Jack Hiltner

Taylor Swift takes over New Orleans. Photos from The Eras Tour’s first night in town 📸

If you have something you'd like me to yap or write about, shoot me an pitch at jackmhiltner@gmail.com. I try to respond to every single pitch that comes through so no one is left high and dry. If you made it to the end of this thread, cheers!

And finally, my time at Spool Marketing & Communications is coming to an end. On October 7, I'm starting a new journey at another Chicago-based agency that will give me more face-to-face time with journalists and media. To say I'm excited is an understatement.

• Meet The Company Redefining What Food Waste Can Be (@jackhiltner/meet-the-company-redefining-what-food-waste-can-be-af19e61031e5" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">medium.com/@jackhiltner/m…), this piece got me hooked on composting, and @thefoodcycler was incredible to work with. From interviewing the founding partner, Bradley Crepeau, to reducing my own carbon footprint, 10/10 experience.

• These 12 Tech Upgrades Take Your Home From 'Ugh-xury' To Luxury (@jackhiltner/these-12-tech-upgrades-take-your-home-from-ugh-xury-to-luxury-b65915b6e3d1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">medium.com/@jackhiltner/t…), this was an expansive list and I was thrilled to be able to try these products first-hand and share my feedback. Yes, they really were THAT good.

• Vivint 's Home Security System Just Got An Upgrade (@jackhiltner/vivints-smart-home-security-system-just-got-an-upgrade-a51f2722635b?source=user_profile_page---------7-------------8f3a334d5adf---------------" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">medium.com/@jackhiltner/v…), I was feeling very ~secure~ covering two systems back-to-back. Vivint's new Chime Extender, while it may seem minor, plays a huge role in their whole network of products and integrates seamlessly.

• This Is The Best DIY Home Security System On The Market, Here's Why (@jackhiltner/vivints-smart-home-security-system-just-got-an-upgrade-a51f2722635b?source=user_profile_page---------7-------------8f3a334d5adf---------------" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">medium.com/@jackhiltner/v…), huge shoutout to the team at @SimpliSafe for making this such a pleasant writing experience. Again, excellent PR learnings here.

• 10 Tech Deals For Amazon Prime Day (@jackhiltner/10-tech-deals-for-amazon-prime-day-251cf1a7b9b0?source=user_profile_page---------10-------------8f3a334d5adf---------------" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">medium.com/@jackhiltner/1…), listicles are oldies but goodies, especially when you get to work with the brands directly. Not only did it give me insight into the other side of journalism, it also helped me hone my skills as a PR professional.

• Almer, Teamviewer Launch Arc 2 Augmented Reality Headset (@jackhiltner/almer-teamviewer-launch-arc-2-augmented-reality-headset-3675c89685df?source=user_profile_page---------11-------------8f3a334d5adf---------------" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">medium.com/@jackhiltner/a…), this was a bunch of fun to work with the Almer team to learn more about the product capabilities. This was my first piece to get on page one of Google and rank highest in SEO.

• Apple's M2 Chipset Will Last Me A Decade Or More (@jackhiltner/apples-m2-chipset-will-last-me-a-decade-or-more-633a499a4a15?source=user_profile_page---------12-------------8f3a334d5adf---------------" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">medium.com/@jackhiltner/a…), M4 chip — this one is directed at you.

• Don't Drop $3.5K On The Apple Vision Pro, At Least Not Yet (@jackhiltner/dont-drop-3-5k-on-the-apple-vision-pro-at-least-not-yet-4a7797c7bcd4?source=user_profile_page---------13-------------8f3a334d5adf---------------" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">medium.com/@jackhiltner/d…), I still stand by this.

• How I'm Leaving Social Media Behind (@jackhiltner/how-im-leaving-social-media-behind-cd30724946b8?source=user_profile_page---------14-------------8f3a334d5adf---------------" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">medium.com/@jackhiltner/h…), this was a fun way to explain how and why I've stepped back from socials

I kicked off my freelancing with listicles and product roundups: • A Smart Home Setup For Vintage Apartment Living (@jackhiltner/a-smart-home-setup-for-apartment-living-tech-up-your-vintage-space-1f0eaae38385?source=user_profile_page---------15-------------8f3a334d5adf---------------" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">medium.com/@jackhiltner/a…)

I began writing again over on Medium putting the other side of my journalism degree to work covering tech and new product drops (links to follow). In the nine months since I began, I've received thousands of views with a 59% click-through-rate and worked with dozens of brands.

In April 2023, I moved from Athens, OH, back to Columbus, OH (for two weeks) and then made the drive to Chicago, IL, where I've now lived for the past year and five months.

I was promoted from an Account Coordinator to an Assistant Account Executive at Spool Marketing & Communications in March. In May, I celebrated my second anniversary with the agency (Peep the end of the thread for more here).