When people ask me how to get their articles featured in a major publication, I tell them they need luck, referrals, and persistence. Here’s how I did it.
Right Place, Right Time
On August 25, 1999, I appeared on Toronto’s Breakfast Television. As luck would have it, the editor-in-chief of Flare Magazine was in the audience. After my segment, she approached me, handed me her business card, and asked if I’d be willing to submit an article on the topic I had just discussed.
I agreed, and a couple of weeks later, I submitted a 10-page, 5,237-word article titled Woman’s Posture from a Man’s Perspective. Since Flare is a women’s magazine, I tailored the article accordingly. Guess what? It went to print—only in part, but it still made it to publication.
The Power of Referrals
That one article opened the door. Soon after, I wrote a short piece on Sicilian Crunches and Calf Machine Shoulder Shrugs and sent it to Charles Poliquin for feedback. He passed it along to TC Luoma, the editor-in-chief of Testosterone Magazine. TC liked it, published it, and asked me for more material. The rest is history.
Be a “Polite Nuisance”
You might not have the same luck, but you can use another strategy that has worked for me: persistence.
Write your article, determine which publication is the best fit, find the right contact, and send it off. Then follow up. If you don’t get a response within a reasonable time, be a polite nuisance until you do.
Where Do Ideas Come From?
People often ask how I manage to generate so much content every year. The answer is simple: I write a lot because I read a lot.
Every book I read sparks an idea for at least one article, sometimes more. A book may cost me $20 or $30 and take a week or two to finish, but a single article inspired by that book can earn me 20 or 30 times that amount. The return on investment is undeniable.
The Bottom Line
Every health and fitness professional should get into the habit of writing articles—to share experiences, provide valuable insights, and even organize their own thoughts. Who knows? It might even bring you some extra income, a full schedule, and a bit of fame along the way!
