Holiday Gift Guide Pitching Dos and Don'ts with Freelance Writer and Editor Joni Sweet

Pitchin' and Sippin' with Lexie Smith

In this episode, Lexie Smith and Joni Sweet dive deep into the do's and don'ts of pitching for holiday gift guides, offering invaluable insights for publicists and brands eager to make their mark. Joni Sweet has been a writer, editor, and content strategist for over 13 years. Her work has been published by TIME, National Geographic, Forbes, Lonely Planet, SELF, Real Simple, Frommer's, and dozens of other publications. She also offers consulting services to help publicists deepen relationships with journalists, develop smarter pitching strategies, and troubleshoot challenges, earning media coverage for their clients.

Joni shares her experience working with PR professionals, highlighting common pitfalls, such as excessive follow-ups and pitching irrelevant products. With holiday gift guide season in full swing, she emphasizes the importance of timely and targeted pitches.

Joni advises publicists to curate their submissions, showcasing only the most unique and giftable products rather than overwhelming her with options. She also explains her selection process for gift guides, which involves thorough organization and a keen eye for what resonates with readers. Tune in for essential tips on crafting compelling pitches, understanding seasonal trends, and navigating the competitive landscape of holiday gift coverage.

Here’s What You’ll Learn:

• Learn about frequent errors publicists make, like excessive follow-ups and irrelevant product pitches.
• Discover that opportunities for pitching gift guides can extend into November and December due to evolving trends.
• Get tips on curating your pitches—showcasing only the most unique and giftable products.
• Learn how Joni selects products for gift guides, including the need for diversity in price points and categories.
• Find the key elements that should be included in every pitch, such as product links and high-quality images.
• See how a writer's interests can influence the types of gift guides they create.
• Gain insights into how many follow-ups are appropriate and how to execute them respectfully.
• Understand the pitfalls of pitching through social media DMs and the preferred communication channels.

Listener Links:

• Substack: https://jonisweet.substack.com/
• Website: https://www.jonimsweet.com/
• X: https://x.com/JoniSweet
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonisweet/?hl=en
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonisweetwriter/
• Flash Consulting: https://www.jonimsweet.com/coaching-services/p/flash-consulting

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