Why Generic Explanations of Your Media Sample Offer Make For a Terrible ROI
Plus: My upcoming OOO schedule, update on mom's book publicist, and links to many newly published articles
Good morning, everyone!
I’m jetting off to Venice tomorrow with my dad for a couple fun days in Italy before we board the MS Oosterdam for a Holland America cruise called “7 Day Greek Enchantment.” We’ll be stopping in Croatia (Split and Korcula), Turkey (Ephesus), Santorini, and Rhodes, before ending in Athens. I’ve been to all of these countries before except for Turkey, but haven’t been to most of these ports (only Venice, actually). So it’ll be a mostly new experience for me (less so for my dad, who’s done a lot of this with my mom before). But it’s our first-ever Holland cruise, so I’m excited to check out a new-to-me cruise line! And I haven’t been to Italy in far too long, so I’m beyond excited to be back in my very favorite country (this will be my 5th visit!).
I’m going to essentially be checked out for the next 12-ish days, back at my desk on the 29th. Please hold pitches if you can … my poor inbox will be a mess :)
Jill
PS: I have 3 VERY fun U.S. News & World Report travel assignments to dig into when I return, so stay tuned for details on those at the end of the month!
PPS: You’ll find this week’s topic at the bottom of this newsletter!
Book Publicist Update
A quick thank you for the outpouring of responses to my search for a publicist for my mom’s new book (more than 20!) and for forwarding to people you thought would be a good fit. We had an intense week of vetting, interviewing, and hiring the perfect publicist for the job (it was a TOUGH choice … we were truly blessed with so many qualified and wonderful applicants)!
Many of you also expressed interest in reading her book, so I’ll be sharing that info as soon as it’s available :)
***Recently Published Pieces***
(Thank you for your help!)
Insider: I went on my first solo cruise. Here are 6 things you should know if you’re planning to try it.
Southern Living: The Biggest Cruise Ship in the World is Coming to Florida
Reader’s Digest: Away vs. Beis: Which Luggage Brand is Better? (PS: I’m taking my Away bag to Europe in case you were wondering)
Taste of Home: How to Make Japanese Fried Chicken
Reader’s Digest: Beis Carry-On Review
Reader’s Digest: I Never Travel Without The Away Bigger Carry-On Suitcase—Here’s Why
USA Today: This Outdoor Recliner Is Made for Lounging and I Can’t Keep My Family Out of It (my mom is the model!)
Southern Living: How to Cook Rice
Taste of Home: This is What the Numbers On Your Fruit Stickers Tell You About Your Produce
Taste of Home: How to Make Shrimp Ceviche
Taste of Home: How to Make French Onion Pork Chops
Taste of Home: How to Wash Potatoes
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
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Now, Let’s Talk About Media Samples and Why Details are Crucial to Your Offer
So often, I receive emails offering media samples that say something like this: