Ever wonder why papers devote a page or more to letters to the editor? Because subscribers love to read them!

Letters to the editor are among a paper's most popular features, so getting your name underneath a letter can be even more valuable that being quoted in a news article.

Letters to the editor can't just be about anything-they have to be related to the news. The ones most likely to get published bring a personal perspective to a topic of national or intense local interest. Anytime one of your topics is even vaguely in the news, try writing a letter about it.

Letters to the editor should be short-no more than 200 words-so they shouldn't take long to write. Type it up on your computer and e-mail it over to the editor. Look for your letter in the newspaper in the next few weeks, and if it appears, let your clients and colleagues know about it.

There are some newspapers that now put letters to the editor that didn't make the newspaper on their web sites. Soon, a letter to the editor may be guaranteed publicity.

Longer, signed articles called "op-eds" run on the same page and are spectacular showcases. Try one.

Ned Steele works with people in professional services who want to build their practice and accelerate their growth. The president of Ned Steele's MediaImpact, he is the author of 102 Publicity Tips To Grow a Business or Practice. To learn more visit http://www.MediaImpact.biz or call 212-243-8383.