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. Content published on MSN is categorized as brand-sponsored informational content and will need the following disclaimer added at the end.
This content is provided in partnership with [Brand Name – can be hyperlinked to brand site] and is intended for informational purposes only. The views, opinions, and advice expressed in this article are solely those of [Brand Name] and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of any other individual, organization, or entity.
2. The content should first and foremost be informational and interesting, covering a topic of interest in the sponsoring brand’s industry;
- The topic needs to be relevant to the present moment – tying it in with recent industry-relevant news or developments is recommended. A versatile solution is to comment on a recent development and what it might mean for the target audience, citing the sponsoring brand as the authority source behind the commentary;
- Idea: look up “[industry] news” and see if there are any recent developments you could be using as the hook for your content; then think about “what this means for the target reader” and answer that in your content.
- Idea: look up “[industry] news” and see if there are any recent developments you could be using as the hook for your content; then think about “what this means for the target reader” and answer that in your content.
- The topic needs to be specific (generic “introduction to plumbing” or “why you need regular dental checkups” are low-interest and may get your brand banned from MSN publication)
3. The content should not be an open, direct ad for the sponsoring business. You should not directly and explicitly present the business as the obvious choice for the reader and talk about the business’s advantages over the competition, and you should NEVER disparage, criticize, or mention the competition in any type of negative context.
4. The content should be easy to scan. Use sub-headings and bulleted lists, and avoid large text-wall paragraphs.
5. The content should be accurate, fact-checked, and deliver genuine value to your audience.
6. For click-through purposes, it’s recommended to add your target URL/s as the first and last links in the content; the links should be placed naturally and in an engaging and relevant way.
- For example: “And if you need inspiration, you can always turn to celebrities and see what’s popular – which sunglasses are Hollywood A-listers wearing in 2024.”
- It’s fine to add one or two third-party links, as sources, but do make sure the links you want to promote are predominant.
7. 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.
Examples of Content Published on MSN that Follow the Guidelines
Now, here are some examples of MSN content:
- From Robert Downey Jr. to Simu Liu: Why is DITA the celeb eyewear of choice?
- The Rock vs. Pharrell Williams: Their Most Ridiculous Sunglasses
- 3 Menopause Supplements for Healthy Weight (And Why They Might Be Better than Hormone Therapy)
- Drew Barrymore vs. Michelle Obama: How They Survive Menopause
- DFW multifamily realty more attractive amid 50% increase in population by 2050 (msn.com)
- Latest Medicare updates have complex impact on group health insurance for SMBs (msn.com)
- Go big—or go back to the ’90s. Here are the top eyewear trends for 2024 (msn.com)
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.
