How to Get Published - and Why You Need to Be

by Liesl Jurock

Being published used to be reserved for authors and academics, but the digital world has changed all of that. In fact, because of the ease of publishing, it’s become another facet of your career that cannot be ignored.

Having your work published can add credibility to your work, enhance your online profile, and expand your network beyond its current reach. If you are a business owner, being published can position you as an expert in your field and help to drive traffic to your business. And in your next job-seeking scenario, your published work could be the essential addition to your resume, portfolio and LinkedIn profile that puts you ahead of the competition.

Here are five ways to get your words out to the masses:

1. Start a Blog

Get yourself published in minutes by starting a blog. Use free weblog publishing tools such as Blogger or Wordpress to customize and host your site. The key to blogging is to create regular, relevant and unique content that will compel your audience to read. The trick is that you need to attract that audience.

2. Join an online publication

Online publications are often looking for blogs to feature on their site. They get regular content from a range of sources, and you get exposure to the audience they’ve already established. Check out the blogs on Women’s Post online (http://www.womenspost.ca) to get the idea and look at the popular websites in your industry to see if you can find an in.

3. Pitch to publish

If you’re wondering how to get featured in your favourite websites or magazines, search their site for Writer’s or Submission Guidelines. Review these to understand what content they are seeking and study the publication and its audience. Prepare a targeted pitch, or article idea, that would be perfect for an upcoming issue, and email it to the editor with a sample of your writing.

4. Respond to Calls for Submission

Calls for Submissions come from book and magazine editors who are putting together a publication with a specific theme and format and looking for content. Search online for calls that relate to your areas of expertise and submit your best work. The drawback is that you may not hear back for a long time or at all.

5. Self-publish a book

If you have developed a style and a niche for your content, you may consider writing your own book. A published book reinforces your knowledge and authority in your field. These days you can self-publish an E-book to sell online or Print on Demand so you only pay for books you need. Many businesses also print copies to sell or give away to customers.

Whether you want to attract followers or increase your business, it’s still about good, well-written content. If you have the ideas, but writing doesn’t come naturally to you, hire it out to ensure your messages are being conveyed as professionally as possible. If you find you have an author inside, then take courses to refine your skills, research your audience, and read everything you can get your hands on from the industry you are writing in. Then write, write, write!