How To Snag A Huffington Post Byline And Get Your Resume Noticed

Huff Doesn't Pay And Why That's Okay

Lets get this nagging issue out of the way: Many writers bemoan the fact that The Huffington Post doesn't pay their bloggers. And this is, indeed, true. But the exposure, the credibility, the resume building, and the fact that they take previously published writing makes posting your blogs and articles on The Huffington Post well worth your while.

If your post gets featured and promoted, your byline and words will get in front of a tremendous amount of eyes opening doors and creating potential connections for you if you choose to follow up with the people who share your HuffPost article.

It's All About That Resume

And here's an understated secret: Even if your posts aren't featured, you'll still have a truly big name in the publishing industry on your resume, and this gives you and your words a credibility that's worth its (unpaid) weight with people in and out of the writing world. While most people haven't heard of specific personal blogs, they have heard of The Huffington Post.

Once you're in at HuffPost, you can post almost anything up to once a week, making you a "regular contributor," "featured writer," or "HuffPo blogger" depending on your resume needs. 

Republishing Is A Win

I only republish posts on HuffPost that have already been on my blog. This gives posts that have already done well a little more staying power, a few more eyes, and the benefit of seeing how the editors at HuffPost edit my words and create my headline. This is great information that I can use when I write (for pay) elsewhere. It also gives me a chance to re-share my already written work. Twice the marketing for work I've already done is a win.

How To Get That Coveted Byline

1. Spend some time on the site and really get to know each section, sometimes called topic, field, or vertical.

2. Focus on where your writing will be the best fit. Be honest with yourself here. Remember that once you're in, you can play around with different verticals. Increase your chances of getting the byline by writing in your field of expertise, your favorite writing topic, or where you've already seen writing success--a topic you've written about that's been well received and shared.

3. When you're on the front page of your chosen vertical, read the headlines listed in Featured Bloggers and above. These are the most-noted posts--how are the topics and headlines similar to things you can write about? Lists have a magnetic pull, unique personal stories that take the personal to the universal, and timely, hot topic items do well.

4. Fill out your pitch here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1dh09BIRPg548U-jxg-VwgYCPYmyufwTQg43a36tIf6k/viewform paying special attention to these three fields: Proposed Headline--make this sing. Use these tips to write a magnetic headline; Your Pitch--note that it says final draft. Write-Sleep on it-Edit-Reread-Submit; Topic--This is key. Pick the right topic (Section! Field! Vertical!) to target your writing to the right editor. Don't assume that your post will be sent to the right editor, place it in her or his hands. Make it easy for her to click Accept and hand you your byline.

5. An added bonus or touch is to tweet other writers' posts in the vertical you'd like to be published in, tagging the writer and specific vertical in each tweet. These aren't Read my post! Look at me! tweets. These are connection-builders and name-recognition helpers. And, most importantly, doing this will get you in the habit of looking at the site and practicing steps 1-4 above.

6. Last, but definitely not least, don't give up. Keep following the steps above and submitting until you're in, because once you are, you'll have your byline and your resume will have that extra weight it needs to be even more notable than it already is. Why not you?

Galit Breen is the author of Kindness Wins, a simple, no-nonsense guide to teaching our kids to be kind online; the TEDx Talk, "Raising a Digital Kid Without Having Been One"; and the online community for parents + educators with heart, The Savvy Parents Club. She blogs at TheseLittleWaves.NET and tweets at @GalitBreen.