Happy Thursday! I think Stripe is finally working. So, if you’ve been thinking about doing a paid subscription, now is the time. Also, new assignments from Real Simple are below. If you are a pro organizer or rep one, you’ll want to take a look.
That Makes You Look Bad and Maybe I’m the Worst
One mistake I see publicists making over and over again (and over and over again) is sending me their client’s answers without editing them. Now, if it's a last-minute thing and we’re in a rush, there may not be time, and that’s not what I’m talking about. But when you’ve got a few days to get answers to a relatively easy question (I write about interior design and lifestyle—we’re not saving the world here), and it’s not proofread, spellchecked, or properly formatted, it’s a problem. Doing all of these things takes five to ten minutes, and I don’t want to be that jerk (well, maybe), but your client is paying you a lot of money. If you aren’t editing their answers, you aren’t doing them justice.
Grammarly is free.
Also, (don’t @ me for this), you can try ChatGPT. Now, I am 100% against using AI to create content. I’ve had it create content for me—no, I didn’t submit it, and it wasn’t published. But I asked it to write an article because I was curious to see how it worked. It was terrible. I also know when your client uses it to create answers.
However, you can ask it to proofread for you. The prompt is simple: Proofread: [Text]. You can also ask what it changed, and it will give you a list. This is a fair use of AI, and I’m all for it.
Then you copy the text from ChatGPT to your email or a Google Doc, and it’s formatted beautifully.
Again, this is the minimum of what you should be doing.
Lastly, when you send me answers as a PDF, it makes me want to scream into a pillow. My computer (not sure if others do) often has an issue with copying and pasting PDFs—it won’t separate any of the sentences or paragraphs. I don’t have the time or energy to add spaces and decipher paragraph breaks, especially if something is long.
ALL CAPS
Do you EVER see all caps on Forbes? On major publications? ON ANY PLACE BUT SUBSTACK? I get that your client feels strongly about a particular point, but it’s just something else I have to edit. Italics, please. Or nothing. JUST WRITE THE SENTENCE!
What I’m Working On For Real Simple
Please email AmandaLauren212@gmail.com and use the word Substack in the subject line.
Would love responses by Monday AM EST
Things To Throw Out Under Your Kitchen Sink
What’s been living there too long? What do you need to throw out?
Would love responses by Tuesday AM EST
Organizing Projects That Have The Most Impact On Your House
Does it make sense to do your pantry?
What about your bedroom closet?
What projects make the most sense if you can’t organize your entire home?
Would love responses by Wednesday AM EST
Things To Declutter From Your Bathroom At The End Of The Summer
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.