Biggest Missed Opportunity I'm Seeing for Publicists with Hotel Clients
Plus: What I'm sourcing for while flying to Finland (spoiler: 2 new outlets I'm super excited about!)
Happy Monday, subscribers!
I’m about to head to the airport for my epic journey from PHX—> LAX —> Finland (my first trip to Europe since pre-covid!), and wanted to send out a quickie newsletter today because I have a few hot assignments I’m sourcing for (including 2 new outlets I’m VERY excited about: Outside and The Guardian!).
Before I dive into that, I wanted to point out a massive missed opportunity I’m seeing for pitching sources right now: Not pitching your hotel clients’ F&B managers, chefs, mixologists, sommeliers, events managers, hotel directors and even housekeeping staff as sources for articles in the food, hospitality, drinks/spirits, party planning, wedding, and cleaning realm.
Think beyond just traditional travel stories for your hotel clients … there are so many topics within their wheelhouse, so position them as experts for all of these types of articles! Sure, they may not be as “sexy” as a feature on the hotel itself, but it still gives a credibility boost to the brand and gets their name out there. This is especially great for boutique hotels … just make sure these experts are media-ready if they aren’t used to serving as sources/doing interviews!
Have a wonderful week (and please follow my Finland adventures on Instagram),
Jill
PS: Are you struggling with pitches that aren’t performing? I’m hearing a lot of that lately, and it’s because there’s been a shift in what writers/editors are looking for right now! Let me help course correct your pitches so they land more coverage: I’ve got a small group Pitch Perfecting session coming up on May 18th and still have 2 more seats available. We’ll literally workshop your pitch together, live! Learn more here.
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***Recently Published Pieces***
(Thank you for your help!)
Travel + Leisure: 15 Most Comfortable Flats for Travel
Travel + Leisure: 15 Best Wrinkle-Free Dresses for Travel
Southern Living: Does Vinegar Go Bad?
AARP (my debut!!): Smart Guide to Spring Cleaning
Going.com (my debut!!): Tucson: The U.S. Desert Oasis That’s a UNESCO City of Gastronomy
USA Today: 10 Most Popular Home Products People are Buying on Amazon Right Now
Taste of Home: How to Thaw Pork Chops Safely
Reader’s Digest: Best Time to Visit Arizona
Reader’s Digest: Best Time to Visit the Grand Canyon
Reader’s Digest: I’ve Tried Every At-Home Manicure System and This is the Best!
Reader’s Digest: The Best Time to Visit Alaska
Reader’s Digest: Best Subscription Boxes
Travel + Leisure: The Ultimate Cruise Packing List
Southern Living: 10 Ideas for Creating the Perfect Mimosa Bar
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!).
—— Current Editorial Needs ——
1. Franklin Prosperity Report: Need a Medicare Expert
Looking for myths about Medicare that are costing people money
Go ahead and send some ideas my way and be sure to explain your clients’ credentials, too. I’ll have follow-up questions, but please give me something to start with.
Subject line: Medicare expert
Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com
Pitch by: EOD Friday
2. Outside: Busting Myths About Nightshades
Looking for an unaffiliated RD or medical professional (perhaps a nurse or doc who specializes in inflammation) to discuss what nightshades are, why people are avoiding them, why they impact some and not others, etc.
Please send credentials, not commentary. I’ll send you specific questions to answer.
Subject line: Nightshades Expert
Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com
Pitch by: EOD Friday
3. Travel + Leisure: Best Portable Monitors
This article will cover the best portable monitors on the market
Here are the categories I’m looking to fill: Best Budget, Best Big Screen/ Triple-screen (could split this up if there’s a big screen and a triple screen), Best for Work, Best for Gaming, Best Lightweight, Best for Outdoors, Best Touchscreen
For each product you pitch, suggest the appropriate category and tell me why it’s so great, detail special features, etc.
Each product pitched MUST also include the following specs:
Dimensions
Weight
Type (4K/OLED/etc.)
Resolution
Warranty
Subject line: T+L Portable Monitor + INSERT NAME OF BRAND HERE
Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com
Pitch by: EOD Friday
4. The Guardian: Calling all Le Creuset Cookware Lovers
I’m looking for serious SUPER FANS of Le Creuset cookware … if you or someone you know has a large collection and has been collecting for years, please reach out ASAP!
Subject line: Le Creuset Lover
Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com
Pitch by: EOD Friday
5. Southern Living: Chef or Cleaning Expert Needed
This article is about whether or not you need to boil your wooden spoons … or how best to clean wooden spoons, given their porous ability to soak up bacteria (gross)
Subject line: Wood Spoon Expert
Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com
Pitch by: EOD Friday
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Have fun in Finland! And congrats on the Outside byline... I LOVE that pub.
Such a great point! I don't have any hotel clients, but am always trying to think of pitches beyond the brand's obvious "lane." And THANK YOU SO MUCH for including TIJN in T+L! Appreciate you xo