS ARE READY

Editorial Calendars are the grand themes that a magazine rallies around each month or quarter. Magazines want the best of the best, so they make these available to the public to know about. Tin Shingle goes out and gathers all of them to put them into our easy and searchable Editorial Calendar Database to have these ideas at your fingertips. Search by Magazine Title or Area of Interest, let your ideas form, and start pitching!

Latest Magazines Added (get the full list here):

• Country Living

• Elle

• Men’s Health

• O, The Oprah Magazine

• Shape

• WSJ. The Magazine

UPCOMING MAGAZINE THEMES FROM THE EDITORIAL CALENDARS

TIME TIP: Magazines are working on Spring and Summer issues right now.

Town & Country
The Summer Issue PLUS T&C 50 Philanthropists

Vogue Knitting
The Needle Guide (publishes in July)
 

Harper's Bazaar + Elle
The Beauty Issue is coming up for both publications.

Elle Decor
The Italy Issue

Entrepreneur Magazine
The Best Services For Businesses

"HELP! I DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE THESE!"

Fear not - that’s what Tin Shingle’s Community is here for! Everyone needs a jam session to think of reasons why to pitch your favorite, most desired magazine - to give them a great reason of why to feature your business (for free, after all...that's what organic PR is).

STEP 1:
Get the magazine into your hot little hands. Not the tablet, but the paper version. Experience it as it was designed.

STEP 2:
Dive into the magazine and start reading and skimming the articles, the roundups, the call-outs.

Pay attention to what names are credited to writing features that make sense to you - where your brand could fit in.

These names will be your targets. You will want to pitch this person you find with a possible idea, or a set of tips, or a photo of your product and the special angle that makes it a perfect thing for them to feature to their trusted readership.

Keep a record of these names in your PR Planning & Tracking Template. Start following them on Twitter and Instagram to get to know them. What do they like talking about? What are they writing about?

STEP 3:
Pitch them. AKA Email them. There are loads of Tin Shingle Training TuneUps on how to do this, but you’re going to do it. Put yourself out there, and pitch a lot. More than you’re comfortable with. And then follow up. Pitching once is the tip of the ice-burg.

Just make sure you’re pitching someone really relevant to the subject matter, and not someone who you just have the name of :) That’s when the email is sure to get deleted.

"I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS...WHY WOULD THEY FEATURE LITTLE OLE ME?"

Because you're special, and you created something awesome. Feeling blocked and nervous is totally normal.

Connect with us directly in Tin Shingle's Community. It's the entry-level of membership, so is super easy and affordable. Gives you access to our online support group to ask your questions, get ideas. Celebrate when you do get press. The All Access level of membership gets you group consulting sessions every other Wednesday, in our Private TuneUp sessions.

Get with us! And start getting yourself out there (even) more.

Happy 2019 New Year!

Happy New Year!

Tin Shingle offers a lot of ways to set yourself up right for a strong start to 2019 as you grow your business and build buzz. The most important thing you can do for your marketing is reach people in a myriad of ways. The biggest resistance to this concept that we hear from people is: "But won't they get sick of me?"

No :) These are your customers, clients, friends and future clients. They are your supporters, and you inspire them. Keep reaching them. Tin Shingle helps you do this.

Upcoming Group Training - Private Sessions

If you're an All Access Member of Tin Shingle, you have the opportunity to meet online for free every other week with Tin Shingle's co-creator, Katie, and other members who join the call. This is the TuneUp, but one that is dedicated to you. Bring your questions to the table, and get support and ideas from Katie and other members.

A GREAT FIT FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT

• Instagram Breakthroughs
  If you're not using your Instagram, or if nothing is happening from your Instagram. This is a tool not to be wasted. Get ideas on what to post, and why you are posting. The "why" is the biggest key, and will unlock future ideas for you.

• Followup on PR Pitching
  If you're pitching the media, and want guidance on emailing your top goals, or guidance on following up with reporters and editors.

• Growing Your Client Base and Sales
  Come to these private sessions, and let's discuss the smarter ways you could be working to grow your sales (hint: it's in Newsletters you send and better crafted Instagrams).

Upcoming Dates (always on Wednesdays, 3pm EST):

• January 9th + 23rd

• February 13th + 27th

• March 13th + 27th (weird coincidence of same numbers!)

Private Training is available for one-on-one sessions (see pricing). But you'll get a lot out of these group training opportunities for free with your Tin Shingle Membership.

Allure's 2019 Editorial Calendar Available In Tin Shingle's PR Center

Allure Magazine’s 2019 Editorial Calendar has been added to Tin Shingle's Members-Only Searchable Editorial Calendar Collection. Easily find out the monthly themes for 2019 for this magazine and others in our PR Center. Will you be featured in their 2019 Anti-Anti Aging Issue this year? What about the Wellness and Energy Issue that focuses on how to get and keep the energy? Or the Culture of Beauty Issue?

Membership with Tin Shingle makes it easier and more approachable to pitch big magazines with your amazing brand. Education gives courage. Learn more about membership here.

Early Winter Schedule of Training TuneUps Is Available!

Early Winter Schedule Of TuneUps

It's here! The schedule of upcoming Training TuneUps, and our new Personalized TuneUps. Set aside 3pm EST (almost) every week as your must-focus time on getting the word out about your brand. Visit Tin Shingle's Scheduleat any time at our website for registration links or new class listings.

NOVEMBER
Week 1:What To Pitch This Month: November 2018 Stream Now >
November 7, 2018
Week 2:Personalized TuneUp Workshop (Members Only)
November 14, 2018
Week 3:Thanksgiving Break - Enjoy! Watch for a Tin Shingle Black Friday Sale on Membership!!!
November 21, 2018
Week 4:Pitch Now: Valentine’s Day Gift Guides :: Tips & Tricks Register Here >
November 28, 2018

DECEMBER
Week 1:What To Pitch This Month: December 2018 Register Here >
December 5, 2018
Week 2:Personalized TuneUp Workshop (Members Only) Begin Registration Here >
December 12, 2018
Week 3:Pitching Local Media Register Here >
December 19, 2018
Week 4:Winter Break - Happy Holidays!
December 26, 2018

JANUARY
Week 1:What To Pitch This Month: January 2019 Register Here >
January 2, 2019
Week 2:Personalized TuneUp Workshop (Members Only) Begin Registration Here >
January 9, 2019
Week 3:Hibernation Season: How To Polish Your Brand For Big Changes This Year Register Here >
January 16, 2018
Week 4:Personalized TuneUp Workshop (Members Only) Begin Registration Here >
January 23, 2019
Week 5:To Be Announced (wanna be a Guest Expert?)
January 30, 2019

Holiday Gift Guides :: The Truth Bomb Edition

Hey!

Happy Monday! Way to do your Money Monday business, be that sending invoices in the morning, paying a bill, or addressing your customer service questions right away.

In the Publicity department, emails have started coming in asking us about how and when to pitch Holiday Gift Guides, for those amazing opportunities to showcase your designs, or special services you offer around the holidays.

Truth Bombs: Holiday Gift Guides Are Done!

Sadly for your todo list today, the print magazine editors put these together in July, August and a little bit in September. Here’s a special video message about it:

Really? Nooo....

Yes. So your job now is to sleuth around in Hashtags and get your Instagram game on, hard. In fact, if you wanted to activate an Instagram Ads campaign right now, we'd advise it, since this holiday season is so clogged with everyone trying to show you their must-have gift ideas. Listen or watch this Training TuneUp about building buzz in social media:

[GIFT GUIDES] How to Work with Social Media Influencers for Holiday Buzz and Beyond

Start collecting great Hashtags that will get your gift ideas in front of the right people. See Tin Shingle's huge Hashtag Cheat Sheet, which includes hashtag collections for a variety of industries and interests.

Listen/watch to this TuneUp that we begged you to listen to in July when you were at the pool or on summer camp drop-off:
[GIFT GUIDES] TuneUp: The Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide Pitching Guide

Don't Not Know This Again

Tin Shingle gives you as-it-happens learning. We call this "In The Trenches Training." We're business owners just like you. So you're going to get training in your language, in a way you understand.

1. Watch the Training TuneUps
The first Wednesday at 3pm EST of every single month, you can call into a free Training TuneUp that gives you a breakdown of what media is working on when: Magazines, TV, Blogs, Social Media. This Training TuneUp is recorded and added to our library of TuneUps, which you can access here.

2. Plot out when You'll Pitch Magazines - In What Month
Easily remind yourself! Tin Shingle's easy to use Template is designed in Excel and works in Google Drive for you to organize when you'll pitch what kind of media outlets. Download it here.

Members of Tin Shingle (Level 3 +) can access these recordings for free at any time.

All Is Not Lost!
Pitch Valentine's Day Gift Guides - Right Now

Seriously. October and November are the times when the big print magazines are putting together their Valentine's Day issues. Listen to this Training TuneUp for ideas on how to pitch:

[PR] TuneUp: Preparing for Valentine's Day Gift Guides - The Early Bird Edition with Kelly Kepner

How Do I Find Anyone To Pitch?
Who Even Cares About My Business?

We have a list of writers, producers and editors who are looking for very specific things. Like "Social Media and Body Image." Who knew? We do, now, after we research them and put them into our Media Contact Database (available to Level 4 All Access Members).

Your job is to find these writers, and get in front of them with a "pitch" aka an email you send to them with an idea for a story on your business.

Meanwhile, List Your Gifts Ideas
In Tin Shingle's Holiday Gift Guide!

Tin Shingle's Shopping Guide is a living Shopping Guide that anyone can search through, but only Tin Shingle members can add to. Gift ideas for anyone: Foodies, Book Readers, Jewelry Lovers, Corporate Client Gifts. Don't see something that fits? Email us. We'll create a new category to fit your business (service or product).

Adding to it is easy. We made you a video of directions:

Note For PR Agencies:

Adding your clients to Tin Shingle's Shopping Guide is a great idea! But they will need their own Level 2 Directory Membership for promotion on Tin Shingle's website. They can activate that level of membership here.

Vogue Knitting 2019 Editorial Calendar Added To Tin Shingle's Magazine Pitching Resources

Vogue Knitting's 2019 Editorial Calendar has been updated to Tin Shingle's Magazine Deadline Database for Tin Shingle’s All Access Pass Members. The biggest takeaway: The Holiday Gift issue is produced in July. So mark your calendar for next July to remind yourself not to check out too often by the pool if you want to try to get mentioned in this magazine. Also, listen to Tin Shingle’s monthly Training TuneUps, specifically the “PR Planning: What To Pitch This Month” ones where we give you hot tips like this!

Other magazines are releasing their 2019 plans at the end of November, so keep your eyes here for more updates!

PS: Vogue Knitting does have a Shop Local section for Yarn store listings. It’s a paid spot in the list, but seems like a great list to be in the middle of. We recommend it.

PPS: Having reviewed Vogue Knitting’s entire Media Kit, their paid advertorial features do look gorgeous. Organic PR is great for earning validation, while advertising is a great way to control your message and exposure. You know our position - advertising keeps the magazines in business! Without it, there’d be no book at all. If it’s in your budget, this ad spends seems like a great buy. In addition to any free PR you’re going to try to get!