TGIF: Pitch me! Lots of new story leads, and job opps, too!

Happy Friday!

It's been a stressful, difficult week for many of us and I think we're all ready and eager for a time out.

 It's finally Friday though (at last!), and I'm eagerly anticipating some much-needed cuddling time with Lily and Scarlette and the relative calm necessary to catch up on some things at home.

I do have a ton of new stories pending though, and  I am looking forward to your pitches. I sent out the latest edition of my paid newsletter this morning with tons of guidelines on how to pitch me more successfully, so those of you who read that and followed the guidelines, already have a leg up!

In this morning’s newsletter, I also discussed my plan to do Zoom Q&A sessions exclusively for paid subscribers. If this is something you are interested in, or if there’s something you’d especially want to see in these chats, please let me know. (Or if you think there’s no need for that, and I should go get a hobby, feel free to tell me that as well!)

Are you confused about affiliate marketing?

If you are having trouble learning how to navigate issues of affiliate marketing (trust me, we've all been there!), you may want to try out my friend Sarah Karger, a publicist, and former editor Dana Baardsen (and all-around fab girl!)'s 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!)

Another great asset for if you want to learn more about affiliate marketing is to become a subscriber to my BFF Bryce Gruber's Substack newsletter. She's always sending out tips and tricks for strengthening your affiliate linking game. 

Job leads

Looking for a new gig in 2022? Rebellious PR reached out last night and asked me to share that they are looking to fill an account coordinator position. Check out the details here! 

If you have any job leads you want to share, I'm always happy to share them. It's tough times all around, and any time we can help each other, it's a good thing. Just email me!

Here’s what’s cooking

On Thursdays, I like to create some sort of hodge podge stir fry using leftovers from the week. Whether it’s 1/4 of a bag of spinach, the 4 pieces of broccoli you have left, or leftover chicken from two nights before, it can all go in a stir fry. It’s a great way to avoid waste and recreate yesterday’s meals as a new meal. Last night’s take on this went better than usual, and you can go to my Instagram stories right now to see the recipe in action!

Here's what I'm working on today

As always, please start a new thread and email alywalansky@gmail.com to respond to any of these story leads.

1. For Today.com, I'm looking for freebies/deals/discounts at restaurant chains for both National Pizza Day (Feb. 9) and Super Bowl Sunday. Please email me with what the deal is, how long it lasts, and how the deal is claimed, asap. 

2. For Clean Plates, I'm working on the following two stories: The Healthiest, Tastiest Chicken Soups in the Grocery Store, According to Nutritionists and Easy Valentine's Dessert Recipes with Exactly Zero Added Sugar.

 -- For the chicken soup story, I would love to chat over email with some nutritionists! We determine healthiness by lack of processed ingredients (so chicken noodle is less good than chicken and wild rice) - please look at this previous story in a similar format for the kind of comments I'm looking for from publicists. Keep in mind when we say healthy, we're thinking:

-Yay for whole grains

-Yay for a good protein to fat ratio

-Yay for organic

-Yay for ingredients that are real foods

-Yay for extra vegetables

-We are GMO neutral

-- For The Valentine's desserts, I'm looking to feature desserts that exist online on blogs and so forth. Please use this previous story I did in the same format as an example of what I'm looking for.

3. For RetailMeNot, I'm looking for statement candles that are so pretty, they may just be too pretty to burn. Statement candles are trending on TikTok and Instagram, and they're becoming a status symbol. I'm going to go into what these things are and why these things are. Why would someone want a candle they are not going to burn?! (Actually, me. That's the exact kind of candle I want. I live in a 4th floor walkup and I don't run very fast!). I'm looking to roundup a bunch, the crazier and more visually stunning the better, including Female Body Candles, Cube Candles, Bendy Candles. 

4. For RetailMeNot, I'm also rounding up Government Employee Discounts for 2022. When pitching me, please make sure each offer has a relevant link (if at all possible) that the reader can click through to to learn more, such as a link to the restaurant's/merchant's page about the deal. It's going to be a similar style and format to this story if you want an idea of what I'm looking for.

5. For Forbes.com, I’m doing a roundup of ideas/tips on planning an at-home virtual Super Bowl party. If you have any pitches for me, please send asap!

6. For Forbes.com, I’m also rounding up great comfort food care packages. So many people are not feeling their best or isolating at home right now, these are food/drink care packages you can send a loved one if you can’t see them in person but yet really want them to know they are on your mind. Think along the lines of chicken soup, tea, hot toddy kits, etc.
   

Have a great weekend. I’ve been doing AMA (ask me anything!) chats on Instagram stories these past few nights, so please join me any time if you have any questions to ask!

<3

aly