Announcing Consulting Day for a Good Cause + Fresh Assignments
Want feedback on a pitch? Got suggestions for the best cameras for beginners? I want to hear from you!
Hi friends,
Before I get down to business, I wanted to send a huge, huge thank you to everyone who made a contribution to my cancer research fundraiser, offered product samples to support my ride, and sent words of encouragement after I announced that I’m biking 79 miles for the Pan-Mass Challenge last week.
Your support means so much to me, and I’m honestly so touched by the generosity of the folks in my orbit. I’m already at 43% of my goal of raising $6,000 (and if you haven’t had a chance to donate yet, here’s where you can make a contribution!).
I’m off to Montana for an adventure trip next week. In the meantime, I’m looking for help on a few fresh assignments and I’m sending a special invitation to my PR friends to join me on an upcoming consulting day. Read on for the details!
Consulting Day for a Good Cause! 🚲
Mark your calendar for June 5 — I’ve blocked off the entire day to offer consulting for PR pros and brand founders. From 9:30am-5pm ET, I’ll be offering 30-minute speed consulting sessions that you can use for anything you want:
Ask me anything session
Tell me about your clients
Instant feedback on a pitch or press release
Brainstorming session for pitch ideas
Interviewing tips for clients
Getting insights on the state of the media industry
Tips on building better relationships with reporters
Insider info on how product reviews work
Something else entirely!
Interested? Just make a contribution of at least $75 to my fundraiser for breast cancer research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and I’ll send you the super secret link so you can book your private appointment instantly! This is 50% off what I usually charge for consulting. Every dollar goes directly to the cause (and your donation is tax deductible), so this is one of those rare win-win-win situations we can all feel great about.
There are just 13 11 slots available, so if this is something you’re into, jump on it ASAP so you can get your first-choice appointment time. (You can also read more about my background if you want to get a better sense of what I’ve done in my 13 years working in media.)
**If you’ve already made a donation and you want a consulting appointment, please email me! I’ll set you up!**
Current Assignments / Sourcing Needs
Forbes: Outdoor Adventure Gifts for Father’s Day
I know—it’s not even Mother’s Day, but I’ve already moved onto my Father’s Day stories. (I grew up with a single Dad, though, so this is an important holiday for me!). For Forbes, I’m looking for outdoor adventure gift recommendations for dads. Tents, hiking gear, survivalist stuff, rugged coolers, inspiring books, backpacks, shoes—all fair game.
Please keep your pitches short (I’m talking 3-4 sentences max per product, just highlighting the product and why it’s great for this Father’s Day gift guide theme). Please also include a link to a Google Drive folder, DropBox, or some other external source for images (no attachments, please, my inbox begs you—I already pay Google for extra storage).
No firm deadline right now, just send pitches ASAP: jonimsweet@gmail.com
(Yes, it’s fine to send pitches for multiple products in the same email.)
Forbes: Best Gifts for Dads Who Bike
You guys already know I’m cycling obsessed at the moment, so I’m channeling that energy into another Father’s Day gift guide for Forbes—this one for dads who bike.
(To be clear, we’re talking bicycles, not motorcycles, which are also awesome, but not the theme for this guide.)
I’d love pitches on super cool bikes, interesting accessories for bikes (bells! lights! bike computers! frame bags!), fun accessories for riders (helmets, bags, apparel, sunglasses), maybe a biking travel guide—you get the picture.
Please keep your pitches short (I’m talking 3-4 sentences max per product, just highlighting the product and why it’s great for this Father’s Day gift guide theme). Please also include a link to a Google Drive folder, DropBox, or some other external source for images (no attachments, please, my inbox begs you—I already pay Google for extra storage).
No firm deadline right now, just send pitches ASAP: jonimsweet@gmail.com
Best Products: Best Cameras for Beginners
For Best Products, I’m looking for suggestions of the best cameras for beginners. Please give me a short (3-4 sentence) pitch on the camera and why it’s great for a beginner photographer. I’m also doing some hands-on testing and a custom photoshoot of a few cameras that seem like a great fit—if you have sample products available, please mention that and please let me know if you’d like me to return it once testing is wrapped up!
Send pitches ASAP (ideally by May 13) to jonimsweet@gmail.com.
Hudson Valley Viewfinder Magazine: Farm Stays in the Hudson Valley
National content is fun, but working on local stories is close to my heart. For this one, which will be published by Hudson Valley Viewfinder magazine, I’m exploring farm stays in the Hudson Valley. I want to look at whether the popularity of farm stays is growing (and why/why not), whether local farmers are finding that hosting overnight guests helps diversify their revenue streams and make their ag operations more financially sustainable, and how farm stays help people deepen their appreciation for local farms and the labor that goes into our food.
If you know of a farmer I should speak with (or any other relevant source), let me know! Email jonimsweet@gmail.com sometime in the next week or so.
Recently Published Stories
Lots to share (and a few exciting ones currently in the works!). Thank you for all your help with these!
Hudson Valley Viewfinder magazine: New Bike Trail Connections Make Cycling More Doable and Accessible
Forbes: You Can Now Sign Up For Clear And TSA PreCheck At The Same Time
Best Products: Mom Deserves the Best Foot Massager — And It’s Now Over 30% Off on Amazon
Best Products: The 10 Best Office Chairs to Keep You Comfortable While Sitting for Hours
Best Products: 7 Best Cooling Blankets to Beat the Heat All Summer Long
Best Products: The 7 Best Latte Machines to Make You Ditch Your Morning Cafe Run—For Good
Best Products: 11 Best Sleeper Sofas to Treat Your Overnight Guests Like VIPs
Best Products: The 11 Best MP3 Players for Distraction-Free Listening
The Content Strategist: Writing a White Paper Like a Pro: 9 Essential Steps for Success
The Content Strategist: The Ultimate Guide to Repurposing Content
The Content Strategist: How to Write SEO-Driven Content That Customers (And Search Engines) Love
Mattress Firm: Green Dreams: How Biophilic Design Can Improve Your Sleep
Mattress Firm: Why You Might Want To Try a Queen Bed for Your Toddler