Already Giving Thanks for So Many November Assignments (read: tons of opps for you!)
Plus: RSVP for a workshop that'll dramatically improve your ROI on press samples
It’s Monday … here we are again.
It’s been a very rough few weeks, and judging by the myriad responses I received on my recent post, “9 Steps for Handling Media Outreach During a Tragedy (and How to Educate Your Clients)” many of you are feeling it too. At this point, I don’t even know what else to say. I’m drained. Let’s keep praying for peace.
Aside from the utter chaos in the world making it difficult to concentrate, you also haven’t seen any calls for pitches from me in a few weeks because I was working on some very specific assignments (a 5k-word guide for AARP, some brand-specific articles, some sponsored content pieces for Hearst, etc.). But now I have a slew of new assignments and I need your help!
I’m off to St. Petersburg, Florida on Wednesday to attend a 2-day retreat with my business coach (and I’m free for dinner Wed night if anyone lives in the area or has a restaurant they want me to check out). Really looking forward to the sessions, on such topics as scaling my business, building passive income, clarifying my value through thought leadership (something I try to do with this newsletter — how’s it going?), and how to stay focused when you’re unmotivated. Should be an illuminating few days!
I look forward to diving into all your awesome pitches upon my return, as I bang out a bunch of work for November!
Be good to yourselves,
Jill
PS: There are a bunch of newly published article links below, but don’t miss the article my mom called her favorite piece ever of mine: https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/le-creuset-mystery-box/
Do you ever send out press samples?
Then I encourage you to RSVP for my “Everything You Need to Know About Sending Press Samples to Ensure Better ROI” workshop
Click here for the details … Nicole Pajer and I will be co-hosting this one:
Jill’s 2023 Holiday Gift Guide Resource Central (new ones added!)
Here are all the resources I’ve created (or co-created for Top Tier Consulting) to help you land even more editorial coverage this season. Seriously, use these links as your bible for the next few months:
Christmas in July Zoom Q&A with Affiliate Marketing Expert Sarah Karger (this will answer ALL your affiliate-related HGG questions!)
Holiday Gift Guide Workshop with Nicole Pajer (we shared sample subject lines, a checklist of what to include, advice for how to stand out amongst the stiff competition, examples of pitches we loved, and did a Q&A session)
A Real-Life Example of an HGG Product Pitch Format that Most Writers Will Delete (hint: Don’t do this!)
A Handy-Dandy Checklist of 10 Things to Double-Check Before Sending Your Pitch
***Recently Published Pieces***
(Thank you for your help!)
U.S. News & World Report: 9 Bucket-List Cruises for Seniors and Retirees
Taste of Home: I Went to the Le Creuset Factory to Table Sale and Now I’m an Avid Collector — Here’s Why
ELLE Decor: This Stylish Home Gym Delivers The Full-Body Workout of Your Trainer’s Dreams
Good Housekeeping: 8 Travel Essentials for a Fall Weekend Getaway
Taste of Home: Can You Eat the Green Stuff in Lobster?
Taste of Home: How to Store Ginger the Right Way
Taste of Home: How to Make a Pear Tart Tatin
Taste of Home: The Dangerous Reason You Shouldn’t Eat from a Dented Can
— older, but in case you missed them —
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!)
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!).
Please Share this Newsletter With Your Colleagues
If you find this newsletter valuable, please click the share button below and send it to your colleagues … the more, the merrier!
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. Need Chefs Who Live/Work in the South
For Southern Living, I’m always looking for Southern chefs, but right now I’m specifically looking for ones who know their way around sweet potatoes and spaghetti squash for current assignments (hint: sell me on why they are perfect for these topics in your pitch … maybe they are plant-based or have their own veggie garden!)
Subject line: Southern Chef + Name
Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com
Pitch by: EOD Thursday October 26
2. Localite
I'm working on 2 assignments for a new lifestyle publication called Localite.
Article 1: Most unique spa treatments in Phoenix that feature Native/Indigenous influences and ingredients
Subject line: Localite Phoenix Spa
Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com
Pitch by: EOD Friday Oct 27
Article 2: Where to take advantage of fitness trends that will dominate 2024
Fitness goes through trends just like fashion or dining. From jazzercise to yoga to CrossFit, there are always new approaches that take over the Zeitgeist.I'm looking for 2 things here: a fitness experts to share their 2024 fitness trends (doesn’t HAVE to be local to Phoenix, but it would be nice) AND where to experience those activities/fitness trends in the Greater Phoenix area.
Subject line: Localite Phoenix Fitness
Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com
Pitch by: EOD Friday Oct 27
3. Reader’s Digest: Best Mediterranean Cruise Destinations
This article will round up the best Mediterranean cruises/destinations in 2023–24
For each pitch, tell me:
Name of the cruise line
Best for which destination (e.g., the Greek isles, the Italian Riviera, the Adriatic Sea, the French Riviera, Spanish islands, etc.)
Link to the particular cruise
Tell me about the features and benefits of this sailing and the ship. What makes it the best? Include itinerary highlights and other details like VIP access at the destination that you get from the cruise line, cool excursions, whether it's best for couples, kids, singles, foodies, wine lovers, etc.
Subject line: Mediterranean Cruise + Cruise Line
Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com
Pitch by: EOD Friday October 27
4. Reader’s Digest: Best Culinary Cruises
This article will roundup the best culinary-focused cruises
All cruises must be available THROUGH 2024 (so, not one-time offerings)
For each pitch, tell me:
Name of the cruise line
Best for what category? (such as best for food and wine pairings, best for cooking classes, best for families)
Link to the particular cruise
Tell me about the features and benefits of this program and the ship. What makes it the best? Are there any celeb-chef affiliations? What’s the menu/program entail? Do they source local ingredients based off the itinerary destinations?
Subject line: Culinary Cruise + Cruise Line
Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com
Pitch by: EOD Friday October 27
5. Franklin Prosperity Report: How to live on a cruise ship full time
This is about how to live on a cruise ship full time — it’s becoming more of a thing now, with several companies offering options ranging from buying a "condo" on a ship to renting to just traveling full-time.
I’d love to hear from cruise brands that offer this AND experts who can discuss the trend AND any real people who are living this lifestyle!
Please send credentials, not commentary. I have specific questions I’ll ask.
Subject line: Living on a cruise ship
Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com
Pitch by: EOD Friday Oct 27
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Have a safe and fun time in FL!