I’m just doing things potpourri
Taking questions for my new advice column and a content marketing playbook
So much is going on in the world.
Like, too much.
This week I learned that “NACHO” is an acronym for “not a chance Hormuz opens.” Lol.
Also, the consensus on the Met Gala was that it was WEIRD.
The consensus = the most clued in Gen Z’ers, my 17- and 19-year-old nieces, plus colleagues from the week’s various media events.
The whole thing, especially the fashions…felt off. Dull. Uninspired.
Today’s newsletter: Weird Met Gala energy, Manychat and food maps, and the launch of my advice column. Plus: Zeitgeist-y!
The Met Gala used to be so much fun to oooh and aaah at, especially when I lived in New York City knowing that all that glamour was taking place mere miles from me: the costumes were intricate, daring, and beautiful.
This year’s vague theme and dress code, “Costume Art” and “Fashion is Art,” respectively, resulted in things that just looked cheap to me — ironic given the event was chaired by a billionaire.
What did you think?
Aside from this, and after battling some existential personal branding anxiety, I decided to try some new things this week.
I tried a new social media tool
I was inspired by my friend and wellness guru Billy Bosch, who I interviewed back in February about longevity rituals and wellness tips.
Billy (IG: “Wellness William”) appeared for all of ~20 seconds in the first episode of Netflix’s “Age of Attraction,” yet has since shot up 10x across his social channels, not because of Netflix, but because he leveraged his branding opportunity.
He uses a tool which automates sending something, like a helpful menu or guide, to people when they comment and/or follow him.
So, I decided try it out for myself.
Now, when people comment on one of my latest Instagram reels, they’ll get a little content marketing thingy I made: a top 15 food map.
The timing is intentional.
It coincides with the golf tournament that’s happening in Charlotte this weekend.
It’s a map and list of 15 spots that are quick, delicious, and easy to get to from the Quail Hollow Club, where the Truist PGA Championship is taking place.
But wait, there’s more! Haha.
I’m Shindy. I sold my financial content company and now I write this weekly culture, money, and lifestyle Substack. I’m a journalist and bestselling author featured in Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, Business Insider, Bankrate, Cheddar TV, and HuffPost. If you haven’t yet, and would like to join more than 7,200 people on the internet who I call my “shin-siders” then tap this button right hee-ya:
I also include 18 more spots that are worth the drive for people who may want to explore the city a bit more.
How I did it: My content marketing playbook
I created my lists in Google Maps
I stylized and designed the Maps and lists into a 2-page document in Canva
I made a public Notion page to direct people to my content, where they can save and download the documents and see the lists
I filmed and edited the Instagram reel
I signed up for Manychat and set up the trigger and automation
All of this, soup to nuts, took me about 3.5 combined hours over 2 days to make and prepare.
Most of this time was spent on curating the list and design.
I wanted it to look great and be something valuable that people would want.
It helps that I’m tech savvy and fluent in video editing and content marketing.
Now that I’ve done it, I know next time will go faster.
I’m opening up an advice column
I’ve wanted to do an advice column for a while now, so I’m excited to officially launch the intake form.
I’m taking your questions now!
It won’t be a separate newsletter, just an occasional separate section of this weekly letter.
Before I started my second wave of weekly writing for this Substack, I actually polled friends and family to ask what I’m good at and why they come to me for advice.
My beacon for an advice column is Philip Galanes’ Social Q’s in the New York Times.
Before switching to the digital paper, I remember walking down 2nd Avenue or 10th Avenue or up Broadway (depending on where I lived) in search of a paper Sunday Times.
I’d take it home and then devour it over coffee and croissants: the words and pictures in the Travel, Business, and especially the Style section, where I’d find Philip’s column.
I laugh, nod, and mostly agree with his takes and advice.
And I hope I can offer a voice of reason to you all, too.
So here it is, I’m launching an Advice Column. Submit questions now.
Topics I may be able to offer advice on:
Relationships: Romantic or professional
Travel: Packing and getting to, from, and around a place
Work: Navigating the career ladder, glass ceiling, company culture
Starting and running a business
Money: Saving, spending, budgeting, investing
📺 I’m watching:
Outlander, Starz: The penultimate episode! Can’t believe I made it. To me, this season has been an entire exercise in “phoning it in.” And author Diana Gabaldon (spoiler alert) does not have anything nice to say about it.
📚 I’m reading:
This L.A. Times article about a woman who was pretty much living with a man, meanwhile he was texting “I love you” to 13 other women. The rat!
Ew. I’d never heard of this influencer but I did read this article about how we’re trying to normalize expensive bachelorette parties now? Ladies, this is not it:
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Until next time,
Shindy
On Instagram + TikTok
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