Have you picked up the Better Homes & Gardens Stylemaker issue?! If not, hurry and get one! This year, I’m one of them! I cannot express just how much it means to be featured in this way, especially given my history with the BH&G team and attending the event for years (read 2016 and 2017 recaps here)

My feature was part of their Throwback section, which they have in every issue. It’s just what it sounds like: it showcases a concept/idea from an older issue and gives a modern take on it. This throwback was surrounding travel. I have been connected to the editors of the magazine via Instagram since I’ve attended the Stylemaker event so many years in a row, and my frequent travels caught their eye! They asked me to select a few travel essentials that would be great for their readers!

Can you believe it? Of course, I said YES!

The Better Homes & Gardens Stylemaker Event

Not only am I one of 17 featured Stylemakers in the issue, but I will also be on a panel at the annual Stylemaker event, being held on September 27 in New York!

You may remember when I blogged about last year and shared why it’s my favorite blogger/influencer event, and I can’t believe that this year I’m going to be there in this capacity. I will be alongside Erica Metzger, Beauty & Fashion Director for the Get the Shot panel. We’ll be sharing tips for lighting, posing, and how a few makeup tweaks can polish your look. I am so excited!! Check out this video from last year. You’ll see me a couple of times. 🙂

Since sharing my recent success with BH&G on Instagram, I’ve been getting a lot of questions about how to get connected to members of the media for contributing writing and features. Being completely honest, I think it’s a pinch of luck, a lot of skill, and having an idea at the right time.

If you want to write for a magazine…

Figure out who the editor is

If you want to write for a publication, whether it be local or national media, you need to know who the key players are in the game. For a publication, that would be the editor of the department you are interested in. If you don’t know who the editor is, you can look on some of the opening pages of a magazine and they are all listed. Google their names and see what kinds of stories they run. From there, you can get an idea of what their style is and how you can stand out when you reach out!

Have examples of work that you can link to

If you do not have an existing relationship with an editor, you’ll need to share examples of work. Having a robust press section on your site, a separate website with examples, and creating consistent, quality content are all factors in helping you make an impression with an editor. You must have something to show for it, beyond just Instagram.

Timing is everything

Most publications work well in advance, so you want to time your pitch accordingly. Don’t pitch holiday content in November. They are already working on spring!

Follow Up and Be Direct

I feel like people reach out and if they don’t hear anything, they assume the other party isn’t interested. Sometimes that’s the case, but often times it is NOT. You must follow up. People get inundated with hundreds of emails a day, so make sure to follow up and have a direct subject line.

I hope you found this helpful and informative!! Please let me know if you find a copy, and take a selfie with the Better Homes & Gardens Stylemaker issue  and tag #TheKachetLife. I want to see you enjoying this with me.

 

xo,

Kachet

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Photos by Mae Batista