Cacti and Calories
Plus: Some advice about "Look Books," a new cruise assignment, and PR job opps
Happy Thursday, everyone!
I had the pleasure of spending last weekend at the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa for a little R&R and it was simply divine. If you live in Scottsdale and haven’t dined at the resort’s Lincoln Steakhouse, you are absolutely sleeping on the best ribeye and cheesecake in the Valley. Hands down. The spa was also wonderful (I had an adobe detox wrap), as was the pool. And the view from our casita was absolutely breathtaking (that’s Camelback Mountain in the distance, partially blocked by the organ pipe cactus) … I literally felt like I was in a Disney movie, because bunny rabbits were hopping around and hummingbirds were drinking nectar from those flowers:
Ok, onto a topic that’s very timely for the holidays: DO NOT SEND “Look Books” as your entire pitch! First of all, no journalist wants an email with an attachment. EVER. Secondly, there is no way we’re going to sift through your 20-page Look Book to find the perfect item to place in our gift guides … we do NOT have that kind of time/interest/energy. Instead, please select a handful of items that you think would best fit the outlet/assignment (especially if you’re replying to a journalists’s call for pitches where you have all this info vs. a cold pitch) and focus on those. You can also include a LINK to the Look Book and invite writers/editors to peruse it if they’d like to see more options … but don’t make us do your homework for you and then expect to be rewarded with coverage. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Anything that makes our jobs harder means we’re just going to delete your email and move on to the next 700 emails vying for the same 20 slots in a gift guide. — Signed, every writer
Below, you’ll find my latest assignments and links to recently published articles. And don’t miss today’s Top Tier Consulting Substack post (this is my business venture with journalist Nicole Pajer, more on it below), as I’m spilling the tea on exactly how I manage my busy inbox. Spoiler: It’s a messy process ;)
Have a great rest of your week everyone,
Jill
Haven’t Signed Up for the Top Tier Consulting Substack Yet? You’re Missing Out :(
Nicole Pajer and I have teamed up together to launch a media consulting business: Top Tier Consulting! Our joint business has its very own Substack, where we share our industry insights every week.
This week’s topic is part 2 of last week’s popular part 1: A deep dive into how each of us manages our overwhelming inboxes (read: how we decide which pitches to delete, save and respond to). These tips may just help you land more coverage because your pitch will be more enticing than all the others we have to sift through. Here’s the link to check it out:
Our weekly posts are chockfull of information (no joke, today’s was 2,000 words long … we go deep into these topics!). Here are some of the other important topics we’ve covered recently:
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
Aside from our Substack, we offer a variety of customized consulting packages that will help take your media coverage to the next level:
Pitch Perfecting Strategy Session
Become a Journalist’s BFF: Networking and Relationship Management Session
Hosting the Perfect Virtual and/or In-Person Media Event Session
Agency Q&A Session
Press Package 101 Session
Press Trips Invites and Itineraries Session
Hosting the Perfect Virtual and/or In-Person Media Event Session
We’re excited about this new venture and look forward to helping you become even better at what you do. Visit our website to learn more about the services and sessions we provide — we’re looking forward to work with you!
Finally, we also offer a Founding Members subscription that includes monthly Top Tier Talk Zoom sessions — you’ll get access to two top-tier journalists for a full hour each month for only $25/month (that’s roughly the price of buying us each a sandwich to “pick our brains!”).
Let’s Collaborate on an Instagram Campaign!
Follow my travels on Instagram — and with 17k followers, I’m available for your clients’ brand campaigns and collaborations, too! Happy to share my media kit and rate sheet upon request.
Got Affiliate Marketing Questions?
Do you have questions about navigating affiliate marketing? Publicist Sarah Karger co-created a course called Ultimate Masterclass and Introduction to Affiliate Marketing for Publicists and it’ll answer ALL of your questions!
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!
PR Job Opps
3d Public Relations and Marketing is looking for an Account Coordinator to join our growing team. The ideal candidate should have solid media contacts, be highly motivated, and be able to multitask efficiently. This position requires strong written and interpersonal skills, and the ability to interact with clients, talent & media. Applicants MUST have examples/links to media coverage secured on past projects.Apply to: Nicole@3dprmarketing.com
If you have job opps for me to share, please send them to JillSchildhouse@gmail.com with the subject line PR Job Opps. And if you land one of these gigs, please let me know …. it warms my heart!
***Recently Published Pieces***
(Thank you for your help!)
TripSavvy: The Best Alaska Hotels — based on my recent press trip!
Southern Living: How Long Does Leftover Gravy Last?
Taste of Home: Can You Eat Eggs if You Have Diabetes?
Taste of Home: Are Apples Good for People With Diabetes?
Travel + Leisure: Hotels to Book for a Trip to the Grand Canyon
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, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn (and please connect with me yourselves!)
—— Current Editorial Needs ——
1. Reader’s Digest: The Best Smart Doorbells (LAST CALL!)
*If you’ve already pitched, I’ll be in touch today, no need to resend*
Requirements: Must be on affiliate (Target, Best Buy, Walmart, ADT, etc). Skimlinks is good too. If it’s on Amazon, it must have 500+ Reviews + have 4+ Star Rating.
Subject line: Smart Doorbell + Add The Product Name
Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com
Pitch by: EOD Friday (tomorrow!)
2. TripSavvy: Best Cruises for Teens
Rounding up the best cruises for teenagers … wow me with all your modern, teen-friendly amenities and programming on your most teen-friendly ship (teen club, mini golf, disco club, IMAX theatre, surf simulator, zip lining, sports deck, special educational stuff, etc.)
I have to feature a specific ship + itinerary, so be sure to also include: the name of the cruise line, duration of the cruise, name of the ship, and the itinerary … and provide a link to it!
Subject line: Best Cruise for Teens + Your Cruise Line
Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com
Pitch by: EOD Tuesday Nov 1
More Useful Info
Agency-wide Substack subscriptions available: Just shoot me an email with how many publicists will need access to my paid newsletter and I’ll send you a custom quote (which includes a group discount, of course!).
Sponsorship opps: Do you have a course/book/conference/tool/service that you’d like to promote to the 3,300+ publicists who subscribe to my newsletter? Contact me today to discuss sponsorship opportunities!
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.
Gorgeous pic Jill! Also, thank you for yesterday’s AMA! 💜