How to Write and Submit Articles to Business Publications | The Publicity Hound (2023)

How to Write and Submit Articles to Business Publications | The Publicity Hound (1)A question popped up recently in a publicity group on LinkedIn, and the moderator asked me to comment:

“I have written some articles and am having no luck getting them into national publications. Any ideas?”

Yes. Stop submitting articles to national publications. That is, unless you already have a relationship with someone who works at the newspaper or magazine or you know these four things:

  1. Whether they want an article on your topic.
  2. How many words to write.
  3. The deadline.
  4. If they want you to provide a photo or graphic to accompany the article.

I suspect the writer of the question above has written articles and emailed them en masse to various publications. No wonder her efforts have failed. The one-size-fits-all, cookie-cutter approach seldom works. But if you’re willing to do a little research and give the media exactly what they want, article writing can pay huge dividends.

Ask yourself these questions, even before writing.

Who is Your Target Market?

Don’t skip this step! You must know who’s going to be reading your article. You can define them two ways, first by demographics:

  • Men or women?
  • Age?
  • Where do they live?
  • Education level?
  • Job title?
  • Religion?
  • Sexual orientation?
  • Income range. Can they afford when you’re selling?

Now, define them by their passions and interests:

  • What are their hobbies?
  • Favorite TV programs?
  • Types of books they read?
  • Magazines they subscribe to?
  • Radio shows they listen to?
  • What business or personal problem keeps them up at 3 a.m.?
  • What problems can you help them solve?

How Can You Help Them?

Let’s say you’re a speech coach. You probably wouldn’t write for a local daily or weekly newspaper because they’re too general. But you could write for business newspapers and magazines.

Start local, especially if you’re new to article writing and you don’t have many media contacts. Which publications do local speakers read? American Cities Business Journals publishes weekly editions in more than 40 cities and often print columns and opinion pieces from local writers. Crains publishes business papers in New York, Chicago, Detroit and Cleveland.

You’ll probably find a variety of other publications in your area.

Why is starting local important? Because you face stiff competition when trying to attract the attention of national publications like Inc., Forbes and Entrepreneur. Working with local editors will be a lot easier, and you’ll gain valuable experience working with journalists before pitching editors at much larger publications.

Add to these options the trade press: industry publications that might welcome articles from you. Most important is that your topic must be a perfect fit. See Muck Rack’s “How to Pitch a Trade Press Editor.”

Introduce Yourself to a Staff Member

Establishing a relationship with a reporter or editor can pay huge dividends. You have several options.

The business journals host a variety of events throughout the year, such as 40 Under 40 and Women in Business. Most are open to the public. For the price of a ticket, you can attend these events and mingle with staff members. Here’s a list of events held by the Business Journal in Milwaukee, where I worked as an editor years ago:

How to Write and Submit Articles to Business Publications | The Publicity Hound (2)

Before you go, read several of the most recent issues so you’re familiar with what they write about.

At one of these events, don’t be shy about asking someone from the paper to point out the editorial employees so you can introduce yourself. But don’t suggest an idea for your article just yet. Give them your 15-second elevator pitch and use statistics to enrich your introduction.

If you blog, one excellent statistic you can use in your elevator pitch is the number of articles at your blog. This shows you’re a prolific writer.

Explain your expertise, hand them a business card and invite them to call on you if they need story ideas, background, commentary and trends. Ask if they accept articles from people like you. I’ve written more details on how to meet journalists and broadcaster at media-sponsored events.

After the event, you can send a short email thanking them for their time and pitching three ideas for articles you’d like to write. I’m a blogger, and I love it when someone who wants to write a guest post gives me a choice of three topics.

If the publication you want to write for doesn’t host events, you can invite a reporter or editor to lunch. I’ve written 22 Tips for Breaking Bread with Journalists.

A third option is to go directly to the publication’s website and look for “How to write for us” instructions, though most newspapers and magazines don’t list these.

A fourth option is to establish a relationship with someone who already writes for the publication you’re interested in, and ask for an introduction.

Collect All the Details

If an editor says yes to one of your article ideas, ask for details.

How many words should you write? What’s your deadline? Do they need your headshot? If so, should it be high resolution? Or do they want ideas for things they can photograph to accompany your article? Do they want you to visit the newspaper to have your photo taken?

In your author resource box at the end of the article, include a call to action. It can tell people they can get a free cheat sheet or checklist at your website. Or let readers know that you answer questions in a Facebook group or have helpful videos on your YouTube channel.

Ask someone to proofread your article before you submit it.

You can ask if the editor knows when it will be printed, but it’s your job to monitor this. Don’t keep hounding the editor.

Stay in Touch with Editors

After your article has been published, look for other ways you can help staff members. Tip off editors to trends you’re seeing in your industry. Offer a story idea or two, even if it has nothing to do with you. Email an interesting article you found online about a topic you know interests the editor.

In a few months, suggest three more ideas for articles you can write. Keep reading the publication so you know what topics they cover.

How to Target National Publications

Competition for these bigger publications is fierce. Often, editors will want to know if you’ve written for other newspapers and magazines. That’s why it’s best to start local. You can link to those articles from the “Media Buzz” or “Media Room” at your website.

One excellent way to connect with these journalists is through social media. Follow them and pay attention to the kinds of content they’re writing about. Share it and comment.

Another way is to know who’s writing for those bigger publications. Build the relationship with an established writer, then ask for an introduction to the person who considers article ideas.

When you find an editor who you want to pitch, Google his or her name and see what you can find. Sometimes you’ll find a blog post they’ve written or an interview in which they’re offering tips on how get into their publications.

4 Other Publicity Resources to Help You

  1. You’ll love the article “60 Contributors to Forbes, Eentrepreneur, Inc. and More Tell How They Got the Opportunity.” Notice how many writers were discovered not by pitching but by being found by the editors because they were blogging or writing elsewhere.
  2. Hubspot has an excellent article on From HBR to Mashable: How to Be a Guest Writer on 11 Popular Sites.”
  3. Muck Rack helps PR pros connect with journalists. Check out the Muck Rack blog. I love their daily emails.
  4. Writer’s Market 2019 is a valuable resource guide that lists a wide variety of magazines and writer’s guidelines.

Do you write for business publications and have your own tips to share? How did you attract the editor’s attention? What has your gig as a columnist done for your business? Your comments are welcome.

FAQs

How do I submit an article to publications? ›

How to Publish an Article in a Magazine in 5 Steps
  1. Choose a topic you're passionate about. Before you can see your byline in a magazine publication or website, you'll need to come up with a great article idea. ...
  2. Research and write. ...
  3. Edit your article. ...
  4. Determine which publications to submit to. ...
  5. Submit your article.
Sep 7, 2021

How do you write and publish articles that get noticed? ›

  1. Provide Useful Information. Show readers that you can deliver value. ...
  2. Find Your Passion. Readers will notice if you write something just for the sake of publishing a post. ...
  3. Keep it Short and Sweet. ...
  4. Pay Attention to Timing. ...
  5. Use the Highlight Feature. ...
  6. Make Notes Public. ...
  7. Use Pictures. ...
  8. Apply for Publications.
May 1, 2019

How do I submit an article online for publication? ›

  1. Find a journal. Find out the journals that could be best suited for publishing your research. ...
  2. Prepare your paper for submission. Download our get published quick guide, which outlines the essential steps in preparing a paper. ...
  3. Submit and revise. ...
  4. Track your paper. ...
  5. Share and promote.

Where can I publish a business article? ›

To increase your chances of success, here's a short list of 8 top-tier outlets that accept guest-contributed articles.
  • Entrepreneur Magazine. ...
  • Harvard Business Review. ...
  • Inc. ...
  • Quartz at Work. ...
  • Fast Company. ...
  • Business Insider. ...
  • The Washington Post (Opinion) ...
  • Forbes (Councils)
Jan 18, 2020

Where can I write articles and get paid? ›

Here are 12 platforms you can use to get paid to write articles:
  • Upwork. Upwork is one of the most popular platforms freelancers use to find work online. ...
  • Copyhackers. ...
  • Fiverr. ...
  • Listverse. ...
  • Vibrant Life. ...
  • Narratively. ...
  • FreelanceMom. ...
  • nDash.
Sep 30, 2022

Can I pay to publish my article? ›

An Article Processing Charge (APC), also known as a publication fee, is a fee which is sometimes charged to authors to make a work available in an open access peer review journal. This fee is usually paid by an author's institution or research funder rather than by the author themselves as and where possible.

What is the easiest way to get published? ›

Here's the simple 5-step process to get a book published:
  1. Start with genre research in the publishing industry.
  2. Finish your book and get feedback from editors.
  3. Submit query letters to literary agents.
  4. Submit your manuscript to publishers.
  5. Sign a book deal to publish the book.

How long does it take to write and publish an article? ›

Traditional publishing can take a long time, depending on the size of the specific publisher you sign with and how long their publishing process takes. On average, it takes anywhere from nine months to two years between the day you sign your contract and the day your book actually gets released.

How long do articles take to get published? ›

Short answer: It takes up to about 3 months (studies have shown peer review typically takes 7–12 weeks), but there are a lot of variables to take into account. These include the journal's internal processes and publication frequency, availability of peer reviewers, and other things out of your control.

Is it hard to get an article published? ›

When seeking a publisher, you are facing an uphill battle. Thousands of hopefuls send their novels to publishers per week, and the majority get rejected. Most publishers don't allow unsolicited manuscripts, so it doesn't matter how good or talented you are. These publishers won't even see your work.

Can you submit directly to publishers? ›

The short answer is yes – with diligence and for a reason. If you are submitting directly to a publisher, ask yourself why. If it's because agents have turned down your fiction submission, perhaps it isn't ready. Before you begin submitting to anyone, make your book the best it can be.

Can anyone write an article? ›

Anyone with a basic grasp of grammar and syntax can write an article. But, as I soon learned when I started out, if you want to make a living, you must learn how to write articles that sell. As a new freelance writer, you'll generate most of your income by writing articles published in print or online.

Can anyone write and publish an article? ›

If you are new to the world of writing (or freelancing), you'll be happy to hear that you don't need to be an expert to publish your first magazine article and/or start making money writing. You don't need to do it full-time either; you can start with freelance gigs or small contracts.

Where can I post my article for free? ›

Google Sites is a great option when all you want is a free, simple, and easy way to publish articles online in one place.

How much does it cost to publish your business in the newspaper? ›

The cost of publishing your notice will depend on what newspaper you decide to publish in. Most likely, you'll end up paying somewhere between $60-$120. It's a good idea to call several eligible newspaper and compare rates, just make sure the newspapers you're considering are approved by the state.

How much should I charge for a 500 word article? ›

For one interview source when writing for an editorial brand, I aim to earn at least $0.75 a word when I'm thinking about how much to charge for 500-word article, and it depends on the topic. That averages to at least $375 for an article.

How much should I get paid for writing an article? ›

A good intermediate rate is $125–200 per article. For experts, $250+ per article is better. For articles that require a lot of research, interviews, and are longer, you need to charge $500 and up.

How much should I get paid per article? ›

From our research, freelance writers charge anything from $50-$1500 per long-form article. For longer content like ebooks and case studies, costs typically average around $2000.

How much money do you need to publish? ›

It usually costs between $500 and $5,000 to publish a book in the United States. A lot of that cost comes from hiring an editor, book designer services, and marketing. The average self-published book costs about $2,000 to publish and market.

What is the average cost of publication? ›

Estimating the final cost of publication per paper based upon revenue generated and the total number of published articles, they estimate that the average cost to publish an article is around $3500 to $4000.

Does it cost money to publish? ›

The average cost of publishing a book is around $2,000–$4,000, but many authors spend a lot less or a lot more. Publishing a book can cost as little as $0 in some scenarios. On the other end of the scale, there are also authors who spend $10,000 or more. That's a very large range, but there's a good reason for it.

Can a first time writer get published? ›

For first-time authors, learning how to get a book published can be as daunting as writing an actual book. However, as the book publishing industry shifts toward digital publishing options in addition to traditional publishing, first-time novelists have increased opportunities to get published.

What are my odds of getting published? ›

Within the book publishing industry, it is agreed that the odds of an author getting their work published stands between 1% and 2%. Despite this low number, more than 95% of manuscripts received by publishers and agents are below the level the standard required.

How to get into publishing industry with no experience? ›

How to get a job in publishing
  1. Apply for internships. Make a list of the publishing firms you'd like to work for and see if they have any open roles or internships available. ...
  2. Network. ...
  3. Consider pursuing advanced degree programs. ...
  4. Relocate if necessary. ...
  5. Be adaptable.
Mar 10, 2023

How many words do you need to publish an article? ›

2) The target length for an article is 8,000–10,000 words, excluding notes.

How many articles should you publish per year? ›

Producing three peer-reviewed articles plus one monograph every five or seven years or publishing the “book of the thesis” shortly after defending it are simply a matter of compliance. However, and to return to the core issue, many mentors advise new researchers to aim to publish at least one item per year.

How many pages do you need to write to publish a book? ›

For a first release, 200 pages are enough. One can also look at authors like Chetan Bhagat, who continue to release books well below the 300-page mark even today.

How often should I publish an article? ›

Once or twice a week is a good goal.

As long as you post once or twice a week, you should have no trouble meeting the requirement. Depending on your needs, you may post every other day, every five days, or every seven days.

How do you know when an article has been published? ›

Look at the Byline

It'll usually be near the top of the post, perhaps alongside the author's byline. Some publications may place it at the end of the article. If you're lucky, the page will display two dates: one of the original publication and the second of when it was updated (if applicable).

Do authors get paid for published articles? ›

These can include invited review articles, where the journal specifically seeks out the author to publish something on their field of expertise. The payments are usually minimal relative to the work required - on the order of US$300-500 - and are sometimes referred to as an "honorarium."

Is it hard to break into publishing industry? ›

Getting your foot in the door can be a challenging step. As with many industries, finding your first opportunity requires a combination of effort, research, and networking. There's no particular major or degree necessary for getting a job in publishing; people come from a variety of educational backgrounds.

Should I copyright my work before sending it to a publisher? ›

Why should you register a copyright? There are several advantages to registering the copyright in your book or novel: Registration creates a record of your copyright ownership and may help deter others from copying your work. You cannot sue someone for copyright infringement unless you have registered your copyright.

How do publishers pay you? ›

Most publishers pay royalties based on the retail price of the book. That means if the book retails at $20, and the royalties rate is 5%, you will earn $1 per book sold. These kinds of royalties are often called “list royalties” or “retail royalties.”

What should be not written in a article? ›

There should be no unnecessary words or phrases in your article. Articles are all about spreading information in clear and engaging ways – and an article full of repetitions won't meet this demand. Avoid veering off into an irrelevant discussion, always remember the topic you're article is about.

What not to do when writing an article? ›

Article Writing - Beware of 10 Don'ts
  1. Don't forget to choose your audience. ...
  2. Don't write an ineffective title. ...
  3. Don't open with a weak paragraph. ...
  4. Don't neglect flow. ...
  5. Don't steal content from other writers. ...
  6. Don't bore your readers. ...
  7. Don't create mirror content. ...
  8. Don't leave readers hanging with a bad ending.

What not to use in article writing? ›

Common Mistakes in the Article Writing Format

Some of the common mistakes are: Not using facts or quotes or similar cases. The language should not be too formal. The article must be in easy language for better understanding.

Can you write an article and sell it? ›

You can re-sell anything you write so long as you retain the rights to it. When you sell first rights or one-time rights to an article, after the terms of the contract are fulfilled, you are free to sell the piece elsewhere. Don't be afraid to negotiate contracts if they ask for more rights than you want to sell.

Can you call yourself a writer if you are not published? ›

If you have written anything, whether it has been published or not, you are a writer. Believe in yourself. If you want to be a writer, you are already one. Say in the mirror, if you have to: “I am a writer.” You have to believe it to achieve it.

How do I get my article posted? ›

How to Publish an Article in a Magazine in 5 Steps
  1. Choose a topic you're passionate about. Before you can see your byline in a magazine publication or website, you'll need to come up with a great article idea. ...
  2. Research and write. ...
  3. Edit your article. ...
  4. Determine which publications to submit to. ...
  5. Submit your article.
Sep 7, 2021

How do I publish an article on Google? ›

Write a new post
  1. Sign in to Blogger.
  2. Click New Post .
  3. Create the post. To check how your post will look when it's published, click Preview.
  4. Save or publish your post: To save and not publish: Click Save. To publish: Click Publish.

Can I publish articles on LinkedIn? ›

All members and admins (super admins or content admins of a LinkedIn Page) have the ability to publish articles about their expertise and interests. Articles are displayed in the Activity section of your profile.

How do I get my business featured in the newspaper? ›

25+ expert tips to get press coverage
  1. Build rapport with journalists long before you need them. ...
  2. Pitch journalists rather than publications. ...
  3. Target freelance reporters. ...
  4. Digitize your press releases. ...
  5. Leverage Twitter. ...
  6. Stay on top of trends. ...
  7. Provide background information and visuals to the reporter. ...
  8. Offer product samples.

Should I pay to publish my paper? ›

The need for payment arises only if the manuscript is accepted for publication. If the manuscript is rejected, the author usually does not have to pay anything. Beware of journals that request APCs at the time of submission. They might not be trustworthy.

How do I get a local newspaper to write about my business? ›

  1. Write Your Press Release. The most critical piece of any press release is the angle. ...
  2. Find Local Media Outlets. ...
  3. Identify the Right Local Media Contacts. ...
  4. Craft Your Email Query (aka Pitch) ...
  5. Pitch Your News Story by Email & Follow Up. ...
  6. Respond to Journalists. ...
  7. Cultivate Relationships With Local Press Contacts.
Apr 4, 2022

How much do magazines pay for articles? ›

While print circulations across the U.S. continue to fall, all of the “best-paying freelance outlets” noted by freelancers are print publications. Generally speaking, most print publications pay at least $1 a word—many $2 a word and up. (These types of freelance writing can also pay $1/word and up!)

Is writing articles profitable? ›

Writing articles is a fun side gig as you can try lots of different niches and topics while also building a portfolio of clients. New article writers can expect to get paid three to four cents per word. More experienced article writers can get paid eight cents or more per word.

Can you make good money writing articles? ›

Whether you're a skillful freelance writer or a beginner with no experience, anyone can make money from writing articles. It is a trendy job today, and people do it full-time or occasionally. You can do it either for your own blog or write articles for money for another website.

Can anyone publish an article? ›

You can definitely publish an article either as an independent researcher or using your university affiliation.

How much does it cost to publish on Google sites? ›

Google Sites are free to build, host, and maintain with a Google or Gmail account. There are no web hosting fees. If, however, you are using Google Sites in conjunction with Google Apps, the cost is rolled into the user license fee - about $50 per user, per year.

Is Google Sites free to publish? ›

You can build a Google Site at zero cost. Plus, since it doesn't have pricing tiers, you get all of its features for free.

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