Friday: The closest you'll ever see to me writing about sports. Clearly, sparkling wine was involved.
Wow, this was a busy week!
A week that started out with a jam-packed Zoom event went on to include a podcast guest appearance, dinner out with good friends several night in a row, and also ( finally!) wrapping up Valentine’s content for the year…
(Well, almost. I have one last guide that should publish over the weekend…)
This of course means I’ll probably start working on Mother’s Day in about 5 minutes…so stay tuned!
Yesterday, I got to work on a pretty fun bit of reporting. There’s a vineyard in PA making green sparkling wine in honor of the Eagles in advance of the Super Bowl. I know basically nothing about football, or sports, and have no intention of watching the game (true story - one of my best friends is having her birthday dinner during the big game and I’m WAY more excited about that than who scores a touchdown). However, as little as I care about football, that’s how much I DO care about sparkling wine!
So, I was very excited to get to do some good old-fashioned interviewing and reporting for this fun story — and if you live in PA, you can still grab this fun wine in advance of your Super Bowl party!
In other news, I started — and finished — part 1 of season 4 of YOU yesterday and OMG was it so good. Please comment below or in the chat thread on the app if you want to discuss with me because i’m *trying* not to spoil it for anyone.
Here’s some fun stuff that went live since yesterday (and the rest of this week’s content is, as usual, in the newly published story section below!).
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 this 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!)
Clean Plates: The Healthiest Store-Bought Chicken Soups (That Taste Like Grandma’s)
Today.com: Where to score sweet food deals and freebies on Valentine's Day
Food Network: Coca-Cola Releases New Abstractly Named Flavor, Move, with Rosalía
Today.com: Celebrate National Pizza Day with these 19 deals and freebies
Her Money: How to plan a budget-friendly (and romantic) Valentine’s Day date night
Forbes.com: Valentine’s Day Gift Guide: The Best Gifts For A Romantic Dinner At Home
Food Network: Topo Chico Wants You to Send Your Ex a Candy-Coated Scorpion This Valentine’s Day
Forbes: Prep For The Big Game With Cocktails Perfect For Any Super Bowl Party
SPY.com: Prone to Making Last-Minute Purchases? Check Out the Best Valentine’s Day Delivery Gifts
SPY.com: From Chocolates to Spa Products, We’ve Got a Valentine’s Day Gift Basket for Everyone
YourTango: 32 Edible Gifts Women Love Most
HelloGiggles: 11 Products to Help You Sleep Better and Wake Up Energized
Clean Plates: 8 Easy Valentine’s Dessert Recipes with Zero Refined Sugar
RetailMeNot: 13 Purr-fect Valentine’s Day Gifts for Pets
RetailMeNot: Affordable Valentine’s Day Gifts That Show Lots of Love on a Budget
Clean Plates: 8 Costco Foods Nutritionists Love for Valentine’s Day
SPY.com: Our Favorite Funny Valentine’s Day Cards Are Sure to Make Them Giggle (or Blush!) on February 14
Forbes: Valentine’s Day Gift Guide: The Best Luxury Seafood Boxes
Forbes: Valentine’s Day Gift Guide: The Best Interactive Gifts For Couples Who Love To Cook Together
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.
Yahoo Life
Do you REALLY need to wash lettuce when you bring it home from the grocery store/before using? When you chop up a head of romaine, do you need to wash it? Iceberg? And when a bag says pre-washed, should you still wash it to be extra safe? I'd love it if experts can explain why we need to wash lettuce, when you need to wash it and HOW. What does it do when you wash it? And if I could find a few people who have a strong opinion either way on whether or not they wash it or believe you need to -- that'd be great.
Forbes
In advance of Mardi Gras, I’m looking for chef tips and product suggestions to make a great homemade authentic gumbo. If you represent a chef known for their gumbo recipe (or is just a bit of a gumbo lover!), or a spice/mix/etc that can be a great asset in making homemade gumbo, please drop me a note!
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!
Hey Aly got you covered on the Gumbo front! I hope you're well. Cheers, Simone Love this what you do! So professional and well done! Happy Mardi Gras!
GO EAGLES! :) So fun that a sparkling wine was created!