How To Make The Headlines

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How To Make The Headlines

Journalist & PR consultant helping you get featured in UK national press. Download the free PR pitching checklist https://www.caroldriver.com/freebies/

I offer clear, practical PR guidance to build credibility, attract opportunities & increase visibility.

03/01/2026

One of the biggest reasons pitches get ignored? The headline.

Editors skim hundreds of emails a day. Your headline decides whether they open it or delete it.
I’ve put together a free guide with 50 headline ideas based on formats journalists actually use.

They’re designed to help you frame your expertise in a way that’s clear, relevant and useful to editors.
They’re not templates to copy word for word - they’re prompts to help you sharpen your angle and pitch with more confidence.

You can download the free guide here:
https://smpl.is/afzi4

02/01/2026

This is expert-led PR coverage working exactly as it should.

Working with decluttering experts Lesley Spellman and Ingrid Jansen has been a highlight of the past 16 months - they came on board for a five-month book PR project, and are still with me!

And thanks to building momentum - they’ve been featured in publications such as The Times, Good Housekeeping, House Beautiful, Ideal Home, Mail, Mirror, and they have a column in Good Homes magazine.

What’s more, they were invited on to an hour-long decluttering special on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour.

They are experts at what they do, they respond to requests quickly, and they offer brilliant insights into a topic we all want to know more about.

I already have four magazine requests for them lined up for January.
This is one of their recent pieces - in Country Living magazine, sharing practical advice on household items to declutter before 2026.

The piece focuses on realistic, manageable changes people can make at home, rather than dramatic overhauls. Clear guidance, everyday relevance and expert insight that genuinely helps readers.
This is why the coverage works.

It’s timely, useful and rooted in real expertise, not promotion.

Editors want advice that serves their audience first. When that’s done well, strong, credible press follows.

And that’s exactly what we’ve achieved.

01/01/2026

Happy New Year!

If PR is on your 2026 list, here’s something to bear in mind - press doesn’t work on demand.
I often hear from entrepreneurs who are publishing a book, launching a business or organising an event, who want national coverage immediately.

By then, it can be too late. Not because the idea isn’t strong, but because proper PR is built over time, not switched on at a given point.

The real value of PR isn’t one article. It’s credibility. Being known to editors. Being trusted. Being the person they come back to when they need a voice they can rely on.

That only happens when PR is part of your wider strategy, not an afterthought.
If you’re planning growth in 2026, your coverage needs to support that journey across the year.

Different moments call for different types of press, and most of it is commissioned well in advance.
Many editors are planning months ahead, and seasonal features and expert voices are often decided before most people start thinking about PR.

The entrepreneurs who get this right are clear on what they want to be known for by the end of 2026, where their audience actually reads, and how they can contribute meaningfully, and consistently.

If you’d like consistent PR in 2026, get in touch.

30/12/2025

Before we say goodbye to 2025, here are a few things I’m proud about this year - not just the coverage, but the judgement behind it.

Hosting my first How To Get On Daytime TV event in London - sold out, with great testimonials (more events to come in 2026).

One client featured in 15 national publications in a single month (rare, but everything aligned).
Securing regular national columns for seven clients.

A client was invited onto an hour-long special of BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour.
A client featured in the Financial Times, The Times, Forbes and pretty much every other newspaper and magazine.

Managing crisis comms when a client went viral after being misquoted - and protecting her credibility.
Securing TV, radio, podcast and speaking opportunities across the year.

Working with clients who stay - including securing a national magazine column for someone I’ve worked with for eight years.

Turning down coverage that wasn’t right for a client, protecting their credibility rather than chasing headlines.

Helping clients refine their positioning so they became quotable, not just visible.
Taking unknown or under-confident experts and getting them press-ready.

Building trust with editors who now come to you first, not just the other way round.

Here’s to that continuing and more in 2026!

27/12/2025

One thing I talk about a lot when it comes to PR, because it really matters, is consistency.

All my PR clients are featured in the press every month. That includes clients I’ve worked with for a long time, not just new launches or short campaigns.

In fact, one client has been featured in multiple national publications every single month for the past two years.

That level of consistency doesn’t come from one-off pitches or chasing headlines. It comes from understanding how newsrooms work, building strong relationships with editors, and knowing how to position expertise in a way that keeps working over time.

This is how PR builds credibility.

26/12/2025

You may have seen a recent piece in the Daily Mail looking at practical household budgeting tips.

The article featured money expert Laura Linden, a client I work with, sharing realistic, everyday ways people can save money at home without making drastic lifestyle changes. The focus was on small, achievable habits that can make a meaningful difference over time.

I secured this coverage for Laura by positioning her expertise in a way that worked for editors and, most importantly, for readers. It’s a good example of expert-led coverage that’s useful, timely and not promotional.

If you’d like to read the article:

Click the link - https://smpl.is/afrix

25/12/2025

It’s Christmas! So I’m sharing one of the interiors articles I wrote for Living magazine.

‘Tis the SEASON looks at Scandinavian Christmas style and the idea that festive homes don’t need to be about glitter or excess, but about warmth, light, nature and tradition, and creating spaces that feel calm and intentional.

Photography by Mikkel Adsbøl.

Alongside national news and features, I also write interiors pieces for Living magazines, which are regional luxury monthly publications.

I’m ALWAYS on the lookout for people who live in unusual, quirky, interesting, high end or luxury homes to write about.

If this sounds like you, you’re very welcome to get in touch. Wishing you a very happy Christmas!

24/12/2025

While social media might feel quiet between Christmas and New Year, editors and journalists are working hard behind the scenes, often with smaller teams and tight deadlines.

Online journalists want ready-to-go, timely stories: exclusives with strong visuals that can be published quickly.

Print editors plan further ahead - with different lead times depending on the publication. Glossy magazines often work six months in advance, so now is the time to pitch stories that could run mid-2026.

Weekly women’s magazines work two to three months ahead, so stories for early 2026 need to be fresh and relevant to that timing.

Editors want fresh, exclusive angles and surprising expertise - not recycled commentary or sales-driven pitches relying on calendar dates alone.

Strong January themes include money, health, work and habits, but the key is tailoring your story to fit the specific publication’s lead time and audience needs.

Smart PR means understanding what editors want right now - and when they’ll actually use your story - rather than just sending generic pitches because ‘it’s the quiet season’.

23/12/2025

I was looking for a personal challenge for 2026 - and here it is…

In March 2026, I’ll be travelling to India to take part in a 1,000-mile charity journey as part of the Let’s Goa! Sisterhood Rickshaw Rally.

In March 2026, I’ll be travelling to India to take part in a 1,000-mile charity journey, after signing up for the Let’s Goa! Sisterhood Rickshaw Rally 2026.

The challenge will run from 1st to 8th March 2026, starting in Chennai, travelling through Vellore, Bangalore, Mysore, Mangalore and Bhatkal, before finishing in Goa.

From 1-8 March, we’ll travel from Chennai through Vellore, Bangalore, Mysore, Mangalore and Bhatkal, finishing in Goa - all in a rickshaw.

Over the coming months, I’ll be fundraising (all donations go straight to the charity, I cover my own costs) and preparing in the background.

If you’d like to support the cause, please do so via my GoFundMe page - https://smpl.is/afr70 - and thank you to those who’ve already messaged me with encouragement.

21/12/2025

If you want to understand what journalists really look for - beyond the myths and templates - you’re very welcome in my free, private Facebook group for entrepreneurs.

Inside, I share practical PR insight based on my background as a journalist of 25 years, including as Femail Editor at MailOnline.

Inside the group, I share practical PR insight based on my experience as a freelance journalist writing for the national media. We cover the basics properly, from working out what your story is and how to write a pitch that stands out, to how to approach journalists and what not to do.

It’s also a supportive space to ask questions, build confidence around visibility and connect with other like-minded entrepreneurs.

If you’d like to join the free Facebook group, you can find it here:
👉 https://smpl.is/afil1

20/12/2025

You may have seen the video testimonial I shared from my PR client Deborah Grayson earlier this week. I wanted to add a bit more context.

Deborah is a pharmacist I’ve worked with for around 18 months, and she’s a strong example of how expert insight travels when it’s positioned properly.

Every month we’ve worked together, she’s been featured repeatedly across the national press. Most recently as the go-to expert for all things health and flu-related. One recent MailOnline piece alone sparked more than a thousand comments and sat on the MailOnline homepage for two days.

That level of response doesn’t happen by luck. It comes from being clear on your expertise, being ready when a story breaks, understanding what journalists actually need - and delivering it quickly

If you’d like to read the article I’m referencing, you can find it here:

👉 https://smpl.is/afikz

19/12/2025

I’ve worked for pharmacist Deborah Grayson for more than 18 months, and she’s a great example of why a journalist-led approach matters.

Deborah took the time to learn DIY PR, but could never be consistent - as it was taking her away from running her own business!

This clip was filmed at one of my How to Get on Daytime TV events. If you’re considering working with me, or coming to one of my workshops in 2026, it’s worth a watch.

Because the people who get consistent results in the media are rarely the loudest. They’re the ones who understand how editors think - and show up prepared when opportunities arise.

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https://www.caroldriver.com/

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