Slocum Studio Guest Post Guidelines
We welcome contributions from thought leaders, researchers, and professionals passionate about Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning, and the future of AI-driven technologies. We also welcome articles related to business, the use of technology, and marketing.
We aim to provide our readers with insightful, well-researched content that helps them understand and navigate the evolving AI landscape.
Content Focus
AI-related topics should center around, but not be limited to:
- AI in business and entrepreneurship
- B2B subject matters, content, SEO, and related
- Machine learning and deep learning advancements
- AI for marketing, e-commerce, or customer experience
- AI ethics and responsible AI usage
- AI in healthcare, education, and other industries
Editing Policy
- Right to Edit: Slocum Studio reserves the right to edit your submission for clarity, grammar, style, SEO optimization, and alignment with our brand voice. We may revise the content's headlines, subheadings, or sections to improve readability or add keywords. Minor edits might also be made for branding consistency or to update facts or time-sensitive information. Rest assured, we will not alter the core message of your article.
- Additional Content: We might add internal links, images, or minor examples to enhance the article. For instance, our team may insert relevant links to our blog posts or include an affiliate link where appropriate. We may also format the post (add subheadings, bullet points, etc.) to fit our blog’s style guidelines. By submitting, you acknowledge and accept that your post may be adapted in these ways.
- Editing Communication: We do not usually send edited articles back for approval unless substantial changes were made. Please let us know if you have a major concern about edits. Otherwise, you’ll see the final polished piece once it’s live on our site!
AI Content & Originality
- No Full AI-Written Posts: We welcome the use of AI as a creative aid, but please do not submit entirely AI-generated content. It’s fine to use tools (like ChatGPT or others) for research or to help with outlining, but a human must craft and refine the article. Content should showcase your expertise, insights, and style. We have a keen eye, and we know what AI-written text looks like, so make sure your article feels human and natural.
- AI Disclosure: If you did use AI assistance at any stage (for example, generating a first draft or getting suggestions), you must disclose this when submitting. A simple note like “AI assisted some sections of this article” is sufficient. We respect transparency. This disclosure will not negatively impact your chances – our main concern is the quality and authenticity of the final piece.
- Human Touch is Required: Even with AI help, the final content must read naturally and engage human readers. It should not have the tell-tale signs of auto-generated text (repetitive phrases, generic tone, or factual inaccuracies). Edit rigorously for clarity and flow. Ultimately, you are the author, not the AI, so your voice should shine through. If a submission feels AI-written or robotic, we will reject it.
Contributor Eligibility (No Competitor links or content allowed)
We do not link to competitive websites, so tell us who you are writing for so we don't waste time.
- Who Can Write for Us: We happily accept guest posts from individual writers, industry experts, freelancers, and agency contributors. Whether you’re a solo blogger or part of a company, you’re welcome — as long as you meet all these guidelines and provide value to our readers.
- No Direct Competitors: We do not accept submissions from direct competitors in the web design or development space. If you represent a web design/development agency or a business that offers services directly competing with Slocum Studio’s services, we will not publish your content. This policy helps us avoid conflicts of interest. (We generally do not allow backlinks to competitors’ sites in guest articles.)
- Relevant Topics: Your guest post should be relevant to our audience and the general themes of our blog. Popular topics include: WordPress tips, web design best practices, digital marketing, small business growth, SEO, content marketing, and related how-to guides or case studies. Before writing, ask yourself if your topic aligns with what Slocum Studio readers expect. If it’s too far afield, it may not fit us.
Attribution & Author Bio
- Author Byline: We will happily give you credit as the author of your post. Your name will be displayed as the author at the bottom of the article.
- Optional Bio: You are welcome to send us a short author bio (about 1-3 sentences) to include at the end of the post. You can mention your role, company, or a fun fact about you. Feel free to include one link in your bio (for example, to your website, LinkedIn, or Twitter) if you wish – please keep it relevant and non-spammy. We may edit the bio for length or clarity if needed.
- Headshot or Logo: You can also provide a profile picture or your company logo to display alongside your bio. This is optional, but you can personalize your contribution. Make sure you have the right to access any image you send. A 300x300px clear headshot works well.
- Attribution of Content: Within the article, if you mention someone else’s work or quote them, attribute it properly (e.g., “According to [Source] ...”). We take copyright seriously, so besides owning the rights to your article (as transferred to us upon acceptance), we require that any third-party materials you use are appropriately credited and licensed.
Submission Guidelines & Process
- Quality Standards: Posts should be well-written, informative, and engaging. We prefer articles of at least 1,500 to 2000 words (in-depth content tends to perform better), but quality is more important than word count. Use a friendly, professional tone—conversational yet valuable. To improve readability, break up the text with headings, subheadings, bullet points, or images. Double-check spelling and grammar before submitting.
- Links Policy: You may include relevant external links to support your points (e.g., to statistics, research, or useful tools). However, no promotional, competitive, or affiliate links are allowed in the content (except ones Slocum Studio may add later). We typically allow 1-2 dofollow backlinks to your project or website if it’s highly relevant and non-competitive. (For example, a link to your agency’s homepage might not be allowed if you’re a web design agency, but a link to a helpful blog post or resource on your site could be considered.) All links are subject to our review – we may remove or not follow any link that doesn’t fit our guidelines.
- Formatting and Media: Submit your post in a standard format (Google Doc link preferred, or Word document). Use Markdown or WordPress-style formatting (for headings, lists, etc.). If you have images, please include them as attachments or links. You must own the rights to any image you include, or it should be royalty-free/creative Commons. We require a featured image (cover image) for the post: ideally 1500 x 1000 pixels JPEG at 72 DPI (screen resolution). If you need help with this, let us know, and we can assist you in finding a suitable image.
- How to Submit: Once your article is ready and polished, send it to us via email or as a shared Google Doc. You can email [email protected] (our content editor) with the subject line “Guest Post Submission – [Your Topic]”. Make sure editing permissions are enabled if sending a Google Doc. In your email, briefly introduce yourself and (if not obvious) let us know why your topic fits our blog. We’ll review your submission and typically respond within 1-2 weeks.
Summary Checklist for Guest Writers
Before you hit “send,” run through this quick checklist to ensure your post meets our guidelines:
✅ Original Content: My article is 100% original and unpublished. I have not copied content from elsewhere, and I've disclosed any AI assistance used. The writing feels human and natural, not AI-generated.
✅ Valuable & Relevant: My topic is relevant to Slocum Studio’s audience (web design, WordPress, marketing, small business, etc.) and provides value (actionable tips, insights, or how-to guidance). It’s not a sales pitch or overly promotional.
✅ Length & Quality: The post is roughly 1500 words or more, or otherwise sufficiently comprehensive. I used clear headings, subheaders, and bullet points where appropriate to make it easy to read. I proofread for spelling and grammar.
✅ Links & References: I included 1-2 relevant external links to support facts or stats (and no links to direct competitors or spammy sites). I also included a few internal links to Slocum Studio’s blog content where it fit (if I knew of relevant posts). All sources are cited or linked to give proper credit.
✅ Images & Media: Any images or graphics I want to include are either my own or properly licensed. I have a featured image ready (or have asked Slocum Studio to help find one). I have alt text in mind for images for accessibility.
✅ Author Bio (Optional): I’ve prepared a short bio (1-3 sentences) and a headshot (optional) to include with my post, and I’m okay with Slocum Studio editing it for style if needed.
✅ Agreement: I understand that by submitting this post, I agree to Slocum Studio’s terms: the content will become Slocum’s property upon acceptance, and they may edit the piece for clarity, SEO, or branding consistency as they see fit. I’m not a direct competitor looking for a sneaky backlink. I’m excited to contribute to Slocum Studio’s blog!
If you can check off all those boxes, you're ready to submit! We genuinely appreciate your contribution and will be in touch soon. Thank you for helping us foster a community of knowledge-sharing and great content on the Slocum Studio blog.