On this page
1stepGrow is a technology publication and an open platform for expert voices. If you have first-hand experience, original data or a clear point of view on technology, careers or learning, we would like to hear your pitch.
What we publish from contributors
We accept guest posts in these areas:
- Technology news and analysis — what a launch, policy or market shift means for people working in tech.
- AI, machine learning and data — applied practice, tooling, architecture and lessons from production.
- Cloud, DevOps and software development — patterns, trade-offs and real-world case studies.
- Tech careers — hiring, salaries, switching tracks and skills that actually get screened for.
- Online learning — course and platform teardowns, where you completed the programme yourself.
What gets accepted
- Original research: surveys, job-posting analysis, salary or hiring data you collected.
- First-hand practitioner experience with specifics — numbers, timelines and what went wrong.
- Course or platform teardowns where you actually completed the programme.
- Career roadmaps built from real hiring criteria, not generic topic lists.
- Case studies with named outcomes and a clear method.
What gets rejected
- AI-spun rewrites of articles already ranking on page one.
- Thin posts written to place a single link.
- Vendor copy presented as editorial.
- Claims about placements, salaries or outcomes with no source.
- Anything previously published elsewhere, including your own blog.
Ways to contribute
Editorial contribution
For practitioners with a genuinely original angle. Full byline and bio, one contextual link where it helps the reader, editorial control stays with us.
Sponsored guest post
For brands and institutions that want a relevant, permanent article. Labelled as sponsored, edited to our standards, links handled in line with search-engine guidelines.
Content series
A planned run of articles, research write-ups or co-created roadmaps for a category. Scoped, scheduled and reported on together.
Interview feature
Prefer a Q&A to writing an article? Our interview features are a better fit — see Interview Features.
From pitch to published
- 1Day 0
Send the pitch
A headline, the angle, the evidence you will bring and two links to previous work. No attachments.
- 2Within 5 working days
Editorial review
We check the angle against what we have published and what search results already answer.
- 3Weeks 1–2
Brief and draft
Approved pitches get a brief — structure, length and sourcing standard. Share the draft as a view-only Google Docs link.
- 4Week 3
Edit and publish
One round of edits and a fact-check on every claim, then scheduling. You get the live link and an author bio.
House style
- Plain English, second person, short paragraphs.
- Every statistic linked to its source.
- Tables over paragraphs when you are comparing things.
- No superlatives without evidence.
- Disclose any commercial relationship with anything you mention, and any AI use.
Security and submissions
For the safety of our readers and our site, 1stepGrow never accepts file uploads or email attachments. The pitch form accepts plain text only and automatically rejects HTML, scripts, code, SQL and links to files. After an editor approves your pitch, share your draft as a view-only Google Docs link. Code examples for tutorials are reviewed and added by our editors.
Send your pitch
Do not send a finished draft. Send the idea and the evidence behind it — we will tell you within five working days whether it is a fit, and give you a brief if it is.
By submitting a pitch you agree to our terms and conditions and confirm that the work is original. Read our editorial policy and AI content policy before you write.
Frequently asked questions
Does 1stepGrow accept guest posts?
Yes. We accept a small number of guest posts each month on AI, data science, cloud, software development, tech careers and online learning. Pitch through the form on this page first.
Is writing for 1stepGrow free?
Editorial contributions are free and are chosen on merit. Sponsored guest posts are a paid option for brands and are clearly labelled as sponsored.
How long should a guest post be?
Length follows the topic. Comparisons and ranked lists usually run 1,800–3,000 words; a focused guide can work at 1,200. Padding is cut in the edit.
Can I include links to my website?
One contextual link that genuinely helps the reader is fine in an editorial contribution. Promotional or multiple brand links need a sponsored guest post, and all links are handled in line with search-engine guidelines.
Do you accept AI-written articles?
We do not accept wholly AI-generated submissions. You may use AI tools for research or editing, but you must disclose it in your pitch and every claim must be sourced and checked. See our AI content policy.
Can I email my draft as an attachment?
No. For security we never accept attachments or file uploads. Once your pitch is approved, share the draft as a view-only Google Docs link.