Thursday: Enough about red flags. What about green flags?
PS: Don't miss out: The completely FREE recording of last month's Zoom webinar event covering pitching, trends, and all things holiday gift guide season is now available -- grab the link right here!
Good morning!
In honor of my dear Conrad of TSITP being rated by People Magazine’s Readers Choice as the Sexiest ‘Green Flag’ Fictional Character, I wanted to turn that on its nose a bit (though TEAM CONRAD forever and always obviously, it’s the only correct answer).
I feel like pretty often the topic of pitching red flags arises.
But in an effort to add a bit of positivity to our realm, how about we flip that script for just a moment?
If we’re going to chat about red flags, it seems only fair to give some time to the topic of green flags. These are behaviors, policies, and practices that are a big “proceed!” when working with someone -- rather than a red flag, which screams stay away.
We’re always focusing on the “what not to do” side of things, but I’m all about appreciating positive, healthy, and steady relationships -- that’s what keeps us all going, productive, and with the highest morale possible during these stressful times.
We’ve all chatted about sources that ghost, misleading pitches with inflated stats, and poor communication…those are all red flags.
But what are some green flags?
Communication is honest and offers consistency.
This could be an editor who doesn’t change the scope of the assignment mid-way through or after the fact (we’ve all had the editor who you submit a story and then they ask for you to do it in a whole new way after you’ve already written it), but also publicists who offer you an expert source for an interview and then tries to switch them out (or rescind the source altogether) at the last minute. This also applies to those weird instances when people invite you on press trips, you secure an assignment related to that press trip, and then the invite somehow fades away. Anyone who is consistent and does what they say and keeps saying that or doing that midway through and to the end of the scope of the project is a green flag.
Anything else is a red flag.
This also applies to those publicists who misuse the concept of an exclusive or say something is embargo’d when a quick Google shows it’s already everywhere on the Internet. I recently had a food product pitched to me under embargo and then when I researched it, I saw it was already on sale at major retailers like Walmart and Amazon!
You want to work with someone who knows what they want and will say what is happening and will happen and have it be accurate. Anything else will end up wasting everyone’s time and potentially damaging a series of relationships, too. And time is money. More on that next.
They value and respect your time
We all know that time is money. That’s why when dealing with project clients or as a writer working with a publicist on a story, a green flag would be someone who values and respects your time. They meet your deadlines, they submit deliverables when you ask in the format you need, and they don’t insist on extensive unnecessary phone calls.
They do their homework
Look, anyone can give you random stats, trends, figures. But can they back it up? Can they show studies or research or credible expert commentary to prove what they are saying?
It’s easy for anyone to pitch you and say something happened or is happening or will happening, but a green flag is when they have the proof to back it up. That’s how you know that’s someone you can trust and want to work with.
I can call anything a trend. I can also say any trend is over. But I’m not going to give credence to what you are saying is happening unless it’s actually legitimately happening. You saying it is is not enough.
They know your worth
This could be an editor who doesn’t haggle over your promised rate and the deliverables expected for the rate, but also, a publicist who invites you on a trip or to an event and then does not cut corners in disappointing ways that compromises the experience. If you are taking people on 12 hours a day of wine tastings while on a media trip but making sure they have water and/or breakfast available...that’s a red flag. If you don’t do that (rather unhealthy and dangerous, also)...you are a green flag. We’re going to want to travel with you again!
They are responsive
I get a lot of emails every single day. More during the height of holiday rush.
If I can be reliable and responsive, so can you. The people who respond to me, especially when I’m awaiting something very time sensitive from them, is a giant green flag. I’ve told the story about the publicist who came through really late at night supplying the expert commentary I needed after a source had flaked on me at the 11th hour and I was in a jam. That person is a green flag. The other...red flag!
They appreciate you!
Oh, how grateful I am when I write a story and share a link and someone shares that link on their brand’s/clients/own social media. Also how grateful I am when they write back a simple thank you. People are so quick to email when they are not happy with something, but a positive note is a rare, and beautiful, joy.
Simply put, they show up. They don’t see the relationship as purely transactional. They are someone you’d want to work with again because they value you and you value them right back. Green flag!
Hope this is helpful!
In the meantime, if you have a topic or question you want me to cover in a future newsletter, drop me an email at alywalansky@gmail.com.
OK, now on to today’s business! Check out fresh newly published content and also pending assignments I’m working on by scrolling below…
Check out our complete holiday gift guide pitching recording - it’s available right here, right now!
For those who missed out, you can grab the whole recording of our best practices for pitching holiday gift guides this season webinar for free (yes, completely free!) as a benefit for upgraded subscribers - it’s well over an hour of commentary, Q&A, and tons of information you can use this season. Grab the details here.
If you are pitching holiday gift guides this season, you’re competing with thousands of other emails in every journalist’s inbox. Make sure your pitch stands out and gets noticed.
Upcoming travel: I’ll be in Fort Lauderdale for one afternoon/evening in few weeks (the evening before a cruise!), and also in Vegas for nearly a week in early December. Other fun travel upcoming soon!
Book your consulting session!
I still have some space available for November!
I can join your team on Zoom, a phone call, or in-person and do a team Q&A and answer any of your questions about planning events, mailers, trips, pitching, followups, etc — giving you a very necessary media perspective. Email me at alywalansky@gmail.com if you are interested in chatting more and setting something up :)
We can switch it up in any way you or your team needs. While most of my calls do end up being virtual, I just did one where we did our session over a martini lunch! I’m available for whatever your team prefers. Lets chat.
I’m now contributing to the Yahoo Creators platform, writing a wide range of lifestyles topics: check out my author profile to see some of my most recent pieces! (This is updated daily - usually multiple times daily - so you’ll want to keep checking it out for new content!)
Limited-time deal on ad placement!
I’m 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 more than 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!
Tools of the trade
Thanks so much to everyone who attended my Pitchcraft panel last week on everything to you need to know about Yahoo creators. We covered a ton of ground and Pitchcraft will actually be sharing a replay — but it’s only available to members.
Luckily, I’m excited to share I partnered with Pitchcraft to be able to share a special offer just for my readers: Use code ALY200: new users will get $200 off their first month of the monthly PR Membership or code ALY400: This one offers new users $400 off their first year of the annual PR Membership.
This is a great network to join because it’s a community of both PR professionals and journalists working together to find better ways to work together and share opportunities, and you know how much I believe in all of that.
Absolutely check it out!
Exciting news from our friend Sarah Karger (who recently was a star expert panelist for our big holiday gift guide pitching workshop!) - she just launched her new course, Affiliate Marketing & Performance-Based PR for Publicists - It’s built specifically to help PR pros and agencies add affiliate management as a core capability, something we all know is completely essential in today’s media landscape. This is in-depth training that equips publicists with the exact strategies to:
Set up affiliate programs for clients
Pitch commerce editors with confidence
Deliver measurable ROI through performance-based PR
It’s a must-have for anyone trying to navigate this ever-changing biz!
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.
Yahoo Creators: Check out my author profile (I have several new stories a day across the lifestyles umbrella, so that’s the best way to stay updated!)
Travel & Leisure: Traveling Alone Can Be Expensive—Here Are 15 Budget-friendly Hacks That Save Me Money
Forbes.com: 18 Ways To Savor The Season Via Thanksgiving-Inspired Dishes And Cocktails
Forbes.com: The Best Celebrity Spirits To Gift This Holiday Season
Forbes.com: 13 Great Variations On The Classic Cheese Pizza
Yahoo Creators: From packing cubes to toiletry bags, these are the 13 best gifts for travelers this holiday
Yahoo Creators: The 10 best cookbooks to give the aspiring chef in your life as a gift this holiday season.
Yahoo Creators: From gadgets to skincare: The ultimate guide to gifts for the special guy in your life this holiday season
Southern Living: The Difference Between Chives And Green Onions
Travel & Leisure: I’m a Solo Traveler, and I Tell All My Friends to Pack These Anti-theft Essentials—Up to 56% Off at Amazon
Forbes.com: 15 Plant-Based Dishes So Delicious, Even A Carnivore Would Ask For Seconds
Travel & Leisure: I Travel Solo Often, and I Won’t Stay in Another Airbnb Without Packing This 1 Safety Device
Travel & Leisure: This $8 Flight Attendant-loved Hack Helps Me Carry More Bags at the Airport—Without Paying Extra
Food Network: You Can Pre-Order Your Entire Thanksgiving Feast
Today.com: Best drugstore wrinkle creams 2025, according to experts
Today.com: What Are The Best Drugstore Eye Creams? Experts and Editors Reveal Their Favorites
Southern Living: The Best And Worst Times To Go To The Grocery Store
Southern Living: How To Cook A Perfect Steak Every Time, According To Southern Chefs.
Southern Living: The One-Pan Cheesy Meal I Make Whenever I'm Too Tired To Cook
Travel & Leisure: I’m a Travel Writer, and I Swear by These Packable Ballet Flats for Comfort, Support, and Long Days on My Feet
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.
Newsweek Readers Choice
As you know, I am on the panel of journalists to come up with the nominations in various categories for Newsweek Readers Choice. Current categories are National Moving Company, Climate-Controlled Storage, Packing Cube, Storage Container Company, and Outdoor Storage. Let me know if you have any fits I should keep in mind!
Meanwhile, recent categories that voting went live on includes All Things Wine, Casinos, and Happy Holidays — so check them out and cast your vote!
Yahoo Creators
I’m working on a story on planning a Friendsgiving celebration. Open to organization and event planning expert tips and tricks as well as items that are a must to include (if sold online, please include retail links when pitching!).
I’m working on some holiday gift guides! I’m seeking:
Frilly/girlie gift ideas (think cute, pink, lacey, girlie, frilly, sexy, fun, lingerie, underthings, etc)
Travel-related gifts
gifts for your man
home/kitchen related gifts,
food/spirits gifts,
tech gear/gadgets,
office-related gifts
To pitch me for these guides, please be sure to include the following:
Name of item
Links to major retailers where sold (it’s in your best interest to include several retailer link options when pitching, especially major ones like Amazon)
Link to image and any necessary credits
Description why it’s a fit
Item must be currently available and currently in stock.
Forbes
Before pitching: Please be sure to refer to my photo submission guidelines for help with photo submission best practices!
I’m working on a story on enjoying lower ABV cocktails in December. I know a ton of people (not me, obviously) are doing Sober October, as a way of having a total body reset before the active holiday event season, but another option is to try to moderate a little in December by focusing on lower ABV versions of your favorite drinks, made with low or mid-ABV spirits. So if you work with low-ABV spirits that have low-proof (vs. zero proof) holiday cocktails on the menu at bars/restaurants, please drop me a line! (Same pitching format as usual.)
I’m also looking for pickle-centric dishes in honor of National Pickle Day. I need all responses for this one by THIS FRIDAY.
Please make sure to pitch in the following format only:
Name of dish
Where found (name of restaurant, city, state, URL)
Description
Chef quote/name of being quoted
LINK to image of dish/photo credit
have a great day, and thanks again for being such an incredible community <3
aly
Thanks for sharing the positivity Aly!! Love these as much as the red flags for sure!