The Key to Rapid, High Volume Web Traffic

The Power of Published Articles

Let's take a look at the experience of Michael Pastore, the Managing Editor of internet.com's InternetDay, CyberAtlas, and InternetPRGuide sites. InternetDay is a daily newsletter that has been around since the mid-1990s and boasts nearly 100,000 loyal subscribers, making it one of the internet's most established and reputable publications.

I've had the opportunity to submit two articles to Michael in the past month, both of which were accepted and published in InternetDay. This doesn't mean he's desperate for content; in fact, he's inundated with submissions. I decided to ask him what he looks for in a submission, hoping to increase my chances of future acceptance. His advice is invaluable for anyone looking to get published.

Expert Advice on Article Submissions

Michael's advice for aspiring writers is as follows:

• Make your article as professional as possible. Remember, you're likely competing with other articles, and editors are more likely to choose articles that require less editing.
• Avoid gimmicks that belong in ad copy, such as ALL CAPITAL LETTERS and excessive exclamation points!!
• Write professionally, not conversationally. A casual style is acceptable, but avoid condescending language or unnecessary questions.
• Respect the editor's role. It's okay to ask editors to run major changes by you for approval, but remember that most changes they make will improve the article and make you look better.
• Ask about style and submission guidelines. This shows that you are interested in making your article appropriate for that specific site.
• Follow basic grammar rules. Avoid random capitalization and always use a spell checker. Have someone else read your article before you send it.

Additional Tips for Successful Submissions

Here are a few more tips to keep in mind:

• Read the fine print on the submission pages. For example, by submitting to InternetDay, you're promising that "the Content has not been published before, in whole or in part, in any form."
• Make the editor's job easier by providing all necessary information at the top of the submission, including title, word count, creation date, author information, reprint conditions, and formatting.
• Consider your title as a headline. If your title is weak, why would the editor read the article? However, avoid gimmicky headlines.
• Be ready to edit your article for length upon request.

High-Visibility Newsletters for Submission

When you're ready to aim high, here are a few high-visibility newsletters that accept ebiz/marketing articles:

• DEMC - 260,000 subscribers
• GazetteWorld - 250,000 subscribers
• InternetDay - 100,000 subscribers
• Clickz - 50,000 subscribers

If you don't think your expertise will appeal to these publications, you can list your articles with these free "general content" web sites:

• IdeaMarketers
• EzineArticles
• Free-Content

Now, it's time to start writing! Best of luck, and here's to your success.