Friday: Hello From Miami! Also: A newly published piece that combines all my loves in one story!
Also: Everything I'm working on going into the weekend. It's actually a lot!
Good morning friends and happy Friday!
And hello from Miami where I am having the BEST time (and I've been here less than a day!)
I'm here for SOBEWFF, which is one of my very favorite industry events of the year -- and between the friends I have based in Miami and those who are in Miami for the events, it really feels like a giant family reunion. And I have even more friends arriving today!
My plan for this morning is to work from the pool (or "work" from the pool as the case may be) before a pretty full afternoon/evening schedule. (Also: Anyone who will be attending Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Live event tonight, I’ll be there — so let me know if I should look out for you or your client!). But everyone: Please follow along on my Instagram stories, I'm sharing so much!
(Including the SICK view from my balcony from Loews Miami Beach, who are wonderful and are hosting me for the festival again this year!)
But in work news...a lot of newly published content and also some new pending assignments!
One story I am really excited about that published yesterday was for Yahoo. Anyone who was reading Prince Harry’s Spare along with me may remember a point in the book where Harry and Meghan hosted an intimate dinner party for his cousin, Princess Eugenie, and her then-boyfriend Jack. Meghan made a parchment paper salmon recipe, and there was a really cute moment in the book where her and Harry go incognito to a local grocery store to pick up the ingredients. For Yahoo, I recreated that salmon dish at home and I totally get why it was such a big hit!
Also: Jill and Alice and I are chatting about teaming up again for another Ask Us Anything Zoom -- this one will be press trip centric. Between us we have decades of experience attending press trips and have gone on HUNDREDS cumulatively - so we have a lot of stuff to touch on. If we do this, is there interest? Let us know!
Newly published or freshly updated
Since people are often asking about the status of stories from a while ago, and I only share stories in this newsletter that were published or updated in the current week, I have created a list of my author pages at various publications to which I contribute. Bookmark it and make your life a bit easier.
This list will live on my Substack URL and be updated as necessary. That way, you can see what I’m doing at any publication, at any time, from types of stories to general structure of stories to even volume and frequency of my content at that outlet.
This can also help you to target pitching a bit better. That makes your job easier, and mine too!
In case you missed it, I was a guest on a podcast last week. Check it out here — I share some easy-to-follow tips on how emerging brands can get the attention of busy editors.
Speaking of podcasts, I did the Pitchin’ and Sippin’ podcast last month (I ADORE Lexie Smith!), and you can still catch it here. We chatted at length about pitching, the ever-changing landscape of the editorial process, and more.
(Also, if you host a podcast that has anything to do with media/PR/writer content or food/bev/travel content and are interested in me coming on as a guest, I’d love if you reach out!)
Yahoo Life: Do you really need to wash lettuce before eating it? Experts weigh in.
YourTango: How To Prevent (And Treat!) Razor Burn In 9 Easy Steps
Taste of Home: This Butter Hack Is Going Viral and You Need to Try It
Taste of Home: We’re Obsessed With This Easy Viral Air Fryer Pizza Sticks Recipe—Here’s Why You Will Be Too
Pawp.com: Dog Ate A Grape? What To Do If Your Dog Eats Grapes
Clean Plates: 11 Trader Joe’s Foods Nutritionists Love for Winter Meal Prep
Clean Plates: The Healthiest Store-Bought Chicken Soups (That Taste Like Grandma’s)
Popsugar: Dog Flu Is Spreading Across Regions of the US — What to Know to Protect Your Pet
Food Network: Kraft Singles Releases New Extra Thin and Ultra Thick Slices
YourTango: 9 Women In Their 50s Reveal What They Look Like Without Makeup
If you or your client are featured in any of these stories, I super appreciate any social media shares! Please remember to tag @alywalansky and the outlet.
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Here’s what I’m working on:
Be sure to read the below list carefully. Many are stories I posted about yesterday, but some of yesterday's stories are no longer listed and a few new ones have been added since yesterday. This (below) is everything that is still a currently open opportunity as of today.
Please remember when pitching me: Email me at alywalansky@gmail.com - do NOT just hit reply on this newsletter, or there’s a good shot your email will be lost in the heap. Give your email a subject line that makes it clear which story you are pitching me for — it’ll help you in the long run.
Please consult my industry insights guides on submitting expert commentary, sending emails that will catch a journalist’s attention, how to craft pitches journalists will say ‘yes’ to, and the right and wrong way to submit photos, if you need any extra guidance before sending your pitches.
Her Money
TikTok Made Me Buy It - Sketchy challenges aside, this social media site is known as a go-to spot for trendy attire and accessories, beauty products, sports gear, you name it. I am looking to round up 10-20 low-cost/cheap items popularized on TikTok and popular with women.
Runner’s World
New-to-me outlet! I’m working on a story about glucose levels/energy/fueling. You know how we sometimes wonder if we are tired in the late afternoon because we’re hungry or because we’ve eaten too much? I can’t always tell, and I think the same is true for runners. They can’t tell if they get tired during a run (or cyclists during a ride) because they need a little more fuel or if because they have eaten a little too much and their body is trying to digest. So, basically, I want to chat with a nutritionist or two and a sports doctor and ask them how runners can time their meals and snacks for energy for exercise. Also, if there are ways to distinguish between energy drops due to too little food or too much food (the assumption is those reading this story eat pretty healthfully and, if anything, tend to underfuel, not overfuel). One of the issues, I think, I’d love to discuss with an expert is figuring out if you’re tired because you’re hungry or tired because you overate? Like… how to listen to your body.
TODAY.com
I’m beginning to round up Cinco de Mayo food deals at chain restaurants. I’m not looking for free delivery or reward point type of deals at this time but more BOGOs, freebies, discounts, etc. Please be sure to tell me how to claim the deal (i.e. coupon code, downloading app, etc) when responding.
Forbes.com
St. Patrick’s Day is just a few weeks away and I’m looking for fun cocktails and desserts that restaurants and bars nationwide have on the menu or as a special in honor of the occasion. If you have anything brewing, I’d love if you could send me:
1 - name of dish or drink, where it is served (name of restaurant, city, state, URL)
2 - description
3 - quote about it from bartender/chef/owner (don’t forget to tell me the name of the person you are quoting)
4 - LINK to image
Also for Forbes, with Purim around the corner, I’m looking for fun Purim-themed desserts, treats, and cocktails. This can be inventive spins on hamantaschen, or anything else brewing. Please use the same format as the story above when pitching!
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Looking to up your affiliate marketing game?
Affiliate marketing is complicated, and it seems that the landscape keeps changing. If you are looking to be prepared for gift guide season and all other shopping-related content, you may want to try the Ultimate Masterclass and Introduction to Affiliate Marketing for Publicists. It's a brilliant course and it'll answer all your questions (including some you didn't know you had!)
Virtual consulting sessions...
Looking for a consult as you plan your next event or trip? Or just want someone to take a look at the pitches you’ve been sending and give some feedback?
I've been popping into a lot of PR team virtual meetings and some other fun stuff (Recently I even joined in on an agency’s team retreat right here in Brooklyn — it was so fun and I made so many new friends!) and making myself available to answer all sorts of questions about pitching, events, and trips from a media perspective. I like to keep these things chill and comfortable and relaxed all by sharing perspective and learning from one another.
If you are interested in setting anything up for your own team in the coming months, please email me and we'll get something on the books! This is available for entire agencies or smaller group lunch and learn type concepts. If you are a freelance publicist and want to join in with a few other freelance publicist friends and set something up, we can do that as well!
Have a great day!
You and Jill were both helpful to my team last year as we assisted a client with a big press trip. They're preparing to do another one soon so I'd like to reserve a front row seat for your press trip AMA. Okay, 4th or 5th row is fine, so long as I'm there. Maybe I can even share some helpful insights from what we learned on the last one. :)
Enjoy that Miami sun :)