Good morning…err afternoon!
Well, anyway…hello!
Apologies for this coming a little later in the day, I was juggling a lot of moving parts this morning, and well, most of them are still sort of up in the air…(it’s one of those morning where there’s just a bunch of Google Doc tabs open at once, all waiting on an email with the one final thing I need to finish it off…so, well, Wednesday.)
Happy to share a few new fun pieces since yesterday’s email. For Forbes, I wrote about a Boston hotel treating pup guests as the royalty they are (as in, room service caviar!): This Fancy Room Service Menu Invites Pets Along For The Fine Dining Experience. And, for RetailMeNot, this guide I’ve been working on all summer is now live! Check it out here: What Stores Are Open and Closed on Labor Day 2023?
Last night, I attended the most exciting of press dinners. Very often dinners promise to be multi-sensory experiences, but this one actually was — it turned wine tasting on its nose (so to speak!), by having the somms double as DJs and pair their wines with iconic albums. These are tasting notes like you wouldn’t ever imagine — it was so fun, unique, and I think, for anyone planning a press dinner or event, something to aspire to: Think out of the box, make it creative, and fun and interesting. Everyone will be thrilled they came and eager to write about the experience.
Many dinners will do wine pairings, but wine paired with iconic albums — AND steak? Well, that’s something I’ve never done before and can’t wait to do again.
The best events — regardless of the beat — are the ones that make you leave feeling exactly like that.
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!
Last week, I was a guest on the Eat.Drink.Social podcast, and we chatted about my upcoming travel, recent press trip experiences, and so much more. Check out my guest appearance last week on Jamie Stone’s A Little Too Much podcast. We had SO much fun discussing everything from the changing landscape of events and trips to our thoughts on some emerging food and cocktail trends.
Some of my latest podcast appearances include Media Circus Podcast with Taiisha Bradley, as well as the Italian Wine Podcast, where we discussed all things Substack, and the Coffee N° 5 podcast, where we chatted about effective strategies for promoting emerging brands to journalists and securing media coverage. Other recent podcast appearances include the Pitchin’ and Sippin’ podcast with the incredible (and super fun!) Lexie Smith, where we covered 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.
Forbes: This Fancy Room Service Menu Invites Pets Along For The Fine Dining Experience
RetailMeNot: What Stores Are Open and Closed on Labor Day 2023?
Travel & Leisure: I Travel Solo Frequently, and This $18 Gadget Makes Me Feel Safer in Hotel Rooms
Travel & Leisure: This Carry-on Luggage Is Lightweight Enough to Lift Up 4 Flights of Stairs — and Fits 5 Days' Worth of Clothes
The Kitchn: The $4 Aldi Bakery Find Shoppers Have Been Waiting for All Summer
Food Network: Remember Zoo Pals? The Adorable Animal-Themed Paper Plates Are Coming Back
Clean Plates: Should You Really Worry About Acid In Your Water? Experts Weigh In
Food Network: Entenmann’s Fans Can Have Their Favorite Treats On Demand With New Cookie Dough Line
TODAY.com: The best drugstore eye creams to tackle wrinkles, dark circles and dryness, according to experts
Forbes.com: Remember Tony Bennett By Recreating His Go-To Pasta Order From His Favorite Astoria Italian Restaurant
The Kitchn: Sam’s Club Just Brought Back This Bakery Favorite and It’s the Best $4 You’ll Spend All Week
Clean Plates: Ordering in? Dietitians Share Their Go-to Healthy Takeout Orders
Forbes.com: Sam Heughan’s New Sassenach Gin Promises ‘A Trip To Scotland In A Glass'
Parade: The 17 Best Bagel Shops In NYC for Lox and a Schmear or Perfect Bacon, Egg and Cheese
Parade: Clueless About How To Use an Air Fryer? Consider This Your 101 Guide
Reader’s Digest: What 11 Mysterious Flight Codes Really Mean
Her Money: The Foods. You Need To Buy In Bulk To Save Money
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
National Negroni Week is soon, and I’m rounding up creative and unique spins on negronis available at bars and restaurants around the country - do you have one at one of your clients? Send me the info, please! (Use the parameters from the cheeseburger story below for how to submit!)
National Cheeseburger Day is in a few weeks, and I’m looking for creative and unique spins on the cheeseburger around the country, found on menus at bars and restaurants. Have one? Please send me:
1 - name of dish, as well as name of place it is served, as well as city, state and restaurant URL
2 - description of dish (NOT a recipe - there seems to be some confusion regarding this in the emails I’ve received)
3 - Quote about dish (please remember to include name and title of person being quoted)
4 - image (link please) and any appropriate photo credits
A reminder: If ALL these parameters are not met, I may not be able to consider your submission.
For both these stories, I’d love input by August 25, please! (Please try to avoid being that person who emails after the story is published asking to be squeezed in…you know what the answer will be…)
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!
Omg - that sounds so fun! Music and wine tastings two of my fave things! I strive to think out of the box with ideas like that!!