Jena Coray « oh my! handmade goodness

Jena Coray

How-to ethically & successfully pitch to blogs

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

{All photos & text by Jena Coray, aka Miss Modish}

I approached lovely OMHG editor, Jessika, about doing a post on pitching to blogs, and she said, “I really want a post on how to pitch to blogs & the common things to ‘please for the love of all that is good’ do not do.”

Ask and you shall receive, Jessika! I can do that ;).

How to pitch to blogs, grab the editor’s attention and increase your likelihood of success (all while staying true to yourself):

When it comes to pitching, I’d like you to think of it not as “selling yourself” or “selling your brand” or “hyping yourself up” or anything that feels icky and slimy and marketing-speaky, because it doesn’t have to be like that. Not at all.

Pitching is communicating.

In a pitch, you want to communicate your brand, message, personality, professionalism, quality of product, friendliness and above all, your understanding of that blog’s style, audience and regular features. And you have to do it all in one fell swoop.

How on earth on are you supposed to do all that in a single e-mail?

Easy. By having a conversation.

And by taking the time to better understand who you’re conversing with, first.

I think the best way to learn how to effectively communicate with anyone, including blog editors, is to get a sense of their perspective. If we can better understand where they’re coming from, we can better understand how to approach them, and if our shop/product/service is a good fit.

Most of the real hard work of pitching, comes before you send the email-

You’ll want to research each blog that you want to pitch- get to know what types of items and styles that they feature, what their aesthetic and taste is and whether what you make might fall within it. Check and see what style of jewelry they feature, if you make jewelry. Do the homework first!
Check out their about page and learn a little about the editors that you want to converse with! See if they have any “about me” or “personal” categories on the blog that you could explore to get to know a bit more about their life and get a better sense of their perspective, and the commonalities you may share. Learn what food they like, what colors they like, what kind of pet they have.
Really read their blog, check out the categories and archives and see what they’ve featured in the past. Make sure your shop/products/offerings are a good fit for that blog’s style, aesthetic and typical features before you even approach them about featuring you! Just because it’s your favorite blog, doesn’t mean your shop is necessarily a good fit for it- be discerning and objective about which blogs are the best matches for your brand!
Talk to them! Bloggers LOVE to receive comments. If you have something to add to the conversation, please comment on the blogs you read, and the blogs you’re checking out as you research- and interact! It’s a great way to introduce yourself in an authentic way, if you comment from the heart. Bloggers are also all over social media- find them on twitter, facebook and pinterest and follow them, interact with them and start to build relationships with them!

Then, by the time you’re ready to send the email, you’ll be able to approach the blog editors with confidence and clarity, knowing that your shop/products are within the scope of the types of things they feature and their style.

And you’ll know a bit about the editors themselves and perhaps find some common ground you share, which can be a wonderful lead in to start your pitch conversation!

The pitches that stand out to editors the most sound like a human being talking to another human being. Like a chat between one individual to another.

The more they sound like a “sales pitch” or the same message you sent out to a bunch of people, the least likely you are to draw their attention.

Effective pitches are:

Personal
A good pitch will address the editor by name, and acknowledge that you have familiarity with their blog, or them, in some way. And just like in person, if you’ve never communicated with them before, you’ll want to introduce yourself first, instead of acting like an old friend or their biggest fan (which feels slimy.)If you have had contact with them in some way before (on social media perhaps), acknowledge how you know them or where your conversation last left off. Just approach them as you would in person- friendly, polite and with a smile! (they can hear it, even if they can’t see it :)
All about the visuals
If there’s one thing all design/art/handmade product blogs have in common, is that they’re all about the visuals! That means, the most effective pitches include can’t-resist, high-quality, showin’-your-stuff-off photos. An editor has solely your photographs to judge the product’s quality, style, craftsmanship and colors, so each pic has to be AWESOME.Honestly, you’d be better off not saying a word and attaching amazing photos of your great work, then you’d be chatting up how great your work is and attaching poorly lit, poorly styled photos of it. Your work has to speak for itself, so attach photos that can do some talkin’!
Short and sweet
Editor’s are short both on time and patience when it comes to an inbox filled to the brim with impersonal, off-target, ick-filled pitches. So to stand out, keep it short and sweet- a few paragraphs or less will do it, in a tone of professional friendliness and confidence.The pitch is not the place to share lots of background info, the inspiration for your work and why you’re the awesomest (eventho you totally are.) Think of the pitch as an invitation for them to click your link and enter your world, where they can explore and find all that out for themselves. Just say hello, share what you do, share a link, attach some pics and you’re done. Get them intrigued, and get out.

So now that you know what to do, let’s talk a bit about what not to do.

{please forgive this perfectly appropriate, yet mildly disgusting photo of my foot. This is from a trip to Minnesota to visit a friend a couple years ago- I wore the wrong shoes!}

For my Tip-Top Pitch Kit, an e-book I recently created all about how to pitch, I surveyed 28 popular design bloggers anonymously and asked: “What’s your biggest turn off in a pitch?” Here are the main points gathered from their collective responses, along with some *actual quotes from them…

Please, for the love of all that is good, do NOT:

Address your email “Hello blogger,” “Hi there!” “Dear editor,” “Hello sir/madam”, “Dear Ms.”, “Attn OMHG Team”. Bloggers have names too- find them, and be sure to use them!
* “If they can’t find the time to figure out my name, I don’t have time to read their pitch.”
Copy and paste the same email out to every blogger, just changing the name on top, mass-mail to multiple people at once (even if you bcc), send a press release with no personal greeting, or sign a blogger up for your email list!
* “It’s a turn-off when it’s clearly a “form” email that they have just pasted my name in. That feels yucky. And also just a waste.”
Quickly glance at their blog before pitching to reference the latest post, or worse yet, not even look at the blog at all before pitching.
* It irks me when “someone references the last post up on the blog as fantastic instead of actually doing their research.”
Be self-deprecating or unsure about your talents/skills- have confidence in yourself!
* “I’ve received submissions that start out by saying, “I know you probably won’t feature this but…” If you don’t believe in your own work, why would I? Arrogance is a turn off but confidence is key.”
Be overly “familiar” if you don’t have an established relationship with the blogger already, or be overly gushy.
* “Don’t call me “sweetie”, “honey”, or “sugar pie” unless you’re Flo the waitress from Alice, a good friend, or related to me in some way.”
Include too much information in a pitch about your background or work- present links where they can find all that out if they’d like.
* “The work will speak for itself. Sometimes I find that when they go on and on about the work or product, I never end up liking it.”
Forget to attach stand-out, blog-worthy, well-lit, well-styled photos with your pitch! Make sure they’re web-resolution (72 dpi) and at least the width of the blog you’re pitching to.
* “Another turn off is terrible product photos. If a small biz doesn’t care enough about their product to have good photos, why should I care enough to do a feature?”
Attach a big pdf, document, media kit, lookbook or high-res photos- point them to where they can find them/download online, or let them know you have it additionally to send if they’re interested in seeing.
* It turns me off when “they attach a PDF or something crazy that takes way too long to open. The faster the better.”
Tell them that your product/shop would be good for their readership, or blogs- they know their own taste and readers best- make sure you’re on target, but let them be the judge!
* “I really hate it when people tell me that they thought something “would resonate with or appeal to your readers.” I’ll be the judge of that, thank you. Just tell me that you’re submitting X product for my consideration and respect me to do my job as an editor.”
Be overly aggressive in your approach, or condescending, or express frustration or annoyance if you hear back with a no (or don’t hear back at all). That’s the way to close the door on an opportunity!
* “It also irks me when people are overly aggressive with their pitches and express annoyance/anger that I haven’t featured them yet or act like it’s their right to have their product featured on my site.”
Suggest doing a giveaway to blogs that don’t do giveaways, or a diy project for a blog that doesn’t have a diy column, or a guest post for a blog that doesn’t accept guests- aka, do your homework first, always!
* “It’s really tough to take a pitch seriously when it’s clearly content or products I don’t typically feature. Do enough research to know what kind of posts I regularly feature and send me relevant content pitches and you’ll get my attention much quicker and easier.”

So now you know what to do in a pitch to stand out from the crowd, and what to clearly avoid in order to show the editors respect, courtesy and keep the doors of feature opportunities open!

It all boils down to: doing the research first, approaching the editors like you’re having a conversation with a real person (because you are) and presenting yourself with confidence, respect and a smile, because people can read genuine enthusiasm, care and friendliness- even if it’s between the lines.

What has been your experience pitching your shop/product/service to blogs so far? Do you have any fears, or hold-ups in contacting bloggers? Does this information change how you’ll approach your next pitch?

Editor’s note: Join Jena (@miss_modish) and I to talk about this fantabulous post + your questions live at our #OMHG Twitter chat this Thursday from 1-2EST! Also I know Jena’s marketing style is totally ick-free and non-pushy but I can push (or gently encourage with great love) you to check out her Tip Top Pitch Kit if you are having any trouble at all getting positive responses to your pitches. No affiliate links or sponsored review here I just honestly think this kit is packed with revelations and a-ha! moments to help you get the word out & know as a blogger I value every bit of her pitching wisdom!

The Nitty Gritty of Stress & Business + 3 (Blissfully) Simple Solutions

Thursday, June 23, 2011

by Jena Coray of Miss Modish & Modish

Jessika suggested we might like to talk about the nitty gritty of running a business this month, and I think the nittiest and grittiest thing of all for me to deal with over the last five years in my business has been: stress. Or should I say, STRESS!!!

I’m an incomparable worrier and perfectionist, I put undue pressure on myself all the time, I take on too much too often and feel guilty for all the things I don’t get done. And inevitably, I start to feel paralyzed by the seemingly endless to-do list in front of me and like I just can’t get anything done. It’s horrifying. Debilitating! Too often over the years I’ve found myself on the steam train heading straight for burn-out town and she chugs along mighty fast, toot-toot!

But I’ve decided I’m not going along for the ride, nope, not this time. I’m jumping that ever-chugging stress train and taking my life back! After years of running a business filled with lots of joy, success and growth but also many times of dealing with my own frustration, anxiety and fear, I’m just now starting to figure out the one thing that makes all the difference in the world: When I trust my gut, good things happen. When I get stuck in my head, I end up overwhelmed.

Does that happen to you? Do you let yourself get so worried about what’s coming up ahead that you can’t focus on now? Do you ever psyche yourself out, un-convince yourself of your awesomeness or let fear of something stop you from moving ahead in your business? Do you let the woulda, coulda, shouldas dance circles around your brain? Do your “have-tos” stomp all over your “want-tos” so much so that you end up feeling drained by the end of the day?

Well then, my dear, it sounds like you might be stuck in your own head too!

I’ve been making some really deliberate changes in my life over the last few months to say buh-bye to the incessant brain chatter and get back in touch with my gut, my center, the one place that I know can’t lead me astray. And wouldn’t you know it? I’m feeling the positive effects already. I feel weight flying off my shoulders, confidence building and stress slowly but surely high-tailing its way out of my life. So what have I been doing lately that helped turn my near breakdown into a breakthrough?

I’m getting into my body

A wise confidant recently told me, “the best way to get out of your head, is to get into your body” and it’s stuck with me in a huge way. I think especially for us folks who have sedentary jobs behind a computer all day, or work all by our lonesomes from home, it’s really easy to feel lost inside our own minds just sitting there thinking, thinking, thinking all day long. Doing something physical is a great way to break the thought patterns and clear your mind so you can come back to work again from a more centered place.

So now, when I feel that vicious cycle of thoughts start to spin, or if I end up lost on the internet wasting time hopping down a bunny trail of links, I realize it, get up from the computer and take a break to get back into my body. I’ll do some exercise or go plant flowers, do some chores around the house or go take pictures. Sometimes I put on a favorite song and dance around or do a spur of the moment crafty project or decide to make myself a yummy cooked breakfast instead of the usual yogurt or oatmeal.

I used to feel guilty for taking the time out of my work day to do those sorts of things, like I was being too “unproductive”, you know. But now I’m realizing these are actually small opportunities to reconnect with myself daily. Opportunities to give my restless mind a break and let my gut take over. And when I come back to work after a body-focused break, my mind returns ready to get down to business, and that can only make me more productive in the long run.

I’ve been meditating

Another way that I’ve not only been able to move more into my body, but to also address that crazy brain-chatter directly, is by meditating. I’ve been doing it for 15 minutes a day 3-5 days a week since March, and am really starting to feel its effects in positive, tangible ways. And I find that the more often I do it, the more I enjoy it. I’m even starting to look forward to it, crave it, because it’s the first thing I’ve found that helps me feel so centered, so quickly.

In just a few short minutes I can go from heart-palpitating anxiety to a feeling of calm focus, by reconnecting with my breath, identifying the thoughts I’m obsessing about and letting. them. gooo… Ahhh, just think about how freeing that sounds! Being able to distance yourself from thoughts of to-dos, of have-tos, of wants and jealousies and insecurities, of dilemmas that have yet to be solved- it creates space, it clears the haze of everything so you can better focus on what needs to be done right now, and not worry about what’s next until it’s actually here.

I had my best experience meditating so far yesterday morning. I got up at 6:30 and decided to try meditating outside for the first time. I sat cross legged in a lawn chair overlooking my flower garden, facing east toward the rising sun. For 20 minutes I sat with my eyes closed and focused on my breath- in, out, in, out- accompanied by a chorus of singing birds and the wind whipping through my hair. It felt incredibly refreshing, incredibly centering. It was a real hippie-dippy-trippy moment of feeling connected with nature in a deep way, of groundedness. There were moments when I got caught up in my thoughts, yes. But I always came back to my breath, and by the end of those 20 minutes I felt calm, focused and ready to take on the day. I went on to have a great one and got tons of stuff done, including writing this post! :)

I’m focusing on accomplishments

Far too often I would go to bed still thinking of my untackled to-dos, and then I’d wake up in the morning and immediately start worrying about what I didn’t get done yesterday, plus add in all the tasks that lie ahead for me that day and I’d be feeling stressed out and worried before I even put one foot on the ground!

So, I’m trying something a little different now. I’m focusing more on my accomplishments. All the things that I DID do, the to-dos that got crossed off, the projects that were completed, the joys I felt, the good energy that I got- whatever made me feel good and worthwhile throughout the day, that’s what I’m going to bed thinking about now. It has helped me wake up with a clearer mind and has started a definite shift in my stress levels.

I’m even starting to keep track of all the things I’ve accomplished during the week in my planner- there’s a little notes section at the end of every week and there I’ve been writing in everything big and small that I feel proud to have gotten done: “finished the mojo plan!” “had a really inspiring conversation with blogger friend!” “finally wrote that email you were really dreading writing!” “got a client a great write-up on a big blog!” “exercised 5 days this week!”

It’s a big shift from the mindset of feeling like I’m always on the verge of failing, always running to catch up, always scrambling for something. By focusing on what I’m getting done, I’ve realized that (get this) I do actually get stuff done! And just that difference in mindset has made me feel so much more productive. And when you feel like you’re being productive, you don’t feel stressed out.

What about you? Have you faced difficulties dealing with stress and anxiety? Has it gotten in the way of you taking action or feeling secure in your business in some way? What kind of changes will you make (or have you made) to get out of your head and into your calm center?

{image credit: all images by Jena Coray for Modish & linked to their original posts}

Marketing that Speaks without the Slimy Ways + 40 Ideas to Get You Started

Thursday, March 24, 2011

by Jena Coray of Miss Modish

It seems sometimes in conversation the word “marketing” feels like a four-letter word. Beyond the fear, confusion and overwhelming feelings it can instill into the heart of many-a business owner, marketing seems to also just feel so icky sometimes.

Why is that?

Is it because it feels like selling? aka: selling out? aka: selling yourself? Does marketing mean you’re getting greedy? Do you have to try to spin yourself the right way to be successful? Do you feel you’re just hawking your products like a sales(wo)man instead of the artist you really are? Does it sometimes feel like you’re just trying to convince people to buy what you have to offer?

Well sheesh, no wonder marketing can sometimes leave you with a slimy feeling on your skin!

But it certainly doesn’t have to be that way. There is a way to market yourself and your business that not only totally takes the ick-factor out of the equation, but actually makes marketing feel easy, natural and dare I say it, even fun!

Tell Your Story

Marketing gets really easy, and really honest, when you stop trying to “sell” your product or services and just start talking.

I think sometimes we struggle to find the right words to represent our work and our creations. Take product descriptions, for instance. I’ve seen that struggle lead to descriptions that are either totally boring: “handmade beaded necklace. I used purple beads.” (Ok, that’s drastic, but you get the point!) Or to something that’s too salesy sounding, like what we think we’re supposed to say: “Looking for a gift for someone special? For your bridesmaids? For yourselves? I have just the perfect gorgeous and sparkling wonderful thing you’re looking for!” Ooh see? There it is- that ick factor we were talking about.

Your product descriptions and about page, what you choose to blog about or talk about on twitter, how you approach blog editors or boutiques and even your customer service- ALL of these things are marketing. Use them as opportunities to tell your story, to be honest, to establish a connection. It’s amazing the sparks (and sales!) that can fly when we just start a conversation with someone!

Here are 40 non-icky ideas to get you started in telling your story, and finding ways to communicate what’s truly unique about you and your business!

Let your product descriptions speak in bits of recollected memories.
Or make us laugh.
Or educate us.
Or make us think.
Or give us a sense of your inspirations and emotions behind the item.
Put a big picture of your beautiful smiling face on your about page
Or a video of your beautiful talking face on your blog
If you’re excited about something, tell us.
If you’re proud of something, tell us.
If you’re fascinated by something, tell us.
If you’re frustrated by something, tell us.
Share the things you truly like on your blog, odd or unpopular or not- let people discover your unique taste.
Keep your content as original as possible instead of relying on re-blogging what others have said and shown before.
Talk about your kids if you want moms to relate to you. Talk about your cats if you want cat-lovers to relate to you. Talk about your experience as a business owner if you want other entrepreneurs to relate to you.
Ask your readers what they think every once in awhile. Often even.
Have an FAQ.
Toot your own horn.
Hey, you’re talented! Create a DIY tutorial or how-to article for your blog.
Or share a recipe if that’s more your thing.
Or maybe you like graphic design and could do a free printable for your readers.
Have you done a studio or home tour yet, you stylish thing you?
And don’t forget about approaching other blogs that you can pitch those same sorts of things to (like Oh My Handmade, for instance!)
And please, pitch one blog at a time.
Say yes to interviews.
Say yes to guest posting.
Twitter with your fellow creative entrepreneurs. We get it, and hey- we shop too!
Get out and meet fellow indie business people in your town in person, over coffee or craft fair browsing.
Get out and go to networking events that seem intriguing for your business. And actually talk to people while you’re there.
Speaking of talking, when’s the last time you talked to a customer or client over the phone, instead of thru email?
Send a hand-written thank you along with your orders, addressing your customers by name.
Send a little gift to a past client specially chosen from their etsy favorites list.
Teach a class.
Or an e-class.
Write an article.
Or an e-book.
Trust in your innate abilities and talent.
Trust that you have something unique to offer the world.
Speak with confidence.
Speak with honesty.
Speak with joy and enthusiasm.

What do you have to say? What can you share? How can you truly connect with your readers, customers and clients in a way that feels natural and authentic?

When you begin to tell your story, it means looking a little deeper inside yourself, acknowledging that you have something truly unique to share, and it means getting a bit personal in a really public space. All of those things can absolutely be terrifying in various ways, but if you can overcome the fear and hesitation and instead start to open up? You’ll discover that your “right people” will begin to find you.

They may even flock.

By sharing your personality, your talents and your interests with your readers, customers and clients, you’ll engage them. You’ll become relatable to them. And most importantly, you’ll make them feel comfortable enough to do business with you.

Because you’re more than just a salesman behind a brand- you’re a human, having a conversation with another human, about something you are truly passionate about. And that’s a powerful thing. Powerful enough to drive traffic and sales your way without having to feel like marketing at all!

{Jena Coray is the PR proprietress and marketing mistress behind Miss Modish, where she helps creative entrepreneurs like you find their marketing mojo!}

The 4 Things Miss Modish is Doing to Market her Business this Year (that you should do too)

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

modish, modish blog, jena coray, small business marketing tips

by Jena Coray of Modish & Miss Modish PR

It’s the new year and if you’re anything like me, you’re plump full of goals and ready to make your business as awesome as it should be. But changing old habits or incorporating new ones can be a tricky thing, and no matter how much New Year’s resolution kool-aid we may be drinking, it’s hard to keep motivation up for the entire year. So, to help with goal overwhelm, I suggest we narrow down our goals and focus on the ones that are going to make the most difference for our businesses. And you’re in luck, because when it comes to making your business all that it can and should be this year, there’s only one thing you need to focus on: marketing.

But it is 2011 and we have a blog already, we’re up to our eyeballs in social networking sites, we’re advertising and pitching ourselves to editorials. We know it, we’ve done it, what else is there? And sure, we know all those things are making a difference and getting our names out there, but now that we’ve seen those effects, we’re hungry for more.

We want more ways to market ourselves. More ways to spread the word about who we are, and what we do. Ways that are creative, inspiring and fun so that they’ll motivate us to stick with them throughout the entire year.

So, I propose to you four ways to do just that, and they’re exactly the ways that I plan on marketing my own business this year:

The first is a way to connect with your customer base in a truly authentic, and meaningful way.
The second is a way to get the word out about your business that can inspire confidence and be really fun, too.
The third is a way to put some commune back into your communication.
And, if you want to know the fourth way, email me at hello{at}missmodish.com with the subject line, “what’s the fourth way?” and I’ll tell it to you (it’s a really good one ;)

#1: Start a Newsletter

Only, don’t call it a “newsletter”, because newsletters are those boring salesy emails that you sometimes sign up for but rarely open that clog up your inbox every single day until you’re so annoyed that you unsubscribe (um, every big retailer you know?) And you’re not going to be sending out something like that, oh no. You’re going to deliver something that’s not only interesting to your customers, but provides something of value to them, too.

Ask yourself: What sort of advice do you have to offer? What can you teach? Can you offer a tutorial? Share a story? Inspire someone? How can you make each and every newsletter you craft have benefit for its readers and naturally tie back into what you’re trying to sell?

For example, if you’re an artist who makes motivational prints, like those in the post below, you could create a monthly newsletter that celebrates a new print each time. Give the readers a “first look” of your latest print and its awesome motivational message and include a little story about why those words inspired you, why you were motivated to make that piece or expand on its idea to further encourage your readers to think about it.

Maybe even include links to motivational articles you’ve read lately, or TED speeches you watched that moved you, et voila! You’ve created something that your customers will not only enjoy and learn from, but will (and this is the most important part) actually look forward to receiving again next month.

So, on your site, don’t ask people to “sign up for my newsletter” because it’s a request that more often than not will go ignored. Instead, ask them to sign up for your “Monthly Motivation Mojo- tips and tricks to stay in the groove and stay inspired”, or whatever would describe your content. Sounds more interesting, hmm? Just make sure you can deliver on your promise! Remember, a newsletter is an intimate connection. People have invited you to enter their space, as often as you say you will, because they trust that you won’t take advantage of that. So sure, a special coupon or offer can be well appreciated once in awhile- but only on the side of some real content. It’s the content that will keep them interested. Don’t bombard them with sales messages and coupons and “special deals” that come so often they can’t possibly be special. Just share, tell stories, entertain, teach- whatever you have most to offer, do that. If it’s fun for you, your readers will be able to tell, and they’ll keep reading.

To learn lots of valuable newsletter secrets including how to get people to sign up, creating auto-responders and what newsletter service you should be using, I defer to Sonia Simone- she’s a wealth of information.

vintage film camera, modish, jena coray, small business marketing

#2: Make a Video

In this world where relationships can be created with each other entirely online, it’s nice to ditch the keyboard every once in awhile and instead just speak. Speak in front of a camera, that is. Yes, that makes it a whole lot scarier, I realize. But as a frequent watcher of videos by business women, crafters and artists that I love, I also realize what a value it is to readers to add those additional dimensions of “voice” and “movement”- it’s as close as you can get to seeing how someone is in real life, online! After watching a video, I know I often feel even more connected to the person- I feel like I know them better, like I’ve been let into a part of their “real world” beyond the words they type, or the products they create. And that connection makes me want to support them/buy from them/listen to them even more.

Ask yourself: What can you offer on a video that will engage the interest of your customers? How can you use video to give more insight into your work or your personality?

If you’re crafty, maybe try to do a video tutorial of a how-to craft project. Do a little video diary that documents one day in the life of a busy so-and-so designer. Offer tips or advice or answer customer questions on video instead. Show a video of a simple technique that you utilize in your work everyday. Show yourself making something with your hands, or putting the finishing touches on one of your paintings and then talking a little about it. And then you can even (hold your horses) include a video in your more-than-a-newsletter! The sky’s the limit really. All we have to hold us back is our confidence on camera and our imaginations, so let’s just go for it! Expect a video from me, sometime this year (we’ll see how long it takes for me to work up the guts)

See how these smart girls have used video to help their marketing efforts:

Golden Rule, a local Portland shop, has “home shopping network” videos that are cute, funny and make you want to come right in and go shopping.

Etsy’s handmade portraits are interesting glimpses into the lives of fellow artists- they’re aesthetically gorgeous too

Marie Forleo, a guru for women entrepreneurs, has been using videos this year to answer reader questions- they’re simple, short and super informative. Here’s a good one.

cfisher photography, modish, jena coray, small business marketing

#3: Snail Mail

As online communication gets richer and richer and we get to know each other even better without ever even meeting (so weird, but so wonderful ;) it nearly knocks my boots off when I receive a tangible, real-world something in the mail from someone I only know online! And I’m not talking about the things I order from little shops, although orders are the perfect opportunity to get in touch with your customers. I’m talking more about thank-yous, holiday greetings and just-becauses, the type of reaching out you may usually reserve for a friend. The type of reaching out that has almost disappeared with the advent of email and social media, that I think now has the chance to make an even greater impact.

How can you get in touch via mail, to enhance your customer connection and build your relationship even more?

If you’re in a service business, send a hand-written thank you to your clients when you’re done with their job to let them know what a pleasure it was to work with them.
If you purchased a service and had a great experience (with a web designer, for example) send them a little gift from your shop or just a big thank you as a way of telling them what a great job they did.
If you have a shop, be sure to include a hand-written thank you with every order- it provides instant connectivity with your customer. I feel disappointed when I don’t get one now.
Ask your customers for their birthdays when they purchase an item- keep track of them on a big calendar and each month, send out a special coupon to the customers who have a birthday that month- by mail!
If you’re trying to make a big impression to a very high-traffic editorial blog or magazine, ask for their mailing address and send them a pitch by mail with a business card and hand-written note. (don’t send samples til they say they’re interested and ask for them)
If you’d like a shop to consider doing wholesale with you or hosting a trunk show for your designs, send a hand-written note introducing yourself with a postcard that has photos of your work and your contact info.

.#4: And the fourth way I’m marketing myself this year?

Email me at hello{at}missmodish.com with the subject line, “what’s the fourth way?” and I’ll tell it to you there (it just might knock your socks off).

So this is it- my plan for expanding my marketing efforts more into the funzone this year, because when things are fun, we’re apt to stay inspired to continue doing them, turn them into habits even (ice cream, anyone?). I hope you’ll join me and try at least one of these ideas this year, if it’s something you haven’t incorporated into your marketing efforts yet. Which one are you most looking forward to trying out? Well, I’m off to eat some ice cream. And then, I’m getting started on that newsletter, er, “Miss Modish’s Marketing Tips”- coming soon, to an inbox near you..

Jena Coray

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Marketing that Speaks without the Slimy Ways + 40 Ideas to Get You Started

The 4 Things Miss Modish is Doing to Market her Business this Year (that you should do too)

{photo credit: typewriter via Poetic Home, camera via CubaGallery, snail mail via cfisher photography}