Let's get real for a hot second about that media relations strategy you're pouring hours into... it might be time to pull the plug! Let's be honest: Your CEO's name in that industry magazine? crickets That press release you spent 3 weeks perfecting? Probably got 6 views Those media relationships you've been "nurturing"? The reporters changed jobs... again Why Your Media Strategy is Like a Flip Phone Journalists are jumping ship fast Everyone and their dog is now an "independent creator" Trust...
about 15 hours ago • 2 min read
We all belong in the creator economy. You don't need millions of followers or fancy equipment to make an impact. Every single one of us creates content naturally: 👩🏻🍳 When you share a cooking hack? That's education! 🏝️ When you post your vacation pics? That's inspiration! 🤭 When you make your friends laugh? Pure entertainment! We're all potential influencers when we share what we care about. We're all creators when we express our unique perspective. We all have expertise in something worth...
8 days ago • 1 min read
One of my clients had this lovely little email list just sitting there, collecting digital dust. No newsletters. No updates. Nada. So I said, “Let me take this off your plate.” But of course, then came the question: What the heck do we send? We landed on a rhythm that feels just right. Every newsletter follows the same format. Readers know what they’re getting, and I know exactly what to create. Here’s the simple five-part formula: Share the news – What’s happening in her world or in her...
15 days ago • 1 min read
Wanted: One audiobook narrator. Asked on: SOS (Source of Sources… it’s like the new HARO) Got: Inbox mayhem. I posted a very clear ask for my podcast, Shelf Made Stories. Just one thing: "Looking for an audiobook narrator." Simple, right? Apparently… not. Here’s what landed in my inbox: 📬 A woman asked me to send her books to review. → Sweet, but this isn’t a free library. 📬 A press release from a PR firm. → Promoting a guy I’ve never heard of. Didn’t mention narration. Not once. 📬 An author...
22 days ago • 1 min read
Remember when I went rogue and pruned my email list? Yeah, I deleted everyone who hadn't bothered to open my emails in the last 30 days. Did my subscriber count take a hit? You bet. But guess what skyrocketed? My open and click-through rates! Wanna know which one I care about more? Your subscriber number is basically meaningless if no one's actually reading what you send. Now, if you're trying to score partnerships where they demand a specific subscriber count, I get it if you want to keep...
29 days ago • 1 min read
Your media opportunity just called. It's urgent. The reporter needs you in 30 minutes. You panic and/or hesitate. Here's what marketers and publicists WISH they could say when clients try to control the uncontrollable: 🚫 That "quick review" of the reporter's article before publication? Doesn't exist in legitimate journalism. 📈 The competitor mentioned alongside your brand? That actually validates your position in the market. 📰 That headline you hate? Unless it contains factual errors, it...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
I delete people from my email list every day. ...and I’m not sorry about it. Quality beats quantity every time. I used to want a huge subscriber count. But here's what I discovered: A massive list full of disengaged people? It’s an absolute waste of my precious email writing time. Now I ruthlessly prune my list. Haven't opened in 30 days? DELETE. Your inbox deserves content you actually want to read. And yes, this deleting of subscribers is automated. I sleep better knowing every email I send...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
I just did something every single business coach has told me NOT to do. I put all my pricing packages right on the homepage of my website. No more "contact for pricing" or "let's schedule a call to discuss options." Just four clear packages, all the details, and the price tags to go with them. Why the change? Honestly, I was tired of my team members wasting time on calls with people who were never going to become clients. You know the ones - they're curious about what you do, they ask a...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Become a Media Maven Thursday, March 13th, 2025 The other day, one of my Media Maven clients passed along some great testimonials asking if we could do anything with them (for PR). Not really, but…We could transform it into powerful social proof that builds trust AND provides value to her audience. This is what we did: 1️⃣ Started with the testimonial's core win 2️⃣ Added context around the challenge 3️⃣ Included 1-2 specific steps from her process that helped them succeed 4️⃣ Created a...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
My new podcast Shelf Made Stories is now LIVE. You can listen to it anywhere, and if you want to see what we're talking about, watch it on YouTube. I created this podcast to learn how booklovers build businesses. Right now, you can hear how 🤳🏻 People are making money by posting pictures of their books on an app, 📚A woman diversifies her income at her bookstore so it makes money even if she doesn't sell any books, 💰 and how a Bookstagrammer turned her following into a book club that brings in...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read