Send Your First Holiday Gift Guide Pitch

Mango Marketing
Sep 24
3 min read

Holiday gift guides are an amazing opportunity for small businesses. Since editors need a constant stream of new products to fill dozens of gift guides, they’re on the lookout for unique, fresh finds from new brands and makers.

In the most shopping-centric time of the year, a single gift guide product feature can catapult your Q4 sales and give you social clout all year round. These brand mentions also strengthen your SEO and help your business appear in AI recommendations (a crucial part of being found online today).

If you’ve never pitched before, this is your chance. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get your product featured in this year’s holiday gift guides.

Craft Your Angle

Choose ONE product and craft your hook using this formula:

Recipient: for moms, for coworkers, for travelers, for foodies
Price: Under $25, Under $50, splurge-worthy
Benefit: e.g. “spill-proof mug that stays hot for 8 hrs”

Now you have your headline-style hook for a subject line:

“[Product] — Best [Recipient] Gift [Price Point] [Benefit]

Example: HeatLock Travel Mug — Best Gift for Coworkers Under $25 that Stays Hot 8hrs

Polish Your Product Page

Make sure your product page (and inventory) are ready for editors and shoppers.

Put your headline-style hook in the first 2-3 lines of your description
Add 2-3 bullet points: benefits, holiday shipping/return details, gift recipient ideas
Ensure there’s a clean white-background image over 1000p 3. Make a Mini Press Kit Folder
Create a cloud folder (Google Drive or Dropbox) with:
3 images (mai, lifestyle, close-up) named with your brand and product (HeatLock Travel Mug_01.jpg)
A one-page PDF/doc with: product name, price, direct URL, product blurb, holiday shipping/return info, 1-3 sentences about the brand, and contact email.
4. Find Your Media Contacts

Search digital outlets your customers read and review their 2024 gift guides. Once you’ve found a relevant round-up (e.g., 25 Gifts for Coworkers that Won’t Break the Bank), note the author’s name and email in a spreadsheet.

Need help? Services like Media List Market offer pre-built holiday gift guide lists by category.

Customize Your Pitch

Copy, paste, and customize the following:

Hi [First Name],

I loved your [guide/topic/recent article] piece—especially [specific line/product].

I have a quick gift idea for your next roundup: [Product]: a [what it is] that [one benefit].

Price:
Ships:
Link: [Product URL]
Images + details (press kit link)

Happy to send a sample or additional info—just reach out!

Thanks for considering,

[Your Name], [Brand]

Send + Track

Email your contact, log the date, and set a reminder to follow up in 7-10 days.

From refining your product angle to sending a well-targeted pitch, you now have a simple, repeatable process for securing holiday gift guide placements!

Don’t forget, media outreach is a numbers game. If you don’t get a reply immediately, don’t worry. Stay consistent with your outreach and keep trying. If your product is worth sharing, it will find the media attention it deserves. About the Author

JD Mansen is the founder and lead media matchmaker at Media List Market, the leading provider of premium pre-built media lists for PR outreach. She helps small businesses and entrepreneurs connect with the right journalists and editors to get their products featured in top-tier media outlets without a PR agency.