✨ Holiday + Back-to-School Focused: Get Holiday Ready: July Is Your Secret PR Superpower
🎒 BACK TO SCHOOL: SHORT-LEAD PITCHING STARTS NOW
Hey Chatterbugs! 🐝
It may be the middle of summer, but in the world of media, July marks the start of two of the biggest editorial opportunities of the year:
→ Back-to-School pitching
→ Holiday Gift Guide planning (yes, really!)
So, while everyone else is coasting through summer Fridays and sipping spritzes, this is your moment to get strategic. Here’s what you need to know to stay ahead of the game:
🎒 BACK TO SCHOOL: SHORT-LEAD PITCHING STARTS NOW
From classroom prep to lunchbox hacks, back-to-school content is already filling editorial calendars. Media outlets are covering:
Must-haves for preschool, elementary, and college students
Creative lunch and snack ideas for picky eaters
Organizing busy family mornings
Mental health tips for school transitions
Dorm decor + high school locker essentials
Pro tip: If your product or brand supports families, kids, or educators—now’s the time to pitch short-lead editors (think digital outlets, blogs, lifestyle shows, and quick-turn publications).
🎁 CHRISTMAS IN JULY: THE BIGGEST HOLIDAY PITCHING WINDOW
You’ve probably heard this term before, but here’s the truth:
Christmas in July isn’t a cute saying—it’s a legit PR deadline.
Print magazines and national outlets are assigning their holiday gift guide coverage right now. That means editors are on the hunt for:
Stocking stuffers
Gifts for kids, teachers, moms, dads, teens, and pets
Wellness and self-care items
Sustainable + small biz picks
Anything gifting-friendly in your category
📌 If you wait until October to pitch? It’s already too late.
HOW TO BE TOP OF MIND FOR HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDES
Here’s your three-step action plan:
1. Research Last Year’s Gift Guides
Look up who wrote about your category in 2024.
🔍 Google: “holiday gift guide + [your product type] + 2024”
Then make a list of journalists who covered it.
2. Set Google Alerts
Track terms like:
“Holiday gift guide 2025”
“[Your niche] gift guide”
“Christmas in July PR”
This keeps your finger on the pulse for upcoming assignments and call-outs.
3. Start Warming Up Relationships
Don’t send cold, generic pitches. Instead:
→ Follow the journalist on LinkedIn or Instagram
→ Engage with their content
→ Mention a past article in your email
→ Keep your pitch tight, timely, and include hyperlinks (never attachments!)
💡 BONUS: IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT PLACEMENT—IT’S ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS
As our journalist friends like Aly reminded us in her latest post—PR is about building reciprocal, not transactional, relationships. It’s not just “pitch and hope.” It’s about:
Being helpful (even when it’s not about your client)
Following up with value, not pressure
Celebrating a journalist’s win or recent byline
Treating them like the creative partners they are
The more you invest in them, the more likely they are to think of you when the right story lands on their desk.
🔓 Want to Master the Strategy?
Inside Cracking the Media Code: From Pitch to Placement, we break down exactly how to pitch strategically, research media contacts, write irresistible subject lines, and land top-tier placements—without feeling salesy or spammy.
It’s your PR toolkit for holiday pitching and beyond.
Let’s make July your secret weapon for a standout Q4.
xo, Amy
Helping brands get seen, remembered, and celebrated.
Back-to-School Buzz: Be Part of Our Exclusive Celebrity & Influencer Gifting Campaign! ✏️🎒
As families gear up for a new school year, Chatterbox is thrilled to launch our Back-to-School Celebrity & Influencer Gifting—your chance to get your brand into the hands of the trendsetters parents trust most. We’re curating two exclusive gift baskets: one for 10 top-tier celebrities and another for 10 influential content creators who shape what’s hot for back-to-school.
Whether your product is a classroom essential, lunchbox favorite, stylish staple, or a must-have for moms on the go—this is your moment to stand out. With limited spots and highly targeted recipients, this campaign is designed to maximize visibility and buzz right when parents are looking for solutions.
🎯 Secure your spot now and get your brand in front of the VIPs making back-to-school headlines.
MEDIA WIN: Melii’s Snackle Mini Featured by SheKnows! 🥳📣
We’re excited to share a major media win for our client Melii—their Snackle Mini was just featured in SheKnows as a must-have back-to-school essential for tweens, and it’s available now at Target! 🎯
In the article titled "Target Has a Bento Snack Box That's Perfect for Tweens & It's Under $10," SheKnows calls out how the Snackle Mini helps tweens snack independently with its customizable compartments and colorful, fun design. It’s the perfect lunchbox companion or after-school grab-and-go solution that parents and kids both love.
With visibility on a top-tier parenting site and placement at a major retailer like Target, this coverage is a powerful combo for awareness, credibility, and sales right in time for the back-to-school rush.
Big win, Melii! 👏
Until next time, keep crafting stories that matter with heart and responsibility.
Cheers, Amy
Work with Me: Elevate Your Brand with Tailored PR Solutions 🌟
At Chatterbox, we understand that every brand has unique PR needs. That's why we offer a range of services designed to fit different goals and capacities. Whether you're looking for comprehensive support, strategic guidance, or self-paced learning, we've got you covered.
🚀 Full-Service PR Retainer Package
Your Brand's Story, Told by Experts: Our all-inclusive retainer package is perfect for brands seeking end-to-end PR solutions. We handle everything - crafting compelling stories, securing media placements, managing your brand reputation, and more. Sit back and watch your brand's narrative unfold in the hands of our skilled team.
📈 PR Consulting: Custom Roadmap Creation
Empowering Your In-House PR Journey: Our consulting service provides a custom roadmap tailored to your brand, ideal for brands looking to build their PR capabilities internally. We equip you with the strategies, tools, and knowledge needed to execute a successful PR campaign in-house, guiding you every step of the way.
📘 The PR Formula Course: Cracking the Media Code
Learn at Your Own Pace, Make Your Own Impact: Launching soon is our self-paced course, 'Cracking the Media Code: From Pitch to Placement.' This comprehensive program is designed for brands eager to learn the intricacies of PR at their own pace. Covering everything from crafting the perfect pitch to securing media placements, this course is your step-by-step guide to PR mastery.
🌟 Celebrity and Influencer Seeding
Strategically Connecting Your Brand with the Stars: Dive into the world of celebrity and influencer marketing with our tailored seeding program. We handpick celebrities and influencers who are expecting, or have babies and toddlers, to receive your products six times a year—aligned with key seasonal moments: Spring/Easter, Mother's Day, Summer, Back to School, Fall, and the Winter Holidays. This service ensures your brand lands in the right hands at the right time, amplifying visibility and endorsement from those who lead trends and capture hearts.
🎬 Product Placement in TV and Movies
Your Brand in Every Scene: Elevate your brand's visibility with our product placement service, designed to integrate your products seamlessly into TV shows and movies. This service isn't just about having your product seen; it's about creating memorable moments that viewers associate with your brand long after the credits roll. Let us position your products within storytelling that speaks to your audience, crafting a narrative that extends beyond the screen and into the hearts of viewers.
Choose the service that aligns with your brand's vision or combine them for a comprehensive approach to brand elevation. At Chatterbox, we're here to tailor our expertise to your unique story, guiding you through every step of the PR journey.
🎈 Ready to Float Away?
We'll be sad to see you go, but we understand that inboxes can get crowded (just like our fun Chatterbox parties 🥳). If you need to step out and take a break from our newsletters, just click unsubscribe below.
to say goodbye. Just remember, our door is always open, and the Chatterbox family will welcome you back with open arms and a cheerful buzz anytime you want to rejoin the fun! 🐝
Until we meet again, keep buzzing with joy and creativity!