Online Class TuneUp: Interview With Christina Fagan, Founder of Sh*t That I Knit On How She Rocked Her Kickstarter Campaign

Interview With Christina Fagan, Founder of Sh*t That I Knit On How She Rocked Her Kickstarter Campaign

Watch and learn from this Training TuneUp Interview to find out how Christina Fagan, founder of Shit That I Knit, launched a such successful Kickstarter campaign when growing her business, raising over $25,000 from 260 backers in 30 days. It's not easy starting a Kickstarter, and requires all of the muscles in your marketing body. It's all of what we preach at Tin Shingle - the outreach, the PR, the social, the emailing, the presentation. The gumption! The enthusiasm.

You're going to love this Training TuneUp Interview with your host and owner of Tin Shingle, Katie Hellmuth Martin. Knitting designer Christina Fagan, a Tin Shingle Member, was in her full time job as a sales person with a passion for knitting. After blogging a bit about it her side hobby, she decided to take it full time and have a go at running a business selling her famous knitted styles. She employed a squad of "knittas" to make the brand's signature hats.

Momentum was building, and she needed capital to get inventory. Most of her work went into a pre-buzz campaign where she reached out to the media to pitch her business to the press, and landed placements.

When the Kickstarter campaign started, pledges immediately began coming in. Her campaign hit its goal of $15,000 within 24hrs of launching thanks to a lot of pre-buzz Christina worked hard to generate. Once the campaign was over, they closed with just over $25,000, and then got to work delivering the backer's rewards.

This interview reveals how she did this - which will keep you going in your own drive to secure sales and success in your business. Learn how Christina got her own press in Forbes, The Boston Globe, and other publications.

“That was a great Webinar/Interview. Everyone should listen to it when it’s up!”

— Judith George, Founder AskMyAge.com and Video Editor ToBeReel.com

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Online Class TuneUp: Digital Marketing as Circuit Training

This Training TuneUp Webinar is going to pump you up! It’s treating your social media-ing as circuit training when you work out and tone up at the gym. We’re going to:

• Cover some Motivation of Why you’re hitting certain social platforms and updating your website.

• Feature a few Tin Shinglers who are doing a great job right now (Cold Spring Fitness and She's Her Own CEO).

• Rotate between Facebook, Instagram, Google, your Newsletter and your Website as the workout routine.

• Give you a recommendation of an album to play to get your friendly but competitive juices flowing to help you put your brand out there.

Some Artwork Used During This Webinar

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Online Class: The Art of The Subject Line in the Email Newsletter

The most important part of your entire e-newsletter is the subject line. How you write the subject line will dictate the chances of your subscribers opening the newsletter you worked so hard on. In this Training TuneUp, find out what kind of subject lines worked from real-life examples, and why. There is a method to the madness, and when done right, your sales could increase with the subject line alone.

How To Watch

Level 3 Members and Level 4 All Access Pass Members:

When you are logged in, hit this page and the webinar will be right here. You can press Play on it, and it will start! The PDF of slides will also be a link on this page, so you can easily click and download those notes.

Non-Members, or Level 1 Community or Level 2 Directories Members:

You can purchase this TuneUp to add to your collection! After you purchase it, return to this page and the webinar will be right here. You can press Play on it, and it will start! The PDF of slides will also be a link on this page, so you can easily click and download those notes.

Online Class TuneUp: PR Planning for June 2018

MAJOR HINT! Holiday Gift Guide Pitching starts now! If you want to get into those winter holiday issues, now is your time!!

It's no coincidence that you're reading about really cool businesses in magazines right now. But those businesses didn't sit back in their shops waiting for the media to come calling. They went for it and got it! Yes, they pitched their favorite glossy magazines, and some of them heard back and were featured.

This. Could. Be. You!!

Tin Shingle is your PR Campaign Partner in crime, and we've got your roadmap for what ideas to pitch to the media for this month. You don't need to be a professional PR person. You need to be a go-getter with fresh ideas. Listen to this live class to get some of those ideas and some gumption to carry them out.

We will cover what you can be focusing in on June, and what themes you can be pitching now.

Sneak Peek!

Online Class: Pitching for Newbies

This TuneUp is dedicated to new Tin Shingle members who consider themselves babes in the woods of pitching to the media, or "pitching newbies." We are going to provide an overview of what you need to know, what you can expect, and how you're going to own it when you begin pitching. If you're a seasoned business owner who has been pitching for a while, you will still get value out of this TuneUp, as we cover angles you hadn't thought about in a while. During this TuneUp, you will be pointed to helpful training TuneUps you need to listen to in order to build your foundation.

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 TuneUp: The Art of the Email Subject Line

The most important part of your entire e-newsletter is the subject line. How you write the subject line will dictate the chances of your subscribers opening the newsletter you worked so hard on. In this Training TuneUp, find out what kind of subject lines worked from real-life examples, and why. There is a method to the madness, and when done right, your sales could increase with the subject line alone.

Sneak Peek!

Online Class TuneUp: MailChimp Tips & Tricks For a Beautiful Newsletter

You’re sending out newsletters, and you want to be sure they look fantastic. Newsletter subscribers are your most closest, dearest customer who will be the most likely to buy what you sell. This TuneUp covers design tips and tricks you can use in MailChimp that will make your newsletter look like a design agency did it for you. Your teacher is Katie Hellmuth Martin, creator of Katie James, Inc, a design and storytelling agency for couture branding. She is also the owner of Tin Shingle, and can’t wait to help you do a dynamite job.

SNEAK PEEK:

One pro tip included in this class is how to streamline your newsletters by creating templates for different goals. Learn how and why to use MailChimp's templates or how to create your own.

Online Class: How to Work with Social Media Influencers for Holiday Buzz and Beyond

Join guest expert Janine Just, founder of Janine Just Inc. and TechStyleNYC as we talk about the new power players of buzz building, social media influencers, and how you can create and grow a relationship with them that is strategic and converts. We'll also highlight how you and your biz can engage with these folks leading up to the holiday shopping season for more impact, sales and visibility!

Covered In This Webinar

• What is a social media influencer, where do you find 'em and why are they important to consider working with?

• How to know what influencers are a good fit for your brand.

• How to begin contact and strike up a conversation with social influencers.

• Is it possible to work with social media influencers without paying them? What pay rates should I expect? Do they negotiate fees?

• Is gifting product sometimes enough "payment".

• Let's talk Instagram influencers and celebrities. Who are they, how powerful are they and what should a biz know about working with them?

• How can I tell if an influencer is truly impactful? Can numbers be a false read (because people can buy them)?

• Let's get clear on expectations: how can I be sure everyone is on the same page of my influencer campaign expectations? WHAT should my expectations be?

• How can I work with influencers during the HOLIDAY shopping season and beyond?

• Hooray! The influencer campaign is under way! How can I promote and support it?

• Has our expert Janine Just been a witness to some powerful influencer campaigns (hers or others)? What made them winners?

• Flip it & Reverse it: I want to BE a social media influencer! Where do I start? What should I? Is content key to growing my following?

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

Janine Just and her team are known as “connectologists.” What exactly is a connectologist, you may ask? They are agents of digital gap-bridging; people who bring real life to digital relationships with in-person interactions and shared experiences, integrating both public relations and social media savvy along the way. They are social evangelists in a quantum setting, engaging online communities with specific, targeted messaging, and inviting them to join in offline during enriching, dynamic IRL (in real life) events. It’s all part of their effort to build closer relationships between a brand and its valued fans.

www.janinejustinc.com

Twitter: @JanineJustInc

Instagram: @JanineJustInc

Facebook: @JanineJustInc

Online Class: How to Pitch Mother's Day Stories & Gift Guides

PR professional Kelly Kepner is a dynamite at getting press coverage for gift guides, especially Mother's Day Gift Guides. She regularly gets emerging and established brands major buzz and press! During this online class, she leads us through how to do it. This online class will give you the blueprint you need to pitch your business to Mother's Day gift guides and articles focused on mom. Whether you have the perfect gift for mom, you've got tips on how to do something Mother's Day related, or you can speak to the media about something related to this theme, this #TuneUp is for you.

This online class will arm you with a checklist, actions steps and ideas to do that for your own campaign, no matter if you sell product or are a service provider.

Get your notepads out and get ready to get the answers and guidance you'll need to succeed!

Covered In This Webinar

• Big Picture: Get your biz primed and prepped for Mother's Day: The what, how, and when.

• PR Campaign: The 4 parts of their PR campaign every biz owner needs to assess and update for Spring.

• Website: How to spruce up your website for more Mother's Day buzz.

• For Service Providers: What should every service provider or expert do during this time of year? We'll tell you.

• Social Media: What every biz owner should be doing in their social media feeds right now to build buzz.

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 online class anytime with your Tin Shingle level 3 membership. No need to purchase it, this class 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 an online class, you own it forever. The video or audio recording will appear on the class page that you just purchased from, and all you need to do is press play!

Online Class: How to Pitch Holiday Stories and Gift Guides in Magazines

The press is working on their holiday stories for the end of the year (think November and December) in July. You know that phrase "Christmas in July!" It is real for glossy magazines who are living in Christmas sweaters while the rest of the country is in bathing suits. If you want your business to be in a holiday issue, you need to be pitching the press in July.

• Holiday Gift Guides.

• Tip articles from Experts.

• Feature stories on holiday-themed service businesses.

• The exact steps you need to take in order to pitch your business for a holiday press placement.

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

Sabina Hitchen is the co-founder of Tin Shingle and the President of Red Branch Public Relations. 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: Go Big

This TuneUp is part of our "Give Yourself Permission" series, and contains some serious motivation and not-to-miss tips to make your biggest dreams happen. Do you want to:

• Get into O' The Oprah Magazine?

• Kick a** during a big market or festival?

• Score big in your business in general?

Tin Shingle's Co-founder, Katie Hellmuth Martin, inspires and feeds that mindset with ideas and resources on how to succeed in accomplishing your best and biggest goals. There are many areas in your business where you can be Thinking Big, or even Thinking Bigger. In this installment of Tin Shingle's "Give Yourself Permission" series, you will hear examples and strategies that will explain how you will make that happen by using several buzz-building strategies.

Online Class TuneUp: PR Planning for May 2018

PR Planning for May 2018

Spring seems to have sprung but the time for sharing your summer ideas and  products with magazines has definitely sailed. Not to worry though, magazines are still looking to feature neat products and eye catching brands.

YOU can get featured in your favorite magazine!!

It does take creativity, determination, and a  healthy dose of consistency but, Tin Shingle is here to support you, supplying the gumption you need! In this class, a favorite of our listeners, we map out your PR campaign and fill your planner with ideas, tips, and tools to help you get press. 

SEE INTO THE MINDS OF MAGAZINE EDITORS

Magazines work 3 to 6 months in advance. During this class, we share a live look into Tin Shingle's Editorial Calendar Database. (Available to Level Four Members) This treasure chest of ideas teach you what magazines want to hear about and when they want to hear it. It is published by editors themselves, giving you the upper hand when pitching about your biz and initiatives.

Also in this class, we discuss other ways you can spread the word about what you do to blogs, websites, TV,  and even in your own social media streams. This class truly is a pot of gold!

SNEAK PEEK!

Every month Tin Shingle plans out your month, sharing inside leads from our database of Editorial Calendars as well as an overview of what magazines are looking for this month. 

Online Class TuneUp: Breaking Through PR Blockage

Breaking Through PR Blockage

PR Blockage can strike anyone at any time. It's a silent killer of confidence when you need to get the word out about your business. This TuneUp goes over how to identify PR Blockage, and what to do about it so that you can pitch magazines, TV shows and blogs that you never dreamed of approaching before. This class includes exercises you can do to get you through the PR Block and into the next level of pitching the media.

Sneak Peek!

The inspiration for this class was lessons learned while reading The Artist's Way, by Julia Cameron. Every TuneUp has a Motivation Minute to keep you going in your PR and marketing outreach.

Online Class TuneUp: Backup Plan for a Facebook Fizzle

Backup Plan For a Facebook Fizzle

Facebook's business model is to profit from your personal information. The more that people learn about how Facebook does this, and who Facebook's clients are (Facebook doesn't even know who their clients are, as proved this week when they admitted that they didn't know of any more fake Russian clients, and then found more...and they will find even more), the more trust people will lose in Facebook, and will leave Facebook, or show up less.

Facebook is branding its latest issue as a data breach and began offering rewards. But it's not. And it's not just a Russian issue. If you are an advertiser at Facebook - if you conduct marketing campaigns there - there is a high likelihood that the targeting features you use are about to get scaled waaaaaay back.

People market in Facebook because that's where everyone is. But if people start leaving, what does this mean for your business? You need a backup plan for how you reach your people.

We are discussing the backup plan - that should really be your marketing plan anyway. Don't worry - Facebook is part of that marketing plan. We're just removing some of your eggs from that basket.

Tin Shingle's owner and leader of this class has published her first response to Mark Zuckerberg's testimony to a House Committee in this blog post, which makes for a good read when listening to this TuneUp.

Online Class TuneUp: The Truth About Press Releases

The Truth About Press Releases

Contrary to what is preached by many PR professionals, press releases are not dead. How do we know? Because we get sent them all of the time, by business owners, artists, makers and non-profit leaders just like you. And guess what? Sometimes they get turned into articles.

You are the reason that press releases are not dead, and with that power, you should know what to do after you send the press release - or even best ways to write and position the press release!

Get Ready To Learn:

• What is a Press Release? What does it look like?

• The worst way you could send a press release.

• What do does a press release really do?

• When should you use one?

• What opportunities are you missing by using a press release?

• What happens after you send a press release?

Online Class TuneUp: PR Planning for April

In this class, we discuss 3 time sensitive ways to pitch the media this month. A big part of getting PR is emailing the right editor about it at the right time.

National Magazines

These editors and writers work in an alternate universe. They work in the future. When it's April, they are literally on a beach testing 6 Ways to Sooth a Sunburn to share for a summer fun issue. We show where the magazines are in their cycles, according to their Editorial Calendars that they make public. We go out and get them and make them available to All Access Members of Tin Shingle (see our full collection here).
Lead Time: 3-6 months in advance. If you want to make it into the big glossy magazines, you need to pitch them with ideas 3-6 months in advance. This class explores ideas that will be eligible if you pitch them in April, as they will pertain to  July, August, and September.

TV + Blogs + Some Regional/Local Magazines

Producers and bloggers are always looking for ideas and visuals. Television needs to show a person delivering expertise or a great story, and bloggers need to dazzle their readers with pictures.
Lead Time: 1-2 months in advance

Blogs + Social Media + Websites + Timely Topics

Bloggers can have shorter lead time to get a blog up, but more and more, they do require advance notice. Readers of social media, however, are responding right now. You want to get in front of them. Additionally, if a major movement is happening in the news, you want to ride that wave with an article of your own published on your own blog.
Lead Time: 1 week in advance

Normally the story angle deadlines are available to our Media Contacts and Editorial Calendar Level 4 Membership. But during this PR Planning class series, we share with you some of these deadlines. Get in the class today and you'll hear them, and/or activate your Level 4 Membership to access these and more any time you want.

Online Class: The Truth About Wordpress Websites

We're pulling website expert Randy Caruso out of his design and development shop to tell us the truth about WordPress websites. Randy specializes in WordPress websites, and knows the pros and cons of building in WordPress versus the other options out there. Here at Tin Shingle, we have heard from business owners over the years who love - and don't love - the platform. What frightens us the most is when businesses select WordPress for their website because they think it will solve all of their problems.

Will WordPress Solve All Of Your Website Problems?

We're going to myth-bust a few of the most commonly asked questions we hear from business owners, including:

• Is WordPress the answer to my website problems? Will my online life be sunshine and rainbows?

• Does WordPress come with better SEO?

• (hint: NO! but it does have a pretty sweet plugin to help you get there)

• Shopify vs WooCommerce - which is better?

• I bought a WordPress template for $50, so I’m good, right?

• What will I need a developer for? What will I need a designer for?

• Will I enjoy logging in and making changes?

• (Hint: it depends on who sets it up for you!)

• What is WordPress hosting and why do I care?

• (Hint: there is no such thing)

• Is it true that WordPress websites get hacked into a lot?

• I like to tinker with my website. Is WordPress DIY-friendly?

Online Class: Talking to GQ, Brides, and xoJane Contributing Writer Sarah Crow

Sarah Crow, who holds a masters degree in digital publishing from NYU, is a no-nonsense kind of writer. Just check out what she writes for GQ and xoJane. Pretty much, anything she says goes! Which is why if she includes your brand in one of her photo roundups or essays, her readers will take notice!

We interviewed Sarah to get into the head of a contributing writer for not one magazine, but several, all at one time. Sarah is a New York-based writer and editor. Her work has been published by GQ, MSN, MTV, About.com, Bridal Guide, Seventeen, Organic Style, PopEater, Lemondrop, xoJane, Xfinity TV, and Wetpaint.

She will share tips and insight on:

• How to broaden the audience of your business.

• An inside look at editorial meetings, setting the scene for what it's like interacting with editors.

• How to use editorial calendars to craft story ideas and make the most out of your pitches.

• Getting into Mothers Day Gift Guides

• The importance of creating and maintain relationships.

• Channeling inner inspiration and confidence in your business.

BONUS: Sarah shares with us what you need to do with your pitch to get into her stories or photo roundups. And why she prefers pitches from small businesses

Online Class: Finding Ideas in Editorial Calendars, Then Finding the Right Media Contacts

Tin Shingle is an idea generating source. Resources available to members help business owners and marketers get ideas for ways to spin their businesses into magazines, TV programs, podcasts, etc.

One of our tools available to members is the Editorial Calendar collection for national print magazines. This is a list of monthly themes that magazines are working on that help jump-start you to know when may be the right time for a story. Members of Tin Shingle research through that list, get an idea, and then think: "Ok, now who do I email?"

It's that step - "Now Who Do I Email?" - that's we are covering in this Training TuneUp.

Sneak peak of what you will learn/see in this TuneUp:

• Take a live look inside Tin Shingles unique collection of Editorial Calendars and Media Contacts.

• Learn how to use Editorial Calendars in your PR offense game.

• Get inside an Editor/Writer's head on what a winning pitch involves.

• Pitching tips for men and to men.

• Who really is the best fit to contact at your target magazine/Tv/outlet and should I pitch more than one?

• Who you can contact at Tin Shingle if you cant find the magazine/contact you need.

Online Class: How To Be Your Own Blogger For Your Business

Tin Shingle's co-founder Katie Hellmuth Martin is not only a business owner, she is also a professional blogger, having her own lifestyle blog years ago when blogging was just catching on, followed by ghost blogging for business websites, and currently as the blogging publisher of a local online media source. Blogging can be the fastest, most colorful, most long-term way of getting the word out about your business, and Katie is going to share with you her secrets on this week's TuneUp.

COVERED IN THIS WEBINAR

• How your business blog and your Facebook business page work together.

• How blogs reach readers - those readers being your clients, customers, and new business prospects.

• How a blog can get the word out about a new class, new product, or awesome-sauce that your business creates or provides.

• Why a status update at your Facebook page is just a blip and misses opportunities.

• Why blogs matter for social media.

• How to think up new ideas for your blog to keep it fresh.

• Easy tools for how to start a blog.

• Newsletters vs blogs and how they work together.

• Why Google will love your blog and recommend it to people.

An inside look at how Tin Shingle's Blog Planning and Production Calendar will reduce anxiety about blogs, and help you get work done.

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.