You Had Ideas Today - Put Them Here!

Hello, 2021!

You had big ideas today. You need to log those into your group Editorial Content Planner that you share with your team, or share with yourself on the go when you upload it to your Google Drive.

Today was the big Re-Entry Day as everyone completed the Holiday Season, and were Back To Work. Slack crashed, and new emails of intentions flew into inboxes.

HOW THE EDITORIAL CALENDAR WORKS
When you have Big Idea for content - like when you are going to launch a new program, need to get a press release out and want to make sure you have content published on your website to back up this initiative - you plot this out in your 2021 Editorial Calendar that Tin Shingle designed for you.

Created as an Excel document with 12 tabs - a tab for each month - every single day of the year visible to you very easily. Daily ideas are also included for each month, so you know when to plan for Martin Luther King Day or National Mentoring Month.

FREE: This Editorial Content Planner is free for Media Kit Members of Tin Shingle. Activate your membership today to download this and all of our exclusively produced Templates.

FREE: If you are not a member, but purchased this template in the past, you are able to download this year's - and every year's - for free. The investment that keeps giving.

INCLUDED WITH THIS 2021 EDITORIAL CONTENT PLANNER TEMPLATE

• Organization: Article Assignment Slots for 12 Months, 365 Days Broken Down Into Weeks
  Every single day of the year is organized into 12 monthly tabs for your viewing and organizational pleasure.

• Content Ideas: Over 250 Hot Topics & National Days for Instant Ideas for Fresh Content

• Social Media + Newsletter Options: Dedicated columns to call out when you are sending a special newsletter to your customer base or subscriber list, and when you need to publish a social media post, and not necessarily publish an article to your news or blog section.

• Who Does What: Tracking Who is Writing, Who is Making the Art, and Who is Posting the Article, and Socializing

• Forever Access: Always have free access to next year's Editorial Planner Template

• Free for All Access Tin Shingle Members: If you are an All-Access Pass Member of Tin Shingle, you automatically have free access to this Template. Just hit that Download button when you are logged in!

WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE

Media Monitoring And Planning Ahead: Men's Journal

Catching up with Men’s Journal. Every article was pandemic or protest related, with a series on men in Minneapolis rebuilding their businesses, building community, training Black youth to gain certifications in outdoor activities like mountain biking paddling, etc. (paid for by Ramsey County) so that Black people might be more comfortable learning from someone who looks like them, and providing food for those in need. Cooking and gathering for social distance, and the usual gear recommendations that Men’s Journal is known for. The Holiday Gift Guides were in this issue, with the usual themes.

For ideas on how to pitch the media, join Tin Shingle to get access to our Media Contact Idea Center, and start a conversation with fellow members in Tin Shingle’s Google Group.

*Remember: print magazines work 3-6 months in advance. In pandemic times, changes to editorial may be squeezed in to reflect a big, huge change. But generally, think a few months out.

NEW! Community Network Tool

We heard you! You want to network with other members, right now, this instant. And we want to also! Therefore, we have created a new community in Google Groups where you can email the Tin Shingle Google Group and instantly reach other Tin Shingle members with your question, desire for feedback, or just sharing something new that you are launching.

Tin Shingle does have a forum on our website, which we will be retiring, because it is old. And unimpressive. However, should we wish to custom design it in the future, we will always have that ability that we've always had. For now, we think that you want to use modern tools at places you know, like Google.

You might be wondering why we are not using a Facebook Group. Tin Shingle is not a huge fan of Facebook in general, and we have an issue with how they use your data and how their groups work. This way, with an inbox based group, we feel that you will be able to connect with each other and build relationships in a way that is not overwhelming, is safe, and gives you notifications when you need them.

HOW THIS WORKS

This is in beta for now as we get used to it, but here is how this is going to work:

• Tin Shingle Member: you need to be a Tin Shingle Member to use this. It is a private group. Once you become a member, your email will be added by our team and you will receive an email notification. If you are already a member of Tin Shingle, your email has been added, and you should be getting a notification shortly. If you are a Tin Shingle Member, and do not want to be in this group, that is fine! Please email us and we will remove you. *Please note, just because you are receiving this email, it does not mean you are a Tin Shingle Member. You are a member if you are paying a member subscription. If you do want to be a part of this group, and you are not a member yet, click HERE to activate your membership now!

• Email The Group: When you're ready to reach out and network, you will send an email to the Google Group via a special email address. Only Tin Shingle Members will have this email address, and if you are a member, you will get it in a separate email.

• Rules: We are developing the rules of behavior and appropriateness, but you may use this group to help other members by answering their questions, network when you are launching or promoting something, etc. We want you to use this group to give and get support.

Update For Today's TuneUp: What To Pitch The Media This Month (February

Lucky you (maybe) for your schedule...today's TuneUp will be pre-recorded and made available for you to stream for limited time. When it's ready, Tin Shingle will send you an email with the link to the Vimeo video.

EXPECT THIS IN THE TUNEUP

• Motivation Minute: Will feature 50 Cent's continuous comeback story.

• New Editorial Calendars! Esquire, Wired, Fine Gardening, Parenting OC, Boston Magazine, Ad Age, and more. Get a sneak peek at some other titles we have in Yvonne's latest update on the blog!

• Pitch Hitting: A tip about TV pitches and a Truth Bomb about pitching Kickstarter Campaigns.

Don’t want to wait for mili-moment opportunities to watch any TuneUp you want? Join Tin Shingle today with a Media Kit Membership (designed for business owners and their staff) and listen any time!

Hiiiiiiii!!!!!!! Happy New Year 2020!

Hello Tin Shinglers!

It’s been so long! Two weeks, yet over the course of the holiday season, seems like, well, an entire season!

Two Tips

This video is a connection point with you, and includes 2 tips for you for how to get media this year:

• Pitch A Lot. More than you think. You need to stop thinking about it, and just DO IT. You can strategize it, grow it, stretch it in all kinds of directions on why you would pitch a particular media. But you need to just block out all of the other ideas, and do it to the one idea you cooked up! Record your other ideas in your Content Planner or your PR Planner and Tracker (both are Tin Shingle Templates you can download).

• Pitch Different. If you’re going to be pitching a lot, you need new ideas. You need unique story angles. If you don’t know what I mean, then join Tin Shingle right now, and set your Wednesdays at 12pm EST for a PR Challenge Session, where we can talk face to face. In the meantime, I’ll explain: there is a magical intersection between really good idea - a must-write-about-idea - and timeliness. That is how pure editorial happens. Editorial that you don’t pay for. But that a magazine or TV show actually paid to have produced. They paid their writers, graphic designers, photographers, videographers, producers, editors, to produce this great story. And it mentions or totally features your business. This isn’t something you deserve. It isn’t something that must be done for you. It isn’t why the media exists. To write about you for free. This magical intersection I speak of is the WHY the media exists, to inform their readers, to entertain their viewers, to reward you with the press you do deserve. You must think of what is that tiny, unique snowflake of an article idea that will tempt them.

Sure, you can pitch in a general pitch. A “hey, this is what my business does” type pitch. And you may have invented something totally different, and that in and of itself is a strong enough pitch. That does happen all of the time. But for every other produced story out there, it’s the magical intersection you must tap into.

I know you can do it!

Stick with Tin Shingle. Ideas come from here, and that’s more than half the battle. Media contacts are helpful, sure. But unique story ideas are golden.

Happy New Year!

IT'S HERE! 2020 Planner For Your Editorial Content Plans

Tin Shingle's 2020 Content Planning Template Is Ready!

Dear Business Owners:
Your plan-ahead solution is here! You and your team can use Tin Shingle's 2020 Content Planner's 12 Month template. Organized by weekly segments of when you are going to publish an article on your own website, or launch a timely social media campaign to ride in those hashtags, getting inspiration for great ideas will be easier.

This planner is used in Tin Shingle's monthly TuneUp series, "What To Pitch The Media This Month" as it helps you plan ahead and know where the print media (magazines) are in their publishing cycles, and where the broadcast media (TV) is in for their schedule.

How It Works

Organized by weeks in the month, with a line for every single day. Coupled with national themes for that month to help you stay relevant. We found a few new fun themes.
Sample of National Celebration Themes In This Collection:

• National Bald Is Beautiful Day

• Keep Kids Creative Week

• World Space Week

• America Recycles Day

• Parks and Recreation Month

• Go Skateboarding Day

• Take Back The Lunch Break Day

• Take Your Dog To Work Day

• Make Up Your Own Holiday Day

Knowing The Themes Is Great For:
1. Random ideas for content.
2. TV pitches, because broadcast media loves random excuses to feature things on TV, like National Doughnut Day or National Puppy Day (excuse to bring puppies on TV!).

How To Use It

Download this template. It is a color-coded Excel file with Worksheets devoted to each month of the year. Upload it to your Google Drive and Share it with your team, for updating on the go and whenever an idea hits you.
FREE: This template is Free for Tin Shingle's Media Kit Members.
FREE UPDATES: If you have purchased this in the past, you get this new 2020 edition for free!
ONE-TIME PURCHASE: If you're not a Media Kit Member, you can purchase this and have lifetime access to updates.

Pitch This: The Mother's Day Gift Guide Ideas You Should Pitch In November

During our last PR challenge meeting, we refined a pitching angle for one of the Tin Shingle Media Members who has big goals and a long list of magazines they want to pitch. The easiest way to write a good pitch is to pick 1 magazine at a time, pick it apart for openings, and pitch it.

Through this process, we realized that the Tin Shingler had not one, but TWO pitching opportunities right now - in November - to hit. Working with our Time Zones approach, which is when we realize that even though it’s winter right now, magazines are working on spring, we were thinking two approaches:

• Timely: What time of year is it that the editorial team is working on? This PR Challenge meeting was in mid-November, so we were thinking April. We looked at Tin Shingle’s Editorial Calendar Collection for magazine they were targeting - Shape. We reviewed Shape’s broad theme for May, and started chewing on a good story angle. We reviewed Shape’s broad theme for May, and started chewing on a good story angle. Keep in mind, this is not the same Time Zone that TV, Blogs, Weekly and Regional Magazines are working on. Pitching Mother's Day would be too early.

• Gift Guide! "Great Scott!" Katie cried, during the PR Challenge call. "It's Mother's Day Gift Guide Pitching Season! You have 2 opportunities right now!"

What Are The Next Steps For This Business?

Now the Communications Director and the Business Owner of this business had two homework assignments:

1. Pitch Shape for the story angle we discussed, or that they have brainstormed.

2. Pitch other magazines for Mothers Day Gift Guide ideas!

Which brings us to this article for you: You've got homework too. Pitching those Mothers Day Gift Guides! If there are any still open.

You're not going to blanket pitch (aka sending 1 pitch to the same 20 outlets). No no no. You are going to specialize each of these Gift Guide Ideas for the right magazine.

Example: You wouldn’t pitch the same Gift Guide idea to Bust that you would to Shape (if either of those usually even has a Mothers Day Gift Guide).

How You're Going To Pitch Mother's Day:

• Listen to the Tin Shingle TuneUp on it. Media Members get to stream it for free any time.

• Listen to another Tin Shingle TuneUp about writing an amazing pitch.

• Think of a really catchy Gift Guide theme. Yeah, that's right! Pitch the really cool idea of a theme you have!

• Make that pitch really short. Quick intro, followed by bullet points about your product.

• Pick 1 product. Not your entire line, or your entire company at large.

• Don't leave it for the editor to dig through your website to find the perfect gift idea. Be on point. Deliver it to them.

Here are 15 Mothers Day Gift Guide Ideas for you to take and use!

• Gift Ideas for the Over-Scheduled Mom

• Gift Ideas for the New Mom

• Gift Ideas for Soccer Moms

• Gift Ideas for Dance Moms

• Gift Ideas for Busy Moms Who Don't Make Dinner

• Gift Ideas for Moms Who Still Make Dinner

• Gift Ideas for Moms Obsessed With Slow Cookers

• Gift Ideas for Gluten Free Families

• Gift Ideas for Crafty Moms

• Gift Ideas for Moms Who Returned To Work

• Gift Ideas for Moms Who Returned To School

• Gift Ideas for Moms Who Run Their Own Business

• Gift Ideas for Moms in Mourning

• Gift Ideas for Fitness Obsessed Moms

• Gift Ideas for Moms Who Are BFFs Through Their Kids

Where To Get More Help and Ideas

Talk about what kind of media coverage you are trying to get with other Tin Shingle Members in our Community Forum. This is a private forum on our website, and is a supportive and safe space. Tin Shingle’s Media Membership was created for business owners, artists and makers who are getting the word out about their business.

Spooky Sale! Our Black Friday Starts On Halloween - And Ends Election Day!

We're going to be out enjoying life on Black Friday (and probably broke after hitting a few Black Friday sales), and suspect you will be too!

We're hosting our Black Friday Sale now - on Halloween Weekend! For the Spooky Savings!

Tin Shingle only offers this sale once a year - for a few days only - Black Friday Halloween Weekend!

After this Halloween Weekend, this deal will be gone like a ghost, so get it now!

20% off the 6 month All Access Pass (Great Deal)
Normally $750, today get it for $600
Get 1 month free.

25% off the 12 month All Access Pass (Best Deal)
Normally $1,500, today get it for $1,125
Get 2 months free.

Tin Shingle is designed for business owners, artists and makers who are getting the word out about their business.

When put your business out there, you need different levels of support and training at different times. Resources are designed to empower you and spark new ideas.

MEDIA CONTACT IDEAS + EDITORIAL CALENDARS

• Media Contacts - Over 3,000 media contacts from Magazines, Newspapers, TV, Bloggers, On-Air Experts and Contributing Writers

• Editorial Calendars* - over 100 magazine titles so you know where a magazine's cycle is right now (we have even more specialty titles coming)
  *Please note: 2020 Editorial Calendars are being released right now by the magazines, and Tin Shingle is collecting them to publish to the website.

• Planners + Templates - Includes the Content Planner, Media Outreach Tracking Sheet, SEO Tracking Sheet, and others

COMMUNITY
When you're getting the word out about your business, you need the wind beneath your wings! You need support. Tin Shingle is there for you. Our membership and our leaders.

• Community Boards
  Give and get support on Tin Shingle's private forum on our website.

• Pitch Whisperer
  The most popular thread in our Community Forum. Submit your pitch for us to review before you send it.

• Instagram Hashtag Cheat Sheets
  Brainstorming help when you need good hashtags to swim in. If you're not having success in Instagram, then you're not using the right hashtags. There are so many clever ones you may not have considered!

• Discounted Private Training
  You've got direct access at the Community Level, but if you want personal attention on your campaign planning and execution, you've got a discount on Private Training Sessions ($350/hr). Get it for $250/hr

DIRECTORIES

• Promote your business on Tin Shingle's website in our directories:
  Business Directory
  Press Portfolio:
  Promote the PR hits you got! Publish them here!
  Shopping Guides
  Add your products to our theme-based Shopping Guide!

TUNEUPS: GROUP CHALLENGES + REPLAYS

• Stream over 270 TuneUp Replays anytime you want.
  Love the live TuneUps? Stream them whenever you want. Topics include PR, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter Strategy, Interviews with inspiring business owners, and more.

• PR + SEO Challenges: Every other Wednesday, the TuneUp is closed to be members-only. It's a small group strategy session on your get-the-word out needs. Give and get support from other members, and from Tin Shingle's owner and publisher, Katie.

2019 Editorial Calendar for Architectural Digest On Its Way Too You!

Magazines release their editorial calendars at different times. Or we’re buried under research with other Editorial Calendar and general Media Contact research to remember to follow up.

Today, one of our favorite magazines came in - Architectural Digest! Can’t wait to learn the monthly themes this magazine has coming up. So many angles as to why you could pitch a writer or editor about your business, if you had a vague idea of what resource or inspiration that would appeal to them at that time.

Members of Tin Shingle at the All Access Level have instant access to these editorial calendars. Or idea centers, as we call them. We have the editorial calendars from 100 publications for 2019 right now! All searchable by Title of publication, AND Area of Interest. Because we are list nerds like that 🤓

Wanna see ‘em and overfloweth with ideas of why to pitch your business? Join us! www.tinshingle.com/editorial-calendars

The Media Contacts Database At Tin Shingle Is Getting A Total Refresh!

Right now as we speak, the Media Contact Database at Tin Shingle is getting a total refresh and shakeup. With the media landscape changing so quickly as more magazines are abandoning traditional 12 month publication cycles for 10 months or no months at all, we are finding more and more valuable freelance writers and editors, as well as regular contributing writers at magazines and other forms of media, including podcasts, TV programs and even business websites that offer services but have invested in a content campaign.

Our focus on the individual person working in the media profession is strengthening, as we want to highlight the different Media Outlets that these people work in. Therefore, we putting all of the Media Outlets onto the person’s page that they work for, write for, produce for, or host.

For example: From Tin Shingle’s Media Contact Database, let’s look at Mandi Woodruff. Mandi works in the personal finance world. She is the executive editor at LendingTree.com, and the host and founder of the podcast, Brown Ambition, a show about money, career and business. She’s a gold nugget, and most likely, a pretty good person to pitch about money, business, and careers.

“But wait,” you ask, “How would I have found Mandi in the first place?”

We tag each Media Contact with a unique identifier we call “Area of Interest.” When you’re searching through our lists, you can search by “Area of Interest.” Mandi has been tagged with: Finance, Personal Finance, Black Media, Black Voices.

As a recommended Media Contact in Tin Shingle’s members-only database, you’ll find Mandi’s bio (as she wrote it from her Brown Ambition About Us page), as well as both of her job roles: one at LendingTree.com, the other at Brown Ambition. If she has different social media handles or email addresses that she may have recommended you use (or if she doesn’t recommend an email address, then we usually guide you to the writer’s Contact Us page on their website - those pages really are pretty effective).

Here’s Mandi’s bio:

Mandi Woodruff has been reporting on finance and business for more than seven years. She joined personal finance startup MagnifyMoney in June 2016 as Executive Editor of their personal finance content. Less than a year later, the company was acquired by LendingTree.com. In her newly expanded role as executive editor, she leads a team of 20+ freelance writers, two full-time reporters and two editors to create stellar personal finance content for half a dozen LendingTree.com-owned websites. Mandi was previously the personal finance editor at Business Insider and a personal finance reporter for Yahoo Finance, where she hosted the weekly web series “Money Minute” and “The Payoff”. She’s an alumna of the Grady College of Journalism at the University of Georgia (go Dawgs!) and an active member of the National Association of Black Journalists, the New York chapter of NABJ, the Society of American Business Editors and Writers, and the Journalism & Women Symposium.

The update to the Media Contacts is underway now, but you can still access them and dig around for your research. Thank you for your patience, and you encounter anything amiss, please Contact Us about it! If you’re not a member yet of Tin Shingle, join today for instant access to our media research lists! See what others have to say about their membership.