Syndicate Your Column - Write a Query Letter That Sells.

How to write the perfect Query Letter

PARAGRAPH #1: Your first paragraph should introduce your column, tell its title, define the audience (using statistics to emphasize the number of people interested in your topic.) You should also tell the editors why their readers need to know your information. The key thing editors are looking for is BENEFIT TO THE READER.

·	Is a Query Letter always necessary?

Not always. As you can see from the Editor's Tip box, some don't read at all. But a good query letter will state the scope of your column, and the sample that follows show an example of how you intend to carry out your theme. For example, my column, Ask Rat Dog, is about fraud. Say, I sent no query letter and the sample column was about financial elder abuse. Were I to do this, the editor would not know if my column was about (a) seniors, or (b) finances, or even (c) elder abuse. By defining the scope in my query letter, I have cleared up this mystery.

·	PARAGRAPH #2: The second paragraph should be all about you, your credentials, and why you are the perfect person to present this material to the readers.

PARAGRAPH #3: Your last paragraph should simply ask the newspaper editor for the order. It should say whether you charge for the column or are offering it for free. You can send prices if you like, but I recommend this be negotiated in follow-up conversations with interested editors. Go here for more about what to charge for your syndicated column.

·	What about an Op-ed Piece - does that need a Query Letter?

The lone exception to sending a query letter, might be if one were launching an op-ed "opinion" piece. Stating: SYNDICATED COLUMN QUERY: OP-ED BY JOE BLOW in the subject box says it all. But still, if you have credentials - say you are an attorney, or a pastor, etc. - or have been published in a number of newspapers, then this would be information you’d want editors to know.

·	The “Two inch” law

An e-mail column submission has some subtle differences from a snail-mail column submission.

Think about what you see when viewing an e-mail in your In Box. All you see initially is the Subject title and the top two inches of the body of the message. Just as you flick through channels with your remote control, or choose a book based on its cover, so does one choose to read or zap an e-mail based on the top two inches of an E-MAIL. Make your top two inches COUNT!

A Sample Syndicated Column Submission

How will writing a syndicated column change my life?

What makes the “Market 2 Editors” site THE expert on writing a syndicated column?

How does one write a syndicated column?

Do newspaper editors prefer E-MAIL or snail-mail?

Is my column’s topic of interest to newspaper editors?

Does the “Market 2 Editors” site turn down any columns?

Do you need to be an expert to write a column?

How important is my column’s title?

How do I write a compelling query letter?

Any tips for editing my writing?

What do I need to know about the business end of writing & syndicating a column?

What should I charge for writing my syndicated column?

Do you have a sample column contract?

How will my syndicated column submission be presented to newspaper editors?

Does the “Market 2 Editors” site send to ALL newspaper editors?

How will newspaper editors contact me?

What percentage response can I expect from submitting my syndicated column?

Do you have any references? Does the “Market 2 Editors” site guarantee its service?

Why isn’t a single submission enough to launch a syndicated column?