InformIT FAQ
Your InformIT editor is your definitive source of information about InformIT and your project, but as a quick reference here are some of the most commonly asked questions.
Who is InformIT, and what do you do?
Why should I work with InformIT?
What kind of work would I do with you?
How long until my article appears on the site?
Can I link to my article or anything else on your site?
Do you have an affiliate program?
How do you say your name?
Although we have changed the pronunciation of our name from time-to-time, we're currently back to the way we started saying it circa 2000/2001: "Inform eye tee" (although you may catch some oldtimers who still say "Inform it," as in "Your brain is hungry... Inform it.")
Who is InformIT, and what do you do?
InformIT is the online professional IT channel for Pearson Education. Our mission is to provide technology professionals, students, and enthusiasts a rich source of content via books, eBooks, DVDs, and downloadable video through our store; timely and relevant information and tutorials via our articles and Reference Guides; and expert opinions, advice, and tips via our podcasts and blogs.
Why should I work with InformIT?
The benefits of working with InformIT include increasing visibility for your product; providiing another highly-visited, specialized webiste to promote your product and your name; extra earning potential through our affiliate program; and discounts on Pearson books and other products through our Author First program. We also pay for original content, so contributing articles can be an additional source of income.
What is your audience like?
Our readers are experienced technical professionals. According to our surveys, they have, on average, greater than 5 years of experience in their field. They come to InformIT to find answers that will help them with their current projects, and are looking for technical detail in the information we provide. InformIT isn't a "news" site; our readers can handle — and prefer — technical content, code samples, and solutions to their real-world problems.
How can I work with InformIT?
It's easy! You can ask your editor, or you can contact us directly. Jennifer Bortel is the Associate Editorial Director. She can be reached at jennifer[dot]bortel[at]informit.com. Jennifer's areas of focus are .NET and C++ programming, SOA, Agile programming, software engineering, and web development.
Dustin Sullivan is a senior editor and can be reached at dustin[dot]sullivan[at]informit.com. Dustin's areas of focus are databases, Java programming, productivity applications, operating systems, and security.
If your specialty isn't listed above, you're not out of luck! Contact either Jennifer or Dustin and they'll take care of you.
What kind of work would I do with you?
There are several opportunities for working with InformIT. The most common way is to write original articles in your areas of interest. Articles derived from your books or other products are also possible. Beyond that you can help us determine which chapters in your book make good samples to post, you can blog with us, create video or audio podcasts, and you can contribute to our Reference Guides.
What are articles?
See for yourself! In general, our articles are not all that different from what you'd read in a magazine or on another website. They typically are 1000 to 2000 words long (that's about 2-3 pages if you're writing in Microsoft Word). They can go longer, but if they get too far above 2000 we consider splitting the article into two parts. (We generally find that click rates go way down if articles get too long.) They can also be a few hundred words shorter than that, depending on the topic, but that makes it difficult to include much detail. Although we don't mandate a "type" of article, you'll find that there are typically two types on InformIT: tutorials and references.
Tutorials will of course walk people through a task or problem to solve. ("How to.") Reference articles (for lack of a better term) are more informational. You may not be able to solve any specific problems after reading them, but you'll know more about a technology or application.
How do I submit an article?
Whoa — don't get too far ahead of yourself! First, you'll agree on a topic with one of our editors. Then you'll submit a brief description of your idea, preferably with an outline of what you'd like to include in your article. Once it's approved, you'll receive a contract including terms such as due date(s), payment, and grant of rights. When you're finished writing, you'll send your articles directly to your InformIT editor. They'll be your point of contact throughout the entire writing and posting process.
We try to keep the writing part simple so you can focus on the content. You can submit your articles in doc, rtf, or even txt format (although we like doc and rtf the best). We'll then have it professionally edited for organization and grammar, and you'll get to review those edits before they become final. The articles will then be converted to HTML, loaded into our database, and scheduled for posting.
How long until my article appears on the site?
Typically an article will post 3-4 weeks after it is submitted. This allows for time to edit, convert, and QA the article before posting. However, this process can be shortened to take advantage of hot and newsworthy topics. We're a website, after all, so we can post content within 24 hours if the need arises.
Do you pay for articles?
You bet. Compensation varies depending on your experience, the article length and target user level, and other variables.
What are Reference Guides?
Reference Guides are comprehensive primers on key topics such as C++, .NET, Security, and more. Whether you're just getting up to speed or really want to dig into the quirks of a particular language or application, Reference Guides are a great resource to keep around. They are organized by a structured table of contents instead of simply a chronological list of topics or archive like you'll find on blogs and other sites. They are hosted by experts who update them weekly to keep them current and topical. You can start reading them at the beginning, jump into specific sections for answers, or follow them each week to see where the hosts will take you. "Guest host" opportunities are often available. Ask your InformIT editor for details.
What are blogs?
Blogs on InformIT aren't that different from what you'll find on other sites. They offer a way to speak your mind instantly and allow for immediate reader feedback and discussion. Blogs appear in a central location on InformIT and are organized by topic. Ask your InformIT editor how to become a blogger.
What are podcasts?
Podcasts are short audio or video files distributed by download or streaming media. You might think of them as audio or video blogs, but they are also an excellent format for tutorials, demonstrations, and news/industry updates. Our podcasts are divided into "channels" based on topic, and are syndicated via RSS feeds and also on iTunes. Not sure how to go about creating a podcast? We can set you up with an in-house digital media specialist to make the process as simple as possible.
Can I link to my article or anything else on your site?
You bet! We're currently developing widgets that you can drop into your website that will allow readers to search within your books (in Safari). Expanded widgets will follow. In the meantime, we encourage you to link directly to your product pages, articles, and blogs from your personal and professional websites as well as through any social media outlets you frequent. All links will lead to higher traffic, higher visibility, and higher search engine page rankings.
Do you have an affiliate program?
Yes! InformIT is a member of the LinkShare network. When you sign up as a LinkShare affiliate, you can create referral links to point to product and promotion pages on InformIT.com. You'll receive commission for any sales resulting from users following those links. We encourage all of our authors to sign up as a way to make some extra money and increase the visibility of their products on InformIT.