Get Visible By Writing & Publishing Tip Sheets

Writing a Tip Sheet can be a good way to draw attention to your business, but only if the topic relates in some way to what you do. Submitting a Tip Sheet to your online newspaper or favorite E-magazine is as simple as can be–especially if you keep it simple. 

By crafting a message that meshes well with your own business offerings, which must be supported by facts to make your case, you establish your presence in the community, and can gain publicity for your business. That said, it’s important to pick a a relevant topic that speaks to people in search of your particular knowledge, expertise, or experience.

A Tip Sheet is not an essay, something that slowly unrolls like a dead sea scroll, building sacred momentum to some point or conclusion. It’s a very brief message with back-up points that you make in ways that are helpful for the reader and simple to follow.

When writing a Tip Sheet, state your conclusion first. You make your strongest point up front, then spend the rest of time with very easy-to-follow tips. Deductive reasoning done right, can be fresh, informative, entertaining, imaginative and inspiring.

You can help your business connect with people who need what you offer, gain high-quality publicity, and reach your “just right” niche (potential customers) who regularly read the online vehicle (magazine, blog or journal).

Here’s a checklist to keep your Tip Sheet on track:

Focus tightly on one issue or idea—in your first paragraph.

Be brief.

Express your opinion, then support it with basic factual, researched or first-hand information.

Be timely, controversial, but not alienating to your reader.

Be unique, be innovative.

Be personal, share a story in a natural way; it can help you make your point. No one likes a pontificator.

Use humor if it feels organic to do so, provided that your topic lends itself to humor.

Have a clear point (or points). Be direct. Take a stand. Don’t equivocate. As Steve Martin says to John Candy in Planes, Trains and Automobiles: “And by the way, you know, when you’re telling these little stories? Here’s a good idea—have a POINT. It makes it SO much more interesting for the listener!”

Provide insight, understanding: educate your reader without being too teacherly, long-winded or preachy.

Near the end, clearly re-state your position and issue a call to action. Resist being too abstract or metaphorical.

As I’ve said several times: “Keep it Simple!” Say it in a sentence, not a paragraph. Don’t ramble. Use clear, powerful, and succinct language.

Emphasize active verbs, forget the adjectives and adverbs, which only weaken writing.

Avoid clichés and jargon. Appeal to the average reader (a smart 8th grader–think All I Really Need to Know, I Learned in Kindergarten).

Accessibility is paramount. Write 500 double-spaced words or less (fewer is always better).

Include a brief bio, along with your phone number, web and email address. If you don’t have these vehicles of making contact, include your “snail mail” address.

Be sure to see your publication’s website first to be sure what its policy is. It will be published if your tip sheet is relevant to the journal/magazine’s subject matter. The production editor or publishing editor is your “go to” person around the publishing requirements.

Remember, there are at least 77,000 journals and magazines in print and probably 10 times that many online. Keep “fishing” in different “ponds” and you will be published!

If you need my help proofing, editing or publishing (anything), I’d be delighted to see you through.

It’s a fact: Getting published has never been easier or more accessible to the not-yet famous.

Checkout my latest book offering called Getting Into Print: Become A Visible Expert Through Publishing.

Jennifer Manlowe, PhD
Author, Book Publishing Coach and Founder
Life Design Publishing
206.617-8832

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