Top 10 Tips for Developing a Winning Proposal and Article for Small Business Technology Magazine
Ok, we'll admit it. Small Business Technology Magazine is popular and growing like gangbusters. We're swamped with proposals from really talented and knowledgeable people who are really eager to reach our audience. What does that translate into? Competition - from the brightest stars in industry and business - some of the strongest writers and most promising thought leaders around. How can your proposal possibly stand out in this crowd? Well now that we've done this a few times, we've got some tips that may help. What TO do…..and NOT to do….when it comes to submitting ideas and article proposals. Cringe now. Thank us later.
| 1 |
Write for the right folks - Our audience is comprised
of owners and managers of small businesses, not large enterprises.
Don't laugh. We get proposals all the time for new whizbang
gizmos designed especially for….you guessed it….large, global
Fortune 500 companies. Yikes is right. Your proposal should
speak to companies with profiles that range from sole proprietors
to no more than 300 employees. |
2 |
Drop the technical lingo - Our readers are looking
for innovative technology solutions and approaches that will
make an immediate and positive change in their business. They're
not looking to learn about the new RBY protocol for programming
in XZL. Huh, you ask? That's what we ask every time we get
one of those proposals. Most of our readers are not technologists
or engineers, but rather technology generalists with few (if
any) IT resources at their disposal. They are very committed
to solving real problems quickly and easily so they can continue
building their business. Our contributors help demystify technology.
They avoid technical jargon. They don't pitch products from
a single vendor. |
| 3 |
Convey a clear, compelling and organized message - Get focused on the trends, challenges and solutions that
relate directly to small businesses. It's helpful to start
with an outline and solicit feedback from advisors and really
strong writers. Remember, bylines can effectively cover only
2-3 key points. Familiarize yourself with issues that have
already been covered by reviewing our archive at www.sbtechnologymagazine.org. |
| 4 |
Be practical. Get tactical - Our readers don't
just want to learn about technology theory. They want to know
where to start or how to begin solving their most pressing
needs right away. Include how-to's, tips & tricks. Share
lessons you and your customers have already learned so our
readers can benefit from your experience. |
| 5 |
Breathe life into your story - Technology articles
done wrong can be horribly bland. Know when it's time to resuscitate
your draft. Have a really honest and direct colleague give
it a spin….and ask them point out highlights and lowlights.
To crank up the "interest factor," try enhancing
it with real-world context. Weave in real small business case
studies. Tap knowledgeable 3rd party experts. Add humor (when
appropriate and tasteful) and point out other points of view
(controversy can be educational and very compelling). Reference
data. Substantiate key points. |
| 6 |
Paint a picture - Consider adding figures or photos.
Write in a conversational and illustrative style. |
| 7 |
Componentize - So many great ideas….so little space!
We call it "modularizing your submission." Help
us economize on tight space by calling out sub-sections within
the article that might make a good sidebar or callout box.
(i.e. lists, resources, or tips). |
| 8 |
Put on your editor's hat - Read, re-read and proofread,
then ask someone else to proofread too. Make sure your proposal
complies with our guidelines and that your draft is consistent
with the outline you submitted. |
| 9 |
Watch the clock - Familiarize yourself with our
publication cycle and deadlines. Make sure your content expert
is committed from the beginning and available until the end.
No matter what, be on time. Also remember that we're quarterly.
Unlike news outlets that publish by the minute and have hundreds
of editorial assistants to respond on-the-fly, our production
schedule is much longer and our team is much leaner. We try
to respond promptly, but please understand there may be a
delay. |
| 10 |
Understand our "no guarantee" policy - Bottom line - you can only squeeze so much good stuff into
a small space. This policy plays out in two ways. First, like
a horserace, there's a chance your article might lead down
the stretch but lose by a nose. In our world, content really
is king. So those contributors who offer the most valuable
insights and the strongest drafts and revisions will earn
the highest ratings from our editorial review team. We find
ways to reward those who win, place and show in this process
by using content in creative ways and sharing with our readers
the best the industry has to offer. But contributors should
be aware that they may not make it over the finish line for
the final issue. Second, unlike the monster publishing houses,
we're just a really innovative, lean publication that is advertising-free
and supported by a non-profit. We work hard to produce a product
that capitalizes on limited space and offers timely advice.
There's a chance, albeit remote, that an article may be cancelled
or pushed to a future issue due to space or an 11th hour editorial
decision from the corner office. We do our best to work with
you in spite of these challenges to make sure that readers
of Small Business Technology Magazine receive the valuable
insights and superior quality product they've come to expect. |
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How to contact our team
General information and archives: www.sbtechnologymagazine.org
Editorial ideas and submissions: 
Managing Editor: Joanna Rustin,  , 408-494-0212 ext.105 |
