Missed our October Top Tier Talk? Here's the Recording!

We discussed maintaining relationships with journalists when clients make you look bad, preferred affiliate platforms, hosting in-person events, Cyber Monday and more

Hi all.

Hope everyone is hanging in there and if you need a little extra love right now, we’re sending it your way! It’s a tough week to say the least, and our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by current events.

We still wanted to honor our October Top Tier Talk date and held that on Wednesday as planned. Hopefully it was a temporary reprieve for those who attended from the heaviness of the world. We got through everyone’s questions and touched on some important topics, like:

• How to maintain positive relationships with journalists when clients drop the ball and make you look bad

• Black Friday and Cyber Monday pitching

• If there’s still time to pitch holiday gift guides for the season

• In person events: How long should they be and how far in advance should you invite journalists?

• How to handle clients who want their ShareASale/Skimlinks featured vs. Amazon

• Can a writer tell if they were pitched via Muckrack? And is this a turnoff in any way?

• How early is too early to reach out about press trips? And how do you get writers to commit far in advance?

• When to send images to accompany product pitches

• Are journalists more likely to respond to pitches coming from publicists or brand owners? Does it make a difference?

• What’s the appropriate amount of time you can follow up a pitch email?

• How to make a client’s brand story stand out vs. their product

• How to handle bad reviews on client’s products for things that are unavoidable — i.e. a product is too loud (but all the products by other brands in this category tend to be loud too)

• When to start pitching for Valentine’s Day

• Do writers care about things other than holiday gift guides right now?

• How to make your clients shine in pitches close to the holidays when you aren’t pitching for a gift guide

• How far out to send product samples for article consideration

And speaking of that that last question, we’re going to be diving into that and more — all things gift guides — in our upcoming Press Sampler Workshop on October 30th (if you can’t make it live, you can still sign up and we’ll send you the recording to watch at your convenience).

Don’t Miss Our New Group Workshop: Everything You Need to Know About Sending Press Samples to Ensure a Better ROI

Join us on Monday, October 30th — or purchase the recording to watch at your convenience! — for this don’t-miss workshop!

There’s a lot more to consider before simply sticking your client’s product in a box with a little packing paper and dropping it off at the post office. During this jam-packed presentation, we’ll share the scoop from a writer’s perspective so that you can look like a hero to your client. Well touch on:

• How sending a press sample can lead to more coverage for your clients

• When and how to send a product sample

• How to vet the editorial opportunity and do your due diligence to make sure you’re sending your sample to a writer who has the potential to write about it (read: avoid unethical writers looking for freebies)

• What writers like to see in the box and what they don’t

• Big bloopers people make when sending press samplers (that they probably don’t realize they are making!)

• Things writers receive that are an automatic waste of your money (avoid these and save your clients some serious cash!)

• What else should be included with the mailing (hint: more than just the product)

• Tips for how to best spend your budget AND get a stronger ROI

• What to say in an email when asking if a writer wants a press sampler (and the number one thing that a writer never wants to hear)

• How and when to follow up to ensure receipt and inquire about possible coverage

• Open Q&A at the end where we’ll tackle any other questions that you have.

Date: Monday, October 30

Time: 11 am PT/2 pm EST (this session will last one hour)

Can’t make it live? No worries. Pay now and we’ll send you the link to the recording right after the session — then, you can watch it at your convenience.

Rate: $39 Paid TTC Substack Subscribers; $99 Free TTC Subscribers

Ready to sign up? Send an email to info@toptierconsulting.NET and we’ll collect payment and send you the link for the Zoom session.

Questions about the session? Just shoot us an email and we’ll answer them!

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Below, you’ll find the link to watch yesterday’s
Top Tier Talk.

As a reminder: We’re doing these chats monthly and they are offered to all paid members — it’s a great way to connect with us and hear from other publicists who are facing the same obstacles you are!

As a Substack subscriber, you’ll also have access to our past extensive archives of topics where we talk about everything from helping a product or a source to stand out in pitches, how to best prep your clients for interviews, how to handle sources tied to brands, gift guide pitching dos and don’ts, how to make a pitch timely, how to sell your client vs. simply inform a writer that you have a new client & more. Plus, we offer discounts on group consulting sessions.