Stories pending for a half-dozen outlets -- including more Valentine's Day content!
Stories pending for a half-dozen outlets -- including more Valentine's Day content!
Plus: My upcoming travel schedule. Also: We're planning a party in NYC - and you are invited!
Good morning!
Err…it’s almost afternoon.
There’s a lot going on this week. I’m recording another podcast appearance this afternoon! And then, I have virtual consulting sessions set up every afternoon for the rest of the week.
What does this mean? Well, as someone who spends a whole lot of time working alone in their apartment and can go all day without speaking to anyone at times, my voice is being used more than usual this week! It’ll be fun though — I even procured myself a fun privacy screen to put behind my desk as I work so that (three years in?) to using Zoom, people finally won’t have to look at my bed as I chat with them.
Studio apartment problems….
But I have some important intel to share today. This includes a fun save-the-date, but also a handful of new assignments for many different outlets — including TODAY.com, Forbes, and more.
We’re planning a party…and you are invited!
My sister friends Amber and Lisa (or as we call ourselves in our group text thread, Blondtourage) are planning a bit of a happy hour next week in NYC.
It’ll be in the Chelsea area at an undisclosed (teehee!) location on Thursday, January 12. There’ll be complimentary cocktails, tons of giggles, and absolutely no work chatter involved — this is meant to be a fun way to start off the new year for our friends. (Our theme is WET JANUARY.) Maybe if we’re lucky they’ll even let me go behind the bar and make some martinis. (No promises. I haven’t even asked yet if this is possible..)
If you are or will be in NYC next Thursday and would like to attend, please drop me a note and let me know. I’ll then extend an invite to as many of you as I can and pass on the time, location, etc. We have pretty limited space — this is a bar, not a stadium! — but I’d love to be able to have some of my local subscribers there so I can thank you in person for how you have enriched my life in the past year (and for many of you, many years before that.)
Upcoming travel
I’ll be in NOLA for a few days the beginning of February and in Miami at SOBEWFF in late February - I also have a few other tentative potential trips pending. Keep in touch if you’ll be around and want to try to connect!
And, a reminder: I’m available for consulting sessions if you are planning a press trip for your client and want some input from a media perspective on how to make it as productive and successful as possible.
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!
HelloGiggles: 9 New Products That Will Help You Be Healthier in 2023
Yahoo Life: How long do leftovers last? Experts share tips for safely storing food
Yahoo Life: Air fryer 101: Everything you need to know about cooking with (and maintaining) an air fryer
Forbes: Impress Your Guests This Season With Tableside Cocktails
The Kitchn: Starbucks Is Adding a New Cold Brew to the Winter Menu and Bringing Back a Fan-Favorite Bakery Item
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.
TODAY.com
National Pizza Week is coming up — I’m looking for chain restaurants that are offering special deals and discounts in honor of the occasion. If you have any to pitch me, please email me the restaurant, the deal, and how to claim it. If there’s a social media link to the deal, would love that as well. ASAP please.
Her Money
I’m working on a story on how to plan a budget-friendly romantic Valentine’s Day date night. I’d love experts to weigh in! Open to products too if they fit the theme of the story.
Forbes
Romantic wines to pair with your V-Day dinner: Whether you are planning a surf and turf or a sexy pasta night, these are the wines you need for the biggest date night of the year. To pitch me a wine, be sure to include retail links, a LINK to an image, and a description.
Romantic cocktails to enjoy for Valentine's Day: I’m looking for cocktails that are currently on the menu at bars/restaurants anywhere nationwide, either as a special for the season or a permanent menu item. Please include name of drink, where available, description, and a quote from a bartender/chef/owner about the drink. Will also need a LINK to an image of the drink for this one.
Places online where you can order a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner to be shipped to your door. Self-explanatory. Has to be shippable as this needs to be something available to all who order it and not just a local takeout thing.
RetailMeNot
The Best Galentine's Day Gifts for your Besties: I’m updating this story I did last year (so if you represent a product that is in last year’s guide, please let me know if there’s any changes to it as far as price, availability, etc). But I’ll also be adding a dozen or so new products that are also great gift ideas for your bestie this year (in the same format as last year’s, if you want to use that as a guide when pitching.)
The Best Affordable Valentine's Day Gifts: I’m also working on this guide to affordable Valentine’s Day gifts. Trying to stick with under $100 for these items.
HelloGiggles
Sexy underthings to gift yourself this Valentine's Day - we all deserve to feel confident and sexy, whether you have a partner or not.
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!