As writers we believe our job is to write an article but editors think differently. They need to have a space filled in their magazine. That space must be filled with more than an article. Look at the magazine you are querying. There are also photos, sidebars and more.
Editors are busy people.
If you can offer to fill that space with all the elements the editor usually publishes, your chances of making a sale are many times better than another writer s, who offers nothing but an equally good article. Once there, I listen. I want to know what editors want, what they really want. I want to know what they talk about amongst themselves at a conference when they feel they are with peers. Who can fill that space in their magazine without the editor providing excessive editing, handholding, or heaven forbid rewrites.