How Important is My Column’s Title?

GENERAL QUESTIONS

·	What is a “Syndicated Newspaper Column?“

·	How is an “Article” different than a “Column?”

·	How does one get syndicated?

·	Should I “syndicate” or “self-syndicate?”

·	How does Market2Editors work?

·	Which do editors prefer - e-mail or snail-mail?

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

·	Does Market2Editors send to ALL newspaper editors?

·	Are there any Newspaper Columns Market2Editors turns down?

·	How can I be sure my syndicated newspaper column isn’t seen as spam?

·	How will newspaper editors contact me?

·	What are my chances of getting published?

·	Does Market2Editors guarantee you will sell your newspaper column?

MONEY MATTERS

·	How much money does a syndicated columnist make?

·	How much should I charge for my syndicated newspaper column?

·	What are the benefits of writing a syndicated newspaper column?

·	How else can writing a syndicated newspaper column change my life?

WRITING YOUR COLUMN

·	How do I craft my syndicated newspaper column?

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

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

·	Should my newspaper column be daily, weekly or monthly?

·	How many words should my newspaper column be?

·	Any tips for editing my own writing?

·	How important is my newspaper column’s title?

·	How do I write a compelling query letter?

MANAGING YOUR NEW CAREER

·	Do you have a sample contract for newspaper columnists?

·	How do I bill editors for my syndicated newspaper column?

SUBMITTING YOUR WORK

·	How many columns do I need to write to get started?

·	What are the prices and how do I order?

Very.

Many readers decide what they’ll read-- and won’t -- based on the title.

P.S. So do editors.

So what makes a great title for a newspaper column?

A title that SAYS IT in as few words as possible. If you can "say it" in three words or less, you win the prize. But don’t sacrifice content to keep it short. “Empty Nesting” is a good title. But “Empty Nesting is for the Birds” is a great title.

My own newspaper column’s title: “Ask Rat Dog.” Baaaadddddd!!!!!

In my defense, let me say I chose it long before I knew most of the information that graces the pages of this Web site. Like many amateurs, I thought about myself rather than what readers would relate to.

My mistake was one many amateurs make. Editors would buy my work and educate readers so they would instantly know who and what Rat Dog was.

"Ask Rat Dog" was a Q & A advice column where consumers ask a private eye about scams and frauds. Unless you happened to have heard about the Rat Dog Dick Detective Agency in San Francisco, this title would mean NOTHING to you. In fact, if I had it all to do over again, I would have chosen a title like "The Fraud Broad."

In fact, I cannot stress how important a good title is. Clever is very in. As is alliteration. The best titles TELL just exactly what the newspaper column is about in as few words as possible.

Examples of great titles chosen by our very own newspaper columnists . . .

·	Designing Diva

·	The Plant Man

·	Minding Your Own Business

·	Planet Hollywood

·	Empty Nesting is for the Birds