Hi folks, Brands publish on HackerNoon via our programs to provide our readers transparency and context, while also getting exclusive benefits such as logo, company bio, brand name as a handle, about page, and that precious Call-to-Action (or, as SEO spammers like to call it, “backlink”) button. Brand-as-author Today, we’re going to be discussing something the editorial team gets asked all the time by content marketers of various brands: How to get our story on the front page of HackerNoon as a top story!? But, first things first, the best way for brands to write on HackerNoon is to not immediately toot their own horn, so to speak. You need to first by writing about your brand’s field of expertise. give readers some value Oh no! “How will we promote our brand, then?” You might ask…Well, hold your horses, we’re getting to that bit. The point is to first give readers value by writing about your expertise using thought leadership and then sprinkle in a bit of promotion. As a brand, we understand that you want, and obviously, need to promote your products or services, but that promotion should not be the main focus of the articles you are writing on HackerNoon but rather the cherry on top that readers should get after gaining some insight and value from your article. So, it is extremely important that you consider ways to offer unique value while still promoting your brand. “What about that spot?” I hear you screaming… top story Well, our editors consider a variety of factors before deeming a story worthy of that prestigious place atop the HackerNoon front page and every editor has their own editorial discretion as well but here are a few pointers to guide you in the right direction. Generally, an article may be categorized as if it has some of the following elements: a top story as a brand The article is well written (duh), free of grammatical and factual errors, and has accurate sourcing/citation for information, like . this one If it is a unique story that has not been brought to the public eye elsewhere, like this one A distinctive or new spin on news/events trending in the tech world that differentiates it from other stories in the ether - here’s an . example Includes original reporting or investigational work relating to a matter - here’s an . example Relevance to a majority of HackerNoon's audience - . like this example A catchy/edgy headline to garner clicks and views on social media, . see this A story that might help in spreading awareness on important issues among the masses and doing so in a respectable, well-informed manner, here’s an . example Has a conversational, fun, engaging tone that entices the reader to continue till the end, . like this Breaks down a complex process/concept into easily understandable language for the layman, for reference, . check this story out Includes personal experience or personal touch or a valuable thought process - here’s a for your reference. nice example Is properly researched, has good examples and includes actionable insights. Here’s , check it out. a great example Most importantly, provides value to the reader - gets them to think, laugh, cry, be concerned, or actually feel something after reading the story. See this as an example. heartwarming startup of the year interview You can head over to see some writing prompts that might help you make your next top story! Or maybe you can about your company, or answer these . here give us an interview tell us about your startup's funding questions for startup founders Those of you consistently publishing on HackerNoon as brands are probably now familiar with our Brand-as-Author (BAA) Program, but for those who are not, this is the ideal time to check out the to see what it can do for your brand akin to what it has done for . program countless others In an effort to up our game and provide our brand partners with even more value, on HackerNoon brands that publish now receive $100 worth of social media promotion for every $500 they spend! Head to learn more. here ….and that’s all folks! Hope you found this post helpful and gained some insight from it. Looking forward to putting some more brand stories on the top! Disclaimer Please do keep in mind that there are general guidelines and suggestions and not a guarantee that a story will be granted a top spot or accepted. Submitted stories also still have to adhere to other rules regarding plagiarism, link promotion and adequate formatting. For example: If a story hits all 12 of the above points but turns out to be plagiarized, it will not be accepted.
