By Gloria
Publishing magazine articles or a book on your area of expertise is de rigueur for establishing yourself as a leading expert in your field. Having published work out there gives you instant credibility and can get you on radio and television shows and speaking circuits. To get yourself known in your field, you should publish articles and books, even if you have to use a ghostwriter.
Let’s talk about magazine articles. Whether online or hard copy, magazines share certain general characteristics.
While consumer magazines are produced for a wide, general audience, trade magazines and regional magazines target niche audiences. Trade magazines are professional journals or technical publications aimed at a specific industry. More than likely, you are quite familiar with those in your own field.
So how do you get published in a trade or regional magazine? First of all, you read every single issue for a while until you have a feel for the editor’s preferences. Then you contact that editor with a query, usually via e-mail.
Convince him or her that you have something of importance to share with readers. Tell the editor about your credentials and offer to provide your media kit. Hook that editor’s interest with a unique slant or a timely topic.
Query only one editor at a time. You don’t want to alienate anyone—because the editor you alienate today may be the one you hope will accept your next article tomorrow.
Use your own experience as inspiration, and that way, you’ll avoid re-telling the same tired, overdone stories that magazine editors see over and over. This is not to imply that writing articles is a simple, straightforward process. It isn’t. Writing is difficult work, so don’t hesitate to request writing or editing help from your staff, your network or a professional source. Getting published is worth every dollar you pay a ghostwriter or editor.
Let’s talk about magazine articles. Whether online or hard copy, magazines share certain general characteristics.
While consumer magazines are produced for a wide, general audience, trade magazines and regional magazines target niche audiences. Trade magazines are professional journals or technical publications aimed at a specific industry. More than likely, you are quite familiar with those in your own field.
So how do you get published in a trade or regional magazine? First of all, you read every single issue for a while until you have a feel for the editor’s preferences. Then you contact that editor with a query, usually via e-mail.
Convince him or her that you have something of importance to share with readers. Tell the editor about your credentials and offer to provide your media kit. Hook that editor’s interest with a unique slant or a timely topic.
Query only one editor at a time. You don’t want to alienate anyone—because the editor you alienate today may be the one you hope will accept your next article tomorrow.
Use your own experience as inspiration, and that way, you’ll avoid re-telling the same tired, overdone stories that magazine editors see over and over. This is not to imply that writing articles is a simple, straightforward process. It isn’t. Writing is difficult work, so don’t hesitate to request writing or editing help from your staff, your network or a professional source. Getting published is worth every dollar you pay a ghostwriter or editor.
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