AAPEX welcomes pitches for thoughtful, insightful and even provocative posts that inform the automotive aftermarket

LAS VEGAS – April 21, 2026 – AAPEX is dedicated to championing the automotive aftermarket – and the people and companies that drive it. We welcome guest post pitches that propose thoughtful, insightful and perhaps even provocative ideas to help the aftermarket analyze the industry, solve business problems and explore new ideas. 

Below are some suggestions that will give your pitch the best chance of being accepted.

Eligibility

Broadly speaking, members of the AAPEX community are welcome to send guest post pitches. These include the following:

• Recognized automotive aftermarket experts.
• AAPEX Show exhibitors and attendees.
• Current and past speakers or session leaders.

Successful guest posts

We’re looking for ideas and stories – and avoiding promotional pieces. If there’s one guiding principle to keep in mind, it’s that the substance and quality of a proposed guest post idea matter the most. 

We suggest using simple and plain language – avoid sesquipedalianism. Successful guest posts will be written using short sentences, short paragraphs, and employ sub-headlines and white space liberally.

• Focus on big picture business issues facing the auto aftermarket.
• Have a strong and substantiated point of view.
• Provide non-promotional “thought leadership” in nature. 
• Not published elsewhere and exclusive to AAPEX for 30 days from publication.
• No generative AI. 
• AAPEX reserves the right to edit copy for style, brevity and clarity.

Topics

Guest posts should be relevant to the automotive aftermarket. We welcome ideas from all facets of the aftermarket supply chain, including suppliers, manufacturing, distribution, retail, and repair shops. 

This may include, but is not limited to the following:

• Business of the aftermarket.
• Aftermarket trends, analysis and commentary.
• Aftermarket data, surveys and reports.
• Growth strategies and tactics. 
• Workforce, recruiting and retention.
• Training and professional development.
• Leadership and management best practices.
• Aftermarket technology (i.e. EVs, ADAS, enterprise tech, artificial intelligence).
• Policy commentary (i.e. Right to Repair).

Guest post guidelines

• Between 600-1,200 words.
• Suggested headline and subheadline. 
• Named author in the byline.
• Short bio about the author, title and employer – 20-25 words. 
• Link to the author’s online profile (i.e. LinkedIn) and website in the short bio.
• Professional headshot of the author.
• Suggested images and graphics that meet copyright standards. 
• Ungated links to cited stats and facts for fact-checking.

Deadlines and acceptance

• Pitches are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Complete drafts are due within two weeks of pitch acceptance.
• Completed drafts are reviewed by a committee.
• Send pitches to media [dot] relations [at] appexshow [dot] com. 
• AAPEX reserves the right to refuse drafts that do not meet eligibility or requirements.

SEO policy

Proposed guest posts that appear to be written merely for SEO purposes, such as keyword stuffing and overzealous backlinking, are discouraged. Links included in a guest post should serve the reader, and those that do not are likely to be declined. 

• Each author may include one (1) link to their website from their bio once.
• Additional links may be included if AAPEX deems them useful for the reader.
• Links to bona fide news publications, trade reporting, authentic market research, and credible third-party sources are preferred.

How to pitch

Prospective authors or their representatives may send a short or bulletized outline that’s 200-400 words (recommended) or a completed draft for review.

Examples of published guest posts

Here are a few examples of successful guest posts we’ve published:

• Pragmatic ideas for solving the skilled labor shortage 
• Bridging the divide – updated techniques for managing Gen Z in the aftermarket 
• Why imported vehicles are harder to repair in U.S. shops 
• A new era of diesel maintenance: Why one-tank solutions matter

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AAPEX 2026 will be held from November 3–5, 2026, in Las Vegas, NV at The Venetian Expo & Caesars Forum. Complimentary passes are available to the media; email: [email protected]. 

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