SOS with Sonja Rasula

How to get great press is one of the most asked about topics, and for good reason… Getting press mentions can help make your business, and that’s why it’s so important for entrepreneurs to know how and what to pitch to the media. In this episode, Sonja sits down with Karin Eldor, a senior contributor at Forbes whose writing focuses on founders, creatives, and visionaries. 

Can you DM an editor? How many times should you follow up before sounding like a stalker? How long should an email pitch be? Get your notebooks ready because Karin is ready to answer your questions, share examples of the best and worst pitches she’s ever received, and she’ll share about her new Ebook How To Get Press: It Takes One Yes.

Lifeline Links:

Sonja’s Instagram, YouTube

Karin Eldor Instagram, Website 

Let SOS save you money! Click here to save 30% on email marketing with constant contact!

SOS with Sonja Rasula is produced in sunny Los Angeles by Heidi Roodvoets, and engineered and edited by Zach Schwartz.

With zero algorithms blocking your content and limiting your reach, email marketing is by far the best way to increase sales with very little effort. So Sonja went straight to the source for this episode to give you the best advice out there! Dave Charest, Director of Content Marketing at Constant Contact, will help you save time, make more money, and learn to automate tasks. Um, yes please!!!

Dave spills the tea on how to build your email list, the three must haves in every email, and he shares some mind-blowing stats proving just how powerful email marketing can be. So grab your notebook for this one and let’s dive in!

Lifeline Links:

Sonja’s Instagram, YouTube

Constant Contact: Homepage 

Let SOS save you money! Click here to save 30% on email marketing with constant contact! 

SOS with Sonja Rasula is produced in sunny Los Angeles by Heidi Roodvoets, and engineered and edited by Zach Schwartz.

It is time to face your money! Join Sonja and this episode’s guest Paco de Leon, a financial advisor and author of the new book Finance for the People: Getting a Grip on Your Finances, for a candid conversation about managing your money and facing your financial fears. All the amazing tips, advice, and real-talk in this episode will help you come out on top – even though the current financial system may not have been designed with you in mind. It’s all about empowerment! 

Also, check out the amazing resources Paco mentioned during this episode that can help you face your finances:  

Tiller - A subscription service that organizes all of your finances into spreadsheets for you

YNAB: You Need A Budget - Budgeting software that helps you budget and save money

Personal Capital - An app that tracks your net worth

Unbury.me - Free loan calculator that helps you find the optimal plan to pay off your debts

Lifeline Links:

Sonja’s Instagram, YouTube

Paco de Leon Newsletter

The Hell Yeah Group Website

Hell Yeah, Bookkeeping Website

Let SOS save you money! Click here to save 30% on email marketing with constant contact! 

SOS with Sonja Rasula is produced in sunny Los Angeles by Heidi Roodvoets, and engineered and edited by Zach Schwartz.

In today’s episode Sonja’s friend Ginger Siegel, North America Small Business Lead at Mastercard, throws down major gems to help your business! Because of her role at the massive brand, Ginger is able to bring us her global perspective of small biz trends, shares how you can better protect your business, and we dive deep into the world of digitization to help save you time and money – allowing you to grow your business faster and smarter!

Lifeline Links:

Sonja’s Instagram, YouTube

Ginger Siegel Instagram

Mastercard Digital Doors Program Website

Mastercard’s Trust Program for Cyber Security Education Website

Let SOS save you money! Click here to save 30% on email marketing with constant contact!

SOS with Sonja Rasula is produced in sunny Los Angeles by Heidi Roodvoets, and engineered and edited by Zach Schwartz.

Who else has put off legal-type tasks because “lawyers”? In this episode Grant Atkinson, the founder of Framework Law Group and the most un-lawyery lawyer you will ever meet, drops by the studio to share some seriously VITAL information about all those legal matters your small business needs but that you may have been avoiding. 

Grant explains the difference between various business entities, why it’s important to have lawyer-approved contracts, and how to tackle your legal necessities without being intimidated. Plus, you’ll hear about the entrepreneurial journey that led him to leave the corporate legal system and start his own firm that specializes in working with small businesses and artists.

Lifeline Links:

Sonja’s Instagram, YouTube

Grant Atkinson Instagram

Framework Law Group Instagram, Website 

Framework Law Group Legal Kit Website

Let SOS save you money! Click here to save 30% on email marketing with constant contact! 

SOS with Sonja Rasula is produced in sunny Los Angeles by Heidi Roodvoets, and engineered and edited by Zach Schwartz.

Here on SOS we are always rooting for all our guests, so we are very pleased to present this special bonus episode featuring Llance Kezner of Millie's Sipping Broth and Krystyl Wright of Lot XI! Tune in as Sonja welcomes these very special season 2 guests, who have recently had some exciting company growth since being on the podcast!

Lifeline Links: Sonja's Instagram, YouTube, Twitter

Millie's Sipping Broth Instagram, Website

Lot XI Instagram, Website

SOS with Sonja Rasula is produced in sunny Los Angeles by Heidi Roodvoets and engineered and edited by Zach Schwartz.

After years of working for household recognized fashion brands, Melissa Velia launched her own company selling scrunchies, belts, and ties -- all of which she handmakes. Even though her products are amazing Melissa's product photography is outdated and Sonja thinks she should be making double or triple what her annual revenues are. In order to compete in a very very crowded ecommerce space Melissa needs Sonja's help to revamp her product styling, photography, and essentially her whole website! Along with her marketing, Sonja provides expert advice on how to move off Etsy to an improved website, and how to express brand style expertly through photography. And for the people in the back, make sure you stay tuned for Sonja's Top Takeaways at the end of the episode!

Lifeline Links:

Sonja's Instagram, YouTube, Twitter

Melissa Velia Instagram, Website

SOS with Sonja Rasula is produced in sunny Los Angeles by Heidi Roodvoets and engineered and edited by Zach Schwartz.

So many people have become entrepreneurs during COVID or because of it! One of these new entrepreneurs is Maria Varela, who's business My Layover Box, was founded in March 2020, RIGHT BEFORE we went into lock down! Not great timing for a company based on the joy of traveling. Pandemic or not, the business has barely sold anything. As a fledgling company, Maria needs immediate help to change her business model before it's too late! Listen as Sonja helps Maria broaden her customer base, change her business model, and essentially lay a new foundation for her company!

Lifeline Links: Sonja's Instagram, YouTube, Twitter

My Layover Box Instagram, Website

SOS with Sonja Rasula is produced in sunny Los Angeles by Heidi Roodvoets and engineered and edited by Zach Schwartz.

At first glance Dear Joie looks picture perfect, but if you look deeper you'll notice that you would never know who actually runs the company; there's no "About Us" page or founder story anywhere! This may be why Dear Joie founder Amanda Delos Reyes, is not making as many sales as she should be. Amanda needs Sonja's encouragement to share her founder story to give her brand "heart" and to increase sales. And while Amanda wants her brand to express joy and be more than just the stationary and jewelry that she sells, she needs Sonja's help to realize that SHE is the brand. Make sure you stay tuned for Sonja's Top Takeaways at the end of the episode!

Lifeline Links: Sonja's Instagram, YouTube, Twitter

Dear Joie Instagram, Website

SOS with Sonja Rasula is produced in sunny Los Angeles by Heidi Roodvoets and engineered and edited by Zach Schwartz.

Don't listen to the hype, it's 2021, you don't have to be a 'starving artist'! Whitney Manney is an incredible fashion designer and artist, selling everything from handmade jackets to scarves and fanny packs. Whitney's sales grew since 2020, #ThanksCOVID, but she has SO MANY PRODUCTS and needs Sonja's help simplifying the website's user experience. Listen in as Sonja gives the best tips on how to improve your website's interface to increase sales, how to write better product descriptions that draw customers in, and how to stop thinking small in order to grow big.

Lifeline Links:

Sonja's Instagram, YouTube, Twitter

Whitney Manney Instagram, Website

SOS with Sonja Rasula is produced in sunny Los Angeles by Heidi Roodvoets and engineered and edited by Zach Schwartz.