How to Help Your Business Grow with an Opinion Piece

AllBusiness Editors reports:

"The opinion and editorial sections of newspapers, better known as the op-ed pages, remain one of [the] print medium’s most unique and well-read features. The points of view expressed by guest columnists and letters to the editor can grab the attention of readers and spread influence in the community. You can establish yourself as an expert in your field as well as an engaged member of your community while at the same time providing a powerful platform for promoting your business by writing a column or letter to the editor of your local newspaper...Choose a topic: There’s certainly no shortage of news (international, national and local) to sound off about on any given day, and that could put you front and center in the community conversation. Topics may range from large, far-reaching issues such as the current financial crisis and changing political winds (with you giving a local perspective and sharing your own unique point of view) to local events a businessperson such as yourself may be uniquely positioned to shed some light on...State [up-front] what your opinion is and why you are positioned to illuminate...on the issue. It is important in a sea of information inundating the public all the time to state your case forcefully and to grab the attention of readers...Once you’ve expressed what the topic is, detail point-by-point, by way of your own experience, why you are uniquely qualified to take a stand...To sound off on a proposed law that could impact your business and others and attach your name and that of your business to that opinion is one thing. But steer away from extremely polarizing issues...Remember to stress your connection to the community even as you share your unique business perspective. If the topic involves your city’s public schools, be sure to state that you graduated from this or that high school, or that your children attend such-and-such a grammar school. Be sure to promote that you are a local business owner for X number of years, mentioning your business name. (You will also sign the letter or column with your name, title...and name of your business.)...Once you’ve put the finishing touches on your column or letter and have a trusted second party with strong grammar skills...read through it and give you their two cents’ worth, consult your local paper to find the editor in charge of the op-ed section. This is as easy as a phone call to the newspaper office or a look at the paper’s [website]. Editors typically are inundated with phone calls, so it’s usually best to contact them via e-mail. In that correspondence, introduce yourself, state briefly why you’re writing the letter or column, and include the submission in a Microsoft Word attachment. Be sure to include your contact information in the e-mail, as typically editors will want to confirm information. Once your column or letter is published, you could be well on your way to establishing your voice in the community and generating valuable publicity for yourself and your business. Furthermore, as you establish yourself as an 'expert' who has been quoted in the local press, you could be sought out by one of the paper’s reporters for a news story about which you could share your expertise or even be sought out by other media, including local television or radio stations."