If you followed the advice in our first post of this “Promote U” series, Creating a Content Plan, then you should have a list of topics on which you can produce content, as well as an inventory of channels through which you can push content – your website, blog, newsletter, etc.

After reading this post, you can add to your inventory a number of outside sources in which to get your content published. Think local newspapers, industry publications and online blogs, including the blogs of relevant organizations and associations that you are a member of.

So, how do you get started?

To begin, I suggest doing research to identify potential publications in which to target. Here are a few areas to start.

Industry publications
What industry publications do you subscribe to? Do they accept submitted articles? You can find this information on the publication’s website or by emailing the editor. If they do accept submitted articles, be sure to note the specific requirements, such as word count and preferred topics. Also, be sure that you are familiar with the type of content published so you are sure to offer something valuable for their audiences.

Industry/business blogs
Sometimes, print publications are tough to tap into because they only publish content by paid staff writers or professional freelance writers. However, these publications sometimes have online components for which they can accept outside content, and of course, there are other industry and business blogs to consider. It’s important to find the most respectable blogs in your business networks, though, rather than just submitting your hard-earned content anywhere. Once again, be familiar with the type of content published so that you can ensure your content will be a fit.

Local newspapers and business publications
As newsrooms are shrinking, local newspapers and business publications are often more receptive to accepting commentary and submitted columns by local experts. This can also be a great place to submit regular content if you can establish a relationship with them and especially if your content gets good engagement.

Member organization/association blogs
Are you a member of your local Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club or even a specific industry association that produces an online blog or sends a newsletter for which you could contribute content? While sometimes this type of exposure is free, occasionally a sponsorship of some sort is required. If the price is right, however, it could be worth the spend. Getting authentic content in front of valuable audiences is much more advantageous than spending money on static advertisements and logo placements.

How to pitch your content
When it’s time to pitch your content, be sure to point out the following a) your credentials as an expert on this topic and b) why this content will be relevant/useful to their audiences. And, be sure to note your attention to their requirements for the submission (such as word count) and that the content is original and has not been published elsewhere.

This blog post originally appeared on the Greater Memphis Chamber’s blog. To view the original post, click here.