Trade Writing - For Cash!

Often considered as "plain Jane's" of the print world, trade magazines prove that there is more to a market than just a pretty face.

Trade magazines are written for a specialized audience and typically focus on one specific area or industry. Even the ads reflect this focus.

They assume the reader is familiar with the material that's covered and though it can be quite technical, they aren't usually written in a scholarly manner ? this is good news for writers seeking to ad power clips to their portfolios.

Trade magazines provide a large, open and lucrative market for freelance writers because with so many competing magazines there is always a huge need for content and being an expert isn't a prerequisite for industry publication.

Try putting "trade magazines" into a search engine such as Google.com and you get well over 250,000 hits. Now try "consumer magazines." At 86,000 hits it's easy to see where the markets lie.

Now is the time! There are literally thousands of FREE trade magazines available by subscription on the Internet and more become available every day. They cover every subject and every angle imaginable. They are also some of the best paying markets in the business.

Get Your Money Where Your Trade Is Or Isn't!

You don't need to be an expert to get published in trade magazines as long as you are very familiar with what your target magazine is buying.

The ABA Journal for lawyers, pays between $400-$2000 per article and requests that all material be centered around the law, or practicing the law, but they also buy pieces focused on legal news, current trends, the business of running a practice and technology for lawyers. This leaves room for writers who don't happen to be law experts to find a niche' in this publication. Can you write about the newest technology or software that would be appropriate for law office staff? Can you offer a fresh approach for making a waiting room delay more enjoyable for their clients?

Across The Board is a non profit magazine for leaders in business, government and more. It's 60% freelance written and pays between $50 -$2500 for articles, essays, book excerpts, humor, personal experiences and opinion pieces. They also buy reprints. No expertise needed here! An article focused on the positive philanthropic policies of a fortune 500 company or the uplifting personal story of some one helped by such an organization would be right at home in this venue.

Of course, if do have an area of expertise consider exploiting it in the trades too.

The American Journalism Review ?at 80% freelance written, covers expose', ethical issues and personal experiences. Paying between $1500 and $2000 per piece for 2,000-4,000 words. Online, in the news and real time media focuses all apply.

Looking for Markets -in all the right places

As I said earlier the Internet is an incomparable resource of markets specifically for trade magazines and below are my two favorite places to shop for FREE magazines to find markets:

Free Magazine Trade Source is one of the most comprehensive sites for you to subscribe to trade magazines that you would like to target for article publication. They literally have hundreds of free publications.

TradePub.com is another excellent source for FREE trade magazine subscriptions. They also have hundreds of high quality magazines to chose from - it's amazing really.

Don't abandon what you know to work either Writer's Market currently has a list of 550 paying trade markets listed with contact information, rate of pay and a description of the types of submissions accepted and there are many others only a mouse click away. And many other writer's website have market listing that include trade market information. You can look for more places to find writer's markets on the Resources for Writers page.

With their plain industrial covers and unilateral focus trade magazines have been the unattractive sibling of consumer oriented magazines for a very long time. It's a reputation undeserved in the freelance writing market. With no true need for specific expertise in most publications maybe it's time for us all to take a second look at the lucrative opportunities available for freelancers that write for trade publications.

About The Author

Angela Butera Dickson is a full service, freelance copywriter offering some of the best prices on the web. From articles to brochure copy, ghostwriting to marketing letters, she can help you cultivate a polished, professional business image: www.angeladickson.com, email: angela@angeladickson.com

---

Free Publicity With Dogs, Cats, and Rats

Here's a fascinating idea.. Having noticed that there always seemed... Read More

Avoid Being Vague

We are bombarded with thousands of marketing messages daily?on television... Read More

Secrets to Get Free Advertising

The opportunities to get free advertising for your product or... Read More

Is Advertising Art?

Oh Grand and Glorious Southern Guru, I am perplexed. What... Read More

The Secrets of High Money Classified Ads

When used effectively, classified ads can be one of the... Read More

Advertising on a Budget -- Part 2: Thinking Small

This is the second article of a three-part series. I'm... Read More

Print Advertising: Knowing What To Put In Your Ads

So you've decided to run a print ad in your... Read More

Driving Customers to You - Your Car as a Marketing Vehicle

You can turn your vehicle into a rolling advertisement. Costs... Read More

Radio Advertising - Is it for Your Business? - More Small Business Power Tools

If you're a typical small business, you've probably been approached... Read More

How To Write Really Good Ads

All sales begin with some form of advertising. To build... Read More

What Happened? Troubleshooting Poor Response from Ad Campaigns

Too many small business owners today run ad campaigns that... Read More

Make the Right Advertising Decisions

Advertising is a powerful and somewhat frustrating marketing tool. It... Read More

How Do People Know Youre in Business?

One of the most important things to do now that... Read More

Why Radio Advertising Could Be The Best Thing You Ever Did For Your Business

In the marketing world, radio has earned the reputation of... Read More

The SKINNY on Newspaper Advertising

The SKINNY on NewspapersUsing the paper is considered gospel by... Read More

Should Your Small Business Hire an Advertising Agency?

So, you own a small business, sales are down and... Read More

Free Internet Advertising: 6 Proven Ways To Prevent Your Competitors From Stealing Your Customers

It is getting harder daily to generate traffic.And when you... Read More

Hit Them With Benefits

More about advertising from BIG Mike McDanielIt makes no difference... Read More

The $500.00 A Month Plan

One way to make extra money or start a... Read More

Turn Your Ad Copy into a Goldmine!

Today, more than ever, it is crucial that your ad... Read More

Do Your Business Cards Say Who You REALLY Are?

Here are a couple of tips for creating an eye... Read More

Not Another Calendar! - Choose Advertising Specialties That Sell

As I was searching through a kitchen drawer the other... Read More

The SKINNY on Radio Advertising

From meager beginnings in 1920, radio has grown with us... Read More

Imaging Isnt Everything

Many home improvement contractors attempt to use advertising to expand... Read More

The Graphic Problem

Digital printing has revolutionized the sign industry. Current printers can... Read More

Secrets of Getting Free Advertising

The opportunities for getting free advertising for your product or... Read More

Do Your Radio Ads Work?

Most small businesses don't have a high powered advertising agency... Read More

Measure the Response of Your Advertising Campaigns by Using Promotional Products

For most companies, gone are the days of spending money... Read More

The Not-So-Hidden Persuaders: The Power of The Media Upon Us All

In 1957, a perspicacious young journalist from Pennsylvania named Vance... Read More

5 Newspaper Advertising Myths Revealed

What I'm about to reveal are myths that most people... Read More

Magnetic Business Cards: Make Your Marketing Message Stick

What is it about magnets that draw people to leave... Read More

The Motivational Triggers That Make People Buy

In order to sell more products and service, you need... Read More

God Bless The Refrigerator Magnet!

Ah, my very favorite promotional product of all, the refrigerator... Read More