Monday: Fun new pending assignments, upcoming F&B-focused AMA Zoom, and newly published content
This is going to be a heck of a week!
Good morning!
This is shaping up to be a hectic week — I have events or dinner plans every single night this week. While that will be so fun and I’m excited to see so many people I adore, future me is preemptively tired.
It seems we’re all stressed all the time lately, and it’s helpful there’s some changes we can make in our daily routine that may help us feel better. For Clean Plates, I chatted with a bunch of RDs about foods we can eat to help our body destress — naturally. There’s some delicious options that may surprise you!
Another newly published story today is one I’ve been working on for weeks and I’m so excited about how it turned out. For Forbes, I spoke to a bunch of chefs I love about how their father inspired their cooking or career in the kitchen — got to know so many of them on such a beautiful, sweet level! Some had pretty precious stories to tell and I’m so excited to share the results of this research!
Zoom Event Save-the-Date
Thanks to everyone who took the time to answer my survey on Thursday about easiest timeframe for you to attend my upcoming Zoom discussion on F&B mailers/deliveries — while that is a focus, as always, all questions are welcome! The people have spoken and we’ve settled on 11 am ET Thursday, June 15.
Fill out the RSVP form here for the Zoom link (a reminder that there’s limited seats and access goes first to paid subscribers, remaining seats will be opened up for the free subscribers after !)
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!
PS: I love doing podcasts! Check out my guest appearance on the Italian Wine Podcast this week, where we discussed all things Substack. Other recent podcast appearances include the Pitchin’ and Sippin’ podcast with the incredible (and super fun!) Lexie Smith, where we chatted about everything from press dinners and events and trips to, well, sippin’! I’ve recorded a few others that should be live soon as well and I’m always open to doing more — email me at alywalansky@gmail.com.
Clean Plates: 22 Trader Joe’s Foods That Help You Destress, Say Nutritionists
RetailMeNot: The Best Father’s Day Sales and Deals to Shop in 2023
Food Network: I Tried TikTok’s Dirty Martini Pasta – And It Belongs in Your Weeknight Pasta Rotation
Food Network: This Distillery Is So Proud of Their Gin, They Found a Way To Wear It
Forbes.com: 20 Celebrity Chefs Share How Their Fathers Inspired Their Passion In The Kitchen
Forbes.com: 9 Cocktails To Celebrate Dad This Father’s Day
RetailMeNot: Father’s Day Gifts for Every Type of Dad
Forbes.com: Father's Day Gift Guide: The Best Gifts To Stock His Freezer
Forbes.com: Father's Day Gift Guide: The Best Gifts For The Dad Who Loves To Grill
Forbes.com: Father’s Day Gift Guide: The Best Cookbooks To Add To His Collection
Forbes.com: Father's Day Gift Guide: The Best Gifts For The Culinary Traveler
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.
Southern Living
I’m working on stories related to brussels sprouts, delicata squash, avocado, and as usual, I have a specific set of questions I’ll need to ask RDs, chefs, produce experts, botanists, farmers, etc. Please email me and I’ll send you a rundown of what I am looking for (I have a few weeks for this one, so we have more time to play with than usual!).
Forbes.com
I’m looking for creative/unique cocktails bars/restaurants around the country are doing in honor of July 4th. This has to be a cocktail that will exist on a menu and be available to order (either long-term or as a special). Please pitch me the following if you have something that may be a fit:
Name of cocktail
where served (name of bar/restaurant, city, state, URL)
description
quote from bartender/chef/etc about the cocktail (please remember to give me the name and title of who is being quoted)
Image of cocktail with any appropriate photo credits
RetailMeNot
All the Best Fourth of July Sales to Shop Now: I’m working on an update of this story from last year. A lot of these might change, so note any run-through dates IF the retailer has those when pitching me. Otherwise, it's OK to describe the sale as "for a limited time." I’m going to try to include spots such as Home Depot, Lowe's, Best Buy, Amazon, Target, Walmart, Ancestry, 23andMe, Fitbit IF they are throwing a sale. If pitching me for this one, please be sure to include what's on sale, how to shop it, the promo code (if any). Maybe the promo code is storewide, so that makes it super flexible. Whatever the shopper needs to know about how and WHY to shop the sale.
I’m also updating this story from last year: Stores Open Fourth of July + Fourth of July Store Hours. Please look at last year’s version for an idea of format and what I’m looking for - and if I included your store hours or sales last year, feel free to reach out and give me updates!
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 (and now in-person!) 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 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. Note: I’m also available to travel for consulting sessions as long as travel expenses are covered. We can chat!
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!
Whew, I'm already nervous about fitting it all in this week! Hope it goes smoothly for you, and thanks for highlighting the stress-reducing meals piece. Genuinely can't wait to read it during my reading break today!!! cheers, Aly <3