For many people, summer means school breaks and long, lazy vacations. For lifestyle and brand publicists, it signals the start of holiday gift guide season and the mad dash to secure EOY coverage for clients. Yes, that's right! NOW is the time to pitch national magazines if you're hoping to see your products showcased on the pages of the glossies come November and December.
Here are three tips for pitching holiday gifts to major media outlets and their lifestyle editors:
1 - Keep your pitch brief
In 100 words or less, describe the item. Official product name, price, function, and where to buy. You could also include any well-known awards the product has earned recently, like a Good Housekeeping seal of approval or inclusion in Oprah's Favorite Things.
2 - Tell them who the gift is perfect for
Exactly who might be thrilled to receive this gift? Consider that many gift guides are tailored to personas, like luxury lovers, outdoorsy types, etc. Do a little research to find out how your target publications have categorized gift guides by recipient in the past; then in your pitches, make it easy for the individual editors to envision where this item will live on the pages of their magazine's gift guide.
3 - Send along samples if you can, and don't forget to share images
It's always a good idea to send a real-life sample of your gift if that's possible. Editors want to be sure that gadgets perform well. That little luxuries are made with fine materials. And that apparel and accessories look and feel great IRL. If you're pitching exclusively via email, it's critical that you send along high-quality images of the product shot on a clean white background. This makes it easier for editors to choose your product because it leaves less work for the magazine's art directors when layout begins.
If you want help securing top-notch media coverage of your best holiday gifts, let's talk SOON!
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