How It's Really Going: Mid-Year Reflections & 5 PR Must-Sees!
The verdict's out: Flash Consulting is a success and I'm making more sessions available to meet demand! Plus, my current assignments and 5 resources PR people should check out right now.
Hi friends!
My mind is blown that we’re already halfway through the year. It feels like yesterday that I was sharing my ins/outs for 2024. The first part of my year has definitely included lots of stuff on my “In” list, like sending thank you cards, seeing live music, and lots of experimentation.
Flash Consulting: How it’s really going
It’s that first item on my “Out” list—“relying solely on writing for revenue”—that I wanted to draw some attention to today. This is something I’ve been investing myself in for months, in no small part because the last year has been incredibly challenging for freelance writers like me (one writer friend of mine said it’s the worst it’s been since she started in 1997! Ouch!). You would be *shocked* at how low the pay rates have gotten and how demanding and restrictive our contracts have become.
But it’s not just about the money (in fact, much of the revenue from my new services is going straight to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute as part of my Pan-Mass Challenge bike-a-thon fundraiser). It’s also about finding creative ways to use my 13+ years of journalism and writing experience to help others in the industry.
The industry pits journalists and PR people against each other as adversaries. The longer I do this work, though, the more I realize that PR people and freelance writers seek to do the same thing: share compelling stories with the world. We come at it from different sides of the business—I want to sell stories to editors, and you want those stories to include your clients—but at the end of the day, we’re all after those elusive stories.
I’m convinced there are so many ways we can collaborate more effectively to hit our end goals—hence why I’ve decided to continue offering my Flash Consulting sessions as an ongoing service. Based on the testimonials I’ve received, these half-hour sessions have resulted in real value for 10 people who’ve booked them in the last week (helping to raise more than $750 for cancer research!).
It sounds pretty abstract—30 minutes with a seasoned journalist to chat about whatever you want—but here are some ways people have used them so far:
deep dive into requirements for affiliate links in stories, editors’ expectations, and how it affects coverage of clients
answers to why a PR person isn’t landing desired coverage for her client
ideas for positioning two health experts for stories
planning a media event for a client’s upcoming milestone podcast episode
get my undivided attention for a client pitch
strategies for getting pitches to stand out in writers’ inboxes
meet-and-greet with a PR team to strengthen our relationship
how to spot trends and leverage them for PR pitches
the importance of getting really specific with story pitches (and how to do so)
ideas of which publications might be receptive to pitches on a particular client
brainstorm on helping a baby product brand get coverage in publications that aren’t family-focused
If you’ve been thinking about booking a Flash Consulting session, now’s the best time to do it. To unlock your spot, please make a $75 donation to my cancer research fundraiser and I’ll send you a link to book a spot on my calendar at a time that works for you.
I’m also running a special right now: Double your donation to $150 and you can get 3 sessions to use through the end of 2024 (hello, help with gift guide pitches and getting clients featured in popular end-of-year round-ups!). That’s three sessions for the price of two. This promotion will be available until I hit my $6,000 fundraising goal (I’m 62% there!), so don’t wait if you want to take advantage.
(And yes, if you’ve already made a donation, you can definitely take advantage of this offer, too—please just contribute the balance and I’ll get you set up!)
And now, onto our regularly scheduled newsletter.
Current assignments
Best Products: Best External CD drives
Got a client who makes external CD drives? Please send me info for consideration for this review in Best Products! No need for samples. jonimsweet@gmail.com
Deadline: Next week-ish
Best Products: Best Portable DVD Players
I’m seeking info on portable DVD players (old-school tech, I know!) for this review. No need for samples. jonimsweet@gmail.com
Deadline: Next week-ish
Recently published stories
Thanks for all your help with these!
Father’s Day Gift Guide 2024: Best Cycling Gifts For Dads Who Bike (Forbes)
Father’s Day Gift Guide 2024: Best Outdoor Adventure Gifts For Dads (Forbes)
10 Best National Parks For Crowd-Free Hiking, According To New Report (Forbes)
What’s Behind the Rise in Camping (Hudson Valley Viewfinder)
How to Onboard and Work with Freelance Writers (The Content Strategist)
16 Best Places to Visit in Poland (PlanetWare)
17 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Poland (PlanetWare)
7 Best Cooling Blankets to Beat the Heat All Summer Long (Best Products)
4 Best Cameras for Beginners Who Want to Level Up Their Photography Skills (Best Products)
5 Things PR Pros Should Check Out Right Now
As a bonus for my paid subscribers, I’ve curated a few resources that you should have on your radar to elevate your game as a PR pro. From insightful podcasts to cutting-edge reports and can't-miss events, these picks will help you strengthen relationships with reporters, master new pitching strategies, and stay ahead of the curve.