Inbox zero and happy Hanukkah!
If you’re still around your inbox this year, hello! I am too. But I’m trying to keep the stress to a minimum, with just a few remaining stories for the year (open press opps listed below).
On Friday, I challenged myself to move through every single unread email in my work and personal inboxes. (I mark emails as unread when they require action on my part — so the last batch can be especially onerous). And I actually did it! Inbox zero feels even better than you think it will. I briefly felt like I could climb Everest! (Now I’m kind of scared to open my inbox again for pitches, but such is the nature of the game.)
Last night marked the beginning of Hanukkah, and it’s felt good and festive around here. My kids are only in it for the presents, though. So hit me with all the magic parenting hacks for meaningfully imparting philanthropic, environmental, and nonmaterialistic values to 8-year-olds who are just waiting for you to stop talking about values so they can tear into the Robux, Hot Wheels, and Baby Alive.
Speaking of festive occasions, please join me in wishing a very happy birthday to fellow Substacker and lifestyle writer Aly Walansky!
Tools of the trade
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 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 recently) hosts a 3-day program for pitching media. Once a seasonal event, she’s now made it available on-demand (!) and ready when you are.
She’s sharing her seven ingredients to land TV segments, online features, and podcast interviews that generate serious bank. You get the masterclass, a personal branding workbook, and a fill-in-the-blanks pitch template. And for some reason, she’s offering all of this for $37. It’s a steal, so don’t let it pass you by.
Open press opportunities
For Woman’s Day, I’m working on a pair of similar stories: gifts for bat mitzvahs and gifts for bar mitzvahs. Please pitch away, with a price point sweet spot around $50.
For Woman’s Day, I’m also working on galentines day gift ideas. Sweet spot around $40. [Covers eyes and kisses inbox zero goodbye.]
Recently published or updated
23 of the best places you should travel to in the US in 2023 (Insider)
13 tattoos that powerfully represent people's mental health journeys (Insider)
Amazon's List of Its Most Popular Items From the Year Is Filled With Genius Gift Ideas for Travelers (Travel + Leisure)
This Popular Weekender Bag From a Meghan Markle-loved Brand Is 25% Off Right Now (Travel + Leisure)
15 Festive and Delicious Hanukkah Desserts (Good Housekeeping)
How to Return Gifts From Amazon Without the Sender Knowing (Good Housekeeping)
The 8 Best Motion Sickness Remedies of 2022 (Travel + Leisure)
Holiday Feasts (cover story in the print issue of Where Los Angeles)
7 Social Media Tips to Grow Your Destination Wedding Business (travel industry trade The Compass, print feature, pages 64-69)
Signs that you might be trauma-dumping instead of just venting, according to psychologists (Insider)
The 12 Best Matching Sets for Travel of 2022 (Travel + Leisure)
The 68 Best Comfortable Shoe Deals Ahead of Black Friday — Up to 82% Off (Travel + Leisure)
9 Vegetarian Cookbooks That Make Eating Healthy Delicious (Woman’s Day)
The 12 Best Cameras for Kids of 2022 (Verywell Family)
Article Sofa Review: At Home with Article’s Sven Sofa (Living Cozy)
101 Positive Quotes for Life to Improve Your Mindset (Woman’s Day)
37 Unique Gifts for Bakers Who Have Everything (Woman’s Day)
10 Genius Products to Organize Your Luggage for Holiday Travel — All Under $25 (Travel + Leisure)
7 Best Bath Advent Calendars for Festive Spa Days at Home (Woman’s Day)
17 Best Free Christmas Bingo Games (Good Housekeeping)
This Brand New Cozy Fleece Puffer With Pockets Is Amazon's Best Fall Jacket Deal (Travel + Leisure)
This Genius Weekender Converts Into a Wrinkle-free Hanging Garment Bag — and It’s Just $34 Right Now (Travel + Leisure)
Samsonite’s Early Black Friday Sale Is Already Live — Shop Our 10 Favorite Deals (Travel + Leisure)
The 11 Best Laptop Cases of 2022 (Travel + Leisure)
How to sincerely and meaningfully apologize, according to psychologists (Insider)
After a Nurse on My Flight Jumped Into Action, He Told Me to Always Travel With This $33 First-aid Tool (Travel + Leisure)
What Is Hanukkah? The History and Meaning of the Festival of Lights (Woman’s Day)
The 26 Best Luggage Deals That Have Been Leaked Ahead of Amazon’s New Prime Day Sale Event (Travel + Leisure)
40 Best Sentimental Gift Ideas for Loved Ones (Woman’s Day)
20 Best Hanukkah Decorations to Make Your Celebration One to Remember (Good Housekeeping)
15 Best Hanukkah Party Ideas for a Fun and Festive Bash (Good Housekeeping)
What a Los Angeles local wants tourists to know before visiting, from weather advisories to drought warnings (all for Insider)
25 Best Nanny Gifts That Show Your Gratitude for Such an Important Job (Woman’s Day)
How to Find Short Sale Homes: A Guide for Buyers (HomeLight)
28 Gifts for Men Under $50 He’s Guaranteed to Love (Prevention)
9 Products That Support Social-Emotional Learning for Kids (Parents)
6 red flags that could signal trouble in a long-distance relationship (Insider)
15 cute kids’ birthday invitations to buy, email or DIY (Care.com)
7 Best Weekender Bags for Your Next Overnight Trip (Woman’s Day)
36 Unique 30th Birthday Gifts for All of Your Thriving Friends and Family Members (Good Housekeeping)
QR Codes: Your Business BFF (The Compass — travel agency B2B, print page 30)
I’ve Traveled Around the World With Amazon's Top-selling Backpack — Here’s My Review (Travel + Leisure)
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.
Dreamday, founded by the former VP of marketing at Ritual, is now hiring an experienced PR account executive to help service its growing team, which includes clients like Brightland, Fly by Jing, Girlfriend Collective, and more. Dreamday is a “collaborative, empathetic, and passionate remote-work environment and offers flexible vacation policy, health insurance, 401k with matching, gender-neutral parental leave, and more.” You need 3 to 5+ years experience. Contact: Jamie Werner, VP of communications, at jamie@dreamday.la
Book Launchers has two open jobs, which involve working on the media strategy and outreach for indie authors. They are:
Media coordinator: Full-time, working directly with the marketing manager on strategy and overseeing media for clients.
Book media specialist: Can be full-time or part-time, works under media coordinator, focuses more just on media pitching with clients on their plate.
Both roles are 100% remote work with flexible schedules. “We’re looking to hire immediately to ideally train before the holidays.”Modern Currency PR is looking to bring on a social media account executive with a passion for hospitality (food, travel, etc.), and a strong handle on social media. Applicants should be highly organized, creative, and passionate about PR/social media, and willing to be scrappy, proactive. Agency has a portfolio of award-winning luxury travel and hospitality clients, and a supportive and warm team environment. Applicants must have at least 1-2 years of direct experience in social media strategy/management. This position is fully remote but must be based in L.A. with the ability to be mobile for on-site client meetings, shoots, influencer tours, meet-ups etc. For more information and to submit a resume, reach out to Meghan Patke at meghan@moderncurrencypr.com.
Carma Connected is seeking a senior account executive to join the team at its Miami Beach office (hybrid schedule of remote/ in-office work). 4+ years of experience in luxury lifestyle PR required. Carma offers competitive salary, health insurance including dental and vision, 401(k) plan with profit sharing, flexible schedule, generous time-off policy and more. Please send resumes to careers@carmaconnected.com
KAYLEY Media is hiring a PR account manager in Web3 entertainment PR. Fully remote, part-time position with the intention to grow into full-time.
Rinck Advertising is actively seeking a public relations manager. “If you are passionate about growing in a high-performance culture that values respect, integrity, empathy, and courage,” apply. This is a remote, full-time, mid-level position with an opportunity for advancement.
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 the Anti-Defamation League to support the fight against hate.
Donate to Moms Demand Action and Everytown.
Donate to keep the Kyiv Independent going and keep Ukraine’s media going.
Donate to Planned Parenthood.
love you thank you for thinking of me!