How Tin Shingle's TuneUp Office Hours Is Helping Author Winifred Tataw

During a Wednesday Tin Shingle TuneUp Office Hour, which is open to members from 1-2 pm, I, Katie, got to meet Winnie @winsbooks! Professionally as an author, she is Winifred Tataw, and both her names are part of what we discussed SEO-wise. Winnie is a writer in the Young Adult Fantasy genre, and her book is available on her website.

Part of why Winnie joined Tin Shingle was to improve SEO on her website. “I’ve downloaded 30 SEO apps, and it’s not happening,” she told me on a call before she joined. The simple truth is that those apps won’t help! I haven’t seen everyone, but what has always helped since the dawn of SEO 20 years ago (which is when I started), is creative writing with keywords in mind, and linking out to other related web pages is the perfect combo.

First off, we discussed where Winnie had to put her name on different pages (because her website won’t rank well for her own name if it’s not mentioned anywhere...a common problem of speaking in 1st person...and having her author name on blog articles isn’t weighted enough for Google). We discussed her Author Spotlights, a service she created to spotlight other writers of color who are Black, Brown, Indigenous, and otherwise unrecognized. Being the month of Ramadan, she has been surprised to not see the author highlights of Muslim authors right now.

Winnie interviews the author and does a full feature on the book. While this is in a section called “Services,” she doesn’t charge for this, unlike others in her field. We discussed how she is creating pure publicity for these authors, and while that is a gift/service for them, in the publishing world, it is called something else: publicity ☺️💜

She is going to rename that section to Author Spotlights and feature recent interviews on its home page. Tin Shingle is adding Winnie to our Media Contacts Idea Center, and tagging her as #BlackMedia for others looking to find opportunities. Winnie is Tin Shingle’s youngest member: she is in her 3rd year at The College of Charleston! Which is where I went also! It is an honor having a student trust Tin Shingle enough with her investment. Her eye is on the prize(s).

Today's TuneUp Office Hours: A Focus On Last Minute Pitches; Limited-Run Products

Hello!

Today we are going to focus on when to pitch what.

Last Minute Mothers Day Gift Guides are on people's minds, but really prep for how you want to pitch Holiday Gift Guides (the November/December spreads) should be what you are planning for.

We can discuss how to pitch for these last minute ideas, as well as the print magazines that editors are working on now.

We will be looking at Tin Shingle's 2021 Editorial Calendar for ideas, so have that at the ready.

Additionally, we will work on what to do if you have low inventory, or are made-to-order, and how to handle that with your pitching.

If you haven't downloaded it yet, find the PR Planner and Tracking Template here. It is free for Members of Tin Shingle, and a cost for those who are curating their Tin Shingle tools.

Tin Shingle Members can attend this TuneUp Office Hour session as a way to have a micro-brainstorming session on their own marketing needs. The time will be shared and moderated. Come join us if you haven't yet! Private Training is always available with a discount to Tin Shingle Members, and group connections are always appreciated.

About TuneUp Office Hours

If you are a member of Tin Shingle, come on today's Members-Only TuneUp! These are closed sessions, and not open to the public. This is a safe space for Tin Shingle Members to come in with brainstorms to give and get feedback.

You can turn on your video camera to speak eye-to-eye, or just talk on the phone or through your computer speakers.

In this series, members of Tin Shingle with the Media Kit Membership can call in to workshop any need in their marketing campaign, including:

• Media Pitching: What a pitch to a certain media outlet should look like, and how it should read.

• Instagram: How to get sales and create PR opportunities from you posts.

• Facebook: How do you increase traffic from this platform?

• Website: The media will circle back to evaluate their website. What are they seeing, and is it clear?

• SEO: What's your game plan? Let's get one. You don't want to miss out on all that search traffic.

HOW IT WORKS:
Tin Shingle's owner Katie will moderate the call.

She will rotate through people on the call, and encourage each other to contribute to each person's challenge as a conversation.

CALL-IN DETAILS
When you are logged into your Media Kit Member account at Tin Shingle, you will be able to click this link in our Community section of the website to get the private link to call in details.

Blessings For Midwin Charles, Attorney, & Legal and Social Justice Analyst

Photo Credit: Deadline

On Tuesday, April 6, 2021, attorney and MSNBC legal analyst, Midwin Charles, passed away at age 47. The week before, she had postponed one of her group Instagram gatherings, saying she wasn’t feeling well. Before that, she celebrated Deb Haaland: “This is amazing news! Herstory made during Women’s History Month could not be more poetic. Deb Haaland is the first Native American to serve as a cabinet member in 2021? Appalling it took this long. Native Americans were almost driven to extinction by genocide when Europeans arrived on these shores. She is the 35th generation on this land. Yes, 35.” And prior to that, she had gone with her vaccine reluctant Mom to get vaccinated. Midwin was thrilled that her mother got vaccinated, and was encouraging friends to keep at their parents who were reluctant.

But In a post this week, her family reported that she had passed away. Her family reported: “It is with a profoundly heavy heart and the deepest sadness that we announce the untimely passing of our beloved Midwin Charles.” They continued, “She was known to many as a legal commentator on television but to us, she was devoted daughter, sister, aunt, niece, and cousin. Our lives are forever changed and we will miss her for a lifetime. The family thanks you in advance for your love and prayers.”

Midwin Charles, who also appeared on CNN and contributed to Essence magazine, and The Huffington Post, was born and raised in Brooklyn. She was a member of the Dean’s Diversity Council for American University’s Washington College of Law and served on the board of Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network (WEEN). With this, Charles was a member of the Civil Rights Committee for the Association of the Bar of the City of New York and lectured at Syracuse University. She founded the law firm, Midwin Charles & Associates, in New York City.

According to TODAY, Charles also worked for CNN as a legal contributor for “In Session,” and started “Infinite Possibilities of the Law Degree.”

MSNBC’s Joy Reid shared she was “stunned” by the news of Charles’ Death. Reid tweeted, “Midwin dear heart, you were a brilliant spirit and beautiful soul. You were such a blessing, I’m just stunned, and have been since I learned of this today.”

The New York Post also shared that, “White House principal deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also paid tribute to the lawyer.” She shared, “This one hit really hard today. Rest in Power Sis @MidwinCharles.”

Office Hours Open Today: 1 pm - 2 pm

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Office Hours Open Today

When: Wednesday, April 7
Time: 1 pm EST
Where: At your computer or on your phone.
How: Follow the directions on this page to get the registration link.
Or, if you're a Tin Shingle Member and are already logged in, click here to get the secret registration link.

Required: Media Kit Membership with Tin Shingle. Join today.

Bring your ideas.
Bring your questions.
Bring your confusions.
Bring your doubts.
Bring your joy.
Because we are doing this.
Getting the word out there about your business!

Over the years, Wednesdays have turned into Big Days for Tin Shingle. Office Hours are fun because we can really talk about anything! And discuss things like,

• Media Pitching: What a pitch to a certain media outlet should look like, and how it should read.

• Instagram: How to get sales and create PR opportunities from your posts.

• Facebook: How do you increase traffic from this platform?

• Website Design: The media will circle back to evaluate their website. What are they seeing, and is it clear?

• SEO: What's your game plan? Let's get one. You don't want to miss out on all that search traffic.

  
  HOW IT WORKS:
  Tin Shingle's owner Katie will moderate the call. She will rotate through people on the call, and encourage each other to contribute to each person's challenge as a conversation.
  
  CALL-IN DETAILS
  When you are logged into your Media Kit Member account at Tin Shingle, you will be able to click this link in our Community section of the website to get the private link to call-in details. Once on the call, Katie will adjust your settings so that we can hear and/or see you. We love talking face-to-face, so turn your video on if you want. Otherwise, audio-only is fine.

Why We Talk About Hair Blowouts During TuneUp Office Hours

Not gonna lie, sometimes during the TuneUp Office Hour, we discuss COVID hair blowouts, and how that can become a media pitch idea. Because that is what makeup designer mixologist @nycluckychick has mastered for her curly hair during the shutdown. This is a media pitch that isn’t a feature on her business but can keep her name and company name in the news lightly.

We also discuss things like Grammy makeup themes as seen on the virtual red carpet and how to incorporate that into her customer newsletter to increase sales. In the past, @nycluckychick showed up and we discussed short, quick, and really effective ways of getting her new makeup brand in front of editors. Makeup artists love her brand and have reached out to use it for the Grammys!

Want in on this fun? Office Hours at Tin Shingle is a special opportunity for members only, where they call in with their questions, concerns, doubts, big ideas.

Tin Shingle Members can attend this TuneUp Office Hour session as a way to have a micro-brainstorming session on their own marketing needs. The time will be shared and moderated. Come join us if you haven't yet! Private Training is always available with a discount to Tin Shingle Members, and group connections are always appreciated. www.TinShingle.com/tuneup

The Reckoning of 2020, Plus An Editorial Calendars UPDATE!

Hello hello! I am back! I hope you are all happy and healthy and staying safe.

2021 is here and while it’s off to a sluggish start (insurrection notwithstanding, but that’s a whole OTHER blog post), I am a little relieved and I hope you are, too. Not that the changing of a number really does anything, but knowing that 2020 is OVER is encouraging. Winter is on its way out, Biden is in the White House, and we’ve all adjusted, adapted, pivoted and made it to the other side.

Also, editorial calendars are coming back in full force, as fast as my little fingers can type them! Got any requests? LET ME HAVE THEM!

This week I want to talk about beauty and fashion publications and what I’ve noticed after this year of reckoning.

 Yes, reckoning.

The Black Lives Matter movement rose up like a fisted phoenix from a firepit demanding justice, equity, and accountability from every industry across the board, bringing with it other social justice movements in its wake. From the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor (among so many more) to the rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans, the hashtags #icantbreathe, #racismisavirus, #justiceforbreonnataylor, #weseeyouwat (and countless others) flooded social media.

In response to all of this, industries are making efforts to diversify their staff, marketing materials and products to embrace a broader audience and promote peace, inclusion and anti-racism.

 In the beauty and fashion industry, Allure reports that “beauty companies are revealing their own lack of diversity, thanks to the #pulluporshutup challenge.”

My research has pulled up some encouraging trends. I have found that many beauty publications are focusing entire issues on demographics who have been largely underrepresented in mainstream media.

For example:

ELLE - OCT 2021 The LatinX Issue

HARPER’S BAZAAR - OCT 2021 - LatinX Issue

 (It might help you to know that Hispanic Heritage Month is Sept 15 thru Oct 15.)

ALLURE - APRIL 2021 - The Melanin Project - Of our survey of Black Allure readers, skin was a topic they'd like to read more about. In response, we'll create a robust content franchise focusing on Black skincare. Includes a photo series, "My Black Skin Is..." highlighting Black women with skin conditions; and a social-first movement, #SunscreenSis to get more Black people to wear sunscreen (only 11% of non-Hispanic Black adults regularly do).

ALLURE - May 2021 - The Best of Global Beauty - A celebration of the global beauty scene exploring trends, products, rituals and routines including the reign of Nollywood in Nigeria - one of the world's biggest and fastest growing markets. (81% of readers reported that they want to see more content highlighting global beauty).

ALLURE - June/July 2021 - The New Body Positivity - We'll start conversations on topics that impact our bodies impossible beauty standards, the beauty world's problem with fat representation, and the intersection of Anti-Anti-Aging with the body-positivity movement.

COSMO - July/Aug 2020 - Black Girls’ Guide to SPF

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU? WHAT CAN YOU DO?

This is a chance for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) makers and business owners to pitch to traditionally white and mainstream publications and get your voices and products out there!

For white-owned businesses, you can expand your audience by way of thoughtful and intentional inclusion, however it applies to your business. It could mean expanding your skincare line to include more diverse skintones, using models of all shapes, ethnic backgrounds, abilities and sizes in your marketing materials, or including diverse voices in your blog. 

It will take a lot of work, and missteps will be made. Remain honest with yourselves, be willing to learn and most importantly listen to each other. Hold yourselves accountable, receive criticism willingly and openly, and you will not be cancelled.

Need More Editorial Calendar Themes?

 Tin Shingle’s Editorial Calendar Collection is evolving every day!  The aforementioned themes are a small sample of what is on the docket for 2021. The most important thing for you, however, is to pitch into the theme now - time keeps marching on and you want to stay relevant in your ideas for why a magazine writer or editor may feature your business.

Members of Tin Shingle with the Media Kit Membership have instant access to all of our editorial calendar deadlines. All searchable by Title and Area of Interest. Browse through and let your inspiration guide you. Tin Shingle’s membership program is designed for business owners, artist, makers and communication directors who are getting the word out about their business.

All editorial themes are provided by the publication and are subject to change.

As always, send in media contact or editorial calendar requests to member@tinshingle.com

New Media Contact: A Writer At Morning Brew

Sketch for Morning Brew of Jamie Wilde

Jamie Wilde has been writing for Morning Brew since February of 2021. Prior to that, Wilde was the Editorial Coordinator for Morning Brew from October 2019 - February 2021. She has also worked for YPulse, Los Angeles Confidential magazine, hollyscoop.com, and The Hollywood Reporter.

Morning Brew is a daily email newsletter covering the latest news from Wall St. to Silicon Valley. It costs nothing to use and it’s quite entertaining! Each morning email has a recap of the stock market, a few short briefs on the most important business news of the day, and a little bit of lifestyle content.

Jamie Wilde is “always looking for a new opportunity to learn about other perspectives and where her personal experience can add something meaningful to the conversation.” Her interests include Art, Bitcoin, Cryptocurrency, Shopping, Video Games, Media, weather, Crypto, Technology, apps, diversity, Inclusion, Entertainment.

Find Jamie Wilde in TIn Shingle’s Media Contact Database along with many others!

Skim Through Tin Shingle's Media Contacts Database

Tin Shingle's Media Contact Database makes your research a little easier. It’s easy! Log into your member account at Tin Shingle, and go to the Media Contact Idea Center. From there, you'd see a box that says "Areas of Interest," and you'd start typing LA or Los Angeles. A list of suggestions would begin coming up. Done! See how to search for media contacts HERE.

Tin Shinglers with the Media Kit Membership get access to any and all Media Contacts. Apply for Tin Shingle membership today to get access!

Get Ideas

Need ideas of why to pitch a specific magazine? Start a conversation in Tin Shingle's Pitch Whisperer. Or tune in every other Wednesday to our members-only group consulting session, Pitch Whisperer TuneUp.

You can also get private, one-on-one help through Private Training.

Tin Shinglers with the Media Kit Membership get access to any and all Media Contacts. Apply for Tin Shingle membership today to get access!

You can also get private, one-on-one help through Private Training.

Money Monday: Make That Paper - Change That Rate

Make That Paper

When I was at my mechanic, spending money again on my little Audi wagon with a turbo engine that I won't give up, I noticed the picture of his rate sign, and took a picture. Notice the numerous scratch outs for rate changes over the years.

The first time I went to him years ago, I think it was $70/hr. Today, on top of all of those scratch-outs, which are possibly with white-out marker (does he need to hire us for print branding, possibly?). This day, it looks like it's $120 or $180. Can't tell. I don't care. I just pay the bill on my Old Navy credit card to get the free clothing points, and pay down the card ASAP so as not to lose the free clothing dollars to a 29% monthly interest rate.

The reason I don't care is because I can walk to his shop, which causes less time for me in my life with kids to get a car serviced, and I trust him. He in turn cares for me, gets my exhaust system replaced on my massive 4WD truck before a major snowstorm so that I can drive through the mounds of snow to the grocery store, etc.

What Does This Mean For Your Rate?

If you're struggling with a lot of clients or product sales right now, it may be time to look at your rates, and raise them. If you're too busy with not enough money, you might not be earning enough. Conversely, if you're getting zero business, it may be time to lower the rates. I know we are in a pandemic, and there is a lot of sensitivity to what people can afford right now, so lets get down some tips to consider:

• Rates Can Always Be Special
  If you set your rate on your website (you do this if you sell products...it's our service-industry friends who don't always share their rates publicly), you can always make a private arrangement with a person who cannot afford that rate, but would be a great project for you and a good client fit. You can make the decision to lower your rate for them.

• Raise The Rates; Bring Them Down
  Our rate has always been like the stock market. If we're really busy, the rates go up because we can't service everyone and put out original content. However, the rates can stay the same if we bring on additional team members to spread out the work. Building a team is an art, and requires nurturing. That in and of itself takes time. But builds a solid team which is very worth it in the long run for everyone.

• Discounts
  Yes, even service-industry people can offer a discount! Who doesn't love a good sale? Your price needs to be flexible enough to absorb this discount. For instance, here at Tin Shingle, we offer a 25% Discount on services we offer, like Private Training. It adds value to the membership, and makes it easier to afford what you need.

• Totally Slash The Price Whenever You Want To
  During the pandemic, I had a soft spot for restaurants and farmers. I watched my egg farmer get disconnected from her Farmers Market customers when the 100% shut-down happened last year, and as winter approached for her, I feared for her, being that she didn't have a website. Over at our sister media company, Katie James, Inc., we slashed our website price and designed her a website in Shopify that she can utilize from her phone, as she doesn't have a computer. Round of applause for the Shopify app! She is also getting training in how to use her Instagram, and will get Social Media Cards from us in order to quickly share a regular statement, like "FREE DELIVERY 7 DAYS!" or "SNOW DAY AT THE MARKET - ORDER ONLINE AND I'LL DELIVER"

• Make It Easy To Pay You
  Credit cards. You need to accept them. If the credit card fee is holding you up, put that concern aside and build it into your pricing. Do not add a "Processing Fee" to your checkout, which covers that credit card fee, because that just frustrates a customer. Make it seamless. Take checks too! But get paid up front because you don't have time or a billing department to chase payments.

• Communicate With Your People
  Caring for your clients and customers is the #1 best thing you can do for a lasting relationship, and production of great work. Make communicating with your clients, customers, and your own staff your #1 priority. Everyone is allergic to meetings these days, but having short and efficient ones, and sending emails responsively, will make a big difference. Especially during this time of isolation.

How Can You Pitch Something Like This To The Media?

If anything presented here sounds like something you can pitch to the media, do it! Tin Shingle has Media Contacts you can sort through, as well as a Google Group to send your thoughts to and get feedback from the group. Members of Tin Shingle get 24/7 access to these tools.

Brooke Baldwin Leaving CNN To Amplify "The Lives Of Extraordinary Americans"

Photo Credit: Screenshot of Deadline from Everett Collection

As CNN has been restructuring its anchor lineup to point-point and reassign its political coverage, longtime weekday afternoon anchor Brooke Baldwin announced her decision to spread her wings outside of the network, telling viewers: “The next chapter of my life will be focused on what I love the most about my work: amplifying the lives of extraordinary Americans. There is just more I need to do… outside the walls of this place, a place I have been privileged to call home for 13 years. Yep, we’re still in a pandemic. No, I don’t have a job I’m jumping right into. Yes, I’m feeling very vulnerable.”

According to Variety, CNN declined to elaborate further on the decision. Announcements of anchors covering politics being reassigned or enhanced in their air-time have been announced since the new administration took place. Some of these anchors include Washington-based Brianna Keilar, who has been known to push back on officials in her interviews, and Alisyn Camerota, the “New Day” co-anchor in the morning, who “has steered the program though the bulk of the Trump administration,” according to Variety. Variety also reports that there has been consideration by CNN executives to move Alisyn to the afternoon.

Deadline reported that Brooke had a longtime goal of anchoring at CNN, and achieved it, as she explained to viewers during her announcement: “After most of my 20s working my way up in local news, I came to this network in 2008 – in the midst of the Great Recession as a freelancer. I remember I scribbled my name on a Post-It note and stuck it outside of this temporary office, determined to fulfilling my dream of becoming a full-time CNN correspondent.”

Brooke created the digital series on CNN called American Woman, which focuses on the stories of trailblazing women who have broken barriers in their respective fields and are now helping other women do the same. Brooke explains the genesis of the series here, where she quotes her southern mother: “Growing up, I wasn't encouraged to speak up or speak out," Brooke’s mother recalled. Brooke continued: “As I threw my arm around her, it brought me an important revelation, a clear view of the critical change wrought in a single generation of women: my mother and millions like her felt they couldn't use their voices, but they taught their daughters they MUST.”

Brooke has been working on a book, Huddle: How Women Unlock Their Collective Power published HarperCollins which will publish in April. Expect more from Brooke, and follow her to see how your self and/or your business could be part of her storytelling.

“You know, there is just more I need to do,” she said, “more I need to do outside of this place, outside the walls of this place, a place I’ve been privileged to call home now for 13 years.”

Read more of Brooke’s quotes from her announcement here at Deadline.

Tin Shingle is updating our Media Contacts with more of her contact information, to make finding and following her easier. Start your media membership with Tin Shingle today, designed for businesses, artists and makers, to make your media research and idea generating easier.

Podcast Startup Wondery To Be Aquired By Amazon

Amazon Music to Acquire Podcast Startup Wondery

Amazon Music has agreed to buy podcast studio Wondery in a bid to bolster its fledgling audio business. (THR)

Amazon Music in September added podcasts to its platform, looking to carve out a share of the increasingly competitive podcasting market, in which Spotify, Apple and others have gained ground. Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed. (CNBC)