Happy Monday!
Just a heads up—I think I have nine or ten deadlines this week, someone coming to finally organize my closet, and an event or two. So I may not be super fast to answer emails. On a personal note, while I absolutely love my daughter and she is the cutest thing on Earth, I do slightly miss those days when I could knock out four articles and start a fifth (of vodka).
I’m starting with opps because one of them is a super tight turnaround (tomorrow AM). If you are or rep a pro organizer, you’ll definitely want in.
Or just skip to the advice part…
Real Simple Opportunities
Please make your subject line: Substack + Article Title
Things to Toss From Your Closet Before Fall
Deadline: 9/10 at 9:00 AM PST
Disgusting sneakers, clothes that don’t fit, that old dehumidifier, etc.
Sorry for the tight turnaround. Would love to hear from pro organizers!
Things to Declutter From Your Shower Right Now
Deadline: 9/12 at 9:00 AM PST
Thinking: empty shampoo bottles, products you used once and disliked, expired items, etc. I’m sure pro organizers see some gross loofahs.
Painting Projects You Can Do in a Weekend
Deadline: 9/13 at 9:00 AM PST
Thinking: powder rooms, dining rooms, and home offices. Would love to hear from interior designers!
No More Raw Dogging, Please
This advice will mostly apply to publicists, but I also believe anyone submitting on their own behalf should be held to the same standards. So, here’s my advice for the day.
No more raw dogging!
By raw dogging, I mean sending us your clients' unedited answers. Back in August, I shared a similar sentiment about proofreading, but honestly, you need to take things a step further. LEVEL THE FUCK UP!
Journalistic integrity is important, and I think most writers strive to be fair. But at the same time, writers have a bias for sources that make our lives easier, not more difficult. So, how can you make your lives easier?
LESS RAW DOGGING!
So what is raw dogging? Short answers that provide surface-level answers (even to very surface-level articles).
Pretend I’m writing an article about the best types of organizers to have in your fridge. Not brain surgery. Doesn’t require a PhD to answer.
Here’s the question I’d ask you:
What are the most useful refrigerator organizers?
Here’s a crappy answer:
“Egg holders are great for keeping your fridge organized. Whenever I organize a client’s fridge, I use them.”
Great, Claire! We know you’re a pro-organizer, but that’s not helpful and if you were my only source, I’d be screwed (which is also a highly underrated banger by Paris Hilton, but I digress). This answer probably won’t make my article.
Here’s a better answer:
“Egg holders are essential for organizing your fridge because they let you see how many eggs you have, so you don’t accidentally run out when making an omelet. I really like the ones from The Container Store.”
Then this will happen (like 100%): “The Container Store” will either link to that person’s personal affiliate (BIG NO!) or a link that looks like this, which is also a big no!
It literally takes two seconds to check and edit the link.
Here’s the best answer:
"Keeping track of fresh food can be a challenge for everyone, from home chefs to people who struggle not to burn toast. That’s why every organized fridge should have a clear egg container. These handy organizers let you see how many eggs you have at a glance, without opening up one of those flimsy boxes. They also protect the eggs from getting damaged. I usually buy two for my clients and stack them to maximize space.”
While I don’t need a senior thesis on egg containers, this last answer was thoughtful and provided helpful tips for readers. When sources (or their publicists) take the time to craft detailed and interesting answers (even for a subject like egg containers and this coming from someone who wrote an article called 5 Things You Can Do With Grass Clippings), I notice (and so do other writers). More importantly, I want to work with these publicists and sources again and again because I know I can rely on them for quality answers.
Here’s the other thing no one talks about….
And while I understand every client wants a major profile or feature on themselves, service pieces are a great way to shine. Help them demonstrate their expertise, and they may eventually get that bigger article. But it's hard to do that when someone can't answer the most basic questions. Remind your clients of this!
There are obviously exceptions to this rule. For example, if there’s a tight deadline, your client is on vacation, and we are super desperate (it happens)—just send us what you’ve got. But if you have four days to get your shit together together—GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER!
Lastly, (and this is harsh) you need to educate your clients on how to answer questions properly. Then, you need to go through and edit their responses. Even good answers can be improved. Elevate the quality—and don’t forget to check those links! If you don’t, we can tell you simply copied and pasted.
And if you enjoy copying and pasting, feel free to copy and paste this piece the next time your client sends in something they raw dogged.
A Bunch Of Plugs For Myself
Want more? Just starting? Need extra help? Here’s a shameless plug for additional PR services I offer.
I have a course called Pitch Please. It’s helpful, it’s entertaining and it can change your business forever. (It has and it will).
I also offer a larger package called Help Me Pitch. You get course access, I’ll write your pitches and share a media list so you can hit the ground running. Click the link and scroll down for more info.
On a budget? Download this $47 pitch template. It’s really helpful.
Want to chat online? (I promise I’m almost done), book me on Intro for media relations and interior design help.