Friday: Meet Tony! And everything going on as we head into the weekend.
Also: Heard the news about that massive data breach? Here's some easy ways to protect yourself.
Good morning!
Lots to dive into today, but first I wanted to introduce a very special new little friend!
Meet Tony! Lily has a new little brother. He’s a shih tsu (just like Lily!) and 2 months old and just over 2 pounds and we’re obsessed!
(And thanks so much to Petco, who sent Tony the cutest little denim jacket (in an XXS, of course!) and doggie bed to welcome him in. He already seems to feel right at home!
In less adorable news, as we’re all in the media and spend so much of our lives on the internet (all our lives, actually!), I thought it’s important to take some time to talk about matters impacting the web — the good, bad, and the scary.
I’m sure everyone has heard about the giant data breach recently that has leaked billions of social security numbers and personal info onto the dark web.
I know this sounds like Captain Paranoia speak, but there’s some quick and easy ways to protect yourself, such as a Lifelock subscription (they can monitor your info to see if it was leaked), as well as a free security freeze (or credit freeze), which does not impact your score or your credit in any way, but helps prevent people other than you getting your credit report (and opening credit or a loan in your name).
(But if you do need to access your credit report yourself to buy a car or rent an apartment, it takes just minutes to temporarily or permanently lift it.)
It is easy to do and can help you prevent risk of identify theft or getting your credit ruined (trust me, I’ve had friends go through that and we absolutely don’t want that risk if we can avoid it.)
We can never be too careful!
Announcing our next Zoom AMA session: Everything You Need to Know About Pitching Holiday Gift Guides for 2024
Join in on the fun on Tuesday, August 27 at 11 am PT/2 pm ET (Zoom link to come!)
In what’s become something of an annual tradition, I’ll be joined by fellow lifestyle writers (and two of my closest friends!) Alice Dubin and Jill Schildhouse for a comprehensive Q&A session covering all the most pressing questions and newest developments in all things holiday content, gift guides, and all that jazz.
Because this is typically our most popular Zoom collab of the year, and because Zoom caps our attendance at 100 attendees, we’ll open the session to paid subscribers of all three of our Substack newsletters.
HOW TO RSVP: Scroll all the way to the bottom of this email (beneath the paywall) to RSVP and ask your highest-priority questions in advance so we make sure we get to them.
(Please, only RSVP to this one if you are a paid subscriber to all three of our newsletters. We will be checking, and unfortunately we’ve noticed people try to skirt the rules before…honesty is the best policy!)
PS: Can’t make that date/time? We’ll be recording this session and you can ask for it afterwards (but again, you’ll still need to be a paid subscriber to all 3 of us for access)!
Job leads
Giant Noise is hiring for a Senior Business Development Manager. They are seeking a sales pro with PR and digital expertise who excels at client acquisition, relationship management, and strategic marketing.
Do you have a job listing to share? This newsletter goes out daily and has connected tons of amazing people with fantastic opportunities. Email me at alywalansky@gmail.com.
I’m offering a BOGO deal on new paid subscriptions!
As I mentioned recently, it’s tumultuous times all around. And we’re all feeling it pretty deeply.
If you show me some love (and this community some love!) by upgrading your free subscription to a paid one right now (either monthly OR annual), I have a gift for you: you can choose any friend or colleague to get the same upgrade — free.
How do you claim? Just upgrade your subscription (or upgrade a group) at the links below and email me at alywalansky@gmail.com — then give me the name and email address of a person you wish to upgrade. Buy an annual, give a free annual. Buy a monthly, get a free monthly.
Just my way of supporting the community and sharing the love whenever we can.
We all could use it.
The steepest discount I’ve ever offered on consulting sessions
In exciting news, I’m doing something I’ve never done before: I’m currently offering 20% discounts on my virtual consulting/lunch & learn sessions. Times are really tough and I am hoping to make these insights as accessible as possible to any of you who are interested. If you want to schedule a session for yourself or your team, to discuss anything from planning an event, media dinner, or press trip to mailers, pitching best practices, followups to…well… anything else…drop me an email at alywalansky@gmail.com and lets chat!
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!
Food Network: 16 Back-to-School Restaurant Deals and Freebies
Forbes.com: Qatar Airways Adds Caviar Service To In-Flight Menu On Select Routes
Food Network: Starbucks’ PSL Is Back. And It’s Coming With a New Apple Chai Drink
RetailMeNot: 7 Ways to Save More on DoorDash
Plate Magazine: Food A Traditional Israeli Street Food Inspired This Shawarma-Meets-Foie-Gras
Today.com: The best drugstore eye creams to tackle wrinkles, dark circles and dryness, according to experts
Forbes.com: 9 Delicious Ways To Enjoy Avocado
Apartment Therapy: I Sent a Pro Organizer a Photo of My Messy Kitchen Junk Drawer — Here’s How She Fixed It
Forbes.com: Breads Bakery Has Partnered With Legendary Celebrity Chef For Latest Babka Collab
RetailMeNot: Which Stores Are Open and Closed on Labor Day 2024?
Yahoo Life: The best cooling fans of 2024, tested and reviewed
Travel & Leisure: These Arch Support Sandals Are the Only Shoes I Wear in the Summer — and They’re Only $47
RetailMeNot: Why Costco Is the Ultimate Place to Shop (And Save) on Spices
Apartment Therapy: I Sent a Pro Organizer a Photo of My Cluttered Medicine Cabinet, and Here’s How She Fixed It
Travel & Leisure: You Don't Want to Step Foot in a Waterpark Without These 18 Essentials From Just $9
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.
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.
Newsweek Readers' Choice Awards
I’m participating once again in the panel of experts for the Newsweek Readers' Choice Awards (you may recall I recently participated in nominations in the Best Mattress, best gourmet subscription box category and best outdoor grill. As part of this program, I’m part of panel of travel/food experts who helped to create nominee lists for the Readers Choice Awards in a variety of categories, and my next categories will be packing cubes and sheets. If you have any you think should be on my radar, drop me a line!
Saatva
Ways to Deal With Sleep Deprivation: I’m looking to interview a sleep expert for this one…would love to chat about how not getting enough sleep can be detrimental to your physical and mental well-being, and everything you need to know about sleep deprivation and how to treat it, as well as causes of sleep deprivation, most common symptoms of sleep deprivation, biggest physical and mental repercussions of sleep deprivation, strategies for managing sleep deprivation.
Are You a Light Sleeper? Here's What to Do About It: Would love to chat with a sleep expert for this one as well, as far as the concept of being a light sleeper and how to deal with it, what causes someone to be a light sleeper, how to manage being a light sleeper, etc.
Apartment Therapy
Sorry But Your Luggage Is Disgusting, Here's Why You Need to Clean It: Ahead of Labor Day travel, I’m working on a post dedicated to the fact that your luggage is actually really gross and you need to be cleaning it — here's why. I’m looking to speak to pro travelers on their thoughts/advice/tips about cleaning luggage before, during, and after travel plans.
We Asked TK Pro Travelers How They Keep Their Luggage Clean, and Here’s What They Said: A related but distinct story on a similar topic: This one will be focused on the one key thing travel pros do to keep their luggage clean, like this story.
I Sent a Pro Organizer Photos of My Messy Cord Clutter, Here's How They Fixed It: My small apartment is OVER RUN with chargers and cables, and it's not only messy, it's dangerous and a safety hazard. I’m looking to speak to an organization expert about how I could go about (as someone who works from home and has a lot of tech) getting rid of extra chargers and consolidate, and then follow their advice (with before, after, during photos, much like my medicine cabinet story recently). Also open to product pitches as to products that may help with this messy cord clutter.
Forbes
I’m rounding up fun cheeseburgers to check out for National Cheeseburger Day on Sept. 18. ANYTHING pitched for these stories MUST exist on the menu at a bar or restaurant. Please keep in mind the following parameters: Name of dish, name of restaurant (city, state, URL), description, quote about dish (and who to credit for the quote), and an image (with photo credit) — via dropbox link, not as an attachment. (Please make sure to have ALL these components before pitching.)
I’m rounding up fun cocktails for tailgating and also fun cocktails for Emmy Awards viewing parties. Let me know if you have anything! Same parameters as above, please.
You may have recently seen my pieces about celebrity chef airline menu partnerships and everything from high tea to caviar service inflight. To that end, I’m also researching for a Fine Dining At 30,000 Feet roundup with the most luxurious dining options on different airlines. Please email me if you represent an airline and have something that may be a fit!
Plate Magazine
I’m putting out bites/drinks of the week feelers, which is sort of a drink/dish spotlight piece. (Some examples are this Peruvian-inspired sweet potato in Savannah and a molecular banana daiquiri in Chicago.) Basically if you are pitching me something for this, think along the lines of: Is this dish/bite something new? What interesting techniques are used to make it come together? If the technique is simple, what’s the hook? An interesting ingredient? Something being made in house or in an interesting way? What’s the story behind the dish? What inspired it? Is there a cultural/family story behind the dish? An ingredient the chef got their hands on? Love to hear what you might have for me!
I’m looking for “imperfection” pitches…unexpected substitutions that worked better than the original plan for the dish, what have chefs learned from their failures, “ugly” dishes and second-market produce..
I’m looking for salty pitches…as far as savory pastries, saline cocktails, and salt cooking techniques…maybe turn this on this nose in a different salty way, lessons that should be taken with a grain of salt…hit me!
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!)
<3
aly