Have you ever written a letter to the editor? It can be a powerful way to talk about your business or issues impacting your industry.

The challenge is, they are hard to come by. You have to compete with all of the other people motivated to take a stand and write one. But if you follow a few steps and write it as a true opinion, not just as a complaint, you increase your chances of getting it published. Here are some of the perks:

1. You get the title of "guest columnist"
2. You can use it in your marketing kit
3. You get instant, third-party credibility

Since everyone is buzzing about politics right now, here's an example of a political letter to the editor written by Susan M. Tyler about Sarah Palin. In it, Tyler points out that just because she's a woman, Palin doesn't speak for her.

Whether you're a Democrat, Republican or indie, you can still look at a letter like this as a format guide (and i will find a business example soon). Here are some tips on how to write yours and get it published:

1. Tie your letter to a current trend or a story they covered
2. Share your own personal story
3. Know your facts and work them into the letter
4. Take a stand and share your opinion
5. Include your business contact information

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