How I Got Published on Huffington Post

While you can consider blogging as competitive because there are hundreds of thousands of writers doing what you’re doing, I don’t view it that way – my mission as a writer is to connect with people through my words, not “get ahead.” With that being said, let me share my experience and tips.

My story

Like I mentioned, I had submitted posts through the online submission form  but was never successful this way. Instead, I decided to check out the editors of the sections I was interested in submitting to and emailing them directly. Ultimately though, when I looked at the list of editor names, I decided to go big or go home. I went right to the top of that list and emailed Arianna Huffington. Not only was my goal of getting published on the Huffington Post lofty, but I knew there was no way the highly sought after co-founder and Editor-in-chief would respond to my email. Can you imagine the amount of emails she receives?

Oh, and in case you don’t know about Ms. Huffington, she’s kind of a big deal. Just to name a few of her accolades, she was listed as number 12 in Forbes’ Most Influential Women In Media list; she is number 42 in The Guardian’s Top 100 in Media List; and she is listed as the 52nd most powerful woman in the world by Forbes. So of course powerful and influential Arianna Huffington would not respond to little old me, but maybe I had a shot with the editors I contacted…

The response

To my absolute delight and shock, Ms. Huffington responded to me promptly, and in fact, she thanked me for “thinking of them.” My goodness, Arianna, you stopped my heart and made my writing dream come true yet you still have the humbleness and grace to respond that way?! What a classy woman. After I fumbled around to find the right way to balance my fan girl hysteria with a dignified professional response, I was on my way to my Huffington Post blogging account.

Huffington Post blogging account

An editor contacted me the next day with instructions as to how to set up my HuffPost blogging account. After that, you can submit posts at your will – you can submit as many or few as you like. There are no assignments. There is no posting schedule. You are an independent contractor of the Huffington Post. Once you understand and agree to their terms, you’re good to go. It’s important to read their blogging guidelines and follow them exactly for a better chance at your posts getting 1. published and 2. published quickly.

Benefits of blogging for the Huffington Post

Why would you contribute your writing if you do not get paid? So glad you asked! There are many reasons, including the following:

• Broad audience reach: you have the potential to reach millions of readers worldwide. My viral post allowed me to interact with readers from all over the world, from places like Australia, Denmark, Spain, Belize, Mexico, India, Iran, England, and so many more.
• Connect to blog: you are allowed to insert relevant links into your posts, which means you can link back to your blog.
• Increase social media: Huffington Post automatically includes your Twitter account at the end of your post. Engage with your audience on social media and through the comments to drive them to other social accounts.
• Credibility: blogging for the Huffington Post gives you a great level of credibility as a writer. You can use this to leverage your blog, writing services, or other publications.

Advice for getting published on Huffington Post

Everyone’s paths to the Huffington Post is different. Here are some great ways you can increase your chances:

• Read the Huffington Post! This is a great way to start. Comment, follow, and like Huffington Post writers, and better yet, editors. Genuinely engage with others so if you choose to reach out for advice or to pitch, they see you are invested and possibly even recognize your name.
• When submitting online or to an editor, be sure to follow their guidelines exactly. Also, by reading other articles, you’ll have a better idea of what resonates with their readers.
• I mentioned earlier that I contacted editors and Ms. Huffington directly, but you may be puzzled because their email addresses are not listed. Do some internet digging.
• Connect with editors and writers on social media. Retweet their stuff; comment on their posts; share with your own following. Develop relationships.
• Don’t be afraid to go big – email Arianna! Don’t let fear of rejection dictate your actions because the worst thing that could happen is you don’t hear anything in return. So what? Keep going and try again (without badgering her or the editors, of course). Going big worked for me, and I hope it can work for you too.
• Write, edit, read, edit, continue. Make sure your piece is free of errors before submitting.Check out this post on 4 Common Grammar Mistakes (and how to fix them).

My Huffington Post articles

While I’m excited to post many more articles, I’m going slowly to allow my readership to grow and to develop relationships with other writers as well. For now, here are my articles:

Why I Kept My Maiden Name (viral post, also published in Japan and France)

Why It’s Time to Give Up Basic Bitch

A Mother’s Hope for the Future

Subtle Discrimination in A Male-Dominated Workplace

If you have any questions about my experience or things I didn’t cover, please leave me a comment. If you’d like me to write about how my post went viral, let me know!