Abigail Stryker 
Any communications professional knows that getting published isn’t just about having good ideas—it’s about understanding how the process really works. After years of pitching articles, I can tell you there’s absolutely a system to securing bylines. Once you understand what editors are looking for, the process becomes more routine.
Find Your Unique Angle
First, it’s important to understand that only new, unique, or timely topics will garner interest. While you’re brainstorming topics, ask yourself, would I click on this article if someone else wrote it?
The problems you’re constantly solving, the mistakes you see everyone making, the unconventional approaches that work, the out-of-the-box ideas—that’s where compelling stories live. Look for the contrarian angle you can prove with real data or concrete case studies. Those “why doesn’t anyone understand this?” moments are often perfect article seeds.
Craft a Summary That Sells
This is where most people lose editors completely. They write summaries that sound like consultant-speak: “This article will explore best practices for optimizing workplace efficiency.” No one wants to “explore best practices.” They want to solve specific problems.
Your summary needs to pass the instant “so what?” test. Instead of “I’ll discuss social media strategy,” try: “I’ll share the three-step framework we used to cut content creation time in half while doubling engagement.” Numbers make editors pay attention. “Improved efficiency” is meaningless. “Reduced content creation time from 3 hours to 45 minutes” is a compelling claim.
Research Publications Strategically
Build your three-tier target list strategically. Your “home run” publication should be ambitious but realistic. If you’ve never been published anywhere, Harvard Business Review probably isn’t happening on your first try, but it can happen in the future!
Read recent articles, not just headlines. Spend some time going through the last month of content from each target publication. Study their successful byline contributors—who’s getting published, and what credentials are they highlighting?
Find the actual decision-makers’ email and go from there. Sometimes this might be an Editor-in-Chief or Managing Editor, but it could also be an Articles Editor, Contributing Editor, Senior Editor, or Content Director. Part of your upfront research should involve figuring out the right contact person, as different publications structure their editorial teams differently.
Write a Pitch That Gets Opened
Your pitch email is your opportunity to catch the editor’s attention. Skip “Article Pitch” subject lines—those are easy to ignore. Instead, hint at a specific value: “Why [Common Industry Practice] Costs Companies $X Every Year.”
Start with a genuine connection by referencing something specific the outlet has published recently. Establish credibility quickly in one or two sentences. Present your idea with confidence, explaining what you want to write about and why it matters to their readers. Prove you understand their audience by connecting directly to their known challenges. Highlight your unique angle—your proprietary data, contrarian experience, or insider access.
Master the Follow-Up Game
Wait about a week before your first follow-up. When you do reach out, keep it brief and add value—new data that strengthens your argument or recent news that makes your topic timelier.
Celebrate revision requests. If they ask for changes, they’re interested enough to invest time in making your piece work. Learn from every rejection—not every “no” reflects your idea’s quality, but should provide useful feedback for next time.
Strategic Tips for Success
For first-time writers: Start with realistic targets. Industry newsletters, professional association publications, and industry blogs are often more receptive to new writers. Leverage what you already have access to—company data, survey results, and case studies give you built-in credibility and unique content.
Build long-term success: Set up Google Alerts for your key topics. Some of the best opportunities come from providing expert commentary on breaking developments. Keep a running pipeline of ideas by capturing interesting work insights with supporting details.
The LinkedIn strategy: If you’re struggling to place an article, LinkedIn isn’t your consolation prize—it’s strategic positioning. A well-performing LinkedIn article can serve as proof of concept for future pitches and portfolio samples.
The Real Secret: Relationships Matter Most
Success isn’t about any single article. It’s about building relationships with editors who start thinking of you when they need expert commentary and who eventually reach out with assignments.
Every interaction builds your reputation. How you handle feedback, whether you meet deadlines, how professionally you manage revisions—editors remember all of this.
The most successful byline writers understand that getting published is about solving problems for editors while providing genuine value to readers. The publications are out there, editors are looking for compelling content, and you have insights worth sharing. You just need to package them in ways that make editors’ jobs easier and readers’ lives better. And if you need any help, we’d love to connect with you!
Posted In Media Relations, Public Relations, Thought Leadership