Busy Week: I'm Off to Scottsdale, then Maui
Plus: TONS of assignments (beauty, travel, home, finance and nutrition) & links for recently published gift guides!
Happy Monday, everyone!
It’s a BUSY week in my world: Starting this afternoon, I’ll be staying a hotel in Scottsdale for a few days, attending the “Scottsdale Showcase” with a couple dozen other travel writers from around the country. But wait, I already live here … why am I attending? Well first, I’ll get to see a few writers I haven’t seen in ages (who I’ve met on prior press trips) AND meet the editor at TripSavvy who I’ve worked with for several years but have never met IRL. And secondly, it’s always fun being a tourist in your own town (speaking of, check out my first travel article for Insider: I’ve lived in Scottsdale for 19 years. Here are the biggest mistakes I see tourists make.)! So I’ll get to check out some hotels, restaurants, and activities I haven’t experienced — like the OdySea Aquarium and Butterfly Wonderland. I’m excited for so many travel writers to see the beauty of the desert (nevermind that it’s cold and raining right now, ugh!)!
Then, I have about 16 hours at home on Wednesday to unpack and repack before flying out on Thursday morning to Maui for a press trip hosted by the Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, where I’ll get to see what $100 million in resort-wide renovations have done to the property (new guestrooms, dining experiences, and public spaces). I cannot wait … I know it’s going to be gorgeous (it’s the RITZ!) and I desperately need a little Vitamin Sea.
I haven’t gotten on an airplane since Alaska kicked my Asska in September (I just had another Xray and my lungs have fully healed from bi-lateral pneumonia!), so I’m VERY excited to get back out on the road and do the part of my job that makes me the happiest!
Now that I got all the fun stuff out of the way, I wanted to share the latest industry news so you’re all up to speed:
The Washington Post is ending its print Sunday Magazine on Christmas Day.
Gannett just laid off 200 employees, and among those affected were reporters at USA TODAY.
The hits just keep coming to the media industry and it’s getting exhausting :(
Ok, now back to good news: It’s time to scroll on down … I got 5 new assignments (yay!) and it’s last call for the TripSavvy assignment you saw last week.
I’ll be slow to respond for the next 8 days, so please bear with me!
Thank you,
Jill
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8 Things Publicists Should be Doing NOW to Set Themselves Up for Success in 2023
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Part 2: A Look Inside the Process of How Writers Handle an Inbox Full of PR Pitches
Part 1: A Look Inside the Process of How Writers Handle an Inbox Full of PR Pitches
Everything You REALLY Want to Know About Pitching Gift Guides
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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 …. I’m especially looking for more travel publicists, publicists who rep healthcare and wellness professionals (dietitians, doctors, mental health, etc.), and of course product-focused publicists too! The more, the merrier!
***Recently Published Pieces***
(Thank you for your help!)
Insider: I’ve Lived in Scottsdale for 19 Years. Here are the 10 Biggest Mistakes I see Tourists Make When They Visit. (and it got picked up on Yahoo, but wow are the comments BRUTAL. I have trolls!)
Taste of Home: How to Make Amish Chicken and Noodles (how good does this sound?!)
Reader’s Digest: 28 Beautiful Gifts for Your Wife That Say “I Love You” (this also got picked up on MSN)
Reader’s Digest: 15 Amazon Handmade Gifts to Support Small Businesses
The Healthy: I’m a Hot Sleeper, Here’s Why I Sleep Better on a DreamCloud Mattress
Reader’s Digest: Ulta vs Sephora (gave this article a fresh update)
Reader’s Digest: Amazon Prime Gift Guide (I got SO many of you in here!)
Reader’s Digest: The Best Smart Doorbells
Men’s Health: Your Holiday Travel Fit Kit
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. Taste of Home: Need an RD who can weigh in on the health benefits of dates
I’m updating this article: https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/health-benefits-of-dates/
Send credentials, not commentary … I’ll email specific interview questions to my chosen source
Subject line: Registered Dietitian Name + Dates
Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com
Pitch by: EOD Wednesday
2. Reader’s Digest: Looking for the best anti-aging creams + I need to speak to a dermatologist
To pitch a dermatologist well-versed in anti-aging creams: Please send credentials, not commentary. I’ll email specific interview questions to my chosen source
To pitch an anti-aging cream: Please only pitch products that are available on Amazon or through a Skimlinks partner (like Target, Walmart, Nordstrom, Ulta, etc). For Amazon products, each pick must have 500+ reviews and a 4+ star rating.
Subject line: Anti-Aging Dermatologist -OR- Anti-Aging Creams
Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com
Pitch by: EOD Wednesday
3. Reader’s Digest: Looking for the best foundations for mature skin that will make you look younger
Please only pitch products that are available on Amazon or through a Skimlinks partner (like Target, Walmart, Nordstrom, Ulta, etc). For Amazon products, each pick must have 500+ reviews and a 4+ star rating.
Subject line: Foundations for Mature Skin
Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com
Pitch by: EOD Friday
4. Family Handyman: Best Basement Odor Eliminators
Please only pitch products that are available on Amazon or through a Skimlinks partner (Wayfair, Target, Lowe's, Backcountry). For Amazon products, each pick must have 500+ reviews and a 4+ star rating.
Subject line: Best Basement Odor Eliminators + Insert Product Name Here
Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com
Pitch by: EOD Friday
5. Franklin Prosperity Report: How to Pay Off Debt
Looking for true finance/money experts to share ideas for how to pay off debt … that don’t include the Snowball Method. Wow me with a new strategy!
Not looking for apps or debt consolidation services.
Open to ways to be disciplined enough to pay off the debt, traps/scams to be aware of, etc.
Subject line: Franklin Debt Payoff
Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com
Pitch by: EOD Friday
6. TripSavvy: The Most Beautiful Islands in the World (LAST CALL!)
I already have quite a few ideas for inclusion based on my travels over the years, of course, but I’m definitely open to pitches! I’ve only been to 36 countries, so I’m missing a lot!
Tell me about the beautiful island you rep (can be on any continent around the world!) and answer these questions within your pitch: What makes it so beautiful? Why is it so great? What’s there to see/do? Any tips for tourists?
I’m NOT featuring specific hotels, restaurants, brands, etc. The focus is on the beauty of the island itself.
Subject line: Beautiful Island + Insert Island Name Here
Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com
Pitch by: EOD Wednesday
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Jill, so glad you're healthy again! And I'm looking forward to reading your story on basement odor eliminators... between kids, cats and dogs, the basement is so hard to keep fresh! 😷
I need a Maui (and Scottsdale) trip! Both sound amazing! Have fun! (Your dress you posted the other day is SO cute!)