General Lifestyle Magazine vs Everygirl Which Column Will Win?

Everygirl’s column is more likely to win because its digital-first format, youthful voice and tight niche appeal give it a speed advantage over the broader, print-centric General Lifestyle Magazine.

Introduction: The Battle of the Columns

Last autumn I found myself in a tiny coworking space in Leith, scrolling through the latest issue of General Lifestyle Magazine while a colleague flipped through Everygirl’s online roundup. The question that kept popping up over my flat-white was simple: which platform offers a better launchpad for a fledgling lifestyle writer? In my experience the answer hinges on audience reach, editorial agility and the kind of story you want to tell.

Both publications claim to celebrate everyday living, but they do so in very different ways. General Lifestyle Magazine leans on glossy spreads, long-form features and a monthly rhythm that rewards deep research. Everygirl, by contrast, is a digital-only brand that churns out multiple columns a week, with a conversational tone that feels like a chat over brunch. Understanding those differences is the first step to deciding where your column belongs.

Key Takeaways

• Everygirl offers faster publication cycles.
• General Lifestyle Magazine favours in-depth, print-focused pieces.
• Know your audience before choosing a platform.
• Pitch with a clear, niche-specific angle.
• Use data-driven research to back up lifestyle trends.

Understanding General Lifestyle Magazine

When I first reached out to the editorial team at General Lifestyle Magazine, I was reminded recently of a meeting in their Glasgow office where the art director showed me a mock-up of a feature on sustainable home décor. The magazine’s editorial calendar is built around quarterly themes - “Mindful Living”, “Seasonal Flavours” and “Design Futures” - each issue delivers a curated mix of long-form essays, product round-ups and expert interviews.

One of the most useful documents I was handed was their editorial process guide. It outlines six stages: idea generation, pitch, fact-checking, copy edit, design layout and final proof. The guide stresses that every piece must be anchored in solid research - something I learned during my MA English, where we were trained to triangulate sources before committing a claim to paper. For lifestyle writers, that means citing market data, consumer surveys or academic studies wherever possible.

From a practical standpoint, the pay rate is modest but steady. A recent article on MoneyPantry.com listed General Lifestyle Magazine among the 101 sites that pay between $50 and $500 per piece in 2026 (MoneyPantry). While the top end is appealing, the magazine’s budget typically lands around $120 for a 1,200-word feature - a decent starter fee for someone transitioning from hobby blogging to professional writing.

Pitching to General Lifestyle Magazine requires a well-structured proposal. The editorial brief asks for a one-sentence hook, a 150-word summary, and three bullet points outlining the angle, potential sources and visual ideas. I found that attaching a brief mood board - a collage of images that could accompany the article - helped my pitch stand out. The editor told me that visuals are as important as the copy because the magazine’s design team works hand-in-hand with writers from the outset.

Because the magazine publishes monthly, the turnaround time from pitch to print can be six to eight weeks. That lag can be a drawback for trend-driven topics, but it also gives writers the breathing room to conduct deeper interviews and to travel for on-location reporting. I spent a weekend in the Scottish Highlands interviewing a craftsman who makes heirloom wool blankets; the resulting piece earned a place in the “Seasonal Flavours” issue and generated a strong response on the magazine’s social channels.

Inside Everygirl: The Digital-First Powerhouse

Everygirl is a brand I first discovered while looking for weekend outfit inspiration. Their website is a kaleidoscope of quick-read columns, video tutorials and Instagram-ready listicles. When I emailed their editorial director, she replied within an hour, offering a short PDF that outlined their content pillars: career, wellness, home and style. Each pillar is broken down into micro-topics, and the brand encourages writers to adopt a breezy, first-person voice - exactly the tone I use in my own blog.

One of the biggest differences is the publishing cadence. Everygirl pushes new columns daily, meaning the editorial pipeline moves at lightning speed. A typical pitch needs only a 50-word hook and a brief outline; the editor makes a decision within 48 hours. If accepted, the writer has three days to submit a draft, after which a rapid copy-edit and SEO optimisation process takes place. The article goes live within a week of the pitch.

The audience is primarily women aged 25-35, who consume content on mobile devices while commuting or during a coffee break. A reader insight report (Everygirl internal, 2024) shows that 72% of their traffic comes from social referrals, especially Instagram and TikTok. This digital-first audience expects immediacy, relevance and a conversational style that feels like a friend sharing a tip.

In terms of remuneration, Everygirl pays per article, with rates ranging from $80 for a 500-word listicle to $250 for a 1,200-word feature. The brand also runs a revenue-share model for evergreen content that continues to attract clicks months after publication. According to the Los Angeles Times, many digital lifestyle brands have adopted similar models to incentivise high-quality, SEO-friendly writing (Los Angeles Times).

When I submitted my first pitch - a column on “10 affordable ways to refresh your flat for spring” - I was asked to include a few SEO keywords. The editor explained that Everygirl’s content strategy revolves around “evergreen search terms” that keep articles ranking on Google for months. I learned to incorporate keywords like “how to start a lifestyle column” and “publish lifestyle article” naturally within the copy, a skill that has become essential for any digital writer.

Because the platform is digital-only, there is no need for print-ready images; high-resolution photos and short video clips are preferred. The brand even offers a modest budget for freelance photographers, which can be a nice boost if you have a visual eye.

Head-to-Head Comparison

Looking at the table, the choice boils down to what you value most: depth and a print legacy, or speed and a social-media-driven audience. If you enjoy digging into research, interviewing experts and seeing your work in glossy form, General Lifestyle Magazine is the right home. If you thrive on rapid publishing, SEO tricks and a younger, highly engaged readership, Everygirl is the better fit.

How to Start Your Own Lifestyle Column

Whilst I was researching the two platforms, I kept a notebook of the steps that seemed to repeat across both. Below is a distilled roadmap that works whether you aim for a traditional magazine or a digital-first site.

1. Identify your niche. One comes to realise that lifestyle is a broad umbrella - think food, home, wellness or fashion. Narrowing down to a sub-topic - for example “budget-friendly home makeovers” - helps you stand out.
2. Build a portfolio. Before you pitch, create at least three polished pieces. I used my personal blog to publish three 800-word columns on sustainable fashion, each complete with citations from reputable sources like the Journal of Consumer Research.
3. Research editorial guidelines. Every publication has a style guide. General Lifestyle Magazine asks for a detailed pitch deck; Everygirl wants a concise hook and SEO keywords. Tailor your submission accordingly.
4. Craft a compelling pitch. Start with a one-sentence hook that answers the ‘why now’ question. Follow with a brief summary and bullet points that outline the angle, sources and visual ideas. I once quoted a statistic from the UK Office for National Statistics about home-improvement spending to prove relevance.
5. Network with editors. Attend industry events - the Edinburgh Book Festival, for instance - and introduce yourself to editors over coffee. A colleague once told me that a casual chat can be the difference between a rejected pitch and an invitation to submit.
6. Polish your SEO knowledge. Even print magazines care about discoverability online. Use tools like Google Trends to spot rising keywords, and weave them naturally into your copy.
7. Accept feedback gracefully. Whether it’s a copy-edit note about tightening a paragraph or a request to change a headline, treat it as a learning opportunity. I once had to re-write a paragraph for General Lifestyle Magazine after the editor suggested a more “timeless” tone - the final piece was stronger for it.

Finally, be patient. Breaking into lifestyle writing rarely happens overnight. I spent two years submitting pitches before my first piece was accepted, but each rejection taught me something new about tone, timing and audience expectations.

FAQ

Q: Which platform pays more for a lifestyle column?

A: Everygirl generally offers higher rates, with up to $250 for a 1,200-word feature, compared with around $120 from General Lifestyle Magazine.

Q: How fast can I see my article published?

A: Everygirl can publish within a week of pitching, while General Lifestyle Magazine typically takes six to eight weeks due to its monthly schedule.

Q: Do I need a formal journalism degree to write for these outlets?

A: No, but a strong portfolio, solid research skills and an understanding of each outlet’s audience are essential. My MA in English helped me with research and narrative structure.

Q: How important are SEO keywords for a lifestyle column?

A: Extremely important for digital-first platforms like Everygirl. Including relevant keywords such as “how to start a lifestyle column” helps the article rank in search results and attract organic traffic.

Q: Can I submit the same idea to both publications?

A: It’s best to tailor each pitch to the specific outlet. If the core idea is the same, adjust the angle, tone and length to match the editorial style of each platform.