Happy Tuesday!
I decided to delay this week’s newsletter until today, in hopes that you were all enjoying a 3-day weekend. I spent my weekend at the Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale for an Instagram collaboration, enjoying this midcentury-modern hotel and its fantastic pool scene … and we couldn’t have asked for more perfect weather. Check out my Instagram highlights reel to see how much fun we had!
Ok, now onto some business. I’m noticing a frustrating trend that I’d like to bring some attention to: Pitching me one expert and then delivering quotes from someone else entirely. I’ve had this happen half a dozen times over the last couple months, which leads me to believe it’s a topic we need to discuss ASAP.
The scenario: A PR person sells me on their amazing, credentialed, educated, PERFECT source. I get very excited and send questions for an email-based interview (obv this doesn’t happen with phone interviews). But when I receive the responses, they are from a far less credentialed, far less amazing, far less educated and far less perfect source.
Why this is a problem: I sooo appreciate that you’re trying to be helpful when your client suddenly can’t participate after you’ve promised to meet my deadline, but let me explain why making the decision to swap sources without consulting me isn’t ideal:
While I understand you feel the sources are interchangeable, from my vantage point, they probably aren’t. And 9 times out of 10, they won’t meet the strict requirements of the publication I’m writing for (this is especially true of medical professionals and scientists). Each of my pubs/editors have different rules that I have to follow.
If I can’t use the info, you’ve wasted your time coordinating and you’ve wasted the back-up source’s time by having them provide answers that will never get published. And then you’re going to have to have an awkward conversation with them. Let’s avoid that.
If I don’t learn about this switcheroo until my deadline, I have to start over looking for a source. And that means I have to beg my editor for an extension …. while I have a wonderful relationship with most of my editors and sometimes they have flexibility, this isn’t a conversation I want to have (especially when I thought I had all my ducks in a row). And some of my articles are tied to newsletters that’ll be going out and the deadlines aren’t flexible.
A better solution: If a client bails, please ping me immediately and let me know there’s an issue with the promised source. Feel free to pitch another source who might work, and share their bio. I’ll tell you right then and there if your back-up source works or not. And if not, I’ll still have time to find a Plan B and meet my deadline … and I’ll still be excited to work with you down the road.
Any questions? Leave them in the comments so everyone can see and I’ll answer them (or you can email me if you’re more comfortable).
Ok, have a wonderful short week, everyone! See below for my immediate editorial needs for three TMB outlets.
Jill
—— Current Editorial Needs ——
1. Reader’s Digest: Dermatologist/esthetician
I need to talk to a dermatologist/esthetician to get their take on ICE GLOBES and why you might consider adding them to your skincare routine. They should not be associated with a brand … just independent experts, please.
Please send credentials, not commentary. I’ll respond with specific questions.
Subject line: Ice Globe Expert
Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com
Pitch by: EOD Thursday
2. Taste of Home: Diabetic-Friendly Meal Delivery Kits
Rounding up the best diabetic meal delivery kits
In your pitch, please include the following details:
Price: How much does each serving cost? Is a subscription required? Does the price decrease if your quantity increases?
Taste: Are these recipes chef-created? What info do you have on taste?
Ingredient quality: How are ingredients chosen? And are they high quality? Organic? Non-GMO?
Availability: Can you get the meal kits nationally or just in certain cities?
Customization: Can you customize your orders with add-ons or other options?
Sustainability: What’s the packaging like? Is it recyclable? Does the brand participate in any other sustainable efforts?
Subject line: Diabetic-Friendly Meal Delivery Kits
Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com
Pitch by: EOD Friday
3. The Healthy: Vegan Meal Delivery Services
Rounding up the best vegan meal delivery services
Subject line: Vegan Meal Delivery Services
Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com
Pitch by: EOD Monday Feb 28
Recently Published Pieces (Thanks for your help!)
Better Nutrition: How to Keep Your Aging Eyes Healthy — (It also got picked up on Yahoo)
Taste of Home: 12 Best Healthy Cookbooks of 2022
Better Nutrition: 12 Black-Owned Beauty Brands Everyone Should Stock Up On In 2022
Better Nutrition: How to Successfully Use Whole30 to Identify Food Sensitivities
The Healthy: This is the ONLY CBD that Helps with My Anxiety and Insomnia
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!)
Food for Thought
It’s time to upgrade: If you haven’t yet upgraded to the paid version of my newsletter, you’re missing out on exclusive content (such as 10 Tips for Rising to the Top of My Overflowing Inbox) + Ask Me Anything sessions + archives of older newsletters that may still have active editorial opportunities. Sign up today so you don’t miss a thing! Agency-wide subscriptions are also available and gaining popularity … just shoot me an email with how many publicists will need access and I’ll send you a custom quote (that includes a group discount!).
Become an affiliate marketing master: Still trying to navigate the exciting world of affiliate marketing? Publicist Sarah Karger and former editor Dana Baardsen have co-created a course called Ultimate Masterclass and Introduction to Affiliate Marketing for Publicists and it’ll answer ALL of your questions!
Instagram collabs: Follow my travels on Instagram — and with 16k followers, I’m available for brand campaigns and collaborations, too! Happy to share my media kit and rate sheet upon request.
Hire Jill: Do you or your clients need blogs/web copy/marketing materials? I’m available for hire! You already know I’m a journalist, but you may not be familiar with my extensive editing/marketing background over the last 21 years (for such brands as AAA, CVS, Massage Envy, University of Phoenix, The Rich Dad Company and more). Feel free to check out my LinkedIn profile for details. I’d love to chat if you have a client or know someone who could benefit from my content services (blogs, marketing materials, brand stories, bios, white papers, email drip campaigns, etc.). Thank you for keeping me in mind for one-off or ongoing projects!
Sponsorship opps: Do you have a course/book/conference/tool/service that you’d like to promote to the 1,500+ publicists who subscribe to my newsletter? Contact me to discuss sponsorship opportunities.
PR Job Opportunities
LVPR, a boutique agency “based” in Dallas — but its PR team sits across multiple cities (Orange County, Miami, NYC, Philly, and Dallas) — is looking for a Senior Account Exec. More about LVPR: We prefer talent over location and have always functioned as a hybrid work environment since the start of LVPR in 2016. Role includes health benefits, 401K, cell phone reimbursement, equipment upon start, Summer Fridays, two weeks paid time off between winter holidays and New Years, and much more!
If anyone is looking to pick up some extra media relations work in the fashion/beauty space, Lindsey Smolan is looking for some freelance help.
Would be mostly coming up with pitch ideas, drafting and distributing to media. If you have fashion/beauty media relations experience, please feel free to reach out with portfolio and rates to lindsey@vlivcommunications.com.