He had written an a great article on growing roses. The material was well researched, the facts were checked, and the piece was organized in a very professional manner. I expressed my surprise that such fine writing had been rejected. He had authored other equally top notch stories as well.
What was the problem?
I asked him what columns he was sending out. I also wanted to know which sites he had targeted as publishers.
The answers I got back were shocking!
He had not been sending the rose growing information to gardening sites. In fact, he wasn't entirely certain where he had submitted it. I did find out that he had sent it to a web site that primarily posted business information. I suggested that a submission, about how to profitably operate a garden centre, would have been more appropriate for that publisher.
He responded by saying, almost in amazement, "The site said it would consider all types of articles!"
There's the problem.
If you and my friend, wat to get your writing published on the various internet sites, you have to visit the site!
Read the articles already printed there. What you send to them has to be in a similar style and on topic to what their site is all about. You don't send an article on automobile transmissions to a clothing site. It will simply be ignored at best, and deleted at worst. How you spent your vacation in Tahiti might be just what a travel site is looking for, but it's unlikely to be of interest to a Shakespeare site.
Another bad idea is sending advertising copy, and promotional material for your business, thinly disguised as a news story. Experienced editors will simply hit the delete button on their e-mail program, and send your glorified advertisement to cyber oblivion. They might also keep your e-mail address on file.
When you subsequently send them a proper article, it may never see the light of day. They get dozens of stories daily. If your previous efforts were only self promotion, you may have already blown your chance. Articles are supposed to help the reader and the publishing news site. Remember, you are writing to assist the reader with some good ideas, useful advice, and interesting information.
If you want to get your articles published, follow these hints.
Visit the site and read (including the archives) what types of articles they publish.
Closely examine the length of the articles and style of the writing. They may be all facts all the time. Think "Five ways to start your lemonade stand". Perhaps they prefer anecdotes, and personal stories, to add interest the to the writing. Think "How I enjoyed volunteering at my local hospital". Get the feel for the site's content.
Be original too. If they have already posted "Five tips for selecting the right travel agent", don't send them "How to find a good travel agent." They rarely, if ever, need duplicates. Try something different! If you don't visit the web site, and read through what is already there, you'll never know.
Write what you know, in your field of expertise.
Provide good solid factual information on what you know best. This is no place for self promotion, but rather be of genuine assistance to the reader. Don't start by saying your company sells the best windows on the planet. Instead, talk about what to look for in quality window construction, how to install them so they won't be drafty, and what types of windows are best for various houses. Think in terms of helping your readers solve their problems.
Use an objective resource box.
Most internet publishers provide space for a few words of biography, and a link back to your site. This is no place to place a blatant ad. Think "Mention this article and get 50% off your next electronics purchase!" Most sites will remove lines like that one. If you insist on keeping everything "as is", the editors will do as you request. They will simply keep everything you write "as is", with their delete key.
Writing internet articles is a great way to help others, while promoting your own web site and blog. It gets your name and expertise out there to a wider audience. People who have never heard of you, or your blog, will soon consider you an expert in your field.
All you have to do is assist them with their problems, and in reaching their goals.
As for my friend, he's off checking out a few appropriate web sites to submit his articles for consideration.
He actually sent the rose growing story to a gardening site that he reads on a daily basis.
That's progress!
