Happy Wednesday!
So sorry this email is coming a little later today, this morning has been sort of a lot.
But happy to report another new Valentine’s Day gift guide has published — and this is a theme I really had a lot of fun researching.
Most of my Valentine’s Day gift guides have published by this point, but I still have one assignment on that topic pending and a few that should publish in the next week or so. So, hopefully one of those guides will help someone here find the perfect gift for their loved ones — romantic or otherwise.
About those chili peppers…
You. may recall that on Friday I shared a lead that an editor friend of mine was looking for a chili pepper expert for a story she was working on. I ended up getting some great responses from among this community and forwarded them her way, and that story is now live! Thanks SO much for not only being a friend to me, but a friend to my friends.
Job Leads
Lots of new job leads today! Feel free to share job leads at any time — it’s completely free, and as I publish this newsletter six days a week, there’ll always be room to put it in the next available newsletter. Job leads are available any time, whether or not they have appeared elsewhere, and I am fully open as well to whisper leads (not revealing the company) and internship opps.
Parthenon PR is seeking two full-time communications professionals (an Account Executive with 3+ years experience and an Account Coordinator with 1+ year(s) experience) to join their Nashville-based, boutique agency. Responsibilities include public relations , strategic planning and implementation, media relations, pitch writing, event planning, digital marketing and social media experience, as well as various administrative tasks like research, media tracking and media list cultivation. Experience with hospitality, tourism and B2B is a plus, as is experience with national press. If you are passionate about working at a creative full-service agency alongside a dynamic team of women, please reach out to jobs@parthenonpr.com for more information and a complete job description.
Bon Communications is looking for an Account Supervisor (5+ years experience) to join their team! With a small team of senior specialists and deep connections from coast-to-coast, Bon Comms delivers the expertise of a full-service PR agency to their impressive roster of chefs, bartenders, hotels, wine / spirit professionals, interior designers and more from all over the country. This team is Denver-based, but a remote candidate is a plus! If you're passionate about hospitality and lifestyle PR, please email Katie@boncomms.com to introduce yourself with a cover letter and resume.
Katalyst is hiring a Publicist to join their team. They are looking for someone that is a strong and creative writer, has a true passion for the culinary, hospitality and lifestyle industries. The ideal candidate is able to create engaging story ideas, pitches and marketing and social media collaborations that strategically align with their clients’ goals. This hire must bring a positive and eager energy to the agency, be able to manage junior team members, as well as manage up to senior leads and be excited to grow. They must speak eloquently and ooze confidence during client meetings, with media and be connected to people and places in Southern California and beyond (or willing to dive right in and mingle). Please send a resume, cover letter, writing samples and samples of secured press. Position is fully remote. Reply to Katherine@katalyst-pr.com
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
Forbes: Valentine’s Day Gift Guide: The Best Interactive Gifts For Couples Who Love To Cook Together
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.
Clean Plates
For Clean Plates, I'm rounding up Trader Joe’s Foods Nutritionists Love for Winter Meal Prep - I'd love nutritionists and RDs to weigh in on those foods available at Trader Joe's they love, why they love them, how they use them for meal prep, and what makes them a great choice.
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
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!