When the editors give you the right way to contact them about getting published, it's good to listen and learn. Stephanie Smith of The ATLANTAN magazine and Kali Justus of Atlanta Home Improvement were frank about their different styles. Stephanie prefers to be emailed with story ideas most prominent. Sending emails that are all about the writer are a big turn-off, she recommends using an alternate email address and writing as if you were someone else. This way you can introduce yourself in the third person, without sounding like you are all ego. The Atlantan magazine is all about modern, contemporary style and fashion, very high-end homes, fashion and celebrities. They only do a few pages on home and decor, so their space is limited to the best of the best.

Kali is a bit looser on formalities, accepting more styles of home remodeling, repair, landscaping and decor article ideas. She will take your phone calls, but emails are less disruptive of her time. She is always on the lookout for news - who has been promoted, home repair tips, single column stories. AHIM is also very active in soliciting blog posts, facebook and twitter comments.

Both editors agreed that they depend on their writers to come up with story ideas, so look for their bylines and email addresses and start there. If you want to send them photos, ask first - do NOT send a ton of photos that will clog up their email. You are better off sending a link to images on your website, or a disk in the mail. And mail or personal delivery is a great way to get attention - especially when the delivery is creatively wrapped or presented.

On the topic of photography, which always interests me, they recommend sending professional photographs, as it presents the room or product much better. A grainy cell phone image of a fantastic design idea probably won't sell itself, but high quality photograph does. And include the photographer's name and contact information - really - they said this!

When you decide you have a product or project you would like some publicity on, do some research first. Send the idea to one magazine at a time - the editors really dislike seeing a story they have worked on be published a week before theirs in another local magazine. But do send your ideas to national and local magazines - that's not an issue. Also make sure your project is the type that the magazine covers - don't send old Victorian homes to the Atlantan, or modern dwellings to This Old House.

Kali also talked briefly about social media, I will cover that more in the next newsletter. If you feel you need some help in getting your images published, please call me at 770.931.8170.