Hey Tori! Answering Your Digital Marketing Questions for Creative Entrepreneurs

Tori McElwain

You've got a fiber arts business—quilting, knitting, embroidery, sewing, whatever you make—and a marketing to-do list that makes you want to close your laptop and get back to your work. Hey Tori! is where digital marketing coach and fellow fiber artist Tori McElwain answers the real questions creative entrepreneurs are asking—from "where are my customers actually coming from?" to "do I really need to be on Instagram every day?" Each episode breaks down one marketing topic into a clear framework you can actually think through: what's really happening, why it matters, and what one thing you'd do first. No jargon. No seventeen-step funnels. Just the kind of advice you'd get from someone at guild night who actually knows how the fiber arts industry differs from the rest of the marketing world. If you want to go deeper—custom tools built for makers, live group coaching, or a personalized marketing roadmap—that's what the Digital Marketing Magic Coaching Program is for. But the podcast? It's just Tori, answering your questions. Listen on your favorite podcast app. New episodes every week.

  1. 3d ago

    Social Media? Email? Wholesale? What do I focus on?? Coaching Leanne Parsons

    Pattern designer Leanne Parsons of Devoted Quilter came to the Hey Tori! podcast with four questions: how to grow her email list, how to grow on social media, how to get quilt shops to stock her patterns, and where to put her focus. Tori coaches her through them live, starting with the one bothering her most: wholesale. They talk about why cold emails to shops often go unanswered, how a single distributor relationship can open doors, and how to make the most of a booth at H+H. The conversation then turns to what is actually making money, why her email list is the lever, and how a free guide she already has can be shared more often and reach new people through collaborations. Leanne leaves with a plan that fits into her week. Connect with Leanne: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/devotedquilter/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DevotedQuilterDesigns/?ref=NONE_xav_ig_profile_page_web# Website and Blog: https://www.devotedquilter.com/ Mentioned in this episode: Shannon McKinstrie for Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shannonmckinstrie/ Monika Henry, Penny Spool Quilts: https://www.instagram.com/pennyspoolquilts/ Elizabeth Chappell, Quilters Candy: https://www.instagram.com/quilters_candy/ Enjoying the show? Leave a quick review and tell me your favorite episode so far. Got a question you want answered on the podcast? Enter it here: https://forms.gle/4jMGWV9wTDVDNRx67 Learn more: Tori's website: http://heytori.tech Digital Marketing Magic Coaching Program —For creative entrepreneurs building a real lead and launch strategy. Whether you're just starting or scaling what's working, we work through strategy together: https://www.heytori.tech/dmmc Workshops Unleashed —My book on turning your expertise into classes. Available wherever books are sold: https://www.heytori.tech/workshopsunleashed Self-Publishing Incubator — A guided program for craft and fiber arts authors. https://selfpublishingincubator.com/ Blog — http://heytori.tech/blog

    Social Media? Email? Wholesale? What do I focus on?? Coaching Leanne Parsons
  2. Oct 16

    Email Coaching with Krista from Timeless Treasures Quilts

    Krista Russell, owner of Timeless Quilt Studio, is moving her in-person Learn to Quilt Foundations course online. In this live coaching episode, Tori works through Krista’s email list and welcome sequence: how new subscribers choose what they want to hear about, why the first email should invite a reply, how often to send, and whether a discount is the right welcome gift for a quilter who just downloaded a pattern. We also look at Krista’s current email numbers together. Krista is a Digital Marketing Magic Coaching Program member, and she shares what she’s getting out of the program. Mentioned in this episode: Krista's 1st Guest Interview: https://www.heytori.tech/post/fromhobbytoteachingquilting Joining the Digital Marketing Magic Coaching Program (DMMC): https://www.heytori.tech/dmmc Connect with Krista: Visit her Website at Timeless Quilt Studio: Timeless Quilt Studio Follow her on Facebook: Follow her on Facebook Enjoying the show? Leave a quick review and tell me your favorite episode so far. Got a question you want answered on the podcast? Enter it here: https://forms.gle/4jMGWV9wTDVDNRx67 Learn more: Tori's website: http://heytori.tech Digital Marketing Magic Coaching Program —For creative entrepreneurs building a real lead and launch strategy. Whether you're just starting or scaling what's working, we work through strategy together: https://www.heytori.tech/dmmc Workshops Unleashed —My book on turning your expertise into classes. Available wherever books are sold: https://www.heytori.tech/workshopsunleashed Self-Publishing Incubator — A guided program for craft and fiber arts authors. https://selfpublishingincubator.com/ Blog — http://heytori.tech/blog

    Email Coaching with Krista from Timeless Treasures Quilts
  3. Oct 2

    All About Email Marketing with Ashleigh Wempe

    We talk all about email marketing - you're going to love it. Ashleigh started her knitting pattern business the day after leaving the Air Force. Today she runs two memberships, her last virtual summit drew 7,000 knitters, and her email list does the heavy lifting. She walks Tori through the system behind it: three 52-week evergreen sequences, opt-in forms that let subscribers sort themselves, and why your best pattern should never be your freebie. Quilters (I know I have many of you here), this one's for you too. In this episode, Ashleigh shares: How she went from solo designer to the "collaboration queen" of knitting pattern design, through summits, freebie bundles, and a live design competitionWhy email beats social media for makers, and the open rates she sees (35–45%)How her evergreen sequences run on their own, and when she pauses them for a launchThe two metrics she checks every 90 days, and why she stopped taking unsubscribes personallyHer advice for anyone who thinks weekly email is "too much"Why a Canva checklist makes a better lead magnet than a pattern you spent months designingMentioned in the Podcast: Liz Wilcox - Email Specialist (https://lizwilcox.com )Krista Miller - Summit Specialist (https://www.summitinabox.co )  Connect with Ashleigh: Website: https://ashleighwempe.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleighwempeEmail: hello@ashleighwempe.comPearl and Publish Membership: https://purlandpublish.com/membership/The Tinking Circle: https://ashleighwempe.thrivecart.com/tinking-circle-general/Enjoying the show? Leave a quick review and tell me your favorite episode so far. Got a question you want answered on the podcast? Enter it here: https://forms.gle/4jMGWV9wTDVDNRx67 Learn more: Tori's website: http://heytori.tech  Digital Marketing Magic Coaching Program —For creative entrepreneurs building a real lead and launch strategy. Whether you're just starting or scaling what's working, we work through strategy together: https://www.heytori.tech/dmmc  Workshops Unleashed —My book on turning your expertise into classes. Available wherever books are sold: https://www.heytori.tech/workshopsunleashed  Self-Publishing Incubator — A guided program for craft and fiber arts authors. https://selfpublishingincubator.com/  Blog — http://heytori.tech/blog

    All About Email Marketing with Ashleigh Wempe
  4. Sep 25

    Hey Tori! How do you reuse a blog post?

    How do you reuse a blog post? If you have years of tutorials, free patterns, and finished-quilt stories sitting in your archive, you may be wondering whether a Pinterest graphic is all you can do with them. Tori answers a listener's question with five steps: choosing the right five to ten posts, polishing them, breaking each into pieces of content, giving every piece a next step, and putting it on the calendar. She also shows how the Break-It-Up Bot inside the DMMC handles an older post. Break-it-up Worksheet here: https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/432998/170967184991848412/share Break up Content Blog Post (AI Prompts): https://www.heytori.tech/post/can-you-actually-grow-your-quilting-business-without-instagram-yes-here-s-how Break a Blog Post Up Like an Expert Blog Post here: https://www.heytori.tech/post/how-to-break-up-a-blog-post-so-you-can-market-like-an-expert 00:00 Unlocking the Potential of Old Blog Posts 02:00 Strategies for Repurposing Content 03:47 Understanding Your Blog's Ecosystem 06:47 Breaking Down Content for Maximum Impact 09:59 Creating Engaging Content from Tutorials 12:39 Leveraging Pinterest for Evergreen Content 15:46 Building a Content Calendar for Consistency 19:36 Utilizing AI Tools for Content Creation 22:34 Final Takeaways and Next Steps Enjoying the show? Leave a quick review and tell me your favorite episode so far. Got a question you want answered on the podcast? Enter it here: https://forms.gle/4jMGWV9wTDVDNRx67 Resources & Programs Learn more: http://heytori.tech Digital Marketing Magic Coaching Program — For creative entrepreneurs building a real lead and launch strategy. Whether you're just starting or scaling what's working, we work through strategy together: https://www.heytori.tech/dmmc Workshops Unleashed —My book on turning your expertise into classes. Available wherever books are sold: https://www.heytori.tech/workshopsunleashed Self-Publishing Incubator — A guided program for craft and fiber arts authors. https://selfpublishingincubator.com/ Blog — http://heytori.tech/blog

  5. Sep 18

    Hobbyist to Professional: Tech Editing, Books, and Taking Up Space with Whitney Steen

    In this episode, knit pattern tech editor and graphic designer Whitney Steen walks us through what tech editing actually does, why it matters for indie pattern designers—and why you may want to publish a book. We talk math errors, why books never expire, and the uncomfortable truth: our craft industries deserve to be taken seriously, and it starts with adding that professional edge to our products and services. Connct with Whitney Steen: Website: https://wlsmakesstuff.com/ Wholesale: https://wlsmakesstuff.com/wholesale Insatgram: https://www.instagram.com/wlsmakesstuff Self-Publishing Incubator (SPI): Website: https://selfpublishingincubator.com/ Author's Showcase SPI: https://selfpublishingincubator.com/author-showcase Laureen Smith Tourmaline and Thyme, Winter Whispers Book: https://fg.tourmalinethymequilts.com/winter-whispers-book-waitlist/ Georgia Olson (Lucet Braiding) Website: https://www.threadandwood.com/ Chapters: 00:49 Exploring the Role of Tech Editing in Pattern Design 01:52 Upcoming Webinar on Writing and Publishing Books 01:52 Crafting Origins: A Journey Through Creativity 04:27 Turning Passion into Profession: The Birth of a Business 07:16 The Role of a Tech Editor: Ensuring Quality in Patterns 09:51 Understanding the Importance of Tech Editing 12:14 Tech Editors vs. Pattern Testers: Key Differences 15:49 Networking and Finding Clients in the Craft Industry 18:36 Building Relationships: The Editor-Designer Dynamic 21:26 The Self-Publishing Incubator: Supporting Diverse Crafts 31:23 Innovative Crafting: The Birth of a New System 33:19 The Role of Tech Editors in Craft Publishing 37:32 The Benefits of Creating a Book of Patterns 43:20 The Importance of Hobbies and Creative Work 47:17 Building Authority Through Publishing 51:25 Marketing Your Book: Strategies for Success 55:27 The Timeless Value of Craft Patterns 57:09 Invitation to the Webinar: Do You Have a Book in You? Enjoying the show? Leave a quick review and tell me your favorite episode so far. Learn more: heytori.tech Digital Marketing Magic Coaching Program — For creative entrepreneurs building a real lead and launch strategy. https://www.heytori.tech/dmmc Workshops Unleashed — My book on turning your expertise into classes. Available wherever books are sold: https://www.heytori.tech/workshopsunleashed

    Hobbyist to Professional: Tech Editing, Books, and Taking Up Space with Whitney Steen
  6. Sep 15

    Special Release: Interview with Saremy Duffy: Do You Have a Book in You?

    Saremy Duffy is a pattern drafter, author, and instructor in the home sewing space — with a background in fashion design, garment production, and eight years on YouTube. Her new book, Fitopedia: An Encyclopedia of Fitting Adjustments for the Upper Body and Sleeve, is a pattern fitting book. In this episode, Saremy shares her publishing journey through the Self Publishing Incubator (https://selfpublishingincubator.com/) - from feeling like her expertise was invisible ("constantly trying to sell myself") to finishing a book that finally made her feel secure. She talks about the loneliness of writing, the accountability meetings that kept her moving, and what it's like to realize people actually value your skill. If you've ever thought about writing a book but weren't sure how to start — or if you're already halfway through and wondering how to finish — this episode is for you. Episode Blog Post: https://www.heytori.tech/post/apatterndraftershiddenexpertise Find Saremy: Website: https://sewsew.live/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sewsewlive/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/sewsewliveBuy Fitopedia: https://sewsew.live/collections/fitopedia/products/sew-sew-fitopedia Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, and other booksellers Enjoying the show? Leave a quick review. Got a question you want answered on the podcast? Enter it here: https://forms.gle/4jMGWV9wTDVDNRx67 Resources & Programs Learn more: heytori.tech Digital Marketing Magic Coaching Program — Whether you're just starting or scaling what's working, we work through strategy together: https://www.heytori.tech/dmmc Workshops Unleashed — My book on turning your expertise into classes. Available wherever books are sold: https://www.heytori.tech/workshopsunleashed Self-Publishing Incubator — A guided program for craft and fiber arts authors. https://selfpublishingincubator.com/ Blog — Monthly breakdown of what's new in social media for creative businesses at heytori.tech/blog

    Special Release: Interview with Saremy Duffy: Do You Have a Book in You?
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About

You've got a fiber arts business—quilting, knitting, embroidery, sewing, whatever you make—and a marketing to-do list that makes you want to close your laptop and get back to your work. Hey Tori! is where digital marketing coach and fellow fiber artist Tori McElwain answers the real questions creative entrepreneurs are asking—from "where are my customers actually coming from?" to "do I really need to be on Instagram every day?" Each episode breaks down one marketing topic into a clear framework you can actually think through: what's really happening, why it matters, and what one thing you'd do first. No jargon. No seventeen-step funnels. Just the kind of advice you'd get from someone at guild night who actually knows how the fiber arts industry differs from the rest of the marketing world. If you want to go deeper—custom tools built for makers, live group coaching, or a personalized marketing roadmap—that's what the Digital Marketing Magic Coaching Program is for. But the podcast? It's just Tori, answering your questions. Listen on your favorite podcast app. New episodes every week.

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