MC-Guide

Content Writing

Website 100: Packetpushers.net

How Can You Earn Money Writing For “packetpushers.net” Website

This guide shows you, step by step, how a beginner can learn to pitch and sell stories to packetpushers.net.

You will learn what packetpushers.net wants, how to test your idea, how to write a pitch, and how payment roughly works. You can use this like a small SOP.

PacketPushers.net

Packet Pushers · Contributor Guide Snapshot

Audience: Network & IT Pros Formats: Blogs · Podcasts · Newsletters Community: Slack + Newsletter

Content · Packet Pushers Beginner Friendly Target: PacketPushers.net

How to Write for Packet Pushers (Community Blog & Newsletter) — Beginner’s Guide

This long-form guide walks you through everything a beginner needs to research, write, publish, and monetize content for the Packet Pushers audience — including the community blog and the Packet Capture / Human Infrastructure newsletters.

You’ll get a step-by-step pitch SOP, sample outlines, a ready-to-copy pitch template, promotion tactics for shows/newsletters/podcasts, and practical monetization ideas so your writing can turn into paid work, consulting leads, or sponsored opportunities.

Section 1 · Know the publication

Who are Packet Pushers and who reads them?

Packet Pushers is a focused technical media network for network engineers, cloud and infrastructure professionals, and cybersecurity practitioners. They publish podcasts, long-form blog posts, technical how-tos, sponsored analysis, and weekly newsletters that reach a community of hands-on engineers and practitioners. Their site aggregates show notes, tutorials, industry analysis, and community-written posts. The Packet Pushers blog is a place where practitioners publish practical, operationally focused material that helps other engineers solve real problems.

Tip: before you design an idea, browse the Packet Pushers Blog, the Podcasts page, and the Newsletters page to see recent content formats, headlines, and which technical levels they publish.

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Content mix you can expect

Practical how-to articles for network automation, observability, routing/switching operational tips.
Interviews and deeper analysis on vendors, products, and architectures in podcast form.
Community posts and newsletters that highlight tools, projects, and job postings.

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Typical reader profile

Working network engineers, automation engineers, SREs, cloud architects, security engineers.
People who value operational detail, reproducible examples, and troubleshooting tips.
Busy practitioners—articles that save time or solve a recurring problem rank highest.

Section 2 · Does your idea fit?

How to shape an idea Packet Pushers editors and readers will like

Start with a clear problem statement: what exact task, bug, or decision will your article help a network engineer perform better? Instead of “intro to Ansible”, choose something explicit and outcome-focused like “Use Ansible to automate Cisco IOS config backups and verify integrity with tests” or “Reduce MTTR by 40%: a reproducible NetBox + GitOps workflow for device lifecycle”. Concrete outcomes make editors and readers pay attention.

Solve an operational job

Make it about what engineers do every day

Readers want concrete steps: how to debug latency, how to write a playbook to standardize configs, how to collect telemetry and interpret it. If your idea reduces toil, clarifies a tricky tool, or shows reproducible automation, it’s in the right zone.

Be specific

Narrow the scope and name tools

Use a specific stack: “Ansible + NetBox + GitHub Actions for config drift detection” is better than “infrastructure automation.” Editors expect tool names, versions, and reproducible steps.

Show you did it

Provide evidence — logs, screenshots, repos

Readers trust content with working examples: GitHub repo links, sanitized configs, CI logs, sample telemetry dashboards, or short demo videos. If possible, attach a small reproducible repo and clear README.

Exercise: write a single sentence that begins with: “This article shows a network engineer how to…” — if the sentence names a specific toolset, an outcome (what the engineer can do), and the environment (lab, production-safe steps), you’re close.

Section 3 · Prepare before you pitch

Build 3–5 strong samples and a demo repo

Packet Pushers values demonstrated experience. You don’t need to be famous — but you should be able to point to a few pieces that show you can finish a technical article and explain complex things clearly. That often means publishing on your own blog, Dev.to, or a community blog, and creating small code repos, testbed configs, or recorded demos.

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Where to publish samples

Dev.to — quick publishing, good for community visibility
Medium — wider reach if you have promotion plan
Your personal blog (Git-backed, hosted on GitHub Pages / Netlify)
Packet Pushers community blog — an option editors support for community authors (see community link below)

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Your demo checklist

Small GitHub repo with a README and sample configs or playbooks.
Short demo video or GIF showing the result (30–120 seconds).
Sanitized data and clear instructions to reproduce in a lab (or emulated environment).
Optional: a live demo link (playground, NetBox instance, or sandbox) if it’s safe to share.

Sample type	Why it helps	How to present it
Tutorial + repo	Shows you can teach and deliver runnable examples	Link to GitHub + short README and exact commands
Short troubleshooting post	Shows real-world problem solving	Include telemetry, commands used, and resolution steps
Tool integration walkthrough	Shows architectural thinking	Diagrams, code snippets, and a minimal demo

If you have limited time: pick one useful, narrow task, build it in 1–2 days, write a clear 800–1,200 word tutorial around it, and publish. That single sample can be your writing sample when pitching Packet Pushers.

Section 4 · Pitch workflow

Step-by-step workflow to pitch the Packet Pushers community blog or newsletter

Packet Pushers offers a community blog where practitioners publish, and their newsletters (Packet Capture / Human Infrastructure) highlight recent content. The editorial team and community hosts review submissions and may invite you to expand a post into a full article or a podcast appearance. Use this simple SOP to prepare and submit a professional pitch.

Step 1

Research the site & read the community post guidance

Open the Packet Pushers blog and the specific community post that describes how to contribute. Keep that guidance visible while you draft — it usually explains how they handle community submissions, reposting, and editorial expectations.

Step 2

Prepare a short pitch (1 paragraph + outline)

Your pitch should include: 1) one-sentence topic statement and reader, 2) a 6–8 line outline showing the article flow, 3) links to a sample article and your demo repo, 4) two sentences bio (who you are and why you’re credible).

Step 3

Submit to the community blog or contact the editors

Follow the submission method described on Packet Pushers’ blog or community page. If they provide a form or email for community posts, use it. If the site recommends Slack for first contact, join the Packet Pushers Slack and introduce yourself in the appropriate channel.

Step 4

Provide files and links they can copy/paste

Include a plain-text version of your article (or a Google Doc), images (1200px wide recommended), code snippets, and an optional ZIP of your demo. Editors appreciate materials that take little prep work to publish.

Step 5

Follow up once (politely)

Big editorial teams are busy. If you haven’t heard in 2–3 weeks, send a short, polite follow-up that restates your interest and links the pitch again. If they decline, ask briefly for feedback and reuse the piece elsewhere.

When in doubt: make your pitch about the reader (what they will achieve) — not about your credentials. Show examples early in the message to build trust quickly.

Section 5 · Writing the article

How to structure a Packet Pushers-friendly tutorial or analysis

A strong Packet Pushers post is practical, direct, and reproducible. Below is a recommended template you can reuse every time you write a technical tutorial or case study for a network audience.

Template

Article structure (recommended)

Title: Short, outcome-focused (e.g., “Automate Cisco Backup with Ansible and GitHub Actions”).
TL;DR / one-sentence summary: What the reader will get (1–2 lines).
Why this matters: A brief paragraph explaining the operational problem.
Prerequisites & environment: OS, tool versions, device types, permissions.
Step-by-step guide: 4–8 numbered steps, each with commands, config snippets, expected output.
Result & verification: How to confirm things worked (tests, telemetry checks).
Troubleshooting section: Common errors and fixes.
References & repo link: Link to the GitHub repo, test data, and vendor docs.
Short author bio & contact: 1–2 lines and links to your blog / LinkedIn / GitHub.

Use fenced code blocks for commands, provide copy-paste-ready snippets, and keep paragraphs short. Engineers skim; make it easy to find the command or config they need.

Section 6 · Promotion & integrated channels

How to get your article noticed: podcasts, Slack, and newsletters

Packet Pushers is more than a blog — it’s a network of podcasts, newsletters, and an active Slack. After your post is live, use these channels to amplify reach and create opportunities for paid gigs or podcast invitations.

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Share with the Slack community

Join the Packet Pushers Slack (see the community page) and post a short thread linking to your article, the repo, and a one-line result. Respect channel rules and avoid direct product promotions unless asked.

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Pitch a podcast segment

If your article offers an interesting case study, automation story, or vendor-agnostic lesson, pitch it as a topic for a relevant Packet Pushers show. Podcast appearances increase author credibility and can lead to paid consulting requests.

Newsletter exposure (Packet Capture / Human Infrastructure) drives lasting traffic. Friendly editors sometimes include top community posts in weekly roundups — good titles and clear results help your piece get selected.

Section 7 · Money: how to turn writing into income

Direct pay, leads, sponsorships, and business value

Packet Pushers occasionally runs sponsored posts and paid work, and top contributors can get visibility that converts into consulting, training, or speaking opportunities. For many authors, the first articles are portfolio builders that produce higher-paying work later. Below are practical revenue pathways you can pursue.

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Direct payments & sponsored content

Some posts are sponsored or commissioned by vendors; rates vary and are negotiated with Packet Pushers. If you care about direct payment, make this clear when you pitch and be transparent about vendor relationships.

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Indirect revenue (more common)

Your article leads can turn into:

Consulting engagements (troubleshooting, automation projects).
Paid workshops or training for a company that liked your approach.
Speaking invites and paid conference talks.
Book or course proposals based on a series of high-quality posts.

Monetization path	How to pursue it
Consulting leads	Include a clear “Hire me” or contact link in your bio and case studies
Sponsored posts	Identify product-neutral angles or work with Packet Pushers to co-create content
Training & workshops	Offer a short workshop based on your article and market it to companies in Slack/newsletter

Important: be transparent about paid vendor relationships. Readers trust content that discloses sponsorships and vendor involvement.

Section 8 · Reposting, ethics & AI

What to know about reposting, AI use, and editorial ethics

Packet Pushers supports an active community and their community blog arrangements are often flexible about reposting — community authors are commonly allowed to republish content elsewhere later if they coordinate with the editors. Always confirm specifics for each post and retain clear records of any exclusivity period an editor requires.

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Reposting rules

Common practice on community blogs: you can link to things you’ve written elsewhere, and if you publish on the community blog and later need it removed so you can use it elsewhere, editors often accommodate removals if you ask. Always check the exact policy for the article you publish and keep a copy of the published version.

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Using AI responsibly

AI tools can help brainstorm or rewrite for clarity, but final technical accuracy is your responsibility. Do not submit AI-generated analysis or unverified code as-is. Run every snippet, verify outputs, and annotate where AI helped (if required by editor).

Golden rule: if you cannot defend a line of code or a verification step in a live conversation, do not publish it. Editors and readers expect accuracy in operational guidance.

Section 9 · Pitch templates & samples

Copy-and-paste pitch templates you can use (two variants)

Below are two ready-to-send pitch templates: one tight and professional for community blog submissions, and one longer that includes an outline for a deeper tutorial. Replace bracketed sections with your details and links.

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Short pitch (community blog)

Subject: Community post idea — [Short Title]: [One-line outcome]

Hi Packet Pushers team — my name is [Your Name], I’m a [role, e.g., network automation engineer] at [company or hobbyist / independent]. I’d like to submit a community post titled:

“[Short Title] — [one-line summary]”

TL;DR: [One sentence that states what the reader will learn and the result.]

Why this matters: [2–3 lines describing the operational problem and why Packet Pushers readers care.]

Outline:
1) Problem & context — who this helps and prerequisites.
2) Quick demo — what we’ll build.
3) Steps — commands / code snippets / verification.
4) Troubleshooting & next steps.
Repo & demo: [GitHub link / demo link]
Sample article: [link to a previous piece or blog post]
Bio: [1–2 lines plus GitHub/LinkedIn/email]

Thanks for considering — happy to draft a full article if this fits the community blog.
— [Your Name] ([handle])

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Longer pitch (editorial / deeper tutorial)

Subject: Article pitch: [Descriptive Title]

Hi [Editor Name or Packet Pushers team],

I’d like to pitch a full-length tutorial for Packet Pushers titled:
[Descriptive Title]

Short summary:
[Two-sentence summary — what the reader will be able to do, and why it matters operationally.]

Proposed outline (detailed):
1. TL;DR and problem statement (150–200 words)
2. Prerequisites & testbed (list exact versions)
3. Step 1 — [what you configure or build]
   - commands, sample outputs
4. Step 2 — [next step]
   - code snippets and checks
5. Results & verification (how to prove it works)
6. Troubleshooting common failures
7. Further reading & links to repos

Deliverables:
- Full article in Markdown or Google Doc
- GitHub repo with reproducible demo
- Short 2-minute demo video (optional)
- 1–2 follow-up mini-post ideas (for newsletter/podcast tie-in)

My clips:
- [link to 1–3 published samples]
Bio: [short bio + links]

If you prefer, I can write the first draft and submit it for editorial review. Thanks for your time and for everything Packet Pushers does for the community.

Best,
[Your Name]

Section 10 · Final checklist & FAQ

Quick checklist before you hit send — and answers to common questions

Can I publish the same post on my blog and Packet Pushers?

Community blogs often allow republishing or linkbacks, but specifics vary. If you publish on Packet Pushers and later need the piece removed so you can republish elsewhere, editors commonly cooperate — always confirm the agreement at submission time and keep a copy. Link to your own work when relevant rather than duplicating identical content across places.

How long should a Packet Pushers tutorial be?

Aim for actionable depth: 1,200–2,500 words for tutorials, with clear code and a repo. Shorter troubleshooting posts (800–1,200 words) work if they solve a narrow but meaningful problem.

Do Packet Pushers pay community authors?

Payment terms differ by piece — sponsored/commissioned content may be paid, but community posts often provide visibility and newsletter promotion. If payment matters, state it when pitching and ask about sponsored opportunities or editorial commissioning.

Extra resources & quick links