Have you ever wanted to be a columnist? Writing regularly for a business publication can deliver powerful benefits. Entrepreneurs who share clear, experience-based advice can build credibility fast, grow their audience, attract new clients, secure speaking opportunities, and expand their professional network. Publishing useful insights also signals to readers that you truly understand your industry.
As a writing teacher, I’ve had many entrepreneurs ask how to land a column at a well-known publication. In 2017 so many people wanted guidance that a colleague and I created a writing class—and eventually a small business—focused on helping founders become regular contributors. If I were teaching that class today, here’s the high-level advice I would give to anyone serious about becoming a consistent, influential columnist.
Define your unique voice
Every entrepreneur has a distinct set of experiences and perspectives. The first step toward writing a column is identifying what makes your point of view different. Start by listing specific lessons you’ve learned while building and running your business—mistakes, experiments, frameworks, and surprising findings. Group those lessons into themes that naturally form a series of pieces. Narrow that list to the strongest ideas that will resonate with a target audience, whether that’s first-time founders, marketing leaders, or enterprise executives.
When defining your voice, think about tone and approach: are you a practical advisor who offers step-by-step tactics? A storyteller who shares vivid examples and case studies? A contrarian who challenges common wisdom? Consistency in tone helps readers recognize you over time and increases the chance they’ll return for each new column.
Develop a topic framework
Map out a topical framework you can reuse. A framework might include categories such as leadership lessons, growth tactics, hiring and culture, fundraising, and product strategy. For each category, sketch 6–12 specific article ideas. Having a ready list of article concepts makes pitching easier and helps maintain a steady output.
Prioritize ideas by originality and usefulness. Editors and readers value fresh, actionable insight over broad platitudes. Before drafting, ask: What can I teach that most founders haven’t heard before? What concrete steps or examples can I provide? Strong, narrowly focused pieces are more likely to be assigned and shared.
Build a portfolio and publish often
Editors want to see that you can write clearly and consistently. If you don’t yet have published work, start by posting well-edited essays on your blog, LinkedIn, or a personal newsletter. Assemble your best pieces into a brief portfolio you can share with editors. Prioritize clarity, strong openings, and concrete takeaways—these qualities make your work editorial-ready.
Regular publishing demonstrates commitment. Aim to publish something—short or long—on a predictable schedule, whether weekly, biweekly, or monthly. Consistency helps refine your voice, builds audience trust, and supplies a record of work that editors can review.
Craft a strong pitch
When you’re ready to approach a publication, your pitch should be concise, editor-focused, and tailored. Lead with a one-sentence hook that states your argument or the lesson you’ll teach. Follow with 2–3 bullets that outline the article structure or the evidence you’ll use—examples, data, or case studies. Include 1–2 links to your best work so the editor can quickly assess your style and credibility. If you have a series idea that fits the outlet, mention it; editors often appreciate contributors who can deliver multiple timely pieces.
Optimize for readers and search
Good writing serves both human readers and discoverability. Use clear, searchable headlines that include relevant keywords—terms your target audience would use when searching for help. Lead with a compelling opening that promises a benefit, then organize the piece with subheadings, numbered lists, and bolded takeaways to improve scannability. When appropriate, include real examples and metrics to increase credibility and shareability.
Make it easy for editors
Editors have limited time. Respect their process by meeting deadlines, following style guidelines, and being open to edits. If you promise a piece, deliver on schedule and make revisions quickly. Over time, reliability is as valuable as originality and can lead to recurring columns or regular assignments.
Amplify and measure impact
After publication, share your column across your channels and encourage employees, partners, and customers to engage. Track engagement metrics—page views, shares, comments, new subscribers, and inbound inquiries—to understand what resonates. Use that insight to refine topic selection and tone for future pieces.
Keep iterating
Writing a column is a marathon, not a sprint. Expect to refine your voice, tighten your pitches, and learn from feedback. Stay curious, keep documenting lessons from your business, and treat every published piece as both an opportunity to help readers and a step toward greater influence in your field.
With a clear voice, a topical framework, a short portfolio, and consistent effort, any entrepreneur can move from occasional bylines to a regular column that builds authority, opens doors, and creates lasting value for both the writer and their readers.