Accepting Guest Authors on the LivePlan Strategic Advisor Blog
Posted Kathy Gregory
The accounting industry is changing rapidly. Small business clients want advice on their business growth challenges and opportunities. Accounting firms need to be able to offer Strategic Advising services confidently and profitably.
We publish content, tips, and best practices for accountants and other advisors who offer Strategic Advising services to small business clients.
Our readers want to grow; they want to really understand how to stay relevant in this rapidly changing industry. They want to understand how to offer, sell, and scale their practice or firm with Strategic Advising services. They want to make better, more informed decisions, and be more productive and efficient with their work. Most important, they want to stay connected with and learn from their peers, who relate to their unique struggles and have solutions to offer.
We’re looking for:
- Expertise. Experience in accounting firm best practices, especially as they relate to client advisory services. What gives you the authority to write on this topic? Do you have a unique, road-tested firm management style, or understanding of the right tools to support your work? Share your knowledge, both about success and failure!
- Growth tips. If you know the ins and outs of starting or scaling an advisory practice, break it down for our readers. If you’re sharing advice, make sure readers understand why you’re qualified to give it—that means sharing examples and anecdotes that illustrate why your advice works.
- Leaders. Are your employees loyal and awesome? Have you led them to achieve great things? How did you cultivate a great work culture? Have you figured out how to increase productivity and communication? Share your story with our readers so they can emulate your success.
- Engagement. Do you know how to engage with clients well? Are you skilled in selling advisory to small business clients? What skills do you have and what style do you use? How do you package and price? Our readers are eager for examples of packaged advisory services.
Our style:
Our voice is human and friendly, and we keep our language plain and simple. We strive to be informal and positive, but also authoritative. No excessive slang, idioms, or abbreviations.
Our aim is to empower Strategic Advisors to be and do their best, using the latest research and proven methods, and by hearing from thought leaders in the industry.
Pitch submission details:
- Original articles only: They have not been published elsewhere.
- Actionable content, please. Our readers are makers and doers. Bullet lists, takeaways, a list of to do’s, screenshots, and so on are all encouraged.
- First person is preferred. Forget what you learned in English classes—we want to hear your personal experience.
- Posts should be a minimum of 800 words.
- Limit acronyms and jargon; define terms at first use.
- Keep language simple, straightforward, and free from frills.
- We follow a modified, in-house style guide, which generally follows the rules of AP style. If unsure, refer to the AP style guide.
- A solid grasp of grammar, punctuation, and a general high level of writing skill is necessary for publication.
Please do not:
- Submit infographics unless they are featured in an equally compelling and well-written article; we aren’t an infographic directory.
- Pitch generic content on how to market an accounting firm. Your pitch should be specific to client advisory services, and it should be rooted in experience, provide outcomes, and (if possible), employ research.
How to submit your pitch:
To submit a pitch to write for the LivePlan Strategic Advisor blog, please email editor@liveplan.com with the following information. Please know that if any pitches are submitted without all of the following information, it will not be considered.
- Full name
- Qualifications and experience: Provide a brief summary of your professional experience, and any supporting material, as it relates to the topic you are pitching.
- Links to work samples: Provide references to 2-3 previously published articles. A portfolio or active personal website can supplement this.
- Article pitch summary: Provide a 1-paragraph summary of the topic you are pitching and a rough outline (a bulleted list of headings is enough) that demonstrates how you will cover it. Please only pitch two topics maximum.
- Author Bio: 2-4 sentences
- Twitter and/or LinkedIn profile (Optional)
We will contact you within a few weeks if we’re interested in your pitch. Before sending your pitch, please review the Palo Alto Software Guest Author Agreement.
