Create Editorial Guidelines For Guest Bloggers

Goal

To establish a clear, detailed set of editorial standards that guest bloggers must follow to have their content published on your website.

Ideal Outcome

Guest bloggers will have a thorough understanding of your website’s content requirements, style preferences, and target audience, enabling them to tailor their submissions accordingly.

Prerequisites or Requirements

• Active Blog or Website: A functional blog section or a standalone blog on your website.
• Official Contact Email: An email address based on your domain name for submissions and communication. If you need to set one up, refer to SOP 048 (web version).

Why This Service?

• Content Consistency: Ensures all content on your website maintains a consistent tone, style, and quality.
• Brand Alignment: Aligns all guest posts with your business goals and brand voice.
• Target Audience Engagement: Helps guest bloggers create content that resonates with and engages your target audience.
• Quality Control: Establishes a standard for content quality, reducing the time spent on editing and revisions.

When to Use This Service

• Website Expansion: Ideal when expanding your website’s content strategy to include guest posts.
• Blog Launch: Appropriate for new blog sections or standalone blogs planning to accept guest submissions.
• Content Strategy Revamp: Suitable when revising your content strategy to improve quality and consistency.

Process for Setting Up Editorial Guidelines

• Define Your Brand Voice:

  • Clearly articulate the tone and style that reflects your brand and resonates with your audience.

• Outline Content Standards:

  • Establish criteria for content themes, topics, length, formatting, and originality.

• Specify SEO Requirements:

  • Include guidelines for keyword usage, linking, and other SEO best practices.

• Detail Submission Process:

  • Explain the procedure for submitting articles, including formats, preferred contact methods, and timelines.

• Clarify Editorial Review:

  • Inform about the review process, potential edits, and criteria for approval or rejection.

• Address Legal Aspects:

  • Include any legal requirements like copyright, disclosures, and content rights.

• Provide Examples:

  • Offer samples of ideal posts to guide guest bloggers.

• Accessibility and Inclusivity:

  • Ensure guidelines promote content that is accessible and inclusive to all audiences.

• Update Regularly:

  • Revise guidelines periodically to reflect changes in strategy, audience preferences, or industry trends.