Begin with scope and recent publications
Read the aims and scope and examine recent articles close to your topic and method. Check whether the journal accepts your article category. A large publisher name or attractive metric does not establish suitability for a particular manuscript.
Verify indexing and metric claims
Use the official database source record and the journal’s exact title or ISSN. Record the database, coverage, metric year and subject category where relevant. Web of Science coverage, a Journal Impact Factor and a Scopus-based metric answer different questions; do not treat them as interchangeable badges.
Compare practical constraints
Record word limits, required reporting materials, access models, published charges, waiver information and data policies. Separate submission preparation time from editorial review and publication. Published averages describe previous articles and do not promise your timeline.
Keep a primary and fallback plan
The shortlist should explain fit, trade-offs and reasons for rejecting unsuitable options. Submit to one journal at a time unless the journals explicitly allow another arrangement. Recheck policies and indexing immediately before submission because they can change.
Scope, files and delivery
Start with a short project brief. We assess the work, discuss the expertise required and confirm the deliverables, fee, schedule and included revisions in writing. Share the current version and the instructions that govern it. Additional data, a new target journal or a substantially changed brief may require a revised scope. You review the proposed changes and retain responsibility for the research.