“You should choose your target journal before you sit down to write.”

This was probably the best piece of advice I got — Sounds simple, almost too obvious. But it’s one of the most impactful steps you can take as a researcher.

But how does one find the right journal among the plethora of options out there? Not everyone has a mentor or a wise peer to guide them.

Fear not—I’m here to help you navigate this crucial step with my straightforward, 3-step guide to finding the perfect target journal. No fluff, just actionable advice.

Step 1: Find a List of Journals in Your Specialty

The first step is to familiarize yourself with the landscape of journals in your field. You need a bird’s eye view of where your research might fit. One of the best resources for this is the Scimago Journal Rankings. This site provides comprehensive lists of journals sorted by subject category and their impact factor.

To get started:

• Go to the Scimago Journal Rankings website.
• Enter your subject category (2nd box on the top).

For example, if you’re in rheumatology, you’ll find a dedicated list for your field: Rheumatology Journals.

Similarly, for those in internal medicine, you can explore journals here: Internal Medicine Journals.

Once you have your list, the real work begins—finding the right rank and fit for your manuscript.

Step 2: Check Journal Rankings and Impact Factors

Journal rankings, typically segmented into quartiles (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4), give a sense of a journal’s impact within its field. The impact factor measures how frequently articles in a journal are cited, which often correlates with the journal’s prestige.

Here’s a quick rundown:

• Q1 (Top 25%): These journals are highly prestigious and widely cited. They are often the go-to for groundbreaking, high-impact research.
• Q2 (25% to 50%): These journals are respected and publish solid research, making them a good choice for impactful, albeit not groundbreaking, studies.
• Q3 (50% to 75%): These journals have average impact factors. They are still credible but might not provide the visibility that Q1 or Q2 journals offer.

Digging Deeper into Q1

Even within Q1, there are nuances:

• Top 25%: These are the crème de la crème. If you have novel findings or original research from a primary database, aim here.
• Middle 25-75%: These are strong journals but not necessarily the top-tier. Consider these for systematic literature reviews (SLRs) or meta-analyses unless co-authored by a leading expert.
• Bottom 25%: Still good, but they represent the lower end of the top tier. This is a reasonable target for most SLRs and secondary database research.

Where Should You Aim?

These are some nuggets from my 10+ year experience:

• Secondary Database Research: Target mid-tier Q1 or Q2 journals.
• Systematic Literature Reviews (SLR) and Meta-Analyses (MA): Aim for mid to low-tier Q1, unless you have a co-author who is a leading expert.
• Original Research from Primary Database: Shoot for the top-tier Q1 journals.
• Novel Findings: Go for the top-tier Q1 journals, regardless of the type of research.

If your work is truly novel, aiming for a top-tier journal, regardless of these guidelines, is fair game.

NOTE: While it is true that the impact factor is not everything, it is one of the metrics. To me, the way Q1 journals set you apart is that they usually have good reviewers, you get great feedback, and increases the credibility of your research.

“Can I trust the findings of this study?” — when you get to Q3 or Q4 journals, people start getting more skeptic of the results (without even reading the paper). Something that you don’t want for your hard work.

Step 3: Consider Additional Factors

Beyond impact factor and ranking, consider these situational nuances:

• Specialty and Niche: If your study focuses on comorbidity, like obesity in inflammatory arthritis, you might consider journals specializing in obesity or endocrinology, even though your primary field is rheumatology.
• Broader Audience Appeal: If your research has implications for primary care or a general audience, general medicine journals are an option.
• Drug or Pharmacoepidemiology Studies: For studies focusing on drugs or pharmacology, consider specialized pharmacology journals.
• Methodological Focus: If your research is heavy on methodology, explore journals that specialize in methodological advancements.
• Technology and AI: If your study involves machine learning or artificial intelligence, look at AI-specific journals.

📝 Pro Tips:

✔︎ Start with Your Own Field: It’s often easier to write for an audience within your own specialty. These readers understand the nuances and terminology of your field, reducing the need for extensive explanations.

✔︎ Know Your Audience: Always consider who will be reading your work. Tailoring your manuscript to the journal’s audience can significantly increase your chances of acceptance.

✔︎ Align Your Manuscript with Journal Scope: Read the aims and scope of potential target journals carefully. Ensure your manuscript aligns with their focus and priorities.

In summary, choosing the right journal before you even begin writing is not just a strategy—it’s a foundation. It guides your writing process, aligns your work with the appropriate audience, and increases your chances of acceptance. By following these steps, you’ll save time, avoid unnecessary revisions, and get your research into the hands of those who will appreciate it most.

This Week’s Action Step

• Take 5 minutes to explore the Scimago Journal Rankings for your field.
• Note their rankings and think about where your research would best fit.
• Identify at least 3 journals you could potentially target with the manuscript you are working on.

That’s it for today. Remember, every great journey starts with a single step. See you next week!

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