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. 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
  2. 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

  3. 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
  4. 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?
  5. Sep 11

    Hey Tori! How can I build trust and authority that lasts? (Spoiler: a book!)

    Learn what you could write about and what it could mean for your business. Think about the quilters, knitters, and crafters you consider experts in your field. The ones with influence. The ones people recommend. What do they have in common? They share their expertise in ways that stick—through teaching, speaking, writing, and sometimes publishing. But here's what builds authority fastest: long-form content. And there's one format that opens doors nothing else can quite reach. In this episode, Tori breaks down why books are a different kind of authority tool—and why you don't have to be a "real writer" to write one. She shares her own story with dyslexia and how Workshops Unleashed became a business asset that changed everything. You'll hear from authors in the Self-Publishing Incubator who are building their authority (and their businesses) the same way. If you've ever thought "I should write a book but..." this episode is for you. Enjoying the show? Leave a quick review and tell me your favorite episode so far. Got a question you want answered on the podcast? Click here — I read every one. Resources & Programs Learn more: 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. Workshops Unleashed — My book on turning your expertise into live events. Available wherever books are sold. Self-Publishing Incubator — An 18-month guided program for craft and fiber arts authors. We handle the publishing side while you focus on writing and platform building.  Blog — Monthly breakdown of what's new in social media for creative businesses at heytori.tech/blog

  6. Sep 4

    Growing Your Audience Organically: Advice and Coaching with Rhonda Canning

    In this special live coaching episode, Tori sits down with a Digital Marketing Magic Coaching Client, Rhonda Canning of Primetime Quilt Co, to answer one of the most important questions creative entrepreneurs face: what do you do after you launch? Rhonda's story is one of resilience. After taking a three-year break from her pattern design business following her husband's illness and death, she decided to come back this year. With Tori's help, she launched her pattern "Twilight" — and now she's ready to grow. In this episode, you'll hear Tori coach Rhonda through the real strategies that build an email list and grow your audience through collaboration, community, and smart reuse of your work. You'll learn: Seven concrete ways to grow your email listHow to reuse contentWhy collaboration beats going solo This is the first live-coached guest episode on Hey Tori, and Rhonda's openness about both her comeback and her real-time questions will show you exactly how these strategies work in practice. Click here for the Free Webinar Sept 2th: Do You Have a Book in You? with Tori and the Self-Publishing Incubator Resources and People mentioned: CELA (Creative's Email Launch Assistant) for launch sequencesRelaunch Video by Tori McElwainDirectories: Craft Industry Alliance, Global Quilt Connection, Academy for Virtual Teaching, Heartland Quilt NetworkElizabeth Chappell Pattern Design Course (running for the last time in 2026)Angela WaltersSelf-Publishing Incubator with Tori McElwain, Whitney Steen, and Kaitlyn Fritsch Connect with Rhonda: Website: PrimetimeQuilt.com Instagram: @Primetime Quilt Co Facebook: Primetime Quilt Enjoying the show? Leave a quick review . Got a question you want answered on the podcast? Click here — I read every one. Resources & Programs Learn more: heytori.tech Digital Marketing Magic Coaching Program — For creative entrepreneurs building a real lead and launch strategy.

    Growing Your Audience Organically: Advice and Coaching with Rhonda Canning
  7. Aug 28

    Hey Tori! How Do I Create More Connection?

    You pour your heart into every post. You share your story, your journey, your design choices. But your engagement stays flat. Here's what's happening: your readers are watching your story, not seeing themselves in it. Today we're breaking down the one-word shift that changes everything—and it starts with YOU. Learn how to reframe your copy so your audience feels like you're talking directly to them. (Spoiler: a DMMC member's reel went nearly viral when she made this one simple change.) Jame's Wedmore's Conversion Cards Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the power of language in marketing 02:02 The impact of shifting from I to you in content 03:19 How this language shift improves audience connection 08:05 Practical framework for applying the I to you shift 12:38 Real-world example: rewriting a social media post 16:54 Results from applying the technique to a reel 17:25 Actionable tip: test the shift in your own copy 18:33 Encouragement to experiment and observe results 19:08 About the Digital Marketing Magic Coaching Program Enjoying the show? Leave a quick review and tell me your favorite episode so far. Got a question you want answered on the podcast? Click here — I read every one. Resources & Programs Learn more: 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. Workshops Unleashed — My book on turning your expertise into live events. Available wherever books are sold. Blog — Monthly breakdown of what's new in social media for creative businesses at heytori.tech/blog

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

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.

You Might Also Like