Pitching Dos & Don’ts for Style, Beauty & Entertainment with Editor & On-air Host Jennifer Chan – Podcast Transcript

Episode 69 – Pitching Dos & Don’ts for Style, Beauty & Entertainment with Editor & On-air Host Jennifer Chan – Pitchin’ and Sippin’

Speakers: Lexie Smith, Jennifer Chan

Lexie Smith  

Jennifer Chan brings over 16 years of editorial authority and expertise as a fashion and beauty editor and on air host who has worked for leading publications including people.com in style.com Travel and Leisure, Lonely Planet StyleCaster and more. She frequently appears on-air as a style and beauty expert for Access Hollywood. Extra the list Amazon live KTLA E-News BT and more. She is well regarded for having led the fashion team at E-News and worked directly with Kim and Kourtney Kardashian don’t know if you’ve heard of them. As Senior Editor to the celebrity sisters has served as an in house brand director of PR and is the founder of her own personal blog Jen Chan glam.com. Her mission is to inspire real women to feel confident and stylish from the inside out through their fashion and beauty choices. This absolute triple quadruple threat takes us behind the scenes of all things glam today, as we explore PR TV and editorial for the style, beauty and entertainment industries. She gives us her best pro pitching tips, her personal pitching preferences, keen insight on how to make it in such a competitive market, the reality of deadlines and so much more. Her libations take me back to my childhood. Just you wait. And with that said, let’s dive in

 

Lexie Smith  

If you are at all interested in anything to do with style, beauty and entertainment, you are in for a freaking treat because we are pitching and chipping with an absolute triple threat today. I mean, you just heard her bio. Jennifer, welcome to the show. I have so much I want to get into you today. But first let’s kick it off with where is home base and what do you like to do outside of work for fun?

 

Jennifer Chan  

Thanks for having me. Lexie. Home Base is Los Angeles. I’ve lived all over the US and the world. But la will always be home and I think I’m a California girl through and through. And my favorite thing to do I mean, that’s such a hard question because I feel like I’m always working. But traveling is my favorite thing to do in the world. It’s also kind of part of my work too. So it’s sort of a trick answer. But I would be remiss to say that that’s got to be my favorite thing in the world. Okay, so

 

Lexie Smith  

next hard question. Then I need the top few favorite places you’ve been to? I will I did live

 

Jennifer Chan  

in Paris, for a couple of months. I didn’t Eat Pray Love Like sabbatical a couple years ago. And so Paris is my favorite city in the world. Got to give, you know, a lot of love to the city of lights. Um, I also discovered Lisbon Portugal, I was over there and hopped around Europe. Um, you know, a great bit but I’m such a tropical girl. I spent an epic 10 days in Fiji. I’m never gonna say no to a trip to any island in Hawaii. I mean, I’m pretty much happy and as long as it’s warm. I have ocean views. Some good breezes and probably a Virgin Pina Colada in hand.

 

Lexie Smith  

Oh, my goodness. Okay, no, no, I’m totally like, go out, want to go on a whole tangent and start a whole new podcast and talk all about travel. I’ve been to Paris. I love Paris. It’s beautiful. Lisbon. My parents went to a pre-pandemic a couple years ago, pre pandemic’s Maybe a few years ago, and now they’re so obsessed with it. They’re nearing retirement and they want to go live over there for some time. So now it’s on my bucket list. And now you’re saying you like it, too. So

 

Jennifer Chan  

literally, it’s totally underrated. I feel like it’s one of those magical romantic cities that you just don’t hear about that’s over in Europe, and it’s walkable like it has these beautiful mosaic tile buildings. Everyone’s charming. Most of them speak English so you can totally get by with, you know, great Portuguese egg tarts. I can’t say enough and it’s right by the water. So you can literally just walk up to the waterfront and then turn around and you’re in a city as well. So it’s kind of like this old world charm that’s also coastal. I love it so much,

Lexie Smith  

 There we go. Some great PR for Lisbon. Tourism Board. If you are listening, you can sponsor this podcast. Okay, I love traveling. I’m with you on that. Let’s go into career. So you have what many, many people would consider an absolute dream career. Rewind us back in time. Talk us through your journey, how you got started and lead us up to today?

Jennifer Chan  

Well, you know, I’ve always known that I wanted to be a fashion and beauty editor. I was a writer like I was, I hate to say that. But I was like a gifted writer. In elementary school, I won several writing contests. In first grade was my first 1/3 grade, fourth grade. And I remember my third grade teacher pulling me aside and telling me at recess, she was like, promise me you’ll be a writer, because it’s such a talent. And not a lot of people have it, and please don’t waste it. And I was eight years old. And I looked at her and I said, Okay, I promise. And that’s really when I decided, like, this is what I’m going to be, I’m gonna be a writer. I made the promise, I didn’t think I would turn around and think about it otherwise. And then as I got a little bit older, I became obsessed with fashion and beauty and poring over glossy magazines, and realizing that a lot of the models of the celebrities that I saw, didn’t look anything like me, you know, back then it was I mean, I would say today’s red carpet looks very different than what celebrities on a red carpet looks like, even 10 years ago, let alone 20. So I kind of made it my mission to like if I could do something to change the way the perception of beauty and to feel more accepted as a minority woman who, you know, isn’t OSI zero, and probably never will be OSI zero. I would love to be a part of that. And today, I mean, it’s 2022. That is very much the mission that we’re all behind. And I’m so proud to be a part of it. But I would say early on in my life, I kind of saw this as a big reason why I wanted to work in media, and really a forefront of everything I did. So I started interning in high school, I just knew that this was what I was meant to do. I got several internships before I even started college. And I was also a model in high school. So I grew up in Houston, Texas, and I actually had this great fortune of doing like the back to school and Prom fashion shows locally, every season, which gave me direct experience with what PR was. And so I worked with the PR and special events team as a model. But I also started interning for them in high school when I was literally still juggling, you know, a high school plate and I interned for the PR and special events department and I went on ghosties. And we booked models for the catalog and I would go to the catalog shoot. And I would help with special events and stuff, gift bags and just kind of learn the ins and outs of what PR was way before. Most people were even thinking about that as a viable path. And I just wanted to learn everything I could about fashion and beauty. And I had a leg up because they had booked me as a model that they were agreeable to let me come along with them. And I kind of found a mentor really early on. I ended up going to Pepperdine for college, and here in California. And I double-majored in journalism and public relations. So I’m such a crazy overachiever that I was like, Well, if it doesn’t work out as an editor, I’ll become a publicist. And, so I double majored in both and I just decided, like, I’m going to learn the ins and outs of both fields so that I’ll be like doubly prepared and I’ll never fail anything. And in college, I mean, I’m still great friends with everyone I went to school with and I’m dating myself on how old I am. But it’s been a long time. It’s been almost 20 years since I started my undergrad, when I embarked on that so I actually, you know, I was just really hell-bent on this is what I was gonna do. All of my professors knew it. I was interning by the time I graduated college, I had seven internships. And it was like, almost neurotic because senior year, I was taking almost all my classes so that I could intern for free full time and drive from Malibu to La so that I could intern at Women’s Wear Daily and InStyle magazine and just put in at least eight hours minimum a day. I mean, if they needed me longer to come to earlier work events for them, I would do it.

 

Jennifer Chan  

And I couldn’t have been happier. So I was also the fashion editor of my campus paper. And it was a very Carrie Bradshaw moment because I had a weekly column. And students would write in questions about, you know, what should I pack for spring break? Or what should I wear to my first, you know, internship interview, you know, college-style questions like that. And I could write about whatever I wanted. So it gave me, you know, a really fun outlet to just start writing and flexing my fashion expertise. And I would say one of the biggest things I got to do while an undergrad was intern at Women’s Wear Daily, and they also, you know, actually let me write and publish an article that ran in the publication. Also, while I was an undergrad with a byline and, and everything a fashion feature, and that I got to just completely own which was amazing. Um, so yeah, that was kind of how it started. And I just knew that I was in the right place. With every internship, I just kept getting more affirmation that this is where I was meant to be. And then I moved to New York. And I kept going, I never really stopped. And I would say, 16 years later in the industry, I have never stopped hustling and showing up with a drive and a positive outlook on what I want to do every day and continually being kind to everybody, no matter what level they are in the pyramid. Um, and I’ve had some really incredible experiences. So I can get into each one of them if you want, or we can slow down a little bit. No, it’s

 

Lexie Smith  

just no, this is absolutely amazing. Also, for anyone who isn’t located or where in the Los Angeles area, the Pepperdine campus, oh my god, it’s this campus in Malibu over basically across the street from the ocean. It is beyond gorgeous. So very in alignment with your love of all things tropical. And with that note, I actually had quite a few really great interns that I hired from Pepperdine for PR. Yeah. That turned out to be great.

 

Jennifer Chan  

They have a great communications program there.

 

Lexie Smith  

Yeah, they must, because they were all really kick ass. But anyways, I digress. Okay, so you pointed something out, which is amazing. And that is that you have both experience in PR in media, which I think is such a treat for being a guest on the show, because we speak and we learned about both sides of the hat. So beyond your media credentials. Jennifer, you also served as a director of PR. So I want to talk about that moment when you flipped hats. How did that come to be? What was that, like? Talk us through that journey?

 

Jennifer Chan  

Sure. So I actually attended a media event as a journalist for a new skincare brand. And I connected with the founder, as I typically do if they’re if they happen to be at the event. And we really hit it off. A couple of weeks later, we had stayed in touch and long story short, she ended up hiring me to be her first Director of Brand PR and moved me to Chicago, where I was, you know, in charge of the agency partnership, and I led a team and managed an assistant in the role and kinda was in charge of just getting the brand out there. And it was a really big job. And I will be very honest, I didn’t think I could do it initially, because I had had, at that point, maybe 13 years of straight editorial experience. And I was like, Well, I’ve never had a PR job. But, you know, it reminded me of why I had my degree way back when. And if anyone knows how PR works. It’s a journalist because I work and talk to PR people every day in and out more than anyone else in my life. And I actually do know what works. And I certainly know it doesn’t work. So with that lens on every day, it actually served me really, really well. And I did all of this in person, deciding meetings with editors. If anything, I think it gave the brand more credibility that a former editor was now in charge of the PR for a brand that I really believed in. And it gave our desk sides a totally different point of view because I would start it by saying hey, I’ve been on your side of the desk, I usually am on your side of the desk. This is the one brand that made me flip everything on its head and like this is how much it’s you know how much it’s changed my life like you should. Here’s the product and it served us really well. We ended up winning seven industry awards during my time there including allure, best of beauty. We had a national infomercial, we were in all doors at Sephora Ulta Nordstrom, every retailer you could want and for me I learned so many more skills. A I learned how hard it is to be in PR. It’s 1000 times harder and more challenging. And to a certain degree you constantly have to be innovative. And, you learn so many more skills, you have balanced budgets, you have to come up with an event, you’re just constantly recording and tracking and following up and doing everything you can to be a cheerleader for one brand. So I feel like I learned all these skills that I never knew I really had when you’re a journalist, you know how to report and research and write and edit and publish. And those five things don’t really change no matter how high up you got, they’re really the same. But in PR or marketing. It’s a constant evolution. I’m really grateful that in that case, a founder saw my potential, and that I tried it out for a couple of years. And I did return to journalism, obviously, but I feel much stronger as an expert, because I had that experience under my belt.

 

Lexie Smith  

I mean, I just have to say that the founder scored by inviting you and bringing you in house because yes, you’ve been able to have sat in the seat of an editor’s editor. Wow. Right. Not only is that a conversation starter, but it gives you this really unique perspective and ability to communicate with the media. You did though go back to the world of media, and there’s another hat that you to this day continue to wear. And that is hosting being a host and on air correspondent I mean, you’ve hosted for and still host for Access Hollywood, extra MSN, KTLA, NBC, the list goes on my question for you here. You know, throughout this interview, we’re going to talk about PR tips, media tips, there’s a lot of different hats that you can speak to, for anyone listening, that wants to land a segment on air, any just high level tips, do’s or don’ts that they should keep in mind,

 

Jennifer Chan  

I would say it’s really important to think like a journalist, even if you’re trying to be on air, because at the end of the day, it’s kind of always about the content. And the way you package a segment is like how you would package a story, or how I would pitch an article to an editor in order for it to get published. And so you have to think of the beginning, the middle and the end, and you’re filling in the meat. And you’re you have to find the very best standout products or expert tips that you have. And I think you should be approachable and friendly, which is kind of the same way approach an introduction of any story I write, and then you got to close it out with a call to action, which is exactly how I would end the story. Um, so it’s kind of the same. I mean, it’s so interesting when I have banter with producers about what my next segment will be. And they always comment that it’s so great that I have a journalist background because they don’t have to feed me anything. I will actually tell them, here’s what’s trending, here’s what everyone is, you know, SEO is popping off on this topic, or this celebrity or this beauty trend. Because I already know that from my own editorial background, now I can bring it to life for our on camera audience. So I think it serves me really well. Um, and I would say the high level is to take everything that you can get. I mean, the fact that I’m on Access Hollywood and extra and really big outlets today is because I have been working towards this for a decade or more. I always had this in the back of my head that this was actually my North Star. This was really what I wanted to be doing long term. But in order for me to get there 10 years ago, I was taking every little hosting gig I could get and happy to do it I hosted I’d been hosting for Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom standing in a mall hosting a fashion show to any mall shopper who would stop and give me five minutes and explain the trends to them. And I hosted you know, the Los Angeles Chinatown festival during Chinese New Year for the community and I’m on stage for eight hours I’m seeing, you know, acrobats or a magic show, like anything at all just to like connect with the community and to flex my muscle of carrying a show and bringing people in and keeping things on a on a flow for you know, the nature of entertainment. And so, you know, it’s funny because I get actually a lot of DMS from girls who want to be hosted or who see a segment they’re like, how did you get to do that? And I don’t have a great answer except I’ve been working towards this for a decade or more actually more. A really long time and way before I was ever in front of a camera. I was behind a computer for much longer of my career. So it’s kind of all come to fruition but it was with a lot of grit and sacrifice and just willing to do a lot of things for a long time with the hope and dream that someday it will all be realized. And I’m happy to say that it’s coming to that point now.

 

Lexie Smith  

And I mean, just all the congratulations and high fives and, and clapping and thank you for being really honest with the timetable. And we’re going to go over into the editorial world in a second here. But a little last question. You know, we talked briefly about PR hosting, and we’re going to go to the editorial of those three worlds. Do you have a favorite child?

 

Jennifer Chan  

Definitely, TV is my favorite child. I actually, you know, when I say I’ve been wanting to do this for a really long time, I mean, I have videos from my family when I was like little bitty and I would hold a flashlight and pretend like it was on microphone, and walk around my house as a little kid and pretend like I had my own TV show. So I’ve been wanting this for a long time. Writing always felt safe because I knew I had this skill thanks to my third grade teacher telling me that I did. Um, so I always thought even if I never was on TV, at least I got to do one of my dreams. Um, I think it’s. I think it’s crazy crazy. Everyday I pinch myself that I get to fully live out all of my dreams.

 

Lexie Smith  

Hey, guys, it’s Lexie here. If you enjoy this show, then I’m guessing you’re someone who loves knowledge or resources learning. And you could appreciate a good punter too. If I am nailing it right now, then I also know that you would absolutely love the PR weekly roundup sent out every Tuesday. I give the members of my community a round up of resources, tips, event invites, knowledge, nuggets, freebies, and so much more. It’s really simple to jump on the list. All you gotta do is head to the PR inc.com/newsworthy to sign up. We’ll put that link in the show notes of course. Okay, back to the show. Here’s a little pop culture and you might give me a double no on this. Have you ever seen the show the bold type or the movie 13 going on 30.

 

Jennifer Chan  

I have seen 13 going on 30. I have not seen the bowl type. Okay.

 

Lexie Smith  

We’ll go with 13 going on 30 bowl types. Here’s a little shout out for Hulu, if you liked 13 going on 30. And like the behind the scenes glitz and glam of all things magazine, I highly suggest it. But what I was why I brought those up is I think that’s one movie that shows us some idea of a day in the life of what it might look like, at you know, a fashion magazine. So I’d love to hear from you. Behind the scenes a day in the life of a fashion and beauty eCommerce editor at one of the biggest media groups in the world to 13 going on 30 Get it right. Is it different? Walk us through that?

 

Jennifer Chan  

Yeah, so I mean, currently, I’m still working at, you know, in the magazine industry, which is hard to say, given just the terrain of how things have gone. But, um, I have worked in magazines, I mean, my first job out of college was at a glossy magazine in New York, and it was a dream come true. And I moved on to InStyle. And I’ve worked at once where the list goes on. And now I’m back at InStyle and also at People magazine. So I would say that movie and Devil Wears Prada, they weren’t too far off base at all there. There are definitely closets of you know, if you’re in the fashion department, there’s a huge, endless fashion closet, if you’re in the beauty department, there’s a huge endless beauty closet. And it’s massive and robust and when you’re starting out in your career, if you’re so lucky to be in that position, you’re likely going to be the one organizing it. So I would say it is as glamorous as it may look or sound. My best tip is to go in with zero ego. And to you know, just roll up your sleeves and do anything and everything no matter what level you are, whether you’re an assistant or a director. I mean, I’ve been on my hands and knees not that long ago, where I’m you know, boxing things are unboxing things. I just unbox them every single day, and I break down boxes and bring them to the recycling bin today. And I’ve been doing this for over 16 years, and I did the exact same skill when I was just starting out. So as glamorous as it is, I would say the people that are able to stay in the game are the ones that really are in it for the right reasons, and really have the grit and determination and zero ego like you this is it’s very, um, I would say competitive but it’s once you’re in and you’ve proven yourself, it’s hard to leave, if you could because you just love it. Like I certainly could have chosen different fields. At this point. I could have deviated, I could have started my own line. I could have, you know, a million different different ways and a lot of former editors have gone in that direction. And for some reason my love of editorial has kept me right where I am. I’ve definitely expanded my repertoire and I do a lot More than just editorial which makes my life a lot more chaotic, but also that much more fulfilling. But I think if your heart was truly an editorial, it’ll always be there. And you kind of just have to learn to roll with the punches. Now, like you mentioned earlier, I’m on the E commerce side, where this division didn’t exist, even I would say, seven years ago, five years ago, it’s still relatively new to every publishing house.

 

Jennifer Chan  

When I started in journalism, it was very church and state in terms of like editorial versus advertising, or, you know, sponsorships, and now there is a lot more gray, because the only way to survive as a publisher is to essentially have affiliate links, and to make those recommendations where consumers are coming to these publishers use publications for shopping advice, or recommendations vetted by experts, ie editors. And that didn’t exist before. And you know, we’re no longer getting our news only from publications, traditionally, you’re getting your news from social media and Twitter and you know, lots of other ways. So you have to continually evolve and I’m so grateful that I jumped on the digital way before. Digital was a thing . My first job online was in 2000 six@instyle.com. And at the time, dot coms were like the ugly stepchild of publishing like nobody cared if you had a vogue.com nobody read it, like we were all about print. That’s all day. But I remember when the opportunity came to take on the fashion and beauty position@instyle.com I jumped at it. And I distinctly remember friends on the print side asking you why you would do that if they thought it was like the kiss of death. Because it was just like you weren’t seeing you weren’t really valued. Nobody reads it up calm, it was essentially just lifted from the print and then like, put on the website. That’s what most people assumed a website would be. Um, but instyle.com was one of the Forerunners in actually innovating and coming up with original content that you didn’t see in the print. And I kind of capitalize on the fact that I was so young and scrappy. And at that point in my career I knew that our reader was also young and scrappy. And they might like to look at the glossy magazine and see the designer gown for 1000s of dollars. But in real life, they’re probably going to h&m or Zara, and looking for something similar. So I launched a lot of sections for the website, look for less as my baby, I created it in 2006. And it sounds you know, like, it sounds ancient now. But at the time, nobody was doing that. And I created a section called Where can I find it and it was a daily gallery. And it was literally where can I find Jennifer Lopez’s jacket? Where can I find holly berries, you know, buy high boots, and I would I would ideas and then we would link we would we call it click to buy it was very straightforward click to buy. And I would link the exact, you know, Balenciaga bag or the exact, you know, just up these naughty boots on Bloomingdale’s calm. And we didn’t get a cut of that today. It’s all turned on its head, but it was just kind of like a public service I did. Because I was able to identify it for them. And that way it gave PR and fashion brands and retailers this very exciting moment where they could actually get a placement that before you didn’t get it in the print magazine, there was enough room and they only could pick one gown or one by height booth. You’re done. Online. The world was plentiful. There were many options. I updated the gallery every day. So if it didn’t make it today, there’s always tomorrow and you could pitch me, you know, so it actually, I created these opportunities for PR and brands and retailers to find a new home. And to be able to say I was on instyle.com Even in 2006 when comms were kind of like not that popular was a huge accolade for a publicist, especially, you know, Junior publicists who were just getting their feet wet. So I kind of grew up like this. This legion of people that we’ve all kind of started together and a lot of us have grown together and now we’re all much more senior but sometimes we’ll see each other and they’ll be like we remember back then.

 

Jennifer Chan  

When things were so different, and I will add here that when I was doing all of those celebrity style features, technology was different in order for me to find the exact duplicate of Jessica Alba’s you know, blouse. I had to manually come through every single page of a website or every single I was I had tabs on tabs on tabs. Now there’s search engines and Teleki, and so many shortcuts. There’s Instagram. So like, in order for me to confirm that that designer was worn by that celebrity, I had to wait until a manager or an agent called me back and told me that was, that was what I thought or that was what I believe to be true. Now I can look at Instagram and see who tagged it, or follow the stylist and see, you know, it’s just so much easier. Yeah. But it makes me really grateful that I went through. I went through the ropes, and I learned it all because, you know, I kind of feel like I’ve, I’ve grown with the industry and had a hand and what it looks like today.

 

Lexie Smith  

Yeah, and thank you for painting that migration of more churches and states to what is gray. And for anyone listening who wants to really deep dive on affiliate links, season three, which we are on, you guys are listening to Episode One with Jen Bernsen. We go really deep into that world, technically. But on that note, Jennifer, my question for you is for any publicist, or business owner listening, who wants to get placement in any Commerce Department with one of the outlets you work with? What should they know? Should it be like, don’t even think about pitching us unless you have affiliate links? Or what are some of the things to know today?

 

Jennifer Chan  

Yeah, I would say affiliate links are essential. If it’s if you’re not an affiliate link, make sure that you’re ready to jump on one immediately, if I am able to respond to you and I show interest or I’m requesting a sample, that’s pretty much your green light to say, Okay, I got to get my stuff together, and I got to get on board immediately. And it doesn’t take a long time, we actually have a department that can set you up. And that’s usually I spend half of my emails, just forwarding it to my team to be like, handle it, handle it, handle it. And when they tell me, they’re signed up Greenlight, that I know that I can consider it for coverage, it’s not a guarantee, just because I reply back to you. And I say I would like to see a sample. It doesn’t obviously mean I’m going to cover it, but there’s a potential. And a lot of times even whether editorially or for broadcast, things happen so quickly, that I need it all to kind of be in place, when I need it to like I don’t have a lot of time. And if your brand isn’t ready, or they’re hesitant, or whatever, I will likely just move past you and skip it, you’re not going to get that placement. And I may or may not even look at it again, if that makes sense. I hate to be harsh, but like, it’s so competitive now. And I because I do not only editorial, but I do a lot of national TV. It’s just like, I’m inundated with pitches more than I ever have in my career. And I have to move really quickly and efficiently and be hyper organized. And I work with a team. So we can’t be held up. This actually happened recently where we were held up because one singular brand and a round up wasn’t ready. And it completely slowed it down for everybody. And I’m sort of, you know, in charge of making sure that cadence, that timeline doesn’t get backed up, because we have so many other things in motion. So I would say affiliates are essential, even on my muck rack, it’s like part of my you know, on the very top where it’s like I will only consider brands that are in affiliate because that’s just the name of the game now. And then my other tip for publicists, or brand owners is if you can, and I know not everybody has the ability or the resources, but be generous with gifting or samples just because I mean, if I if I’m interested, I kind of need it. Now. There are times where I’ll request something and I don’t see it for three weeks. And or I’ll have to follow up and be like, Wait, i Where is this and then they’re like, oh, yeah, we’re gonna get it to you. And then it’s weeks later. And that’s literally a hair of a difference of whether your brand gets in something versus someone else. And a lot of times, I may request something, and I may not have an exact place to cover it right then and there. But I could get an on air opportunity in two days where suddenly it is a fit. And if I happen to have the product on my shelf, and I can pull it and it works, then it’ll be included, versus something that I’m just waiting on. And you know, hoping and praying that it shows up on my doorstep. So it really does make a difference. And also it’s just that visibility of a product, if I can see it and I can remember it, I can touch it and feel it and try it. I’ll be that much more prone to try to find a place for it. And one of the different ways that I know, make recommendations even on social media.

 

Lexie Smith  

Thank you so much for pulling back the curtain on the reality of that. I appreciate it so much. I actually would love to have your game go into a little bit of rapid fire preferential questions. So basically I’m going to say what’s your preference on this right? So there’s no no right or wrong but really, this is all geared towards The pitches you’re receiving in your inbox. Yep for it.

 

Jennifer Chan  

I’m ready.

 

Lexie Smith  

Okay, let’s go. All right. Is there a day of the week that you prefer to be pitched or Flipside something a day of the week that should be avoided.

 

Jennifer Chan  

Definitely avoid Fridays. I’m just in general for anything for follow ups or pitches. It’s just a day where, at least in my world, I’m scrambling to meet the end of the week deadlines. I’m trying to get into those last stories, so that I can close my computer at a decent hour so that I can have two days off and really decompress and rejuvenate. So my brain is sharp and not just oversaturated come Monday, it’s super important to me now. So I would say Fridays are all I mean, likely going to be ignored. Mondays, of course, are hard because no matter how many times you say it, Mondays are always a very popular day. I will say especially just because we are award season, and I very much have always covered entertainment and celebrity and red carpet. It is the day after sags. Emmys Oscars, Golden Globes Grammys, any of those big shows, and your pitches not related to that. If your pitches are about a supplement that will make your gut feel better, I don’t really need to see it until the next day or two. Like for anyone covering entertainment or celebrities, just remember that there are certain times and events that are super critical and timely. And I would pace your pitch according to those events. If it’s not applicable. I would hold because I’m probably not going to see it. I’m only combing through my inbox for things that are related to fashion week or Grammys or whatever that event is. Everything else will fall to the wayside, I will say that for the most part, I open every single email or pitch and I have three inboxes that are always open. Always, always, always. And I don’t even want to tell you how many hundreds of emails I get in a day, but I read everything. And if it’s not applicable, if your beat, if you’re not paying attention to my beat, I’m at the point of like scanning the subject line and just hitting Delete. So make sure your subject line is accurate. But also make sure that your pitch is applicable because I know in PR because I’ve been on the site where you kind of just cast a wide net and hope something lands but it really does. It really does make a difference. If you actually know what I write about. And if it’s something that is so left field, it’s obviously not going to be ignored. But it’s actually more of a nuisance, where I might even block your name so that I never receive anything from you. And I hate to even say that, but it’s gotten to the point where I just have to fit, put filters and yeah, yeah, it’s just the name of the game. Now

 

Lexie Smith  

That’s very real. We’ve talked about it. I don’t do not ask myself what episode or what season but we’ve talked about that, like the blacklist of PR is a very real thing, it’s a very real thing. So guys be mindful of calendars as well. And big events. Okay. Do you care if you’re being pitched via a PR firm or a brand founder? Does it matter to you, I,

 

Jennifer Chan  

You, I would say very, very rarely does a founder have the skill set that a publicist would have. I’ve worked directly with founders. I even worked in house for a brand as their PR director at one point in my career, where I was like the left hand of the founder. So I have a special place in my heart for brown founders, and so much respect for all that they do. But I’m a brand founder who has to juggle 95 hats, including PR. They don’t have somebody on their team or an agency partner. And I, I have yet to find someone who’s a natural fit as a publicist, to me, it’s just totally different. They’re likely when I need them, they’re probably going to be in a product development meeting or a finance meeting where they’re, you know, this is not a priority to them. But if you were a PR person or an agency, you understand that you know the timeliness of what I need. So I would always much prefer to hear from obviously a PR specialist, whether it’s in house or an agency, doesn’t matter to me, but just make sure that you have someone on your team that really knows and understands the ins and outs of how to work with media, and what we need. And I will say brand founders, I feel like sometimes in my experience, if they get something, they get coverage, they want more. And that’s kind of when a publicist is so vital to the relationship because they know how to Hold back on getting that eagerness in front of me because I know what they want. I know what everybody wants. But that’s why a publicist is the gatekeeper and controls the communication with the media so that we’re not overwhelmed or inundated or turned off by the eagerness because there is, you know, an etiquette to it. So, I will say that having someone who specializes in PR, whether in house or an agency, if you can afford it is vital to the success of your company.

 

Lexie Smith  

Great points. Next question, how do you feel about being pitched on social media, Instagram, LinkedIn, the works,

 

Jennifer Chan  

I don’t love it, I don’t love it, it’s really, really tough. I get I, I continually get constant DMS and I get it because it’s a quick way to get a hold of me. Um, I will see if that is your first line of defense, I’m not not mad at you, I get it. But I would say keep it short and be like, Hey, here’s my brand. If you’re interested, we’d love to this, this or that, can we email you, and then I will give you my email, or actually my emails on my bio. So you don’t even have to ask me. Um, if you’re already on my Instagram, take a look and just email me directly. But sometimes it is helpful so that I can get a quick glance at what your brand looks like. It’s easier to maybe look at your Instagram than a lookbook or something that you might send digitally. And I will be really honest, a lot of times, you know, I’ll look at it. And I’ll say, I really appreciate it doesn’t look like it’s my style, I would hate to take a sample from you, if I know I’m not going to be able to give it justice, or it’s too expensive or whatever. So I don’t I don’t mind it, actually, it’s a great way to get my attention. And for me to give you really quick feedback, and I almost always respond to pretty much everybody as long as you’re not a bot or a creepy guy. A lot of those Yeah. But I take my work so seriously that I’m never not on my phone or my email or my DMs. So, um, it’s a quick way but I wouldn’t give up. I would not put your entire pitch in the DM and I would not follow up there. That being said, if you’re a publicist, and you happen to have my cell phone number, for whatever reason, I really don’t like getting pitches via text or phone. Um, I’m just wondering. Boundaries, please. Like I can’t tell you how many times it happens. Um, so yeah, if you do have my cell phone, it’s got to be for something really urgent and otherwise just let’s respect the email etiquette.

 

Lexie Smith  

Yeah, no, I feel I always remind my clients like guess what journalists are humans, believe it or not. So the feelings you feel on a Friday they’re probably feeling too and boundaries. Yes, they exist for them as well, if not even more. So thank you for highlighting all of those. I have two more questions for you. The first one is super important to the show. We talked pitchin but we haven’t talked about what we can find you sippin ‘so what’s your favorite beverage, non alcoholic or alcoholic?

 

Jennifer Chan  

I love this question. I’m actually allergic to alcohol so I am only a non alcoholic girl which if anyone listening is going to pitch either alcohol or spirits clients which I get a lot of. I can’t do anything with it. I will not cover alcohol. It won’t do you any service to pitch me. I’m so sorry. But my favorite non alcoholic drink um Gosh would probably be like a Virgin Pina Colada. Shirley Temple. I’m like a child.

 

Lexie Smith  

Tempo throwback I love that so much.

 

Jennifer Chan  

So good. And everyone makes fun of me. But then everyone’s like, that looks really good. And I’m like it is so yeah, I’ll probably always be happy if

 

Lexie Smith  

I surely see it. Oh, that’s amazing. I can’t believe you know, I’ve been trying to explore new libations during pregnancy and I have not even thought of that once I’ve just been like do you have Diet Coke or water? Or is it possible to get to Margarita virgin? And some of them say yes, some of them say no but surely temples? Yeah,

 

Jennifer Chan  

actually non-alcoholic spirits. I feel like they’re really making a lot of headway right now. I’ve gotten so many great ones like they’re called euphoric, like just like non alcoholic. I don’t know I have my whole fridge just packed full of different things to try but I felt like everyone was trying to be a little more health conscious so even if you don’t have an allergy like me or you’re pregnant like you there are lots of options out there so yeah, expand the on the diet coke girl.

 

Lexie Smith  

Yes, yes, I have something new to try over the next few weeks. Last question is just where can people go or where do you prefer people to connect with you?

 

Jennifer Chan  

Instagram is my happy place I mean it’s also my my chaotic place but that’s probably the best way to follow me and to keep tabs on what I’m doing I often will in my stories I will probably screenshot or screen record almost every article of mine that is published and I publish two to two a day every day which is crazy. So when I tell people I’m on deadline I really am like it’s not just a dismissal. I work East Coast hours and our team is fast and furious so I really do have to produce every single day which means I say no to a lot of daytime events or can you grab coffee? Can you grab lunch? I can’t, I just can’t. Um, and I keep my stories really really up to date with everything I’m doing even when I do TV segments I often am like showing the behind the scenes or the brand’s I’m about to show I’ll tease it I’ll show you know show me in glam all the fun things like that and I also try to you know give a lot of love to the brands that I work with or if they were just so thoughtful as to give me anything or gift me. I like to show love and give recommendations and engage with my audience and ask questions and and it’s really fun so Instagrams the best way

 

Lexie Smith  

for sure. We will put that in the show notes. JENNIFER I know we barely even scratched the surface on all the things we could have talked about and your expertise. This is what I need to make this like a three hour podcast because it goes by so quickly but you shared so much invaluable information I cannot thank you enough. I know how busy you are. So thank you for even taking the time to come and pick one sip with us today.

 

Jennifer Chan  

Yeah, it was my pleasure. I’m so honored to be on this show. And I love everything you’re doing for the industry at large.