Discover more from Jill Schildhouse's Media Insights and Assignments
A No-Affiliate-Links-Required Holiday Gift Guide Opp! (Yes, I've Found a Unicorn!)
Plus: other articles I'm sourcing for, too
Happy Monday, everyone!
By now you’re probably knee-deep in holiday gift guides … and hopefully you’ve caught up on the recording of last week’s HGG Q&A session with my girls Aly and Alice. We dove deep into everything you could ever want to know about HGGs, including timing, formatting, angles, price points, 2023 trends, subject lines, pitch tips, best practices, affiliate marketing, and commission percentages. It’s 1 hour and 15 minutes of nonstop insider info, so I want to make sure you don’t miss out (especially since our Zoom session was sold out and we had to turn away some publicists who were interested in RSVPing)!
Speaking of, I happen to be sourcing for a very rare gift guide this week — one that doesn’t require affiliate links at all, which is basically a complete outlier in today’s e-commerce world. So if you rep a small business in the wellness space, this may be one of your best opportunities all season long! Just please don’t send me any of these 13 products you should NEVER pitch for holiday gift guides.
Before you scroll down to my open assignments, I also wanted to let you know that I’m available to take on ONE new brand client for content marketing services (read: blogs, marketing materials, thought leadership pieces, brand stories, content strategy, etc.) beginning in Q4 (and beyond). You may not know that content marketing is my background, and I’ve done it for some of the biggest brands out there (CVS Health, Massage Envy, AAA, Cleveland Clinic, etc.). So if one of your clients or a brand you know could use some content help, I’d love to be connected.
Read on for this week’s sources and assignments. I’m attending the Nutrition News Update conference for the next couple days, so I may be a tad slow to respond initially.
Thanks!
Jill
PS: I am SO excited about my debut for The Guardian … this was SUCH a fun article to write! And if you’re at all into cooking, I think you’ll appreciate it too. If nothing else, I think the headline will make you laugh and the pics are so sweet!
PPS: Nicole and I hosting an HGG session that will provide a full checklist of what to include in your pitches AND some examples of pitches that worked … it’s more of a presentation than an open Q&A, but there will certainly be some time for questions at the end! Click here for more details and info on how to sign up.
***Recently Published Pieces***
(Thank you for your help!)
The Guardian: A Different Kind of Pothead: the Le Creuset Cookware Supercollectors (my first for this outlet!)
Taste of Home: How to Make Homemade French Fries
Phoenix Magazine: Park Central’s Modern Renaissance
AARP: The Ultimate Guide to Alaska Cruising (my first travel article for AARP!)
Taste of Home: How to Make White Rice Taste Better, According to Chefs
Insider: I went on my first solo cruise. Here are 6 things you should know if you’re planning to try it.
Southern Living: The Biggest Cruise Ship in the World is Coming to Florida
Reader’s Digest: Away vs. Beis: Which Luggage Brand is Better? (PS: I’m taking my Away bag to Europe in case you were wondering)
Taste of Home: How to Make Japanese Fried Chicken
Reader’s Digest: Beis Carry-On Review
Reader’s Digest: I Never Travel Without The Away Bigger Carry-On Suitcase—Here’s Why
USA Today: This Outdoor Recliner Is Made for Lounging and I Can’t Keep My Family Out of It (my mom is the model!)
Southern Living: How to Cook Rice
Taste of Home: This is What the Numbers On Your Fruit Stickers Tell You About Your Produce
Taste of Home: How to Make Shrimp Ceviche
Taste of Home: How to Make French Onion Pork Chops
Taste of Home: How to Wash Potatoes
Reader’s Digest: 12 Best Caribbean Islands (you can read about my trip to Bonaire here!)
Reader’s Digest: 16 Unexpected Things I Never Board a Cruise Ship Without (I got SO many of you in here!)
Southern Living: Can You Eat Watermelon Seeds?
Travel Market Report (my debut!): 8 Considerations for Booking a Small vs. Large Ship Alaskan Cruise
Parade (my debut!): 10 Biggest Wedding Food Trends of 2023
USA Today: Patio Essentials to Buy on Amazon Right Now
Now, it's time to get the word out! When you and your clients share your coverage on social media, please be sure to tag my accounts: Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn (and please connect with me yourselves!).
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Got Affiliate Marketing Questions for 2023?
Yes, most publications require affiliate marketing for inclusion these days. Publicist Sarah Karger created a course called Ultimate Masterclass and Introduction to Affiliate Marketing for Publicists and it’ll answer ALL of your back-end questions!
—— Current Editorial Needs ——
1. Franklin Prosperity Report: Best Electronics Trade-In Programs
Looking for experts and/or companies that offer this service for phones and computers (think: Apple, Best Buy, Amazon and independent players like Gazelle and ItsWorthMore)
Subject line: Electronics Trade in Program/Expert
Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com
Pitch by: EOD Thursday Sept 14
2. Yoga Journal: Wellness Gift Guide
I’m serving as a contract editor for YJ this month … yay!
Looking for yoga and adjacent gift ideas: wellness, self-care, mental health, mindfulness, lovely gifts that give back, sustainable gifts, etc.
Affiliate links are NOT required! Woohoo!
Do NOT pitch supplements, CBD, cannabis, weight loss products, or detox products … these will all be ignored.
Subject line: Yoga Journal Gift Guide + Brand Name
Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com
Pitch by: EOD Friday Sept 15
3. AARP: Hosting/Party Expert
I’m working on a massive guide to hosting a party at home (this will come out around the holidays, though I think it may be more evergreen and less focused on the holiday aspect)
I need experts to provide tips for preparing, day-of hosting, post-party etiquette, etc.
Please send credentials, not commentary. I have specific questions I’ll ask.
Subject line: Hosting Expert + Their Name
Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com
Pitch by: EOD Friday Sept 15
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Other journalist newsletters definitely worth subscribing to: Be sure to follow my trusted colleagues so you can stay up-to-date on their pitching needs: Alice Dubin, Bryce Gruber, Aly Walansky, and Nicole Pajer.