97% of publicists signed off on my decidedly bad practice

About a month ago, before world events sent business-as-usual careening off the rails, I was taking an informal poll about after-hours emails. In violation of widely accepted best practices, I sent out an installment of my newsletter at about 4:30 PT, or very squarely dinner time ET.

It was an experiment, in part (born out of necessity due to a packed day and late-arriving assignments). Optimistically, I figured people could just read it whenever they got around to it. And in the end, it seems I was right: That newsletter had an open rate of around 50 percent, right in line with most of my others.

I also included a poll to collect some completely unscientific data, and here’s how it turned out after 272 of you voted:

All of this is to say, the “rules” are constantly evolving — and meant to be broken, anyway.

OOO this week

After a six-month delay due to weather, I’m off to Fiji on a whirlwind press trip tomorrow. Catch you on the flip side!

Related: If you plan press trips, you have to know these 5 key do's and don'ts.

Holiday gift guide season 2023

• Do NOT send an HGG pitch without these 5 details writers require

• Literally everything you need to know about pitching HGGs in 2023 is in here

• 6 things you need to know before sending that HGG pitch into the void

• 75+ of your biggest HGG pitching questions — answered

Tools of the trade

• Jennifer Goforth Gregory launched a course that I consider essential continuing ed right now: “Improve Your Productivity With AI Tools.” The course is geared toward not only understanding the fundamentals of AI for business writing but also knowing how to use it to actually make your job easier. You also get access to a live monthly Q&A so I consider this a great bargain at $125 (and it’s a write-off, to boot). I learned so much from it. It’s really not daunting — just a straightforward tool, broken up into easily digestible short sessions, with learnings you can implement right away. Sign up for the course here.

• Is anyone using Press Hook yet? If you haven’t heard of it, it’s designed as a platform to connect journalists looking for story sources with brands who want to showcase their products and experts. It also offers a suite of helpful workflow tools. Journalists can search by product and category, and participating brands get exposure and affiliate opportunities — so it’s designed as a win-win for everyone (in the same vein as this Substack). Give it a try — right now there’s a 14-day free trial available — and let me know what you think.

• Freshbooks is the bookkeeping tool I use exclusively for my invoicing, expenses, and reporting. It’s the best, IMHO, so I evangelize. Get FreshBooks here.

• Are you a publicist who needs help understanding the affiliate game? This course, Affiliate Marketing for Publicists, can help.

• I’m obsessed with the game-changing platform Otter.ai. I use it to both record interviews and also to transcribe them in real time. You can also use it to record/transcribe any type of meeting — so anyone who missed it can easily access the Cliff’s Notes version. There’s a pro plan for agencies/companies with a ton of neat features. Check out Otter.ai here.

• My TV reporter and PR agency owner friend Christina Nicholson (who hosted me on her podcast ) hosts a 3-day program for pitching media. Once a seasonal event, she’s now made it available on-demand. You get the masterclass, a personal branding workbook, and a fill-in-the-blanks pitch template — all for $37. It’s a steal, so don’t let it pass you by.

Open press opportunities

• For The Hollywood Reporter, I’m working on a story about what to wear to Disney/theme parks. In this case, I’m only looking for clothes/shoes/apparel and not gear/personal care items (as that was a separate story, which is already in the bag). Thanks!

• Still open: For Good Housekeeping, I’m working on a story about Hanukkah nail designs. I can include your client’s work or even your personal nail art — from blue designs to fully themed-out holiday styles. I can link to a blog post or embed from social media; I just need written permission to use the images, and confirmation from the image’s rightful owner.

Recently published or updated

• The Best New York City Hotels for Families to Make Everyone Feel Right at Home (Town & Country)

• 28 Best Gifts for 10-Year-Olds in 2023 (Woman’s Day)

• These 12 Crossbody Bags Help Prevent Pickpocketing (Travel + Leisure)

• 20 of the Best All-Inclusive Resorts for Teens Who Are Hard to Impress (Country Living)

• I'm a Frequent Flier, and These Are the 14 Airplane Outfits to Wear to Get Upgraded to First Class — From $16 (Travel + Leisure)

• 16 Luxurious Florida Resorts That Take Relaxation to New Levels (Elle Decor)

• 12 Cozy Things to Pack If You're Always Freezing on Flights — Starting at $17 (Travel + Leisure)

• 25 Dressy and Casual Christmas Party Outfit Ideas for 2023 (Woman’s Day)

• 3 Hanukkah Blessings to Help You Celebrate the Festival of Lights (Woman’s Day)

• 31 Best Gifts and Toys for 9-Year-Olds in 2023 (Woman’s Day)

• Is Real Estate Investing Still the Best Way to Build Wealth? Experts Say… (HomeLight)

• 6 Rosh Hashana Traditions and the Meanings Behind Them (Country Living)

• Flying British Airways from London to Los Angeles in Club World (Business Traveler)

• Appropriate Greetings for Yom Kippur, the Holiest Day in Judaism (Good Housekeeping)

• 21 Best Rosh Hashana Gifts (Good Housekeeping)

• 8 Train Rides Around the World That Immerse You in Gorgeous Landscapes (AFAR)

• 17 Best V-Neck T-Shirts for Women to Wear All Year Long (Woman’s Day)

• The Best Apple Watch Bands for Styling Your Right-Hand Tech Tool (The Hollywood Reporter)

• 42 of the Best Restaurants for Birthday Dinners in NYC (Town & Country)

• 32 of the Best Glamping Destinations Across the United States That Are Seriously Gorgeous (Country Living)

• The 12 Best Waterproof Mascaras of 2023 (Travel + Leisure)

• Ten Hollywood-Famous Airbnbs for Experiencing Your Favorite Movies and TV Shows in Real Life (The Hollywood Reporter)

• 8 Best Sunglasses Cases of 2023 (Travel + Leisure)

• 30 of the Best Places in London for Afternoon Tea (Town & Country)

• Tax Breaks for Buying a House: 13 Tax-Savings Opportunities You Might Be Able to Claim (HomeLight)

• 25 Best Girls' Trip Ideas for an Unforgettable Getaway With Your Friends (Woman’s Day)

• The Best Conditioners for Kids for All Hair Types (Verywell Family)

• The Best Balance Bikes for Kids Ready to Zoom Off on Two Wheels (Parents)

• 40 of the Best Michelin-Starred Restaurants in NYC (Town & Country)

• I visited London for King Charles III's coronation and scoured the city for all the fun, kitschy souvenirs I could find (Insider)

• 5 Lessons Event Profs Can Learn From Upper-Class Airline Service (BizBash)

• The Best Graduation Gifts to Celebrate Huge Milestones at Every Age (Parents)

• Want a Relaxing Alternative to a California Road Trip? Hop on a Train. (AFAR)

• 8 gorgeous luxury hotels that start under $150 a night, from a Bali jungle mansion with 5 pools for $86 to a castle-like villa in Italy for $137 (Insider)

• The Ultimate Packing List for Flying With Kids (Travel + Leisure — digital and digital issue)

• 9 eco-friendly things you can do on any vacation that sustainable-travel experts say add up to make a big difference (Insider)

• 11 One-and-done Travel Dresses Under $50 That Will Make Any Mom Feel Comfortable and Stylish (Travel + Leisure)

• The 20 Best Luxury Travel Accessories of 2023 (Travel + Leisure)

• 38 of the Best Luxury All-Inclusive Resorts in the World (Town & Country)

• The Best Things to Do in Los Angeles (Esquire)

• The Best Things to Do in Las Vegas (Esquire)

Open jobs

Job posts in this newsletter are now free! Have an open opportunity you want me to promote? Share it with me at info@alicedubin.com.

• Quinn PR is hiring an account executive in the New York City area. The ideal candidate will have two+ years of PR agency experience working on travel, FWS, or lifestyle brands and must demonstrate they have current and relevant media relationships. Candidates can learn more and apply here.  

• Quinn is also hiring an assistant account executive in the Los Angeles area. The ideal candidate will have some PR agency experience (not required) and an interest or experience in working on travel or hospitality brands. Candidates can learn more and apply here.  

Work with me

• Here’s how to pitch: Simply respond to this email with a new subject line or pitch me at pitch@alicedubin.com.

• Are you a writer hoping to reach my engaged list of publicists? A publicist hoping to connect with brands? A digital media type with a product or service for the industry? Maybe you’d like to sponsor this newsletter with a featured ad. Let’s chat: info@alicedubin.com.

• Yes — thanks for asking! — I am also available for project-based consulting.

How to help

• Donate to American Friends of Magen David Adom, the International Committee of the Red Cross and Save the Children.

• Donate to the Hawaii Community Foundation’s Maui Strong fund and the Maui Humane Society.

• Donate to the Anti-Defamation League to support the fight against hate.

• Donate to Moms Demand Action and Everytown.

• Donate to Planned Parenthood.