Keep these tips in mind:

1. Your subject matter must be informative and must provide information that the reader will appreciate. An accountant might right an article on tax tips; a florist might write an article on flower arranging, for example. But be warned: sending an "article" that is a thinly veiled advertisement for your business will end up in the trashcan faster than you can say "Rejection."

2. Most publishers have "editorial guidelines" and your article will be expected to adhere to these guidelines. Word count is vitally important, especially for print publications, since every inch of space costs money. Find out how many words are acceptable and write accordingly. Electronic publications also have expectations regarding word count and style.

3. Editors will rewrite, shorten, or make corrections to your article where they deem it necessary. This is not an affront to your writing ability; it is a necessary and accepted practice in the publishing industry. Understand this and you will be viewed as someone with professional attitudes.

4. Submit your article to publications where you are likely to reach your target market. If your business is web site design, you won't benefit by having an article published in a newsletter on nutrition or pet care, for instance.

5. Be realistic about where you can be published. Large international magazines are staff written or use professional writers with years of experience. Target small publications, newspapers, web sites or newsletters that are hungry for content but have low budgets. In some cases, you might be paid; in other cases, your ad or bio will be published along with contact information in lieu of payment.

6. Many publications prefer "query letters" prior to receiving articles. A "query" is a one-page letter addressed to the editor. You explain your topic briefly, indicate why the magazine's readers would be interested in your article, and explain why you are qualified to write it. If the editor is interested, you will be contacted. At this point, you negotiate terms. Many writers do not write the article until their query has resulted in a positive response from the publisher.

7. When your article is published, unless other arrangements are made, it is assumed that the publisher is "buying" one- time rights, meaning they have the right to publish your article once. You continue to own the copyright. You are free to submit the article to other publications, but you must indicate where and when it was published. Be certain you understand what rights you are giving up when you allow your work to be published. If you later discover that you have given away all rights by not reading the fine print, the publisher becomes the copyright owner and you have no right to use the article thereafter.

8. Many Web sites and email newsletters regularly publish articles from guest writers. Standards vary greatly. Some will accept articles from new writers; others only from established writers. As always, ask for the editorial guidelines before submitting articles, and negotiate in advance the ad or contact information that you can include at the end. Remember that this is a barter arrangement. You are trading an article in exchange for an ad or bio.

9. All articles should be spell checked, grammatically correct, and tightly written. It's easy to write long, rambling articles. The skill comes in saying the same thing in fewer words.