I came across a section of a prestigious online professional magazine that features business savvy ideas for its readers. That readership is my market.

So I reviewed the editor’s LinkedIn profile, found some connections we had in common, some other ways we overlapped, and I approached her in a LinkedIn message, offering to connect. I weaved my area of expertise to her readers and asked her if she needed a contributed article.

LinkedIn notified me she reviewed my profile. She accepted my connection request.

I promptly messaged her to see if the article made sense for the editorial calendar.

Two edits to my manuscript, and it is in production. My latest message was to find out when they will run it.

Offer, connect, volunteer. Produce, accept changes, anticipate.

Now I am also going to be published there too. Because I levered LinkedIn to make it happen.

Ask. Be prepared for the next steps and be in the moment.