Our last newsletter of 2022 is dedicated to 2023. We've filled it with the resources that we think will be most helpful to you in early January, when you come back fresh, ready to start the year with a bang.

Pro tip- boomerang this newsletter to return to your inbox on Jan. 4th. Don't know what Boomarang is? Click that link, it will literly change your email management life.

Cheers,
Nora & Kirsten

PS- We write this newsletter *for you.* Please reply and let us know what you'd like to learn more about in the new year.

Show, Don't Tell

9 Tips to Ensure Your Images Support Your PR Goals

Planning a product launch next year? Looking to up your PR game?

It all starts with carefully planned, well-executed photography.

So many businesses fall short of their press goals simply because they don’t have images that capture the stories they want the media to tell.

In this post, we pulled best-in-show examples of different types of photography that support great storytelling. Using clippings from top design publications, we break down nine tips to capture the right images to support your story.

Want more guidance to up your photography strategy?
Check out our Photography for Media Outreach Guides

Good Links Round Up

1. Tips to build a biz with 1,000 true fans
Building a big audience is can be exhausting. What if you didn’t have to? This 2-minute animation by One Percent Better is based on Kevin Kelly’s essay 1,000 True Fans. It simply lays out how to build a profitable business with 1,000 true fans. Our takeaway, in 2023 focus on the people that are *already* paying attention to you.

2. If the label fell off… would people know it was you?
Pinning down a writing style for your biz is often last on the list. You shouldn’t ignore it though. What you write—in captions, on your website, in your newsletters—conveys your brand POV just like your photos, logo, and colors. In this actionable, easy-to-follow post Ann Handley walks through 5 steps to create a strong tone of voice for your content marketing.

3. From an Idea to a Successful Business
In this podcast from Entreprenista, Crystal Etienne founder of Ruby Love talks about her business journey. Highlights: how SEO and paid advertising help grow the business, tips to build work/life balance, and rebranding for an international audience.

4. How To Make Sales On Instagram
This one is verrrry related to the 1,000 true fans vid above! Have you found yourself focused on follower growth over conversions? We’ve all been there. And good news, the new year is a great time to recalibrate. This post includes 5 actionable tips to sell on Instagram that aren’t salsey hacks. Even if you don’t directly sell a product on Insta this post is still so useful to content planning overall.

5. Squarespace template comparison
Looking to build a new site in 2023? We’re fans of Squarespace (#notanad), but the huge number of templates can be overwhelming. This great resource by ilovecreatives lets you easily browse templates by business type and site features.

PS- If you already have a website, and you know it needs to be fixed and you want someone to tell you EXACTLY what to change, and how, check out our Tweak & Edit PR Review service. We’ll give you critical feedback on your site and tons of best-in-show peer examples so you can improve upon what you are already doing.

Wolf Craft PR Tip

Building a good PR strategy starts with peer research

We’ve all had that moment where we see press on a peer company and think “I can imagine my product/project/brand in this article.” Maybe even the little green monster of jealousy has popped up from time to time? Don't get jealous though, get strategic!

If this thought has crossed your mind you know exactly where to start your research. Look at the companies you admire, the ones that have a greater reach. Document what they’re doing. This will help you figure out what gaps you need to fill.

Follow peer companies on Instagram, read their newsletters, go to their press pages and read the press. Start to make metrics based on this research, like, types of photos and styling, story angles, and media outlets.

It can be hard to know where to start when you're doing PR on your own. We always say that the best place to start is research!

More Gift Guide Wins

More amazing wins from businesses that took our How to Pitch for Gift Guides course.

We're beyond thrilled to see the steller placements course participants are getting! Check out a few highlights below, PR tips included!

Willow Ship's 'Hana' café apron was featured in Real Simple's digital AND print gift guides, under the home cooks section!

We also had to share the email we got from Willow Ship's founder, below...

Pro tip- gift guide pitching isn't just about the holidays! The editor contacts you make write product stories all year long, that means if you're easy to work with, reply quickly to emails, and have great photography, you're well on your way to placements all year long!

Number 5 above, Mrs. Gs Hot Pepper Jellies in San Deigo Mag, print AND digital editions.

Pro tip- vary how you arrange your product in solo-against-white shots. This stacked image of four jars allowed the editor to easily place this product in a slim portion of the page, where a horizontal image would not have fit!

Sister-owned jewelry brand aptly named SisterSister in Ms. They also got placements in Virginia is for Lovers Blog and theSkimm newsletter, which has 7 MILLION readers.

Pro tip- pitch local publications, they have a dedicated readership that likes to shop local.

Feeling inspired? Motivated?? If you want the same tools to pitch your product to gift guides check out our How To Pitch For Holiday Gift Guides course.

Work With Us!

If you want to get really good at telling your business' story, we can help!

-Tweak and Edit- when you need a critically constructive second set of eyes to look at what you're doing and tell you exactly what to fix, including best-in-show examples to help you get there. We're so happy to say that people LOVE this service and find it super valuable.

-1-1 sessions- when you want to learn how to tighten up your business and pitch it to the media yourself, and you want guidance informed by 15+ years of experience and someone to hold you accountable.

-List building- when you want a fully customized media list built specifically for your biz with editor contacts, pitch notes, and article examples- AND you want personalized pitch templates and 1-1 calls with Nora to walk you through it all.

-How to Pitch For Holiday Gift Guides- for when you want to knock it out of the park with holiday gift guide pitching, but also learn how to pitch smaller holidays all year long.

Thanks for giving us some time in your inbox! If you have any questions send us a note, we'll always reply.

Cheers,
Nora & Kirsten

PS - If you liked the newsletter, we’d be so happy if you shared it with others who might find it useful. Anyone new can subscribe here.

Helpful resources to start your 2023 off right!

Show, Don't Tell

Good Links Round Up

Wolf Craft PR Tip

More Gift Guide Wins

Work With Us!

Older messages

Your PR questions answered - edition #8

Last chance to save $150 when you enroll in How to Pitch for Holiday Gift Guides.

How do you get holiday gift guide press?

Limited time offer! - Get $150 off How to Pitch for Holiday Gift Guides

Thankful for gift guide wins!

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