Need New Business? This is How Publicists AND Writers are Finding Clients in 2024

Plus new assignments I'm sourcing for (including my first cannabis article)

Happy Monday, everyone!

I’m writing to you from a Viking River Cruise along the Seine in France … my birthday is tomorrow and this has been an absolutely stellar weeklong celebration! I hope you’ve been following my adventures on Instagram and Facebook!

In other exciting news, back by popular demand is a workshop I first told you about in January that’s happening again: 21 Days to Building a Powerful (and Sustainable) Prospecting Habit with Ed Gandia.

The best part? It’s specific to publicists, writers and other marketing communications professionals — it teaches you a better and more systematic way to find and land quality clients this year.

My colleague Ed Gandia (who also happens to be my business coach and one of the savviest communications professionals I know!) will be helping a group of freelance publicists, writers and other self-employed marketing professionals implement effective prospecting techniques, systems, and habits that actually stick.

You’ll get to roll up your sleeves and actually create your prospecting plan and assets together using email and LinkedIn. And you’ll come away with everything in place, all ready to go.

A dozen of my Substack subscribers enrolled in the January workshop, and here are a couple of their testimonials:

“Ed Gandia's Prospecting workshop is filled with practical advice from a professional who understands the writing world. He gave real-life examples. He offered workable solutions. While so much of it is "common sense" it is imperative that you have someone who can walk you through it. I kept trying to find "a process" for prospecting. Ed's Prospecting Playbook helped me create a process that seems not only workable, but actually enjoyable. I'm excited - for the first time - to reach out and prospect and already I have some viable prospects. I highly recommend for anyone looking for a logical and easy playbook to help with the prospecting process.” — Susan Lanier-Graham

“Ed's course forced me out of my comfort zone. I reached out to people I knew but had lost touch with and to people I had never met before. This led to some wonderful conversations and I'm looking at some new business starting soon!” — Jen Peterson

Here are all the details to sign up. (Make sure to check out the participant testimonials on that page, too.)

I know you’ll find his course invaluable toward meeting your 2024 income goals (I sure did!) — we all deserve a full roster of awesome clients who can benefit from our services!

Have a great week … and scroll down for my open editorial opps,

Jill

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***Recently Published Pieces***
(Thank you for your help!

• 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

• Taste of Home: I Went to the Le Creuset Factory to Table Sale and Now I’m an Avid Collector — Here’s Why

• ELLE Decor: This Stylish Home Gym Delivers The Full-Body Workout of Your Trainer’s Dreams

• Veranda: Consider These Sustainable Alternatives to Marble

• Good Housekeeping: 8 Travel Essentials for a Fall Weekend Getaway

• Taste of Home: Can You Eat the Green Stuff in Lobster?

• Taste of Home: How to Store Ginger the Right Way

• Taste of Home: How to Make a Pear Tart Tatin

• Taste of Home: The Dangerous Reason You Shouldn’t Eat from a Dented Can

• The Guardian: A Different Kind of Pothead: the Le Creuset Cookware Supercollectors (my first for this outlet!)

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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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 … the more, the merrier!

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Got Affiliate Marketing Questions for 2024?

Yes, most publications require affiliate marketing for inclusion these days. Publicist Sarah Karger created a course called Ultimate Masterclass and Introduction to Affiliate Marketing for Publicists and it’ll answer ALL of your back-end questions!

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Sponsorship Opportunities: Buy an Ad In this Substack and Get In Front of Your Target Audience

Do you have a course/book/conference/tool/service that you’d like to promote to the 6,000+ publicists and writers who subscribe to my newsletter? Contact me today to discuss sponsorship opportunities: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com

Recent testimonial:

Hi Jill,

I meant to send this on Monday, but thank you for this amazing share!!  It was really powerful, I think we had over 100 publicists sign up from the mention.  

Great working with you and would love to do something again down the line.   

Tracey

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—— Current Editorial Needs ——

1. Franklin Prosperity Report: EV Tax Credit Expert

• There are some new laws about getting a tax credit for electric vehicles in 2024 … do you know someone who can weigh in?

• Send credentials, not commentary … I have very specific questions that need to be answered.

• Subject line: EV Tax Credit Expert

• Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com

• Pitch by: Friday April 5

2. The Points Guy: The Best Asia Cruises

• Looking for the best Asia cruises, focusing on Japan, Southeast Asia, China, etc. – more northern hempisphere/mainland adjacent but not South Pacific/Tahiti. Open to a Yangtze River too.

• Send info on the itinerary, ship, and other notable highlights (unusual ports, impressive excursions offered, local cuisine served, etc.)

• Subject line: Best Asia Cruise + Cruise Line Name

• Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com

• Pitch by: Friday April 5

3. The Points Guy: The Best Australia/New Zealand Cruises

• Looking for the best Australia and New Zealand focused cruises.

• Send info on the itinerary, ship, and other notable highlights (unusual ports, impressive excursions offered, local cuisine served, etc.)

• Subject line: Best Australia/NZ Cruise + Cruise Line Name

• Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com

• Pitch by: Friday April 5

4. Copper Courier: 4/20 Promotions and Deals in PHOENIX

• Looking for Phoenix (and surrounding Valley) dispensaries offering fun promotions and deals for April 20th

• Include the name of the dispensary, location(s), and details about the deal/promo

• Subject line: Phoenix 420 Deals + Dispensary Name

• Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com

• Pitch by: Friday April 5

5. Franklin Prosperity Report: Passport Renewal Expert

• Looking for tips/shortcuts on passport renewals

• Subject line: Passport renewal expert

• Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com

• Pitch by: Friday April 5

More Useful Info

• Agency-wide Substack subscriptions available: Want your entire agency to read my paywalled insights? Awesome! 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 massive group discount, of course!).

• 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.