Category Archive

Business development

How NOT to pitch a nontraditional wedding blogger a story about engagement rings

As the publisher of a highly-trafficked wedding blog, of course I get a lot of public relations pitches every day. What’s most remarkable about these pitches is how completely and comically off some of them can be. Here’s my big guidance for public relations folks: if you’re pitching a publication, it’s worth taking five minutes to familiarize yourself with that publication’s focus.

5 ways to use Pinterest’s Source page to market your business

Have you ever visited Pinterest’s “Source” page for your website? This is the page that displays the most recent pins sourced from your website. You find it by going to http://pinterest.com/source/[your URL].

I am obsessed with Offbeat Bride’s source page at http://pinterest.com/source/offbeatbride.com, and it’s one of my most frequently visited pages. I don’t even visit Pinterest.com any more — I’ve bookmarked Offbeat Bride’s source page, and it’s one of the most effective ways I have of marketing my business. Here’s how…

Show-don’t-tell marketing: how to share your business story with integrity

I spent over a decade in the corporate marketing trenches before I founded the Offbeat Empire. If I learned anything from my time with Microsoft, Amazon, and The Seattle Times, it’s this: the best marketing is just about telling a story. Really, all you’re trying to do is share stories that potential clients might be interested in and might see themselves in… all with the hopes that those potential clients will themselves become a part of the story.

As a writer, however, I know that it’s all about SHOWING (not telling) your stories. Don’t just TELL people about your business’s new products or values — SHOW them.

Why Tribesmaids forget about the Offbeat Bride blog (and how it hurts the site)

Six months ago, I promised Offbeat Home & Life readers a forum, and a few readers have been asking what’s going on with that. Here’s the deal…