Match the outlet's reading level, not your own

Match the outlet's reading level, not your own

A pitch written for a trade journal sounds wrong in a beginner-focused magazine, and the other way around. The same facts need a different voice.

Knowing the "outlet" — the publication you're aiming for — lets you match how their readers talk.

Think of it like dressing for an event. The same person wears a suit to one party and jeans to another. The body is the same; the fit changes.

Here's how to tune it:

— 1. Read two articles from that outlet before pitching.
— 2. Notice their sentence length and how much jargon they allow.
— 3. Write your quote to sound at home next to their existing work.

A quote that fits the page gets used. One that clashes makes the editor's job harder, so it gets cut.

Try this today: pick one outlet you'd love to appear in and read two of its recent pieces just for voice.