Simply Business Editorial Guidelines
We’re Here to Support Small Businesses
Financially protecting them with insurance is just one way we do that. Our commitment to helping small businesses thrive runs deep in our company and our culture, which is reflected in the content we create.
Our Editorial Process
Providing the most accurate, up-to-date, and helpful information possible is the result of a thorough and thoughtful process that is laser-focused on the needs of small business owners.
01
Planning and ideation
Our primary goal: to demystify insurance jargon. There are a lot of important concepts that shape the landscape of small business insurance, but they aren’t always the most accessible to people who don’t live and breathe insurance the way we do. For that reason, the content we create is:
Relevant
Addresses the challenges and opportunities that matter to small business owners.
Understandable
Presents information in a way that enables business owners to plan, prepare, and take action.
Beneficial
Helps business owners to increase their revenue, expand their operations, protect their livelihood, and gain even more satisfaction from what they do.
02
Research and writing
Our content is authored and produced by insurance experts, business writers, and industry professionals with a passion for and understanding of small businesses. Many of our content creators are small business owners themselves or have a deep expertise in small business.
03
Partner collaboration
We leverage our growing partnership network that’s made up of other companies that put small businesses first in order to introduce our audience to valuable insights, offers, and business building information from companies and organizations who share our desire to help and support small businesses.
04
Content review
Our editorial team reviews the content for clarity, grammar, style, and overall quality. We aim for content that is easy to understand and relevant for small business owners, in a variety of formats suitable to different learning types. That way, we’re confident that we’ve done our part to reach a wide range of audiences, at every stage in the business owner journey.
05
Publication and distribution
We strive to meet business owners where they are. Careful consideration goes into where content appears (websites, social media channels, emails, and so on) to ensure it reaches our audiences in a timely manner and in a format that they prefer.
06
Regular updates
We regularly review and update our existing content to reflect the latest industry changes and regulatory requirements.
Our Content Standards
Accuracy
We rely on reputable sources, conduct thorough research, cite our sources whenever possible, and verify information before publication.
Objectivity
We present information in a fair and unbiased manner. Our goal is to educate and inform, not to promote any particular product or service.
Clarity
We write in plain language and avoid jargon whenever possible. We want our content to be accessible and easy to understand for all small business owners.
Relevance
We focus on topics that are directly relevant to small business owners and their insurance needs.
Our Editorial Team
Simply Business has a dedicated editorial team comprising individuals with extensive knowledge of the insurance industry and small business needs.
Our full time staff
Insurance professionals with years of experience in underwriting, claims, and customer service.
Experienced writers and editors who specialize in creating clear, concise, and engaging content.
Small business veterans who can share their insights and experiences from the perspective of the people they write for.
Legal experts who ensure our content complies with all relevant regulations.
Editorial Leadership
Michael Gauld
Director, Content
Michael Gauld is the Director of Content Marketing at Simply Business, where he leads a team of storytellers, expert writers, and videographers. His experience includes leading content initiatives for financial institutions like Liberty Mutual and Morgan Stanley, as well as well-known brands such as Dunkin’, iRobot, and Goodyear.
Karen Guglielmo
Manager, Content
As the Content Marketing Manager at Simply Business, Karen Guglielmo leads a team of experienced copywriters to craft stories and educational content for small businesses. She previously led the content strategy at brands including Iron Mountain, TechTarget, and Alludo.
Small business owners rely on advice and insight from industry experts and other business owners to help support and grow their businesses. Karen leverages her experience in understanding the needs of small businesses and crafting relevant stories to support and solve their challenges.
Staff Content Creators
Ed Grasso
Senior Writer
Ed’s small business experience started with a short-lived lemonade stand when he was nine. He found much more success as a writer, and now blends grammar, syntax, and punctuation with a love of small business topics, such as liability insurance, small business funding, and employee management.
Kristin Vegh
Copywriter
Kristin is a copywriter who’s well-versed in a number of topics such as small business trends, license reciprocity, and BOP insurance.
After several years of working in insurance while also freelance writing, she’s finally found where the two interests intersect. She’s a writer with Simply Business with an insurance processing background and a love of research
Editorial Review Panel
Shay Rodger
Strategist, Organic Social
Shay got his start as a writer with a degree in Professional Writing, and has since accumulated more than a decade of career experience in content strategy. From startups to Fortune 500s, Shay’s worked on everything from agency copywriting and social media management to brand storytelling and SEO optimization. His portfolio includes work for Sweetgreen, Grubhub, USA Today/Reviewed, connectRN, and a number of regional storytelling gigs.
Sean Adams
SEO Manager
Sean is an organic search manager for Simply Business who makes sure content can get found online. He is an experienced digital marketer and has worked in the field of search engine optimization since 2014. Technical SEO, local SEO, and app store optimization are all areas of particular interest he’s attained while working with companies like Wayfair and RXBAR.
Contributing Writers
Courtney Hayes
Contributor
Born and raised in the fishing port of Gloucester, MA, I grew up listening to the sea stories of local fishermen. My first job was “chum girl” on my dad’s tuna boat, where I spent my formative years covered in fish guts. Since then, I’ve worked as a researcher, blogger, and writer for documentary films. When not at work, you can find me surfing the cold waters of the North Atlantic or searching for warmer waves around the world.
Courtney writes on a number of topics such as risk assessment, starting a small business, and financial resources.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or feedback about our editorial guidelines or the content on our site, please visit our contact us page.