Writing my first article for MSN was a bit like a hike in the fog – only without the fog. Or the hike. Or anything else, really – I had nothing. No guidelines, no checklist, no instructions. Nothing.
It was only once that first piece was published that I was able to make some sense of what it took to get content out there.
Because going by what was already live on MSN wasn’t going to cut it – we’re not big media to get stuff approved by virtue of name only.
We have to find ways to make things work where they otherwise wouldn’t.
But it can be done.
As we kept testing and brainstorming ways to not just get published, but make the most of our content once it was live, we figured out a way to create good, helpful, quality content that’s MSN-worthy – without the massive price tag.
MSN Content Guidelines
Here are some guidelines to help you get your own content out on MSN.
1. Tone and Structure
- Tone: Newsworthy, neutral, and professional. Avoid sales-driven or overly promotional language.
- Format: Follow a traditional branded news article structure:
- Clear, concise headline featuring the company name and the major news impact of the content.
- Introductory paragraph that highlights the broader relevance of the announcement.
- Supporting paragraphs that expand on the impact, including a boilerplate paragraph about the company.
2. Headline Requirements
- Include the business name in the headline.
- Use a newsworthy format that summarizes the key announcement and its broader relevance.
- Avoid non-specific, overly general, or overly-promotional headlines.
Examples of Effective Headlines
- Local Tech Firm ABC Launches AI-Powered Tool, Boosting SME Productivity by 30%
- XYZManufacturing Adopts IoT, Sees 25% Increase in Supply Chain Efficiency
- Smith & Co. Law Firm Partners with Tech Giant to Offer AI-Driven Legal Services
- Green Solutions Inc. Debuts Eco-Friendly Product Line, Projects 50% Revenue Growth
Examples of Unacceptable Headlines
- Designing Sustainable Landscapes: 3 Key Eco-Friendly Gardening Trends for 2025
(Too generic, lacks a specific announcement or company name.) - Mark & Sons Revolutionizes Plumbing With Outstanding New Drain Cleaning Tools!
(Too promotional)
3. Broader Relevance
Clearly and promptly demonstrate how the announcement ties into broader industry trends such as:
- AI and automation.
- New technology or new applications of existing technology.
- Environmental responsibility and sustainability.
- Social initiatives and responsible business practices.
Emphasize national, state, or international impact.
If you’re a local business with a more localized impact, you’ll need to highlight how your business aligns with broader industry trends to make your content more relevant on a larger scale.
Focus on any of the following areas:
- Tech Integration: Show how your use of AI, automation, or other technologies aligns with current industry shifts.
- Digital Transformation: Demonstrate how your company’s digital implementation can serve as a model for other businesses regionally or nationally.
- Data-Driven Insights: Share valuable data or trends your business has identified, relevant to your industry.
- Industry Disruption: Highlight how your innovations are reshaping industry practices and influencing competitors.
- Sustainability Initiatives: Emphasize ESG efforts that align with broader environmental, social, and governance standards – this is a particularly favorable area of focus so it’s recommended to consider any potential ESG relevance for your content.
Regardless of the area of focus, if you can tie your content in with any current events or trends, do it – it will increase your chances of approval on MSN.
4. Examples of Acceptable Content Topics
- New product launches with measurable industry impact (e.g., “Local News Outlet ABC Media Launches Real-Time Financial App”).
- Partnerships or acquisitions that indicate industry evolution (e.g., “MNORobotics Acquires AI Startup, Aims to Revolutionize Industrial Automation”).
- Innovations aligning with sustainability or technological advancement (e.g., “Regional Bank JKL Introduces Blockchain-Based Payments”).
- Process updates with a focus on sustainable development (e.g., ABC Construction Adopts Carbon-Neutral Cement, Reduces Emissions)
- Service updates aligning with community development initiatives (e.g., BrightFuture Foods Launches Community Farming Initiative, Supports Local Families)
- Service expansions with an emphasis on increasing service accessibility (e.g., HealthFirst Clinics Expands Rural Healthcare Access, Serving 9,000 New Patients In Lake County, OR)
5. Prohibited Topics
MSN does not accept content related to the following:
- Illegal Activities or Products
- Content promoting or describing illegal activities.
- Announcements related to illegal products or services.
- Hate Speech, Discriminatory Content, Personal Attacks, or Defamatory Statements
- Content that promotes hate, violence, or attacks against individuals or groups.
- Discriminatory policies or practices.
- Defamatory statements targeting competitors or others.
- Unverified or Sensationalized Claims
- Extraordinary claims without substantial evidence.
- Exaggerated or misleading statements about products, services, or trends.
- Explicit or Gratuitous Violence
- Detailed descriptions of violent acts.
- Announcements promoting or glorifying violence.
- Adult Content or Excessive Profanity
- Sexually explicit material.
- Content with excessive or unnecessary profanity.
- Political Campaigning or Partisan Content
- Appeals for votes or financial support for political candidates.
- Biased political commentary disguised as news.
- Pseudoscience or Misinformation
- Content promoting scientifically discredited theories.
- Announcements based on misleading or false information.
- Private or Confidential Information
- Releases containing personal data without consent.
- Announcements revealing trade secrets or confidential business information.
- Plagiarized or Copyright-Infringing Content
- Press releases or announcements copied from other sources without permission.
- Unauthorized use of trademarked terms, logos, or proprietary information.
6. Key Requirements Checklist
⬜ Content Focus & Relevance
- Does your news relate to business, technology, finance, digital transformation, ESG initiatives, or marketing?
- Have you framed your story to reflect broader trends or industry shifts?
⬜ Newsworthiness
- Does your content have state-level, national, or international impact?
- Have you highlighted the scope of impact, trend indicators, innovation factor, and/or economic implications of your news?
- If it’s a local story, have you identified broader relevance or significance?
⬜ Neutral Tone & Objectivity
- Is the press release written in a neutral tone, free from promotional language or sales pitches?
- Are opinions clearly labeled, and have you provided balanced viewpoints?
⬜ Factual Accuracy
- Are all claims and statistics properly sourced and verifiable?
- Have you included links to reputable sources for key data points?
⬜ Context & Background
- Have you provided enough context to connect your news to larger industry trends?
- Does your announcement explain its significance within the broader market or industry?
⬜ Timeliness
- Is your news timely, focusing on recent developments or upcoming announcements?
- If referencing past events, have you clearly explained their relevance to current news?
⬜ Clarity & Accessibility
- Is your language clear, free from jargon, and accessible to both experts and a broader audience?
- Have you used active voice and concise sentences for easier reading?
⬜ Structure
- Does your news or press release follow a clear structure:
- Headline: Summarizes the key news with a clear issuer entity.
- Lead Paragraph: Answers who, what, when, where, why, and how.
- Body Paragraphs: Provide detailed context and supporting information.
- Boilerplate: Includes a brief description of your company or organization.
⬜ Prohibited Content
- Have you ensured your content avoids the following:
- Illegal activities or products.
- Hate speech, discriminatory content, or defamatory statements.
- Sensationalized claims, explicit violence, or adult content.
- Political campaigning or pseudoscience.
- Private or confidential information.
- Plagiarized or copyright-infringing material
7. On AI Use
The content should not be generic AI output; low-quality AI content can get the brand banned from MSN. You can use AI for research and ideas, but the final content should be 100% fact-checked, edited for clarity and accuracy, and free of typical AI exaggerations. Keep an eye out for the following AI red flags known to cause issues:
- AI text generators will generally exaggerate the impact, importance, of relative status of the subject it writes about. It may present your brand as the absolute leader in your industry (even though it’s not), and it may state that the topic you’re writing about is of crucial importance for the field (even though it may not be).
- AI will contextualize every topic as a “landscape” to “navigate” or “realm” to “dive into”, even though that’s inappropriate in most cases (as your content will be about specific topics, not about entire “landscapes” or “realms”).
- AI will present inaccurate or downright wrong information as factual, and may even list sources for its claims (even though said sources are either misquoted or completely made up). All information should be thoroughly and manually checked for accuracy.
Your Path to MSN Success Starts Here!
If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed, don’t worry! We’ve got your back.
Microsoft MSN Publishing by AmpiFire is your complete solution to getting content published on MSN.com consistently and without breaking the bank. And they’ll follow the guidelines above too!
Schedule an appointment now with our team to see how AmpiFire can help to get your content on MSN.
