Why January is the time to pitch (and land BIG deals!) 🌟
Issue #113
This issue is brought to you by Stay22.
Happy New Year, Wildly Successful Travelpreneur!
I hope that 2025 brings you many opportunities, exciting sponsorships, and prosperous partnerships!
I’m officially in my last month of pregnancy and just about ready to POP. But I’m also so buzzed about all the exciting opportunities that have already presented themselves to me in this first week of the year.
If you want a little snapshot, follow me on Threads (my fave place on the internet at the moment). By the way, I even had a post go viral on there over the weekend, just coz I shared a travel blogging win 👀👇
So, to keep up the momentum of this new year's energy, I’ll be sending out this email as long as I’m able to. If I disappear for a while though, just know I’m probably busy bringing a new little traveler into the world (and recovering from it).
Now, let’s get into the juicy bits…
Did you know January is prime pitching season for creators? Seriously, if you’ve been dreaming about landing brand deals, there’s no better time to make it happen.
Let me explain why:
💰 New Budgets, Fresh Opportunities
Brands just got their 2025 budgets, and guess what? They’re actively looking for ways to spend them—on creators like YOU. Start pitching now while the budgets are wide open.
🎯 Fresh Strategies = Big Wins
In Q1, brands are brainstorming their annual strategies. They’re eager to experiment, try fresh ideas, and work with new voices. This is your chance to slide into their inbox with the perfect pitch.
📆 Plan Now, Thrive Later
Securing a partnership now sets you up for future opportunities. Brands don’t just plan one-off campaigns; they plan for the whole year. This means landing a deal in January could turn into a long-term partnership (hello, recurring income!).
Need help crafting the perfect pitch and negotiating a mutually beneficial deal? Check out THE PITCH VAULT!
It’s packed with templates and tips to help you pitch like a pro, even if you’re just starting out.
Whether you're a UGC creator, influencer, or blogger, there’s room for YOU in the campaigns brands are planning right now. Don’t let imposter syndrome hold you back—your unique perspective is what they need to stand out in 2025.
So, what are you waiting for? Dust off your media kit, polish your pitch and start reaching out. I’m cheering you on every step of the way!
Let’s make this your most successful year yet. I’m here to help every step of the way.
You’ve got this! 🚀
With excitement,
Daniella
P.S. Need personalized advice? My Pitching Power Hour Coaching Sessions are designed to help you perfect your strategy and land the deals you deserve.
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👉 Did you know I have a collection of freebies for travel content creators too? Find them all here!
👉 Does Blogging feel like a Never-Ending Hustle? Let’s change that. The Blogger Breakthrough Summit was created for bloggers like you — driven, creative, and ready to make a real impact but stuck trying to figure out how to get there.
👉 Looking for insider tips for planning your own dream trip to Europe? Sign up for the free DIY Trip Summit!
Please do *not* mention me as the person who referred you in your applications and pitch emails. Just because I'm sharing these with you does not mean I am a reference and dropping my name won’t help you get the job :)
👉 The Toronto Star is looking for “...smart, evocative destination features and/or personal essays reflecting on meaningful travel experiences.” Pay: ~$300-$500 CAD for ~600-1,000 words. Writers may be based anywhere. If interested, email Wing Sze Tang at editor@waywordmedia.ca to request pitching guidelines *before* sending ideas. Include a brief bio and a link to your best travel writing sample.
👉 Mustard is a platform that connects creators with restaurants. Typically, the restaurant will provide dining credit + a small payment in exchange for content. Check out their website to see which cities around the USA they operate in.
👉 World of Cruising needs journalists familiar with wildlife/conservation, LGBTQ+ friendly cruise destinations, Cape Verde, and the Windward Islands (Dominica, Saint Lucia, Trinidad, and Tobago). £0.23 per word.
👉 Nat Geo: Starlight Williams shared she’s looking for smart (not academic), interesting (not just to you), and relevant (to a global audience) pitches to fill the winter/spring calendar.
👉 T+L India & South Asia: Is looking to commission for its upcoming issues at T+L India & South Asia on two themes- 1) Romance: Connecting travel to the idea of romance through couples and the idea of romanticization of a place through your eyes. 2) Summer Travel: With a subfocus on culture, let's redefine summer travel for the South Asian diaspora.
👉 The Points Guy: Is looking for a reporter to cover the airline, aviation and travel industries. The reporter must be able to cover breaking airline news as well write longer-term features that help establish The Points Guy as one of the top sources for must-read aviation content.
👉 Matador Network is Hiring a Podcast Short-Form Video Editor. The Podcast Short-Form Video Editor will help us create captivating vertical social video clips to promote two podcasts: No Fixed Address and Creator: The Podcast.
👉 Innsbruck Tourism is hosting a Ski and City Press Trip, taking place Wednesday 29th – Sunday 2nd February and we have one space available! Flights booked from Gatwick, hotel, and all meals included. Needs to be UK National Outlet or UK Glossy Magazine with substantial coverage. No influencers/bloggers for this one just press, please. If you're interested, please email me at hannah@shepherd-pr.com, and I can provide a more in-depth itinerary.
👉 Getting married in 2025? Check out our guide to planning a honeymoon in Zanzibar (where we had ours) if you want romance in a tropical destination.
👉 The 2025 Bansko Nomad Fest is looking for speakers for its event taking place in Bulgaria in June. “Each year our conference program is an important part of Bansko Nomad Fest. It’s a chance for Nomads to share their insights, and experience and provide inspiration on a wide range of topics with the global nomad community. Whether you're an entrepreneur, remote work expert, digital creator, or thought leader, we’d love to hear from you.”
👉 The Adventure Travel Trade Association has opened media applications for its 2025 signature events in the USA and Chile. If selected, you will be fully hosted, including flights and activities. Traditionally, they accept earned media and journalists but take applications from bloggers and influencers as well. The hosted positions are limited and competitive. If you’re interested in attending, apply by January 15th.
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Until next week (or the next issue),
Happy pitching!
Daniella
PS. When you’re ready, here are a few ways I can help you 👉 https://beacons.ai/daniellaschoeman