Constant Content

FYI:

Apparently the word 'unsexy' is forbidden on Constant Content (even though it's been accepted before: https://www.constant-content.com/area/b ... &goSearch=). What other words have you had rejected by CC editors?

Ass, as in 'get your ass in gear'. Used in an obviously lighthearted way, but apparently way too offensive ::shrug::

Had one rejected today for 'hellbent'. "We only publish content with professional language. 'Hellbent' is not professional."

ryanhealy wrote:Had one rejected today for 'hellbent'. "We only publish content with professional language. 'Hellbent' is not professional."

Thanks for the heads up.

FYI: 'Badass' is now forbidden too. Guess these other CC editors didn't get the memo...
https://www.constant-content.com/area/b ... &maxWords=


CC editors must have to err on the side of caution. They never know how a buyer is going to react to a word, or think the word is too risqué for their target audience.

HiredGun wrote:FYI:

Apparently the word 'unsexy' is forbidden on Constant Content (even though it's been accepted before: https://www.constant-content.com/area/b ... &goSearch=). What other words have you had rejected by CC editors?

Now not only is 'unsexy' deemed unprofessional, so too is 'sexy'.
Too bad the editors for these articles didn't get the memo:
https://www.constant-content.com/area/b ... &goSearch=

The thing that is most annoying to me is the seemingly ever expanding ban on anything approaching first person. I get that first person essays are banned and have been as long as I've been here (though there are still plenty of personal essays, poetry and fiction lurking in the catalog from the earlier days). But I have older articles in my own catalog that include first person in the title (Usually in the form of a question, as in "Should I Do X" or "Can I Do Y", where "I" is obviously implied to be "you" the reader, not "me" the writer). And previously first person plural was acceptable, as in "We all wish we had more spare time,but I recently got a rejection for that, and had to rewrite to get it in, which is a newer development even after the "no more 'I' in titles" started.

This frustrates me because 1) the "we" format is very accepted in blog and service article writing (read any women's magazine or advice article) as a way of setting a warm and inviting tone that is desirable in drawing the reader in and 2) I don't do a lot of formal SEO optimization or emphasis on keywords, but titles and subheadings that include exact phrases that people are likely to search on is a no-brainer, and many, MANY people (including me) type in Google queries like "Can I Lose Weight by Fasting" or "Should I List Volunteer Work on my Resume?". Allowing titles like that not only makes the articles appealing to potential buyers because they know it makes it more searchable, but it makes it easier for buyers themselves to find the article listing via Google -- hence getting more new buyers who may not have known about the site before.

And I'm not even if the changes come from revision of hard and fast rules from the top, or individual editors' interpretations, which makes it even more frustrating, because CC may not even realize that they are missing out on potential sales due to overzealous enforcement.

Colleen

That one is frustrating.

I think it's an individual editor thing. I've had the "we could all use..." and "let's take a look at..." kind of rejections, but one article was written in Q&A format with the Qs in first person, and it sailed through (and sold quickly as it happens). I paused for thought before submitting, but it was the only way the article made sense, and that editor seemed to agree.

Another new forbidden word/phrase update:

Don't use the term 'these are' in your titles on CC.
e.g. These are the Top Ten Reasons You Shouldn't Optimize Your Titles for Clicks

Any justification given?

Gauderbock wrote:Any justification given?

'These are' is wordy and click-baity.

Oh well, another CC lesson learned.

When you're reading CC's 'writing ideas' list of recently sold articles and you're inspired to use Viagra in a marketing blog post title...

NOT forbidden on CC ===)
https://www.constant-content.com/area/b ... &goSearch=

I got a 1st person "type" of list through a few months ago with this wording.

Have you ever asked yourself the following questions?
Then I listed the questions in first person.