Continue App   Upload Documents
(888) 870-9554 Support@StartCap.org

Editorial Guidelines

Last Updated: 7/5/2024

So, you want to be a coveted author at StartCap, huh? Our mission is to provide accurate, engaging, and insightful content to support established small business owners, start-ups, and entrepreneurs. These editorial guidelines ensure consistency, quality, and integrity in all of our published materials. You must be a subject-matter-expert (SME) in the topic that you’re writing about. It’s rare for us to feature an author outside of our organization who has not worked in the start-up industry for many years, but we love to keep an open mind and encourage quality, well-structured, informative submissions.

1. Content Quality

Accuracy and Fact-Checking:

  • All articles must be thoroughly researched and fact-checked. Sources should be reliable and cited appropriately.
  • Ensure all statistical data, quotes, and references are accurate and up-to-date.

Originality:

  • All content must be original and free from plagiarism. We do not tolerate copied content in any form.
  • Proper attribution must be given for any ideas or direct quotes from other works.

Clarity and Readability:

  • Write in a clear, concise, and engaging manner. Avoid jargon and complex language.
  • Use short paragraphs, bullet points, and subheadings to enhance readability.

Tone and Style:

  • Our tone is professional yet approachable. We aim to inform and engage our readers with a touch of quirky/light comedy where appropriate.
  • Maintain a consistent voice throughout your writing. Refer to our style guide for specific language preferences.

2. Content Types and Formats

Articles and Blog Posts:

  • Articles should be informative, well-structured, and at least 1000 words in length.
  • Include a compelling introduction, informative body, and a strong conclusion.

SEO and Meta Descriptions:

  • Use relevant keywords naturally within the content. We prefer that you don’t focus on SEO at all, simply stay on topic and allow the search engines to make their own assessments. We have a zero-tolerance policy for any attempt to manipulate search engines and/or any use of “blackhat” or “greyhat” ranking techniques.
  • Write concise and compelling meta descriptions for each article, typically 150-160 characters long.
  • Link building for the purpose of manipulating search engine results is strictly prohibited. Sharing of articles is encouraged. If you’re creating phenomenal content the links will come naturally, don’t force it.

Visual Content:

  • Include high-quality images, infographics, and videos to support the text. AI-generated media is not allowed in any form.
  • Ensure all visual content is properly credited and used with permission.

3. Editorial Process

Submission and Review:

  • Submit all content drafts via our content management system or via email at Support@StartCap.org.
  • Our editorial team will review each submission for quality, accuracy, and adherence to guidelines.

Editing and Feedback:

  • Be open to constructive feedback and willing to make necessary revisions.
  • Significant edits will be communicated to the author for approval before publishing.

Publishing:

  • Content will be scheduled and published according to our editorial calendar.
  • Ensure all links, images, and formatting are correct before the article goes live.

4. Ethical Standards

Transparency and Honesty:

  • Be transparent about any potential conflicts of interest.
  • Do not accept any form of payment or incentives in exchange for favorable coverage.

Respect and Sensitivity:

  • Treat all subjects and sources with respect.
  • Avoid content that could be considered discriminatory, offensive, or insensitive.

5. AI Usage Policy

Prohibition of AI-Generated Content:

  • At StartCap.org, we do not tolerate the use of AI-generated content. All content must be created by human writers to maintain authenticity and originality.
  • Any content found to be AI-generated will be rejected, and the responsible author may be subject to penalties.

AI in Editorial Tools:

  • While AI tools may be used for enhancing productivity (e.g., grammar checking), the primary content creation must be human-driven.
  • Ensure that any AI tools used do not alter the originality or quality of the content.

6. Contributor Guidelines

Qualifications:

  • Contributors should have expertise in their subject matter and a strong grasp of writing principles.
  • Provide a brief bio and disclose any relevant affiliations or potential conflicts of interest.

Communication:

  • Maintain open and timely communication with our editorial team.
  • Adhere to deadlines and promptly address any requested revisions.

7. Corrections and Updates

Error Handling:

  • If errors are discovered post-publication, notify the editorial team immediately.
  • Corrections will be made transparently, with an explanation provided to readers if necessary.

Content Updates:

  • Regularly review and update content to ensure it remains accurate and relevant.
  • Notify the editorial team of any significant updates required for published articles.

By adhering to these guidelines, we ensure that StartCap.org remains a trusted and valuable resource for our readers. Thank you for your commitment to excellence and integrity in your contributions.