What's the value of editorial coverage in a top-tier outlet, anyways? Is it less than $108?!
Plus: Your last chance to sign up for tomorrow's affiliate marketing workshop (and if you're planning on pitching for gift guides this year, you won't want to miss it!)
Hello, everyone!
You haven’t heard much from me in recent weeks because I’ve been busy working on a slew of press trip and “I Tried It” style pieces and didn’t need any sources/products … but now I do!
Before we dive into all that: Who’s joined Threads already? What do you think of the platform so far? Instagram’s version of Twitter (let’s be honest here, it’s a direct ripoff, right?!) looks promising, but time will tell. Please feel free to connect with me!
The Affiliate Marketing Workshop (cohosted with Sarah Karger and Nicole Pajer) is TOMORROW. We have more than 40 people signed up so far.
If you’re planning to work on gift guides this holiday season, I promise you won’t want to miss this — the info we share will give you a leg up on the competition … and trust us, the competition is FIERCE!
We can still accept last-minute RSVPs today. And even if you can’t attend live, you can sign up and we’ll send you the recording afterwards.
Click here to learn more.
I had a weird situation recently where I asked a brand to send me a $108 product so that I could write TWO articles about it (both “I tried it” styles, so I HAD to have my hands on the product and shoot it) and the publicist refused, stating she already sent me a different ($200) product from that brand (which I’ve also covered in TWO articles). When I pointed out how short sighted that was to miss out on 2 confirmed editorial opps in a top-tier publication over $108, she didn’t seem phased or change her position. When I asked for a media rate/promo code to buy the damn product myself (eating into my profits!), she said she didn’t have one beyond the generic one first-time customers already have access to on the website. Hmmmm. Am I missing something about the perceived value of top tier editorial these days being worth less than $54/article? Thoughts on this situation? I was floored … I still am. But I’m genuinely curious why this would be the outcome (it’s a first for me!).
Moving on, I’ve had a ton of articles publish lately, so be sure to check out that section of this newsletter. And keep scrolling for my open editorial opps!
Have a fantastic week,
Jill
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Got Affiliate Marketing Questions for 2023?
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 questions!
***Recently Published Pieces***
(Thank you for your help!)
Reader’s Digest: 12 Best Caribbean Islands (you can read about my trip to Bonaire here!)
Reader’s Digest: 16 Unexpected Things I Never Board a Cruise Ship Without (I got SO many of you in here!)
Southern Living: Can You Eat Watermelon Seeds?
Travel Market Report (my debut!): 8 Considerations for Booking a Small vs. Large Ship Alaskan Cruise
Parade (my debut!): 10 Biggest Wedding Food Trends of 2023
USA Today: Patio Essentials to Buy on Amazon Right Now
Taste of Home: What is the Right Internal Temperature for Pork Chops?
Travel + Leisure: 8 Best Portable Monitors
Southern Living: Do You Really Need to Boil Your Wooden Spoons to Clean Them?
Reader’s Digest: The Best Cruise Cabin for Every Type of Need
U.S. News & World Report: What to Do in Kauai
Reader’s Digest: I Got a Sneak Peek at the World’s Largest Cruise Ship
Travel + Leisure: The Best Cooling Clothing for Summer
Southern Living: What is a Dutch Oven?
Travel + Leisure: 15 Most Comfortable Flats for Travel
Travel + Leisure: 15 Best Wrinkle-Free Dresses for Travel
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!).
—— Current Editorial Needs ——
1. Taste of Home: Need a Food Safety Expert
This article will look at why it’s not safe to eat from a dented can.
Please send credentials, not commentary. Due to new policies from my outlets regarding AI, I no longer accept unsolicited responses because I won’t know if they are plagiarized.
Subject line: Food Safety Expert
Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com
Pitch by: EOD Thursday, July 13
2. Taste of Home: Need a Food Label Expert/USDA source?
This article will explore what those little stickers on your fruit actually mean and how to decode them.
Please send credentials, not commentary. Due to new policies from my outlets regarding AI, I no longer accept unsolicited responses because I won’t know if they are plagiarized.
Subject line: Food Label Expert
Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com
Pitch by: EOD Thursday, July 13
3. Franklin Prosperity Report: Need a Car Warranty Expert
This article will assess whether or not car warranties are worth the money, what to look for when buying one, how to get the most value/best deal, etc.
Please send credentials, not commentary. Due to new policies from my outlets regarding AI, I no longer accept unsolicited responses because I won’t know if they are plagiarized.
Subject line: Car Warranty Expert
Email: JillSchildhouse@gmail.com
Pitch by: EOD Thursday, July 13
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That boggles my mind! Sending product for review is the most *basic* cost of business when it comes to marketing and PR for earned or paid media! I try to make this as clear as possible to brands out the gate that you need to build in the product costs and trafficking to the overall PR budget.
Personally I think the publicist was extremely short-sighted. It's not as if it was coming out of her pocket especially since you already proved your worth. Big mistake!!!!!