Quickie Pitch Call
Plus: My 2024 Holiday Gift Guide Resource List
Happy Friday and happy November!
This may be my shortest Substack ever … I’m seriously slammed and have a LOT of assignments to tackle before I leave for Australia next week (ps: If you rep anyone in Sydney, do let me know!).
Have a great weekend,
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
Buy an Ad in This Substack That 6,700+ Publicists and Journalists Read Each Week
Do you have a course, book, conference, event, tool or service that you’d like to promote to the 6,700+ publicists and writers who subscribe to my newsletter?
Humble brag alert: My average open rate is 45%, so this is a highly engaged audience (PS: that open rate is DOUBLE what’s considered “good” for marketing!).
Contact me today to discuss sponsorship opportunities: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com
Testimonial from a recent sponsor:
Choosing to regularly advertise with Jill has been transformational for our business. Not only has she fostered such a genuine connection with her audience, but she’s also a complete natural at helping our business form the right copy to connect with the right person at the right time. It’s not even really in an advertisement – it’s an honest-to-goodness placement of her trust in your business to her loyal readers!
***Recently Published Pieces***
(Thank you for your help!)
The Points Guy: 10 hotels with Michelin-starred restaurants — and how to use points to pay for them
Southern Living: The 8 Best Cruise Itineraries That Sail Out Of Southern Ports
Reader’s Digest: Royal Caribbean Is Raising Its Gratuity Fee—Here’s What You Need to Know
Reader’s Digest: A Swiftie’s Guide to New Orleans: 12 Things to See and Do
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!).
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!
—— Current Editorial Needs ——
1. Copper Courier: Holiday Stocking Stuffers and Gift Ideas for Cannabis Enthusiasts (yes, actual THC; not CBD)
Products DO NOT need to be on an affiliate platform
Products must be available in Arizona (sold here or shipped here)
Can be cannabis/THC, but also cannabis-themed things (for example, someone pitched me a candle that turns into a bong once its empty!)
Subject line: Cannabis Gifts
Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com
Pitch by: November 6th
2. Copper Courier: Freshest Seafood in Phoenix
Where can we get it? Restaurants and butchers and seafood shops are all fair game ... be sure to explain to me just how fresh it is, their process, etc.
Subject line: Phoenix Seafood
Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com
Pitch by: Monday November 4
3. Copper Courier: Most Over-The-Top Restaurants in Arizona
Over-the-top might mean 10 finely tuned courses, a spectacular chef's table, an insane view, a really inventive menu, ingredients you wouldn't expect or are sourced from only the finest purveyors/gardens, etc.
Subject line: Over the Top Restaurants Arizona
Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com
Pitch by: Monday November 4
4. Copper Courier: Cozy Cabins to Rent in Arizona’s Mountains
Share the listing and tell me what makes it SO special!
Subject line: Cozy Cabins Arizona
Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com
Pitch by: Monday November 4
Safe travels and have a great time!
Have a safe flight!