Andreea Matei is a successful entrepreneur who has started and sold three companies. As the founder of www.launchgrowjoy.com, she helps entrepreneurs who wish to launch a consumer product line through retail outlets and the media.
FWM: Tell us about your background and what led you to Launch Grow Joy.
My entrepreneurial journey started about 15 years ago when I founded a t-shirt company. Back then, there weren’t very many resources for e-commerce businesses, so I had to learn everything from the ground up. After a few years of running my business, I got approached by other entrepreneurs who wanted to know how I got my products featured in the media and in retail stores, so I started offering one-on-one coaching. That eventually turned into online courses and Launch Grow Joy was born.
FWM: How important is media to every new company?
Media is very important to a new company because it helps to build trust with potential and existing customers, which can turn into more traffic and sales for that company. The best thing about media coverage is that it’s free (unlike advertising, which you have to pay for) and it helps a new company get in front of their target audience. Sometimes new brands get discouraged because they may not get media coverage right away, but one thing I learned after working with hundreds of clients is that media coverage can take time and consistency. It’s important to come up with different pitch angles for your brand and products and reach out to editors and writers regularly, rather than approach media coverage as a one-time thing.
FWM: Launch Grow Joy is helping clients get their products featured in print magazines and influential blogs. Take us through the process.
I like to describe media coverage as pitching the right product to the right editor at the right time. Here is my 5 step process for getting products featured in the media: 1. Come up with a few story angles for your products (for example, Eco-friendly gifts for the holidays; back to school products; great gifts for Mother’s Day; natural makeup for summer, etc.) 2. Make a list of relevant print magazines you want to get featured in and find contact information for the right editor at each publication (you can use a media database, linked in, magazine websites, etc. to find this info) 3. Familiarize yourself with that magazine’s editorial calendar and lead times (what types of products they are looking for each month and how far in advance you need to pitch) 4. Email each editor with your pitch (keep the pitch short and relevant to what they are working on each month) 5. Follow up about a week later if you don’t hear back – following up is critical to your success with media coverage) The more consistent you are with pitching, the more success you will have!
FWM: Share a few success stories.
We’ve had lots of success stories, including clients who were featured in O, The Oprah Magazine, Travel & Leisure, Real Simple, Woman’s Day, Southern Living, Shape, and hundreds of other publications. As a result, some clients reached six- and seven-figure sales, found new retailers to sell their products to, signed licensing deals and more! It’s really rewarding to see the success that comes as a result of pitching your brand consistently.
FWM: Tell us about the Ultimate Online Store.
I created Your Ultimate Online Store course because a lot of LaunchGrowJoy.com readers were struggling to get sales to their online store. They were getting the traffic, but it wasn’t translating into sales. The course covers tactics, tips and strategies, as well as a ton of resources for how to increase sales on your website, grow your email list and social media following, write effective product descriptions, take great product photos, optimize your website for search engines (SEO), and a lot more.
FWM: What is your vision for Launch Grow Joy in 2021?
My vision for 2021 is to truly create a community for our Media Leads members and to continue to provide the resources they need to get featured in the media. We are re-designing our platform to include more media leads, more media lists, a community forum, brand new training videos and more. Our goal is to help 1,000 brands this year to get media coverage.
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