Check Out My Newest October Assignments
Plus: Read my recent viral Insider article about how Vietnam denied me entry last month!
Hello everyone.
What a week, between October 7th and this terrible hurricane barreling toward Florida. I was supposed to fly to Miami tomorrow for a press trip cruise on Friday, but I un-RSVP’d yesterday … the cruise line still plans to move foward with the press trip and I didn’t feel like the potential risk was worth it for me.
Meanwhile, my recent Insider article about how I was denied entry into Vietnam went pretty viral … was picked up a ton of places and I haven’t received THIS much reader feedback in years. I got more than 20 DMs on IG and Twitter and a slew of emails from travelers who had a similar situation in Vietnam. Definitely check it out! If you can’t get past the Insider paywall, check out the AOL version (and read all the comments, OMG!).
I’m working on some assignments that hopefully you can help with. Scroll down for holiday gift guide resources and how to pitch me!
Stay safe out there … if you live in Florida or North Carolina and there’s ANYTHING I can do to help, please say the word.
Jill
Jill’s 2024 Holiday Gift Guide Resource Central
Here are all the resources I’ve created (or co-created for Top Tier Consulting with Nicole Pajer) to help you land even more editorial coverage this season. Seriously, use these links as your bible for the next few months:
Holiday Gift Guide Q&A with Jill, Aly and Alice (sign up for access to this recording from August 2024)
Christmas in August Zoom Q&A with Affiliate Marketing Expert Sarah Karger (this August 2024 Zoom recording will answer ALL your affiliate-related HGG questions!)
Learn How to Pitch your Clients as Sources for Holiday Stories
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
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Contact me today to discuss sponsorship opportunities: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com
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***Recently Published Pieces***
(Thank you for your help!)
Reader’s Digest: The First Thing You Should Do When You Board a Cruise
US News & World Report: Utopia of the Seas: The Best Dining, Amenities and More on Royal Caribbean's Newest Ship
AARP: A Suspected Blood Clot Landed Me in a Cruise Ship Medical Center
The Points Guy: 10 Best Asia Cruises
The Points Guy: 8 Best Australia/New Zealand Cruises
Southern Living: Royal Caribbean’s New Utopia of the Seas
Town & Country: A Savannah Itinerary for Every Traveler
Southern Living: 12 Tips To Know Before Taking Your First-Ever Cruise, According To Veteran Cruisers
US News & World Report: Crystal Symphony Review: First Impressions of Crystal's Revamped Ship
Southern Living: 11 Etiquette Mistakes You Might Be Making on a Cruise
Reader’s Digest: July Luggage Review: I Tested the Carry-On Pro on Multiple Overseas Flights
Insider: I Tried Princess Cruise’s Premier Package and It’s One of the Best Deals At Sea
Taste of Home: Amish Chicken and Noodles
Copper Courier: 8 Phoenix Rooftop Bars
Virtuoso: The Sun Princess Sets Sail with Some of the Most Exciting Entertainment at Sea
Reader’s Digest: After 20 Ocean Cruises, I Took My First River Cruise—Here Are 6 Ways It Was Better
EatingWell: 10 Foods Rich in Vitamin K, Recommended by Dietitians
Reader’s Digest: I took the Beis Front Pocket Carry-On on Multiple International Trips, and It’s a Winner
Copper Courier: Puff, Puff, Pass .. The Best 4/20 Promos and Deals Around the Valley
Taste of Home: How Long Does Rice Last in the Fridge?
Copper Courier: Where to buy farm-fresh eggs in Tucson
Copper Courier: 10 Best Pizza Joints in Phoenix
The Points Guy: Holland America restaurants: The ultimate cruise guide to food and dining on board
Travel Market Report: What to Expect When Riding Brightline
Travel Market Report: The 3 Highest End Suites on the Crystal Symphony
Copper Courier: 7 Places to See and Smell Wildflowers Near Phoenix
Travel Market Report: Cruise Ships and Celebrity Chefs: A Perfect Pairing the Industry Continues to Crave
The Points Guy (my first for this outlet): Princess Cruise drink packages
Southern Living: Why I Switched to a Wooden Cutting Board and I’ll Never Go Back to Plastic
Southern Living: Should You Drain Canned Vegetables?
Taste of Home: How to Store Avocados
Taste of Home: How to Store Garlic So it Stays Fresh
Taste of Home: How to Make Amish Chicken and Noodles
Reader’s Digest: 9 Best Culinary Cruises for the Most Delicious Trip You’ll Ever Take
Reader’s Digest: The Surprising Reason You Shouldn’t Bring Camouflage Clothing on a Cruise
EatingWell (my debut article!): A Longevity Expert Swears by Eating Minestrone Soup Every Day — Here’s Why
Southern Living: How to Close a Wine Bottle Without a Cork
Southern Living: Yes, You Can Freeze Spaghetti Squash; Here’s How
Taste of Home: Le Creuset Everyday Pan Review: It’s Literally the Only Pan You Need
Southern Living: The Best Types of Sweet Potatoes for Eery Favorite Southern Dish
Yoga Journal: 21 Unexpected, Meaningful, Stress-Reducing, Must-Have Yoga Gifts for Your Loved Ones
Fodor’s: I Was Quarantined on a Cruise Ship, Here’s What it Was Like
Southern Living: Why It’s So Important to Brown Your Meat Before Cooking
U.S. News & World Report: 9 Bucket-List Cruises for Seniors and Retirees
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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—— Current Editorial Needs ——
1. Franklin Prosperity Report
Looking for side hustles appropriate for the 55+ community that pay more than $15/hour.
Open to experts who can speak on this topic AND businesses/brands that offer a great side hustle option.
Subject line: Senior Side Hustles
Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com
Pitch by: EOD Friday, October 11
2. Dog-Friendly Restaurants in Scottsdale (NOT Phoenix)
Address must be in Scottsdale (not Phoenix or elsewhere in the Valley)
In your pitch, share what makes it dog-friendly … water bowls, specific pet offerings, welcoming patio environment, dog walk area and dog bags, etc.
Subject line: Scottsdale Dog Friendly Restaurant
Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com
Pitch by: EOD Friday, October 11
3. Pet-Friendly Hotels in Scottsdale (NOT Phoenix)
Address must be in Scottsdale (not Phoenix or elsewhere in the Valley)
In your pitch, share what makes it pet-friendly … provided amenities, dog walk area and dog bags, pet menu, pet spa services, lovely outdoor areas, onsite restaurant with patio, etc.
Subject line: Scottsdale Pet Friendly Hotel
Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com
Pitch by: EOD Friday, October 11
More Useful Info
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, Aly Walansky, Nicole Pajer, and Joni Sweet.
Have you signed up for my OTHER Substack newsletter yet? It’s a joint venture with Nicole Pajer and we do deep dives into the media industry to help PR pros increase their ROI. Check it out here!
oof - just shared with two friends who are honeymooning in Vietnam at the end of the year!
Wow what a story - glad it all worked out in the end! A friend of mine encountered something similar when we all were headed to a bachelorette weekend in Montreal - her passport didn't exactly match the ticket name bc she recently got married, but thankfully it all got sorted with a quick(ish) ticket name change. I took that lesson with me!