'Tis the Season: More Gift Guides
Plus a hot tip on a gift guide pitch mistake I'm seeing, job opps, AMA info, and more assignments
Happy Monday, everyone!
I’m thrilled to report that I’m doing a LOT better, finally … this is day 38 and I think I can finally stop counting my days of bilateral pneumonia misery. My poor lungs still have a long way to go to return to normal, but I’m really starting to feel like myself again. As such, I’m getting back to my normal workload!
A quick thank you to all the agencies/publicists who sent such awesome care packages my way over the last month! I so appreciate all the amazing health/wellness products (you have awesome clients!), and I know they played a part in my recovery journey! And thank you to everyone else who sent thoughtful emails, gift cards, wine, yummy treats and other well wishes!
Since gift guides are in full swing and affiliate links are practically a requirement for inclusion now, I wanted to share an important tip based on the pitches I’m receiving:
DO NOT put a generic “affiliate links available” note in your pitch … tell me WHICH affiliate programs your client participates in! Otherwise, it creates extra back and forth for me to find out this information. I need to know which affiliate program, so I immediately know if it’s a match for my assignment (which all come with requirements for specific affiliate programs). Most writers will take the path of least resistance when we’re slammed with holiday gift guides and and facing a zillion pitches, so putting this crucial detail in your initial pitch will increase your chance of inclusion (versus getting deleted because obtaining that info creates an extra layer of work that we simply don’t have time for). Thank you for coming to my TedTalk!
On that note, you can read more about how to best position your clients for gift guide inclusion here. And if you’d like to learn even more about affiliate marketing in general, I’d highly suggest signing up for publicist Sarah Karger’s inexpensive and comprehensive course: Ultimate Masterclass and Introduction to Affiliate Marketing for Publicists. It’ll answer all your pressing questions!
And speaking of gift guides, I have a new Reader’s Digest gift guide assignment below (and a last call for another gift guide!), so please check out my open assignments. But before you do so, there’s a lot of other important info in this newsletter, so please don’t just skip to the bottom!
Have a great week,
Jill
PS: My schnauzer, Lily, is having a case of the Mondays … can anyone else relate?
Mark Your Calendars for My Ask Me Anything Session
I’m hosting another Ask Me Anything session. Mark your calendars for 10 am PST/1 pm EST on October 26 and start thinking about your questions. As always, these sessions are reserved for paid subscribers, so now’s a great time to upgrade if you’d like to attend:
I’ll be sending out a sign-up sheet to all paid subscribers in the next day or so, where you can sign up and post your questions for the session. I look forward to seeing you all there!
Have You Signed Up for the Top Tier Consulting Substack Yet? If Not, You’re Missing Out On Industry Insights That Are On Steroids!
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. These posts are chockfull of information (no joke, the last one was 1,600 words long … we go deep into these topics!). Here are some of the important topics we’ve covered recently:
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 Ask Us Anything 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!”).
PR Job Opps
The Brooks Group is hiring a Publicist and Senior Publicist to join their remote tight knit collaborate team. The agency represents well-known purpose driven food and travel personalities and restaurateurs, many of which the team has worked with for more than 10 years. A few examples include Andrew Zimmern, Jacques Torres, Kardea Brown, Samantha Brown, Adam Richman and more. They are interviewing candidates with 2-8 years of related experience who are positive, curious and excited to take their skills to the next level. To apply, click here.
Modern Currency PR is looking to bring on a rockstar Social Media Account Executive with a passion for hospitality (food, travel, etc.), and a strong handle on social media to join our growing team! Applicants should be highly organized, creative, and passionate about PR/Social Media, and willingness to be scrappy, proactive, and work on a portfolio of award-winning luxury travel & hospitality clients within a supportive & warm team environment. Applicants must have at least 1-2 years of direct experience in social media strategy/management, with a true go-getter mentality, love of luxury travel, restaurants, food culture/lifestyle, and wanderlust for international travel/tourism. This position will co-exist with our PR campaigns, spearheading collaborative digital opportunities for clients alongside a team of seasoned senior-level media industry professionals within an engaging boutique agency environment. This position is fully remote but must be based in L.A. with the ability to be mobile for on-site client meetings/shoots/influencer tours and meet-up’s etc. For more information on the position and to submit a resume, contact: meghan@moderncurrencypr.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!
—— Current Editorial Needs ——
1. Reader’s Digest: The Best Smart Doorbells
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 Wednesday
2. Reader’s Digest: Beautiful Gifts for Your Wife That Say "I Love You"
I’m rounding up the most beautiful gifts for wives. I will include items for every type of recipient: sports lovers, wine fanatics, yogis, homebodies, foodie, fashion-forward, bakers, music lovers, etc. I’m also looking for gifts at every price point.
Seriously, they need to be beautiful. Don’t pitch me hot sauce and energy drinks.
Requirements: Target, Amazon and Skimlinks, plus other major retailers (make the retailer very clear in your pitch). If it’s on Amazon, it must have 500+ Reviews + have 4+ Star Rating
Subject line: Gifts for Wife + Add The Product Name
Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com
Pitch by: EOD Wednesday
3. Reader’s Digest Gift Guide: Amazon Handmade Gifts (LAST CALL!!)
I’m rounding up the best Amazon Handmade gifts — This is a special section on Amazon … in order to qualify for this article, the product must be listed on Amazon Handmade. Will include items for every type of recipient: sports lovers, wine fanatics, yogis, homebodies, foodie, fashion-forward, bakers, music lovers, etc. I’m also looking for gifts at every price point.
Requirements: MUST BE Amazon Handmade + have 500+ Reviews + have 4+ Star Rating
Subject line: Amazon Handmade Gift + Name of Product
Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com
Pitch by: EOD TODAY!!!
4. Landing: Phoenix City Guides
First a little background: Landing is a startup looking to make the apartment rental process less stressful by giving its members access to fully furnished apartments throughout the U.S. and flexible lease terms that let people stay in their apartments for as long as they want. The audience could live in a single apartment for a full year, or move to a new apartment in a new city every month—they are flexible so their members can live their best lives on their terms, with no apartment application fees, upfront rent, or security deposits.
This project: I’m writing 4 separate city guides for their blog on the Phoenix market:
A Guide to the Best Neighborhoods in Phoenix
A Local’s Guide to Finding the Best Nightlife in Phoenix
The 12 Best Cities to Retire in Phoenix
The Pros and Cons of Living in Phoenix
What I need: If you rep one of the best cities/neighborhoods/bars/clubs in Phoenix, please follow these pitch instructions:
Subject line: Landing Phoenix Guide + Name of City or Establishment
Include: Details about what makes it the best, what the vibe is like, what demographic it caters to, highlights, etc.
Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com
Pitch by: EOD Wednesday
More Useful Info
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Sponsorship opps: Do you have a course/book/conference/tool/service that you’d like to promote to the 3,200+ 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.
Lily is sooo cute! Glad she’s there to cuddle with as you get better. :)
Lily is adorable!! Such a little nugget :)