Tuesday: Working on new assignments on everything from Super Bowl entertaining to Mardi Gras + bunches of new published stories + a job lead!

Good morning!

It’s a really hectic day - I have a consulting session this afternoon with a fun team I’ve been working with for years (and who are active and engaged subscribers of this newsletter from day one!), and then tonight I’m headed to a restaurant preview I’m super excited about.

But there’s a lot to chat about before all that — from new assignments, to newly published stories, and even a new job lead! Additionally, next week is a travel week (my first work trip of 2023!), so I’m really trying to get my ducks in a row in preparation for all that…

Some couples say there's a whole lot to fight about when it comes to the dishwasher.

So, why don't we play Maury and decide who is in the right? For Yahoo Life, I crowdsourced a bunch of couples (from among readers of this Substack!), about their dishwasher arguments, and then asked cleaning professionals to solve these debates. It turned into a rather fun story!

Aly Walansky alywalansky.substack.com @alywalansky

A guide to the correct way to load the dishwasher yahoo.com/lifestyle/what… via @Yahoo

yahoo.comWhat’s the right way to load the dishwasher? Experts solve couples’ biggest dishwasher debates.Should knives point up or down in the dishwasher? Can you load that wooden cutting board? Experts address couples’ biggest dishwasher dilemmas.

Thanks so much to everyone who weighed in on this one. I couldn’t have done this story (or any story!) without you.

Speaking of stories, there’s a whole bunch that has published since yesterday’s AM newsletter, so please scroll down and check out if you or your client were included in any, and taking the time to share these stories on social media is always VERY appreciated.

As for where I stand on this debate, I don’t actually have a dishwasher (small NYC apartment life!), so consider me everyone’s friend.

Job leads

 Job leads are always free and always welcome. Feel free to send them to me at alywalansky@gmail.com at any time, and I'll get them in the next newsletter. 

Quoted PR is looking for a stellar Account Manager (3+ yrs experience) to join their team! Quoted PR is a small (but powerful!) female-led SF Bay Area PR agency with an intentionally curated roster of clients. You'll work with pioneering food, beverage, and lifestyle brands that are reshaping the industry. If you are passionate about climate-focused CPG brands and organizations dedicated to mitigating climate change, well-versed in public relations, and eager to learn more, they would love to connect with you.

Please get in touch with sayhello@quotedpr.com with any questions and for a complete job description/requirements.

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!

• Yahoo: What's the right way to load the dishwasher? Experts solve couples' biggest dishwasher debates.

• Southern Living: Can You Freeze Sour Cream?

• Southern Living: How To Boil Potatoes

• The Kitchn: This Recipe for Pizza Pot Pie Combines Two Nostalgic Classics You Can’t Get Enough Of

• Forbes: Valentine’s Day Gift Guide: The Best Luxury Seafood Boxes

• YourTango: 7 Unsexy Ways To Be Sexier

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.

Forbes

Planning a Super Bowl watching party at home this year? I’d love some party planners, chefs, bartenders, etc, to weigh in on what to serve, how to plan a great home viewing party, etc. Don’t really need full out recipes for this one, but more like descriptions and ideas.

Mardi Gras! It’s going to be here before we know it and I’m looking for fun and unique Mardi Gras-themed cocktails and desserts on bar/restaurant menus - and no, you don’t have to be located in NOLA. Anywhere doing something fun is very welcome. Please pitch me with:

• Name of drink/dessert

• Where served (city, state, name of restaurant, URL)

• description

• quote from chef/bartender about drink/dessert (please remember to include name and title of person quoted)

• LINK to high res image

Here’s what I’m currently working on for Valentine’s Day:

The best gifts for a romantic dinner at home

The best interactive gifts for couples who love to cook together

For all of these guides (and honestly, most guides for any outlet, I would prefer all pitches be sent in the following format):

• Name of product

• link where sold, price

• Description of product

• LINK to high res image

*please please make sure that an item is not discontinued, and is currently available and in stock to ship and arrive before Valentine’s Day before pitching me. Sound obvious? I got a LOT of holiday pitches that did not fit this qualification!

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!

Have a great day!

<3