I wrote an article about common utility billing errors for our local business journal and it ran last month. Got two calls from facility managers who read it. Not huge numbers but the credibility boost is real - I can now say as published in the Nashville Business Journal in my marketing. Anyone else publish articles?
Writing Articles for Industry Publications
I've written for a couple of facility management trade publications. The trick is positioning yourself as an expert sharing knowledge, not selling services. The editors will reject anything that reads like an ad. I write about industry trends, regulatory changes, or case studies (anonymized). My bio at the end mentions my firm and that's all the pitch you need.
Which publications accept articles from outside contributors? I'd love to try this but don't know where to submit.
Facility Executive, Buildings magazine, and FMJ (the IFMA journal) all accept contributed articles. For more niche audiences, try your state's business journal, commercial real estate publications, and trade association newsletters. Start local - it's easier to get published and the audience is your actual market.
Publishing is one of the highest-ROI marketing activities you can do. It positions you as the expert, not just another vendor. The two calls Albert got might not sound like much, but those are pre-qualified leads who already trust him. Worth 100 cold calls in my experience.