What To Pitch This Month

Online Class: How to Participate in a Gift Bag & Suite the Right Way to Build Buzz

Tin Shingle co-founders Sabina and Katie are joined by industry expert Jane Ubell-Meyer who has organized gift bags and suites for numerous celebrity events and award shows. This TuneUp will focus on if gift bags and suites are worth investing in for your business, and if so, what you can do to leverage your participation in order to get press and social media buzz. We will also be discussing how to do this in a legitimate way to avoid legal ramifications that have been hitting firms and businesses of late.

Covered In This Webinar

TO GIFT OR NOT TO GIFT, IS IT REALLY WORTH IT?

  • Are gifting bags and gifting suites still the right move for your business?

  • Which is a better opportunity, suites or bags?

DO YOUR RESEARCH

  • How can you find the right gifting opportunity for your brand?

  • What should you ask the company you choose to work with?

  • Can you connect with past suite participants? What should you ask them?

PLANNING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY

  • Are these opportunities "set it and forget it", send product and then what?

  • What exactly should you send to a gift bag to make your brand pop?

  • What if you cannot be at the suite? How will this impact you?

  • What should you expect a gift suite to look like and how do you plan for your appearance there?

LEVERAGING THE OPPORTUNITY WITH THE PRESS

  • Can you promote your participation before the opportunity happens?

  • How can you promote the opportunity after it happens?

  • Should you expect the company running the gift bag or suite to get press for you too?

  • What else can you do to leverage this marketing opportunity for your brand?

LET'S TALK LEGAL

  • You don't want to be sued by any awards show or celebrity for using their name in my marketing of these opportunities, how can one be sure they promote participation the right - legal - way?

  • When is something really the "official" gift bag of an event?

How to Watch

Anyone can watch a Tin Shingle TuneUp from their computer, mobile phone or tablet. The process is different for premium members and the public.

MEMBERS OF TIN SHINGLE

Stream any TuneUp Webinar anytime with your Tin Shingle membership. No need to purchase it, this TuneUp is ready to play from this page! When you are logged in, you will see a big screen. Press play and start taking notes!

NON-MEMBERS OF TIN SHINGLE

Once you buy a TuneUp, you own it forever. The video or audio recording will appear on the TuneUp page that you just purchased from, and all you need to do is press play!

Online Class: Announcing Tin Shingle's First Monthly PR Challenge

Tin Shingle is opening its first 8-week PR Challenge - and you're invited! Join a group of other like-minded business owners and marketers who are working to get press just like you are. Seating is limited, so do reserve your spot, and prepare to get new ideas for what to pitch, inspiration for new media outlets reach out to, and most importantly, accountability for your work to make sure it gets done. There will be 8 sessions which run every other Tuesday, starting May 24th and ending August 30th.

Covered In This Webinar

Join Tin Shingle's co-founder Katie on today's live TuneUp webinar, where she will tell you how this PR Challenge will work, and how to sign up. Here is what you're going to hear about:

Accountability

Key to getting press is to simply go for it. You'll share with the group who you reached out to.

Accomplishment

Every session will kick off with hearing success stories - big or little. Did you finally pitch a reporter you've been putting off for months? Did you get featured in Good Housekeeping? Share it.

PR Safe Space

This is a supportive group, moderated by Katie to ensure support and opportunity. The PR Challenge is open to members of Tin Shingle (you can dig in and join at any time!)

Ideas

By hearing everyone's ideas, you're going to get fresh ones of your own. Tin Shingle is made up of businesses in all industries. Even if a similar business is in the group, we share here.

Take a Peek Now

Being that you are reaching this page after this PR Challenge started, you can follow along in the Community Boards, which also contain the link you need to register for the group calls. You must be a member of Tin Shingle to be involved in a PR Challenge, and to view this conversation. Activate your membership now, and come in!

How to Watch

Anyone can watch a Tin Shingle TuneUp from their computer, mobile phone or tablet. The process is different for Premium Members and the public.

MEMBERS OF TIN SHINGLE

Stream any TuneUp Webinar anytime with your Tin Shingle membership. No need to purchase it, this TuneUp is ready to play from this page! When you are logged in, you will see a big screen. Press play and start taking notes! Not a member yet? You really should be...

NON-MEMBERS OF TIN SHINGLE

Once you buy a TuneUp, you own it forever. The video or audio recording will appear on the TuneUp page that you just purchased from, and all you need to do is press play!

About Your Instructor

Katie Hellmuth Martin is co-founder of Tin Shingle and publisher of A Little Beacon Blog. Since 2005 when she hung her own shingle as a designer of websites and accessories, Katie has worked with businesses of all sizes to grow their digital footprints using newsletters, company blogs, user experience, social media, and a creative look at SEO performance. For Tin Shingle, she is lead designer, community membership nurturer, columnist, and director of partnerships and advertising.

Online Class: How to Get Your Product on Celebrities

You just know that you could move the needle on your business if you got that photo in a magazine with a celebrity using or wearing your product! This Tin Shingle TuneUp is dedicated to just that, and we’ve called in one of our resident PR Experts, Sabina Hitchen, founder of Sabina Knows and Press for Success Online PR Training to tell you how!

Covered In This Webinar

  • Celebrities
    They aren't just from Hollywood anymore! Find out what celebs are going to help you move the needle in terms of sales and visibility.

  • How Celebrity Gifting Works
    Find out the outreach cycle for celebrity gifting - what steps do you need to include from start to finish?

  • Offering:
    How to choose what to offer in terms of product or service.

  • They Used It!!!
    What can you do after a celebrity uses your product?

  • *** Special Bonus Strategy
    How Your Blog Can Get a Big Boost from a Celebrity

How to Watch

Anyone can watch a Tin Shingle TuneUp from their computer, mobile phone or tablet. The process is different for Premium Members and the public.

MEMBERS OF TIN SHINGLE

Stream any TuneUp Webinar anytime with your Tin Shingle membership. No need to purchase it, this TuneUp is ready to play from this page! When you are logged in, you will see a big screen. Press play and start taking notes! Not a member yet? You really should be...

NON-MEMBERS OF TIN SHINGLE

Once you buy a TuneUp, you own it forever. The video or audio recording will appear on the TuneUp page that you just purchased from, and all you need to do is press play!

About Your Instructor

Sabina Hitchen is the founder of Sabina Knows and Press for Success Online Training. During her PR agency days, Sabina's clients appeared everywhere from the Today Show, Good Morning America and CBS This Morning to Entrepreneur Magazine, Inc.com, O the Oprah Winfrey Magazine, People StyleWatch, E! News and more. She is a true believer that "it's PR not ER" and that every small business given the right skills and tools can excel at managing and understanding their public relations campaign.

Online Class: A Peek Into The Strategies from Tin Shingle Co-Founders

With ten years of buzz building business work each under their belts, Katie and Sabina have go-to strategies that help them work faster, smarter and with a higher success rate. In this TuneUp webinar, they are each giving you a "peek behind the curtain" into the tools, tricks and time-tested work habits that they've perfected over the past decade.

Covered In This Webinar

  • Organization and work flow tips from Katie and Sabina.

  • A peek into who they follow on social media for inspiration and education.

  • A inside look into Sabina's PR relationship building weekly routines.

  • Fear busting and confidence building strategies the founders employ on a daily basis.

  • The two influencer-connecting moves Sabina uses every month.

  • Lessons the founders learned that have impacted how they do their buzz building.

  • How Katie grows her business footprint in a local community.

  • Two of Katie's secrets to keep our virtual team motivated and on track.

How to Watch

Anyone can watch a Tin Shingle TuneUp from their computer, mobile phone or tablet. The process is different for premium members and the public.

MEMBERS OF TIN SHINGLE

Stream any TuneUp Webinar anytime with your Tin Shingle membership. No need to purchase it, this TuneUp is ready to play from this page! When you are logged in, you will see a big screen. Press play and start taking notes!

NON-MEMBERS OF TIN SHINGLE

Once you buy a TuneUp, you own it forever. The video or audio recording will appear on the TuneUp page that you just purchased from, and all you need to do is press play!

Online Class: Must-Use Apps and Tools to Build Buzz for Your Business

Tin Shingle co-founders Sabina and Katie share a few of their favorite apps and tools that make doing business and building buzz faster, easier and more fun - yes you heard that right: your to-do list can be more fun! In this webinar, the Tin Shingle ladies pull back the curtain behind the tools and apps that are making their lives easier and more successful, and will also be sharing apps and tools that are working for small businesses as submitted by entrepreneurs like you!!

Covered In This Webinar

  • Apps and tools that focus on areas of your business ranging from copywriting to banking to design work.

  • A breakdown of what each app or tool does, the basics on how you use it and suggestions regarding how to apply it to your business or buzz building.

  • Suggestions from small biz owners like you of apps and tools that are making their lives easier for them.

How to Watch

Anyone can watch a Tin Shingle TuneUp from their computer, mobile phone or tablet. The process is different for Premium Members and the public.

MEMBERS OF TIN SHINGLE

Stream any TuneUp Webinar anytime with your Tin Shingle membership. No need to purchase it, this TuneUp is ready to play from this page! When you are logged in, you will see a big screen. Press play and start taking notes! Not a member yet? You really should be...

NON-MEMBERS OF TIN SHINGLE

Once you buy a TuneUp, you own it forever. The video or audio recording will appear on the TuneUp page that you just purchased from, and all you need to do is press play!

About Your Instructor

Katie Hellmuth Martin is co-founder of Tin Shingle and publisher of A Little Beacon Blog. Since 2005 when she hung her own shingle as a designer of websites and accessories, Katie has worked with businesses of all sizes to grow their digital footprints using newsletters, company blogs, user experience, social media, and a creative look at SEO performance. For Tin Shingle, she is lead designer, community membership nurturer, columnist, and director of partnerships and advertising.

Sabina Hitchen is the co-founder of Tin Shingle and the founder of Sabina Knows. She has been practicing, teaching and lecturing on all things public relations for over eight years and specializes in lifestyle public relations for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Sabina's clients have appeared everywhere from the Today Show, Good Morning America and CBS This Morning to Entrepreneur Magazine, Inc.com, O the Oprah Winfrey Magazine, People StyleWatch, E! News and more. She is a true believer that "it's PR not ER" and that every small business given the right skills and tools can excel at managing and understanding their public relations campaign.

Online Class: O, The Oprah Magazine Featured This Biz Twice - How Simple Sarongs, Founded by Kami Darnell, is a PR Darling

Kami Darnell, creator behind the popular wrap-around beach towel cover-up Simple Sarongs, has been featured in O, The Oprah Magazine twice. In this TuneUp Training Webinar, she reveals how she did that, including many trade secrets in her sector of the retail industry. This is a great listen for any business owner or marketer. Because Kami does most of her PR herself, and has plenty of experience to share!

Covered In This Webinar

We are going deep! We will cover these hot topics:

PRESS

Find out how Kami got press on the Meredith Vieira Show, in Cosmopolitan UK, Southern Lady, Beautiful Bride, The Today Show, and more.

MANUFACTURING

Retail production is not easy! Hear how Kami does it and produces new styles.

WEBSITE

Websites can be a challenge, but Kami has had years to master her current design. What did she learn along the way to get it to this point?

SALES

You'll hear how busy she is - with orders. How does she generate sales?

How to Watch

Anyone can watch a Tin Shingle TuneUp from their computer, mobile phone or tablet. The process is different for Premium Members and the public.

MEMBERS OF TIN SHINGLE

Stream any TuneUp Webinar anytime with your Tin Shingle membership. No need to purchase it, this TuneUp is ready to play from this page! When you are logged in, you will see a big screen. Press play and start taking notes! Not a member yet? You really should be...

NON-MEMBERS OF TIN SHINGLE

Once you buy a TuneUp, you own it forever. The video or audio recording will appear on the TuneUp page that you just purchased from, and all you need to do is press play!

About Your Instructor

Katie Hellmuth Martin is co-founder of Tin Shingle and publisher of A Little Beacon Blog. Since 2005 when she hung her own shingle as a designer of websites and accessories, Katie has worked with businesses of all sizes to grow their digital footprints using newsletters, company blogs, user experience, social media, and a creative look at SEO performance. For Tin Shingle, she is lead designer, community membership nurturer, columnist, and director of partnerships and advertising.

Online Class: How Hang-O-Matic Got Through To Buyers And Onto Shelves

One of the most frequently bemoaned topics we hear about from our Tin Shingle circles of business owners is the issue of getting into stores. The shelves of big box stores and boutiques are highly coveted by many designers and manufacturers. For many, these shelves are the way they stay in business (versus direct online sales alone).

We stepped into the trenches of business owners to hear from Karina Rabin, the co-founder of Hang-O-Matic, the all-in-one picture hanging tool. She aggressively got onto the shelves of many big box stores, including Ace Hardware, The Container Store, Bed Bath and Beyond, and others. Speaking of BBB, when Karina and her husband got their first order from the giant retailer, they didn't have the capital to immediately fulfill the order. So they sold their house - while raising their new family.

Online Class: Why Your Facebook Page Is Nailing It, And Your Website Is Missing The Mark

Updating your Facebook page is so easy! You just take a picture and publish it!

BUT...What have you done to update your website lately? Did your home page ever see that amazing photo you shared on Facebook? Did your home page boast of that feature story the press did on your business? Or the column you were published in?

Facebook business pages are heating up, leaving websites cold. But it's your website that says the most about your business in the long run and has the most historic value for customers and the press who are digging for info and looking for reasons to trust your brand. What can you do about it? Tin Shingle's co-founders Sabina Hitchen and Katie Hellmuth Martin going to show you in this video e-class!

Covered In This Webinar

  • The Big Squeeze at Facebook: Why your Facebook posts may not be viewed by most of your followers, and why Facebook is not a tool you want to depend on when building your client and customer base.

  • Press: What the media looks for in your website, and how to help them find it quickly so that they can use it in their feature stories about your business.

  • Clients: What clients and customers look for in your website, and why they won't find it on Facebook.

  • Pictures: You will get a side by side comparison of a cold website versus a revealing Facebook page, with ideas on how to heat it up at your website. Because if you don't, the press and your customers may very well have missed your big announcement or accomplishment.

How to Watch

Anyone can watch a Tin Shingle TuneUp from their computer, mobile phone or tablet. The process is different for premium members and the public.

MEMBERS OF TIN SHINGLE

All TuneUps are immediately available to 24/7 you with an active membership. When you are on a TuneUp page, the video or audio recording will be there, and all you need to do is press play!

NON-MEMBERS OF TIN SHINGLE

Once you buy a TuneUp, you own it forever. The video or audio recording will appear on the TuneUp page that you just purchased from, and all you need to do is press play!

About the TuneUp Series

Each week Tin Shingle hosts a live call-in e-class called a TuneUp that focuses on a featured topic in buzz-building. These classes can include PR, social media, SEO, blogging, newsletter strategies, and more. The e-class is recorded it to make it available as a podcast or video webinar. Our experts and special guests lead each class. We take real questions from real business owners and answer them on the spot. TuneUps are available to everyone, but are free for Tin Shingle members.

About Your Instructor

Katie Hellmuth Martin is the Co-Founder of Tin Shingle and is committed to educating small businesses in common sense, yet sexy ways of marketing through search engines, and online branding. She is also the publisher of the local blog, A Little Beacon Blog. As lead producer and digital strategist at StudioPixelated, Katie has developed e-commerce and content based websites, and devised SEO and social strategies for businesses of all types, including retail and service. She has managed the traffic flow and sales process for websites during features on The Today Show, Good Morning America, and Daily Candy. Katie speaks and teaches SEO and online marketing, and has been featured in Forbes, U.S. News and World Report, New York Daily News, and other publications. Connect with her on Twitter via @kjpixelated and @TinShingle, on Instagram @katiejamespixelated and @TinShingle and on Google+.

Online Class: 2017 Business + Personal Resolutions Part 1

You run a business, so you need some Business Resolutions. But you also live your life, and you want it to get better. So setting Personal Resolutions is equally as important. Each will impact the other, and improve your business and life. Tin Shingle's co-founder Katie has already tried this for 2016 - and it worked - so she's done it again for 2017.

Special Guest Experts on this TuneUp have been pulled in to give you easy, tangible resolutions you can do now: Jane Savage of Savage Health offers easy ideas and app resources for you on nutrition, fitness and life balance. Galia Gichon of Down to Earth Finance provides money and finance tips and her favorite apps to start growing your savings. Tin Shingle's co-founder and digital marketing producer, Katie Hellmuth Martin, suggests bite-sized resolutions you can make to improve your website's SEO, grow your brand's exposure and interaction in Social Media, and ways to get that newsletter or business blog off the ground (hint: it's a MUST).

HOW TO WATCH

Anyone can watch a Tin Shingle TuneUp from their computer, mobile phone or tablet. The process is different for premium members and the public.

ALL-ACCESS PASS MEMBERS OF TIN SHINGLE

Stream any TuneUp Webinar anytime with your Tin Shingle membership. No need to purchase it, this TuneUp is ready to play from this page! When you are logged in, you will see a big screen. Press play and start taking notes!

ANYONE ELSE

Once you buy a TuneUp, you own it forever. The video or audio recording will appear on the TuneUp page that you just purchased from, and all you need to do is press play!

ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR

Katie Hellmuth MartinKatie Hellmuth Martin is the Co-Founder of Tin Shingle and is committed to educating small businesses in common sense, yet sexy ways of marketing through search engines, and online branding. Small businesses from Main Street, to big business have relied on Katie for insight and forward thinking approaches to using today's technology to lock in online branding to increase sales. As lead producer and digital strategist at InHouse Design Media, Katie has developed e-commerce and content based websites, and devised SEO and social strategies for businesses of all types, including retail and service. She has managed the traffic flow and sales process for websites during features on The Today Show, Good Morning America, and Daily Candy. She is also the publisher of the local media source, A Little Beacon Blog. Katie speaks and teaches SEO and online marketing, and has been featured in Forbes, U.S. News and World Report, New York Daily News, and other publications. Connect with her on Twitter via @KJPixelated and @TinShingle, on Instagram @katiejamespixelated and @TinShingle and on Google+.

Online Class: Why To Use Twitter and How It Can Get You Press

Tin Shingle's co-founders Katie Hellmuth Martin and Sabina Hitchen answer real-life questions from business owners just like you about Twitter. While just 23% of adults who are online actually use Twitter (as of 2014), Twitter is a major force in our culture and in the world. It has been woven into the fabric of watching TV, traffic updates, emergency updates, customer service responses, networking, coverage of events you cannot attend via "live tweeting", connecting with the media, and more. During this training webinar TuneUp, Katie and Sabina will answer the following questions with easy examples and strategies you can start using today.

Covered In This Webinar

  • "WHY do I need to use Twitter? I use Instagram, isn't that enough?"

  • "I just don't get Twitter."

  • "Twitter is overwhelming, how does anyone find anything?"

  • "What is Periscope, is it related to Twitter, and should I care about it?"

  • Twitter tricks revealed for easily researching and connecting with TV producers, newspaper reporters and magazine writers.

  • Ideas for how your business can use Twitter, no matter what type of business you run.

How to Watch

Anyone can watch a Tin Shingle TuneUp from their computer, mobile phone or tablet. The process is different for Premium Members and the public.

MEMBERS OF TIN SHINGLE

Stream any TuneUp Webinar anytime with your Tin Shingle membership. No need to purchase it, this TuneUp is ready to play from this page! When you are logged in, you will see a big screen. Press play and start taking notes! Not a member yet? You really should be...

NON-MEMBERS OF TIN SHINGLE

Once you buy a TuneUp, you own it forever. The video or audio recording will appear on the TuneUp page that you just purchased from, and all you need to do is press play!

About Your Instructor

Katie Hellmuth Martin is co-founder of Tin Shingle and publisher of A Little Beacon Blog. Since 2005 when she hung her own shingle as a designer of websites and accessories, Katie has worked with businesses of all sizes to grow their digital footprints using newsletters, company blogs, user experience, social media, and a creative look at SEO performance. For Tin Shingle, she is lead designer, community membership nurturer, columnist, and director of partnerships and advertising.

Online Class: Interview With Literary Agent Anna Knutson Geller

During this TuneUp interview, we speak with literary agent Anna Knutson Geller, the founder of Write View. Anna is a publishing industry veteran who has experienced some of the most important aspects to selling and publishing a book. With a specialty in negotiating the different rights that come with a book published by a major publishing house, such as film, audio and foreign rights, Anna tells us what to look for when publishing a book, as well as what appeals to literary agents like herself, and to the major book publishing houses you want to buy your manuscript. Do you wonder about the pros and cons to self-publishing? We cover that too.

ABOUT ANNA KNUTSON GELLER

Anna has over fifteen years of experience in the publishing industry, ranging from editor to literary scout to rights director to agent. She founded Write View in 2016. Anna began her publishing career in Paris, working as an assistant at the literary agency Agence Michelle Lapautre and as a junior editor at Editions Plon. In 2008 she moved to New York to join Maria B. Campbell Associates, where she scouted books for international publishers as well as for Warner Bros. As Director of Foreign and Subsidiary Rights at The Book Group, she negotiated translation, film, and audio deals on behalf of bestselling authors such as Joshua Ferris, Paula McLain, Celeste Ng, and Helen Simonson. She has been on the faculty of the Columbia Publishing Course since 2011, and she also teaches meditation. She speaks fluent French, conversational Italian and Spanish, and enjoys dipping her toes into the oceans of Sanskrit and Pali.

Online Class: Social Media Strategies That Work With a Slideshow of Examples

Updating your Facebook page is so easy! You just take a picture and publish it!

BUT...What have you done to update your website lately? Did your home page ever see that amazing photo you shared on Facebook? Did your home page boast of that feature story the press did on your business? Or the column you were published in?

Facebook business pages are heating up, leaving websites cold. But it's your website that says the most about your business in the long run and has the most historic value for customers and the press who are digging for info and looking for reasons to trust your brand. What can you do about it? Tin Shingle's co-founders Sabina Hitchen and Katie Hellmuth Martin going to show you in this video e-class!

Covered In This Webinar

  • The Big Squeeze at Facebook: Why your Facebook posts may not be viewed by most of your followers, and why Facebook is not a tool you want to depend on when building your client and customer base.

  • Press: What the media looks for in your website, and how to help them find it quickly so that they can use it in their feature stories about your business.

  • Clients: What clients and customers look for in your website, and why they won't find it on Facebook.

  • Pictures: You will get a side by side comparison of a cold website versus a revealing Facebook page, with ideas on how to heat it up at your website. Because if you don't, the press and your customers may very well have missed your big announcement or accomplishment.

How to Watch

Anyone can watch a Tin Shingle TuneUp from their computer, mobile phone or tablet. The process is different for premium members and the public.

MEMBERS OF TIN SHINGLE

Stream any TuneUp Webinar anytime with your Tin Shingle membership. No need to purchase it, this TuneUp is ready to play from this page! When you are logged in, you will see a big screen. Press play and start taking notes!

NON-MEMBERS OF TIN SHINGLE

Once you buy a TuneUp, you own it forever. The video or audio recording will appear on the TuneUp page that you just purchased from, and all you need to do is press play!

About the TuneUp Series

Each week Tin Shingle hosts a live call-in e-class called a TuneUp that focuses on a featured topic in buzz-building. These classes can include PR, social media, SEO, blogging, newsletter strategies, and more. The e-class is recorded it to make it available as a podcast or video webinar. Our experts and special guests lead each class. We take real questions from real business owners and answer them on the spot. TuneUps are available to everyone, but are free for Tin Shingle members.

About Your Instructor

Katie Hellmuth Martin is the Co-Founder of Tin Shingle and is committed to educating small businesses in common sense, yet sexy ways of marketing through search engines, and online branding. She is also the publisher of the local blog, A Little Beacon Blog. As lead producer and digital strategist at StudioPixelated, Katie has developed e-commerce and content based websites, and devised SEO and social strategies for businesses of all types, including retail and service. She has managed the traffic flow and sales process for websites during features on The Today Show, Good Morning America, and Daily Candy. Katie speaks and teaches SEO and online marketing, and has been featured in Forbes, U.S. News and World Report, New York Daily News, and other publications. Connect with her on Twitter via @kjpixelated and @TinShingle, on Instagram @katiejamespixelated and @TinShingle and on Google+.

Online Class: Social Media Graphics & Images: Sizes & Styles That Work

When you press “Publish” on a new blog post or product, you are only half-way done these days! The next part of the job involves socializing that post in social media so that people can instantly see it and maybe click on it. With this social shift, are you spending a LOT of time on creating your social media images? That's because different images are needed for different social communities, from different size ranges to different types of words. Tin Shingle’s co-founders Sabina and Katie discuss what you need to do for your social images to promote new content in your social streams.

BASIC INFORMATION

What's the "size guide" your biz needs to commit to memory that works for each of these platforms: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram & Pinterest?

MAKING YOUR IMAGES & GRAPHICS SHINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA

  • The Apps that will change everything: Do you see your colleagues and competition making amazing images? We'll share what apps you can use to do the same thing - easily - in your own feeds!

  • When should I be using images? We'll talk about strategic ways your biz can incorporate social media graphics to build buzz and visibility.

  • What's on Trend? You'll find out what trends and styles are getting attention in the world of social media graphics.

  • Learn from What's Working In Real Life: We've gathered a collection of our favorite social media graphics from across Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook and we'll show you why they're working and leave you inspired to create magnetic designs of your own.

  • Small Change, Big Impact: Are you using images but not getting the conversion, traffic and sales you expected? Perhaps you need to tweak one of the hot spots we'll discuss on this webinar.

How To Watch

Anyone can watch a Tin Shingle TuneUp from their computer, mobile phone or tablet. The process is different for premium members and the public.

MEMBERS OF TIN SHINGLE

Stream any TuneUp Webinar anytime with your Tin Shingle membership. No need to purchase it, this TuneUp is ready to play from this page! When you are logged in, you will see a big screen. Press play and start taking notes!

NON-MEMBERS OF TIN SHINGLE

Once you buy a TuneUp, you own it forever. The video or audio recording will appear on the TuneUp page that you just purchased from, and all you need to do is press play!

Online Class: What to Do With Your Website and Social After You Get Press

Your business got that well-deserved press you've been working so hard for...now what? Maybe nothing, as you think that since you got press, you can let the media do the work? No! Huge opportunities are in your hands once you get that press! Is it akin to free advertising? Where an advertisement gets placed and you wait for the clients and customers to roll in? No. Getting mentioned in the media gives you a few extra playing cards for your business, that work on behalf of your business years after the first week of publication when all of your friends are congratulating you. This TuneUp addresses what to do when you get press coverage.

HOW TO WATCH

Anyone can watch a Tin Shingle TuneUp from their computer, mobile phone or tablet. The process is different for premium members and the public.

ALL-ACCESS PASS MEMBERS OF TIN SHINGLE

Stream any TuneUp Webinar anytime with your Tin Shingle membership. No need to purchase it, this TuneUp is ready to play from this page! When you are logged in, you will see a big screen. Press play and start taking notes!

ANYONE ELSE

Once you buy a TuneUp, you own it forever. The video or audio recording will appear on the TuneUp page that you just purchased from, and all you need to do is press play!

ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR

Katie Hellmuth Martin is the Co-Founder of Tin Shingle and is committed to educating small businesses in common sense, yet sexy ways of marketing through search engines, and online branding. Small businesses from Main Street, to big business have relied on Katie for insight and forward thinking approaches to using today's technology to lock in online branding to increase sales. As lead producer and digital strategist at InHouse Design Media, Katie has developed e-commerce and content based websites, and devised SEO and social strategies for businesses of all types, including retail and service. She has managed the traffic flow and sales process for websites during features on The Today Show, Good Morning America, and Daily Candy. She is also the publisher of the local media source, A Little Beacon Blog. Katie speaks and teaches SEO and online marketing, and has been featured in Forbes, U.S. News and World Report, New York Daily News, and other publications. Connect with her on Twitter via @KJPixelated and @TinShingle, on Instagram @katiejamespixelated and @TinShingle and on Google+.

Online Class: How You Can Prepare for Mobile Friendly Website Design for Google’s Big Update

On April 21st, 2015 Google made a change to how it decides which web pages to show to users. This change is based on the "mobile friendliness" of a website. This is a big deal because if your website does not meet Google's criteria in terms of what it means to be mobile friendly, your website will not be seen by users searching Google from their smart phones. If your website is ranking well now for certain keyword phrases, it may drop off the planet after April 21st. If mobile friendliness is something you've been putting off for a later time, that later time is now.

Covered In This Webinar

BASIC INFORMATION

  • What does it mean to have a mobile-friendly website? If my website is readable and clickable on an iPhone, is it mobile-friendly?

  • Under the Hood: Are there certain signals in the code that signal to search engines like Google and Bing that the website is mobile-friendly?

THE BIG PICTURE LANDSCAPE

  • Usage Trends: Which trends in how people are using the Internet to search have started this shift?

  • Search Engine Trends: What has been happening at Google, Bing and Yahoo to change mobile search results?

  • Devices: What devices are grouped into this shift?

  • “Alert! Critical Mobile Usability Errors” Emails From Google - What Are These?

  • Google Webmaster Tools: If a business hasn’t hooked up their website to Google Webmaster Tools yet

TECHIE ISSUES THAT BUSINESS OWNERS NEED TO KNOW

  • Website Templates & Platforms: There are a lot of website template platforms and content management systems out there, like Shopify, Wix, Yahoo, Wordpress, Joomla, Drupal, etc. Is being on one of these safe enough? Do they update themselves? Or do they get outdated and you need to invest in time and resources to update?

  • First Time Website Designs: For a business who is designing a website for the first time, what questions should they ask their web developer or themselves in their template research to ensure that they are getting a mobile friendly design with their initial website design investment?

  • Crash Course: Business owners need to take a crash course in mobile friendly websites. We cover 5 major web design and programming industry terms you should know right now (they sound scary but are really easy!).

  • Confidence: What should a business owner know to make them confident that their web team or SEO firm is making the right changes?

    FIX IT!!!

  • What are some things a business can do right now to fix their mobility issues?

How to Watch

Anyone can watch a Tin Shingle TuneUp from their computer, mobile phone or tablet. The process is different for premium members and the public.

MEMBERS OF TIN SHINGLE

Stream any TuneUp Webinar anytime with your Tin Shingle membership. No need to purchase it, this TuneUp is ready to play from this page! When you are logged in, you will see a big screen. Press play and start taking notes!

NON-MEMBERS OF TIN SHINGLE

Once you buy a TuneUp, you own it forever. The video or audio recording will appear on the TuneUp page that you just purchased from, and all you need to do is press play!

About Your Instructor

Brandon Seymour Is The Guest Expert For This SEO TuneUpBrandon Seymour is the founder of Beymour Consulting - an online marketing agency based out of Boca Raton, FL., specializing in SEO, content marketing, reputation management and conversion optimization. Brandon has contributed to several industry-leading sites, such as Moz, Search Engine Journal, Inc, PR Week, SEMrush, CIO and Bright Local.

Twitter: @beymour and @beymourSEO

Website: www.beymour.com

Online Class: SEO and How to Bait the Online Sales Hook Part 2

Covered In This Webinar

Back for a riveting second part of the "SEO & How to Bait the Online Sales Hook"! Part 1 was so awesome, that we had to end it right at a meaty party! Which is where this TuneUp picks up. This SEO training TuneUp analyzes four more websites that we had on deck to analyze in the last class, where you will see where easy SEO opportunities are missed. The best part? She speaks SEO in plain English so that you can understand!

SEO 101 - LIGHTNING ROUND

  • The basic principles of SEO - the lay of the land.

  • 5 SEO Hot Spots

WEBSITE ANALYSIS 1 (QUICK RECAP!): RETAIL

  • This product is getting a lot of press, but is it clear how to buy?

WEBSITE ANALYSIS 2: RETAIL

  • There is one major reason why this product might not be ranking in Google.

WEBSITE ANALYSIS 3: DOG FOOD

  • This business offers a lot of great options to pet owners who want to serve their dogs real fresh food. But can they buy all that she sells?

WEBSITE ANALYSIS 4: SUBSCRIPTION-BASED GRANOLA

  • This product is sold on a very basic, well designed website that was featured on the Today Show. Katie points out the success points in the buying process.

How to Watch

Anyone can watch a Tin Shingle TuneUp from their computer, mobile phone or tablet. The process is different for premium members and the public.

MEMBERS OF TIN SHINGLE

Stream any TuneUp Webinar anytime with your Tin Shingle membership. No need to purchase it, this TuneUp is ready to play from this page! When you are logged in, you will see a big screen. Press play and start taking notes!

NON-MEMBERS OF TIN SHINGLE

Once you buy a TuneUp, you own it forever. The video or audio recording will appear on the TuneUp page that you just purchased from, and all you need to do is press play!

About Your Instructor

Katie Hellmuth Martin is the Co-Founder of Tin Shingle and is committed to educating small businesses in common sense, yet sexy ways of marketing through search engines, and online branding. Small businesses from Main Street, to corporate agencies on Madison Avenue have relied on Katie for insight and forward thinking approaches to using today's technology to lock in online branding to increase sales. As lead producer and digital strategist at InHouse Design Media, Katie has developed e-commerce and content based websites, and devised SEO and social strategies for businesses of all types, including retail and service. She has managed the traffic flow and sales process for websites during features on The Today Show, Good Morning America, and Daily Candy. Katie speaks and teaches SEO and online marketing, and has been featured in Forbes, U.S. News and World Report, New York Daily News, and other publications. Katie is also the publisher at A Little Beacon Blog, a local media source for Beacon, NY in the Hudson Valley of New York. Connect with her on Twitter via @KJPixelated and @TinShingle, on Instagram @katiejamespixelated and @TinShingle and on Google+.

Online Class: Dusting Off Your Website For Shiny SEO

You want more traffic to your website, right? And you want more of the right kind of traffic to your website, right? Do you even know how much traffic your website is getting? Do you obsess over where your website is ranking in Google, to see if it's above or below your competitor, but you've never actually checked to see how many people are actually clicking on your website?

During this TuneUp, we're going to face the music and dive into your website stats, to tell you which parts of your stats and Google Analytics you need to look at, what they mean, and how to increase them. Right now, your glorious website is probably ranking lower than you'd like, but with a few simple tweaks to your page copy, it could skip ahead of that bothersome competitor.

BONUS!

Included with this TuneUp is Tin Shingle's SEO Tracking Template. Katie goes over how to use the template, and how it will position you for more SEO success than you counted on. A $25 value, this can be yours with purchase of this TuneUp. All-Access Pass Members of Tin Shingle will have instant access to stream this TuneUp, as well as download the template right from this page.

HOW TO WATCH

Anyone can watch a Tin Shingle TuneUp from their computer, mobile phone or tablet. The process is different for premium members and the public.

ALL-ACCESS PASS MEMBERS OF TIN SHINGLE

Stream any TuneUp Webinar anytime with your Tin Shingle membership. No need to purchase it, this TuneUp is ready to play from this page! When you are logged in, you will see a big screen. Press play and start taking notes!

NON-MEMBERS OF TIN SHINGLE

Once you buy a TuneUp, you own it forever. The video or audio recording will appear on the TuneUp page that you just purchased from, and all you need to do is press play!

ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR

Katie Hellmuth Martin is the Co-Founder of Tin Shingle and is committed to educating small businesses in common sense, yet sexy ways of marketing through search engines, and online branding. Small businesses from Main Street, to big business have relied on Katie for insight and forward thinking approaches to using today's technology to lock in online branding to increase sales. As lead producer and digital strategist at InHouse Design Media, Katie has developed e-commerce and content based websites, and devised SEO and social strategies for businesses of all types, including retail and service. She has managed the traffic flow and sales process for websites during features on The Today Show, Good Morning America, and Daily Candy. She is also the publisher of the local media source, A Little Beacon Blog. Katie speaks and teaches SEO and online marketing, and has been featured in Forbes, U.S. News and World Report, New York Daily News, and other publications. Connect with her on Twitter via @KJPixelated and @TinShingle, on Instagram @katiejamespixelated and @TinShingle and on Google+.

Online Class: Everything You MUST Know About Tradeshows - For Veteran and Newbie Attendees

What do you need to know before investing in a tradeshow? How do you know what to bring, how to act, how to attract retailers and more? What are the biggest mistakes small business owners make before, during and after a tradeshow? Most importantly, how can you guarantee the entire experience is worth your time?

Covered In This Podcast

  • How to determine the best tradeshow participation for your brand.

  • Best approaches to tradeshows to build sales if you've never attended one. From research to "walking" the tradeshows.

  • Types of pre-show marketing activities.

  • How your tradeshow exhibit staff can help your brand get the most out of the tradeshow.

  • How to inspire and direct your sales team beore the tradeshow begins - your court-side pep talk!

  • What your booth can and should look like.

  • Realistic budgets for designing and building your tradeshow booth, and how much if it you can DIY (do it yourself).

  • The MUST HAVE items that you need on your tradeshow to-do list.

  • What goes into your “tradeshow go kit” (Scissors? Extension cord? Candy?)

  • The tools you'll need to lock in the orders and sales at the tradeshow.

  • Tips for generating booth traffic and legitimate prospects.

  • How to deal with shipping charges to purchasers who choose to order your products while at the tradeshow.

  • Your press strategy about your brand's involvement with the tradeshow, and dealing with press who "walk the floor" at the show.

  • Lists of what stores/buyers will be at the show.

  • Proper tradeshow etiquette, including approaching buyers and press walking the floor to invite them into your booth. The moves that could kill your brand at the show.

  • Recommended follow-up moves after the tradeshow.

How to Watch

Anyone can watch a Tin Shingle TuneUp from their computer, mobile phone or tablet. The process is different for Premium Members and the public.

MEMBERS OF TIN SHINGLE

Stream any TuneUp Webinar anytime with your Tin Shingle membership. No need to purchase it, this TuneUp is ready to play from this page! When you are logged in, you will see a big screen. Press play and start taking notes! Not a member yet? You really should be...

NON-MEMBERS OF TIN SHINGLE

Once you buy a TuneUp, you own it forever. The video or audio recording will appear on the TuneUp page that you just purchased from, and all you need to do is press play!

ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR:

Melissa Hall of Emerging Designer, Tradeshow ExpertMelissa Hall is a GENIUS when it comes to all things marketing, branding, merchandising and tradeshows. Melissa has over eight years of retail experience from sample sales and pop-up shops to tradeshows of every kind ranging from fashion shows including ENK's The Coterie, Accessories Circuit, The New York International Gift Fair, The Stationary Show and also other categories such as The Auto Show, Motorcycle Show, Comic Con and the Fancy Food Show.

She has also produced major events like the Independent Handbag Designer Awards hosted by InStyle and Handbag Designer 101 and Social Media Week in both New York and Chicago.

Melissa is the founder of The Emerging Designer and a marketing instructor a FIT in New York CIty. She holds a degree in Advertising from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a degree from Parsons The New School of Design, where she studied Fashion Design.

This year, Melissa was named a New York Fashion Fellow, a fellowship program given to only twenty rising starts in the fashion business.

Online Class: How Hold Your Haunches Got On Shark Tank, Landed a Deal & Thrived

Erin Bickley and Jenny Greer were two moms with dreams of tight butts, so they invented pants that made that happen called Hold Your Haunches. A few years later, they pitched Shark Tank, got on the show, landed the deal, and weathered the #SharkTankEffect. Their email list went from 800 subscribers to 10,000 overnight. They sold 3,700 pants with 4,000 requests to be alerted when more came in stock. So how’d they do that? Was it that easy? Heck no! It involved lots of pitching, travel, re-scheduled vacations, and RV trailers. Erin and Jenny reveal inside information about their experience on Shark Tank on this TuneUp.

Covered In This Webinar

  • The Application: What happened after Erin and Jenny filled out and sent in the Shark Tank application. Did they sit on their haunches and wait for an answer?

  • Connections: Why connections are everything and can be worth stalking for, but is not the final answer to getting onto Shark Tank.

  • Audition: The audition process that took months and months and many Friday Night Training Sessions.

  • Geek Out: Why geeking out and obsessing over getting onto Shark Tank can make or break you getting onto the show.

  • Videos: Videos and their impact on a producer’s decision to even entertain you as a contestant.

  • Homework: Why Homework isn’t dead in the world of pitching TV or magazines, and the type of homework that Jenny and Erin did to get onto Shark Tank.

  • #SharkTankEffect: The realness of #SharkTankEffect on Hold Your Haunches website while they were on the show, negotiating the deal, and days after.

  • Website Preparation: What you can learn about prepping your website for the #SharkTankEffect from Jenny and Erin’s website traffic storm.

  • New PR and wholesale opportunities that happened for Hold Your Haunches.

  • Life after Shark Tank and how it changed the business.

How to Watch

Anyone can watch a Tin Shingle TuneUp from their computer, mobile phone or tablet. The process is different for premium members and the public.

MEMBERS OF TIN SHINGLE

Stream any TuneUp Webinar anytime with your Tin Shingle membership. No need to purchase it, this TuneUp is ready to play from this page! When you are logged in, you will see a big screen. Press play and start taking notes!

NON-MEMBERS OF TIN SHINGLE

Once you buy a TuneUp, you own it forever. The video or audio recording will appear on the TuneUp page that you just purchased from, and all you need to do is press play!

About Your Instructor

Erin and Jenny from Hold Your HaunchesErin Bickley and Jenny Greer are the brains behind the behind-enhancing body shapers we lovingly call Hold Your Haunches™ Shapewear. They are two busy moms juggling everyday responsibilities like cooking dinner, chauffeuring six kids around town, oh – and running a high-end shapewear business – all while looking fabulous.

“The truth is, before we invented Hold Your Haunches™ Shapewear, we both struggled with feeling unhappy with our bodies, and especially our backsides. We figured we weren’t the only women dealing with these feelings and just knew there had to be a way to make getting dressed every day a little more fun and not so depressing.”

The result of their efforts has made getting dressed and feeling confident a truly fun process! Hold Your Haunches™ Shapewear is the ultimate simplifier for your wardrobe because you know you’re going to look great in them every time you put them on. These body shapers are the great looking bottom for a great looking bottom. Try them for yourself – they work!

Online Class: Securing Sponsorships and Advertising: From Sponsor Decks to Closing the Deal

From working with national brands like Capital One Spark to your favorite local insurance company or flea market, Tin Shingle co-founder Katie Hellmuth Martin will walk you through each step of the way for finding and signing a new sponsor or advertising partner.

Covered In This Webinar

  • Researching Part 1: Which business would be a good fit, and why.

  • Researching Part 2: Who is the right person within that business to pitch your sponsor or advertising idea.

  • Pitching The Contact: Best approaches from calling, to emailing.

  • Following Up: Ways to follow up with the contact if you do get a response, and following up if you don't get a response.

  • Closing The Deal Part 1: Getting a meeting in person or over the phone.

  • Life In Between: Keeping your relationship fresh if it was an informational meeting.

  • Closing the Deal Part 2: Getting the sale and sponsor locked in.

  • Negotiating Prices: From offers of modified prices to offers of trade.

How To Watch

Anyone can watch a Tin Shingle TuneUp from their computer, mobile phone or tablet. The process is different for premium members and the public.

MEMBERS OF TIN SHINGLE

Stream any TuneUp Webinar anytime with your Tin Shingle membership. No need to purchase it, this TuneUp is ready to play from this page! When you are logged in, you will see a big screen. Press play and start taking notes!

NON-MEMBERS OF TIN SHINGLE

Once you buy a TuneUp, you own it forever. The video or audio recording will appear on the TuneUp page that you just purchased from, and all you need to do is press play!

About Your Instructor

Katie Hellmuth Martin is co-founder of Tin Shingle and publisher of A Little Beacon Blog. Since 2005 when she hung her own shingle as a designer of websites and accessories, Katie has worked with businesses of all sizes to grow their digital footprints using newsletters, company blogs, user experience, social media, and a creative look at SEO performance. For Tin Shingle, she is lead designer, community membership nurturer, columnist, and director of partnerships and advertising.