Monday: A refreshed explainer on Uber voucher best practices + I'm working on Father's Day gift guide content!

Also: Don't miss my deep dive into the best way to submit photos to media.

Happy Monday!

There’s a few things I hope to chat about today…but first…

This weekend’s Industry Insights email was QUITE the deep dive - if you missed it, you can still catch it — Industry Insights: How you submit your photos matters. Here's some of my best practices.

If you’re ever submitting photos to media, you really should take a minute to read this one (it can make the difference on if you or your client are included in a story - or not!)

Now, onto today’s conversation.

We’ve chatted several times in the past about how Uber vouchers are quickly becoming a dealbreaker when it comes to press events, but I feel like there’s a lot of people who are still not offering them — or, offering them in a way that still causes chaos, and confusion — or defeats the purpose. Some examples of just the past few weeks:

1 - Invited to an event in another state, during rush hour. Was given an Uber voucher, it was not going to cover enough for a round trip. I asked about making up the difference…they said that was the best they could do.

2 - Attended an event in the city that did have an Uber voucher that actually was enough to cover the roundtrip - all I ever ask for — but, the parameters for using it started an hour before the event. As I had to come into the city earlier in the afternoon because of other commitments to make coming to the event possible, ultimately could not even use the voucher (that one is my own doing, but had the parameters been more relaxed, I could have made it work).

3 - COUNTLESS times in the past few weeks - Received an invite that mentioned Uber vouchers would be provided. Accepted. Ultimately get the Uber voucher day of and it’s only enough to cover half of one way of the trip, if that.

4 - Actually happened recently: Invited to an event, asked if an Uber voucher was possible, they said yes. They send confirmation last week for the event - which will be this week - I follow up on Uber vouchers. She said she’ll check if that’s possible…I refer her back to her email from weeks before where she confirmed it was…no response…

5 - Last month: Said yes to an event, received the voucher. Discovered when already booking it it was actually tied to the wrong location — so I couldn’t use it to go to the event. Ultimately had to pay out of pocket and wait on a Venmo reimbursement.

Now, let me say as a disclaimer - 90% of the time, Uber vouchers are being used great, and correctly - and are a GAME CHANGER, and make it possible to go to so many more events than I could otherwise. But since there seems to still be a fair amount of confusion and disorder regarding Uber voucher best practices…maybe it was time for a bit of a refreshed explainer?

Many years ago, when I first started to attend events (we’re going back DECADES, you guys), rideshare apps did not even exist yet. You knew you were going to a good event when they would tell you in the email they were arranging car service and asked for your pickup/drop off address.

I’m sure those private cars were super pricey and so the transition to Uber/Lyft codes and vouchers over the past years has made a lot of sense. It also makes a lot of sense from the journalist end as well — we aren’t tied to a pickup/drop off time, no one has to have a driver waiting around for someone, and we can go to that event or dinner from anywhere or to anywhere. It makes hopping about a lot easier.

For example, I have two days/nights this week with two events each that I’m going to back to back. Thankfully, several have Uber codes, and it’ll make it a lot easier to coordinate going to, between, and home from them.

Uber vouchers are an amazing asset for events because it allows you as the publicist/brand/agency to set all the necessary parameters and restrictions. You get to decide the credit amount, location restrictions, time frame, expiration, etc.

Here’s how it works

Lets say I am going to a press dinner tonight at 123 Spicy Tuna Highway.

The Uber voucher would be set up that it would cover a ride to/from that address or the general area (usually a mile or so boundary) during a time frame of and around the event.

This voucher or code may have certain parameters, say, up to $50 each way. That would depend on your budget. Or, it could just be “covers entire ride” — whatever that is. Obviously someone coming from a mile away will use less of a credit than someone coming from 10 miles away.

Anecdotal aside: A while back, I received an invite to an event. It was a beauty-related at a hotel, and the brand/theme of the event was something that sounded fun and interesting. I asked if Uber vouchers were possible and the publicist responded they were - but only for those who live in NYC.

(So, I had to explain to the woman that Brooklyn is actually one of the five boroughs and just as much a “part of NYC” as the borough of Manhattan is, whereupon I was told “only in the city, …but I digress. Not the point.

Rather than exclude someone (who actually has to work harder to get to your event) based on where they happen to live, do an Uber Voucher with a set amount value boundary. For example: If that event is giving people who live within their preferred borough a $XX voucher, give that to a person in Brooklyn or Queens too, if i doesn’t cover their whole ride, that’s fine - it’ll cover a good portion of it and make it more likely they can attend and support. To exclude them altogether though feels…kind of hurtful.

But back to our how-to:

Once you set up a Uber code/voucher, you can send that code to those journalists you are inviting, and they can then input the code in their app. They then use it to book their own ride the night of the event, which lets them control the time they leave and where they may leave from. (BTW, these vouchers can also be used for meals, which is a very useful asset if you are hosting a virtual event and want to make it a luncheon set up! I have seen people do that all the time for everything from virtual coffee meetings to luncheons to happy hours).

It’s great because - if someone ends up cancelling and not using the voucher, you aren’t charged. The voucher is only charged for the amount used to go to your event. Not used, you pay zero. If they use only part of the voucher limits, you are only charged for that they use.

Here’s how that benefits you: If you send someone a $100 Uber gift card and they use only half of it, you’ve still spend $100. But if you send a $100 uber voucher code and they use only half - your account is only charged that $50. This saves you money by only having the Uber cost be what is needed and used.

So, why should you have these vouchers/codes for your events? Glad you asked.

1. It’ll increase the chance of people showing up - and showing up at the right place at the right time.

2. It’ll get people home safely. You don’t want to be hosting a whiskey tasting and then have someone hobbling their way home, or worse, driving themselves.

3. It’s considerate. A person doesn’t have to budget in their own ride, worry about finding parking, or take a subway if it’s feeling unsafe or inconvenient. That makes people more eager to attend!

4. It has so many potential uses. For events and dinners, too, but it’s also a really convenient way of streamlining ground transfers for your next press trip! Just set up Uber codes and you don’t have to worry about having a car and driver waiting at the airport.

5. It avoids the issue of chasing reimbursements. Often press trips will offer to reimburse Uber costs for ground transfers - and then it’s an issue of saving receipts and chasing down reimbursements. That can sometimes takes months. This makes everything seamless on both ends.

I’ll be honest - there’s been many times that having a ride was a deciding factor for me when it came to events. In fact, at this point, with the huge expense of Ubers and the tenuous state of a freelancer’s budget — I’m rarely going to say yes to something if a ride is not covered. And I’m pretty certain many others feel the same way. It’s a small and relatively minor way to make a big difference in your event attendance and participation!

And to be clear: This is not a promotional post for Uber. Alto and Lyft are also fabulous options and many cities offer other rideshare apps. The point is, implementing this into your event or dinner or press trip ground transfer plans helps EVERYONE and makes everyone’s life and work (and budget) easier to manage.

There’s no greater way to start (and end) an event than that.

Limited-time deal on ad placement!

I’m also offering a seasonal special on advertising in this newsletter. I’d love to place your sponsored posts and advertising in this substack, which goes out to nearly 10,000 media professionals every single day; Note: I do limit advertising to only what would be of interest to my readers, but am open to both short paragraph blurbs and dedicated posts - if you are interested in chatting details and scheduling something, please email me at alywalansky@gmail.com today!

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Thank you for helping get the word out!

We loved how many of attended you took the time to attend our webinar event last month, covering the upcoming ShareASale to Awin migration. We covered an overview of the migration process and timeline, pricing of networks, and choosing a network for your specific client needs. If you missed it, we do have a recording available for paid subscribers. Email if interested and I’ll share how to grab that recording as well!

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!)

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.

• Forbes.com: 17 Lemon-Centric Cocktails To Enjoy All Spring

• Saatva: Plush vs. Firm: What's the Right Mattress for You?

• Today.com: Best drugstore wrinkle creams 2025, according to experts

• Forbes.com: Chefs Nationwide Are Honoring Ramp Season In Some Delicious Ways

• Forbes.com: Royal Caribbean To Launch Nostalgic Chicago Supper Club Concept This Summer.

• HerMoney: How To Get Cheap Hotels When You Travel.

• Southern Living: How To Tell If Your Steak Has Gone Bad

• Forbes.com: Illustrator Tea Brings Whimsy To One Of New York City’s Most Refined Traditions

• Forbes.com: Virgin Voyages Launches Rojo, Adding More Razzle Dazzle To High Seas.

• Travel & Leisure: I’m a Travel Writer, and I Swear by These Packable Ballet Flats for Comfort, Support, and Long Days on My Feet

• Travel & Leisure: This Flight Attendant-approved Jumpsuit Is My Go-to Comfy Airplane Outfit — and It’s Only $25 Right Now$150 and Under

• Forbes.com: Brother’s Bond Bourbon Looks To Stir Up Sustainability During Earth Month

• Forbes.com: Daniel Boulud Is Again Bringing The Michelin Experience To Air Travel.

• Forbes.com: Locally Sourced Ingredients Are Foundation Of Salad-Centric Culinary Program

• Forbes.com: 15 Lavender-Based Treats And Cocktails To Enjoy This Spring

• Saatva: The Best Ways to Remove Tough Stains From Your Mattress

• Apartment Therapy: I Tried the “Weight Rule” for Decluttering, and It Keeps My Small Apartment Clutter-Free

• Travel & Leisure: This Flight Attendant-approved Jumpsuit Is My Go-to Comfy Airplane Outfit — and It’s Only $25 Right Now.

• HerMoney: How To Save Money On Groceries By Buying In Bulk

• Travel & Leisure: I Travel Solo Often, and I Won’t Stay in Another Airbnb Without Packing This 1 Safety Device

• Yahoo Life!: Best pedometers of 2025, tested and reviewed

• Yahoo Life: The best black tea to brew in 2025, according to testers and experts

• Travel & Leisure: I Found the Perfect Walking Shoes to Prevent Sore Feet During Travel — Score Styles on Sale Up to 62% Off

• Travel & Leisure: In-flight Theft Is Unfortunately a Thing, but These 12 Items Give Me Peace of Mind When I'm Traveling by Plane

• Southern Living: The Unexpected Reason I Always Travel With Duct Tape—And You Should Too

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.

Saatva

I’m working on a story on How to Go to Sleep Fast: Tips to Help You Fall Asleep Quickly - and I’m looking for a sleep expert or two to weigh in, as far as: some reasons why you can’t fall asleep, special considerations, tips for falling asleep faster, long-term sleep strategies, and more. Please don’t send commentary without emailing me first, as I have specific questions (and I’ll need experts unaffiliated with other mattress brands for this one, please).

Forbes

I’m working on two Father’s Day-gift guide type projects - As in, they are for Father’s Day, and will involve gift ideas and products, but aren’t going to be a product-specific guide in the most classic of senses.

How to plan the perfect Father's Day for the carnivore in your life -- For this story, I’m looking to round up some products (meats, marinades, spices, perhaps), but also get some chef input as far as ideas for making the day special and unique.

Dad has wanderlust? Here's some foodie ideas for honoring his love of travel - Maybe if he's craving a trip to NYC, send him pastrami from a Jewish deli, or if he's craving lobster, send him a lobster pot pie from New England, but also some ideas for having a travel-themed food experience right at home this Father's Day. Would totally be open to chef input for this one as well!

May is National Salad Month, and there’s some great salads found in unexpected places around New York City. I’m doing a roundup of great salads at NYC restaurants — do you go to a steakhouse just to eat their amazing chopped kale starter salad? I’ve been there. Tell me where this salad is, what’s in it, why it’s great, and get me an image and a chef’s quote about it if you wish to be considered. I’m also up for some great salad in a bag/box type options you can enjoy right at home for when you can’t venture out for the fancy stuff.

<3

aly