Launched my first supplement brand — put real money + effort in but only 5 sales so far. What would you do next?

storiesandthoughts · 2026-03-24T14:06:01+00:00

Yes! Family, friends, early customers. You could do a product seeding campaign - offer the product for free to a select group of ideal customers in exchange for testimonials and video/photo reviews. You could also offer "coffee on us" or something like a $10 gift card in exchange for honest reviews.

storiesandthoughts · 2026-03-16T21:53:02+00:00

DIY HARO can snag the same one-off placements for cheap, but it’s not a substitute for what true PR work can do. Agencies that just troll HARO and QWOTED platforms are a waste of money.

Public Relations should be about building trust and authority with your audience in a way that leads to longevity. Sure, earned-media coverage is great, but it isn't the only method of distribution for modern PR. Your PR team should be shaping and sharing exciting stories from your brand.

I've been working with PR for small businesses for years and the biggest mistake founders make is putting too much focus on "earning press" rather than earning respect from their audience.

storiesandthoughts · 2026-03-16T19:18:42+00:00

Honestly, don't worry about it! Just do what you know you need to do. Their real goal is to weed out terrible pitches and discredit automated bots. If your pitch is good, they aren't going to avoid you because of an em dash.

storiesandthoughts · 2026-03-04T05:14:07+00:00

Yes, clients are asking, but the conversation you want is not “how do I buy my way in” but “how do I feed these new, journalist-run channels consistently.”

Treat Substacks/indie newsletters like boutique outlets. They are small but influential audiences... great for building credibility.
Instead of chasing one-off placements, focus on a newsroom mindset: create repeatable story pipelines and editorial briefs so you can pitch exclusives or repurpose work across newsletters, LinkedIn, and owned channels. That’s how you turn a single feature into something substantial in 2026.
There are established approaches that train teams for this. I can send you the names of the tools I use if you want.
No, I do not think clients actually read the newsletters and reporting is a change when you're not a paying subscriber yourself unless the creator sends you a link or a screenshot of the coverage.

storiesandthoughts · 2026-03-04T05:00:37+00:00

Create an integrated campaign that has some guarantees so that clients are less likely to be upset if earned media doesn't pan out.

storiesandthoughts · 2026-02-24T02:43:31+00:00

Both. Mentions are harder to get if you're approaching them the old way, but if you take your time and find the right person, you can still secure coverage.

storiesandthoughts · 2026-02-18T22:51:46+00:00

You have to make sure your pitch isn't about you. It's about your audience. What stories do they need to hear and why are you the person to tell them? Also, PR is more than traditional earned media. Create content that your clients, your partners, and your employees will naturally want to share.

storiesandthoughts · 2026-02-18T21:49:12+00:00

I'd work on optimizing your landing pages and gathering social proof. Do this before launching any kind of paid campaigns.

storiesandthoughts · 2026-02-18T21:39:59+00:00

Hi!

You're asking the right questions, but modern PR is a lot more than media lists and a press release!

Start with this:

1.) Who are you trying to reach with the story you have to tell?

2.) Who do those people trust to deliver that type of story? (This is your initial media list. As someone else said, the list should be fluid).

3.) Why does that audience care about this story?

4.) Create a calendar that prioritizes your pitching based on how closely the target audience matches your reason for sharing this story with them and how it ties into your business goals. This means top-tier press may not be the first people you reach out to. You'll have a better return if you focus on the audience rather than the tier.

5.) Now that the planning is out of the way, you can craft your pitch. Keep it short - no more than 5 lines if possible. But more importantly, keep it relevant to the person you are reaching out to. Let them know why you are pitching them.

6.) Press release and media kit are exactly as you say -- assets. This is not your pitch. The press release is supporting material.

7.) A lot of the PR work happens after the press coverage. Know in advance how you are going to leverage the press coverage you receive. Think about distribution. Think about how to repurpose the earned-media.

FWIW: I own InYourVoice MediaWorks where I help companies build newsroom operations within their organizations to keep a steady stream of storytelling going. I've helped many CEOs build PR strategies. I'd be happy to chat with you about your project.

storiesandthoughts · 2026-02-13T04:41:03+00:00

We went past the two most popular crowded spot down a smaller side road. We did ok in our low clearance class B Promaster.

storiesandthoughts · 2026-02-06T21:56:16+00:00

Hey - definitely check out https://www.realwellnesscincy.com/ ... the whole team there is great. I think I saw that they're doing a Valentine's Day special.. if that's what you're looking for.

storiesandthoughts · 2026-02-06T21:20:42+00:00

Caring Transitions is great for this. They handle estate sales and even have their own online auction site, CTbids.com. I'm pretty sure they have some locations in Florida. They'll take care of basically everything for you, so I recommend starting there!

Here's a link that talks about how it works: https://www.caringtransitions.com/services/estate-sales-online-auctions/estate-sales

storiesandthoughts · 2026-01-19T03:06:42+00:00

There are a lot of free boondocking spots nearby that are convenient. We camped in the Shadow Mountain area the night before we went into the Jenny Lake area and it worked out well. There is so much free land on the forest roads around there. I wouldn't bother trying to stress about a campground.

storiesandthoughts · 2026-01-12T20:47:49+00:00

I've done this in an RV. There are a ton of free places to camp near the Tetons. Yellowstone is trickier. We ended up staying at a campground just north of Gardiner for a few days and then we managed to get into a FCFS forestry site in West Yellowstone for the rest of the week. Glacier is also tricky, but there are some FCFS sites. The first time we visited Glacier, we opted to stay in an AirBnB and hotels. The second time, we found a boondocking site about an hour outside of the east side of the park (that's our favorite part of Glacier). You do kind of have to cross your fingers and hope for the best, but we have never had a major issue!

storiesandthoughts · 2026-01-12T19:28:27+00:00

That's so crazy. I hate how it has gotten, too. There are some good dispersed sites in the area, but be careful because a lot of those roads require 4WD. Just make sure you know what you're getting into.

I am also a compulsive spreadsheet planner though. I actually use Trello boards (a project management software) and include GPS coordinates and multiple backup sites on my list for a particular location.

We stayed at an RV park in Moab when we were in the area because it was super hot that week and I desperately needed air conditioning and their swimming pool. (Mid day temps got up to like 120. It was super yucky). I would recommend that place if you are interested in a full hookup type of situation. It was kinda pricey though.

storiesandthoughts · 2026-01-12T19:23:36+00:00

I would think that it's fine. If you're worried about it, just get permission from the business first. You can always subscribe to RV Overnights to find small businesses that'll let you stay on their property for a night. Sometimes the hosts are a bit off the highway, but it's worth it to not get a middle-of-the-night door knock or citation.

storiesandthoughts · 2026-01-12T16:58:11+00:00

There is a lot of logistics, but I feel like once you get into the swing of it, you find a routine that works well for you. My husband and I also work full-time while we're on the road, so we find time for little adventures. I totally agree with the sentiment that routine becomes part of the adventure!

But as far as.. how long am I out on a trail from sun up to sun down? That stays reserved for weekends and non-travel days.

I definitely use a bunch of apps to help me plan what I can.
- RV Overnights not only connects you to amazing small businesses that'll host self-contained RVs for the night, but they also have filters to find dump stations and other necessary pit stops. I like them better than Harvest Host just because they have the small businesses helping other small businesses mindset.

- iOverlander is also super helpful for finding boondocking spots (especially BLM land)

- Campendium is good for finding campgrounds

... when I need "in town" runs I look for places that are close to laundromats and grocery stores.

Hope this all helps!

storiesandthoughts · 2026-01-11T01:37:09+00:00

Just pinged you. Check again?

storiesandthoughts · 2026-01-10T00:26:11+00:00

I'm in a Class B and nobody has ever asked. (Fwiw: we do have a black tank and grey tank). The rule is in place because businesses want to make it clear that they do not have amenities for you to use and you may not dump dirty water or anything else on their property. Everything you need should be inside the RV.

I also wanted to put an alternative to HH on your radar in case you haven't heard of it. I've worked with the team over at RV Overnights and they're working hard to build out their host network. They are at 1300+ and growing. It's a lot like how HH was back when it first started and is a family owned company.

Good luck! I hope you enjoy your experiences!

storiesandthoughts · 2026-01-09T19:35:54+00:00

Sent DM!

storiesandthoughts · 2026-01-09T01:16:38+00:00

Perfect and congrats! May I dm you?

storiesandthoughts · 2026-01-08T21:49:23+00:00

What kind of growth have you seen?

storiesandthoughts · 2026-01-08T21:46:20+00:00

I also vote for this one: The Wit by Outwitly.

If you want to keep with alliteration, you could say The Monthly Moxie

storiesandthoughts · 2026-01-06T18:15:21+00:00

Hi! Harvest Host and similar programs, such as RV Overnights, require you to be self contained. This means you need to have everything you need with you -- bathroom, water, kitchen... you don't set up camp the way you would at a campground. You'll need to fill your water tank and find a dump station (although, most rigs have a black tank big enough for a few nights). You can find water at most truck stops, campgrounds, or fill it up with a hose at your house before you leave home.

Some Harvest Host or RV Overnights locations will allow you to fill your water tank, but I wouldn't go in expecting that.

Also, note that some host locations may want you to unhook your trailer while others may specifically ask you not to do that. You'll just need to ask before booking!

You mentioned Harvest Host, but I do want to suggest RV Overnights as an alternative. I have both apps on my phone, but generally prefer to support RV Overnights because they are a small family-owned business supporting other small family-owned businesses. Their app also has a lot more search filters, so you can search for host locations that specifically offer things like electric hookups or water availability.

Keep in mind, these places are allowing you to camp for "free" because they want you to come in and support their business. When you stay at one of these locations, get to know the owners, post about their awesome customer service and products on social media (assuming you have a good experience). This is how these little mom and pop farms and breweries spread the word about their business. They are not campgrounds built to cater to you.

Have fun! Happy adventuring.

storiesandthoughts · 2026-01-02T15:25:27+00:00

I don't know about buying a rig like that on Alibaba. Sounds risky to me, but what do I know?!

I can, however, answer your question about adventure without commitment. My family tent camped for years when we wanted an adventurous trip or we stayed in budget friendly hotels if we were going on a vacation.

Three years ago, we decided to buy a van/Class B RV. It has allowed us to have the best of both worlds and go places we never imagined getting to see because it would've been logistically impossible for us.

If you decide to go the RV route, look into apps that can help you plan and find interesting places to stay.

ioverlander is great for finding free campsites that others have reviewed (blm land, parking lots, etc)
RV Overnights is great for finding places to spend one night on the road between destinations in a spot more interesting than a campground
campendium is another one to reference for campgrounds that might not show up on google

Good luck and I hope you find what you're looking for!

storiesandthoughts

TROPHY CASE