What is the difference between an article, a press release, and an ad

 Magazines are always on the look out for good articles. But, what is an article?

• An article is a stand-alone section of a larger written work. These non-fictional prose compositions appear in magazines, newspapers, academic journals, the internet, or any other type of publication.
  www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article (publishing)
• A self-contained nonfiction prose composition written on a specific topic or subject by one or more authors and published under a separate title in a collected work, or in periodical containing other works of the same form.
  www.msvu.ca/library/glossary.asp
• A written piece about a topic.
  www.enchantedlearning.com/newspaper/glossary.shtml
• A piece of writing on a particular subject published in a journal
  www.leeds.ac.uk/library/training/referencing/definitions.htm

An article is a way to provide information and knowledge about a subject that is of interest to its readers. 

This is a way to tell a story with a moral, or share information you have learned and how you use it, or even to share a journey with others and provide insight about how you started on your journey, your experience during the journey, and how it ended.

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What is a press release?

 A press release is to boost business. It is a well written and informative ad. It gives detailed information about who, what, where, when, and why.

•  A public relations announcement issued to the news media and other targeted publications for the purpose of letting the public know of company ...
  www.1stworldpublishing.com/General/Glossary.asp
•  A written announcement that seeks to draw media attention to a specific event or product launch.
  www.bookjobs.com/page.php
•  Communications put out by a company, usually hype that can drive the price per share or other news that can drop the share value.
  www.penny-stock-investing.com/gettingstarted/glossaryofterms.php
•  Usually a single A4 sheet sent out with advance or promotional copies of a release and containing additional information for journalists or urging DJs to feature the item on their playlist.
•  A brief news articles highlighting an important event, program, or piece of information by an organization that succinctly describes the who, what, where, when, why, and how of the story.
  www.case.edu/med/epidbio/mphp439/Dictionary.htm

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 What is an ad or advertising?

 An ad is a brief blurb or image about a specific product or service your company or organization offers.

• An ad can refer to a banner, button, pop-up screen, and so on. Ads are counted with impressions and clicks.
  www.score.org/eb_1.html
•  ad: a public promotion of some product or service
   the business of drawing public attention to goods and services
  wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
• Advertising is paid communication through a non-personal medium in which the sponsor is identified and the message is controlled. Variations include publicity, public relations, product placement, sponsorship, underwriting, and sales promotion. ...
  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advertising
• the methods used by a company to publicize and position its products and services to its chosen market sectors, including product launches, image and brand building, press and public relations activities, merchandising (supporting and promoting the product in retail and wholesale outlets ...
  www.bizjobs.com/business_glossary.php
•  Making known; calling public attention to a product, service, or company by means of paid announcements so as to affect perception or arouse consumer desire to make a purchase or take a particular action.
  www.motto.com/glossary.html

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So, when a magazine asks for article contributions, make sure it is filled with information, resources, it teaches a lesson, it shares an experience, it provides a moral or reason. It doesn't include any of your business services or products within the article.

The place for you to promote yourself and your business is at the end. After you have proven that you know what you are talking about, you have show why your information is important to the reader and how they can use it to benefit themselves. Then... post a short, nice, brief mention of your name, business name, url and tag line.

A long bio will not be read. It will be passed over. It needs to be short and to the point.

Readers are starving for information. They are wanting to connect. Help them connect with your story.. and you will have readers and magazine editors asking for more!

Author: <st1:personname>Anna Campbell</st1:personname> with Women Business Owners. http://www.womenbizowners.org Building businesses together.