The Editorial Rulebook.
Great ideas need great execution. Learn how to format your titles, structure your content, and select imagery that converts clicks into revenue.
1. Titles & Headlines
Your title is the most important part of your article. If it doesn't capture attention, no one will read the rest of your work. A great title makes a clear, specific promise to the reader.
The Rules of a Winning Title:
- Keep it between 50-60 characters: Long titles get cut off by Google and social media feeds.
- Capitalize correctly: Use Title Case (capitalize major words). Do not write titles entirely in LOWERCASE or UPPERCASE.
- Avoid clickbait: Never deceive the reader. If you promise a solution in the title, deliver it in the text.
This is cheap clickbait. Readers despise being tricked and will bounce immediately, ruining your read-time earnings.
This is specific, builds curiosity, and tells the reader exactly what they will learn.
2. Content Structure & Formatting
Online readers scan screens before they commit to reading. If they see a massive "wall of text," they will leave. You must break your content into visually digestible pieces.
The Anatomy of a Perfect Article:
- The 3-Sentence Rule: Keep paragraphs short. 2 to 4 sentences maximum. It creates white space and makes reading effortless.
- Use Subheadings (H2, H3): Break your article into distinct sections. A reader should be able to scroll through your article and understand the core message just by reading the subheadings.
- Use Bullet Points: Whenever you list 3 or more items, use a bulleted or numbered list.
- Bold Key Phrases: Use bold text to highlight important sentences or takeaways within a paragraph.
Don't waste the first paragraph on long, boring introductions. Use the "APP Formula" — Align with the reader's problem, Promise a solution, and Preview what you're about to tell them.
3. Imagery & Visuals
Humans are visual creatures. The images you choose set the tone for your entire piece. Low-quality, pixelated images instantly destroy your credibility as an author.
Image Guidelines:
- The Cover Image: Choose a high-resolution, striking main image. Avoid cheesy "stock" photos of men in suits shaking hands. Look for authentic, artistic, or abstract imagery.
- Where to find them: Use free, high-quality stock sites like Unsplash, Pexels, or Pixabay.
- Inline Images: Break up long articles (over 800 words) by inserting relevant images, charts, or graphs in the middle of your text.
- Credit the Photographer: Always add a small caption under the image crediting the creator (e.g., Photo by John Doe on Unsplash).
4. Quality & Originality Standards
ArticlePaid pays you for your unique human perspective. We strictly enforce editorial integrity to maintain trust with our readers.
- Zero AI Content: Articles generated by ChatGPT, Claude, or other AI tools to farm earnings are strictly prohibited and will result in a permanent ban and forfeiture of funds.
- Zero Plagiarism: Copying and pasting from other websites, or simply "spinning" someone else's news article, is not allowed.
- Fact-Check Your Claims: If you quote statistics, mention a study, or report on news, you must link to the original credible source.
- Proofread: Run your article through a spell-checker (like Grammarly) before hitting publish. Repeated spelling and grammar errors will prevent your article from being distributed.