As a former contributing writer to the nations largest magazine, I wanted to make a few suggestions to the executive editorial staff for their consideration:
1) Know Your Audience. When Ken Tumin served as founder, senior editor, and writer, he understood that Deposit Accounts readers were, in general, financially sophisticated folks. His articles offered insight and in depth analysis appropriate to a financially sophisticated readership. Therefore, writing articles for financial neophytes like "How To Balance Your Checkbook" simply do not fit this particular website. it would be like having a seminar for experienced chef's and having a workshop on "how to boil eggs."
2) Know the History Of the Website
Executive editors, senior editors, general editors, contributing writers: Take the time to look through the articles historically written for Deposit Accounts so that you will understand what has been helpful and well received.
3) Avoid SEO Optimization As Exclusive Focus: While your SEO focus may result in more clicks, you are losing the strong reputation of the Deposit Accounts blogs by writing puerile financial articles for sophisticated financial readers. If you want to use SEO, focus on the frequently searched financial topics that are appropriate for experienced financial folks.
4) Solicit Feedback From Readers: It is helpful to send surveys to a randomized or stratified sample of your readers to find out which financial and savings topics are of greatest interest.
5) Do Not Cut Off Feedback From Readers. It was an unwise decision to stop allowing readers to comment on blog articles (within the article itself). Reader comments often serve to enrich the discussion at hand.
6) Ensure that Editors Delete Comments that are topic irrelevant, and those comments that are ad hominem attacks (personal attacks) on others.
Thank you in advance for your consideration. Please take what is helpful and leave the rest.
7) Editors Should Stay In the Background: The very best editors have no need to have their name plastered next to the contributing writer. I once asked my senior editor at a major magazine if I should include her in my article footnotes. She threatened to kill me if I mentioned or cited her anywhere in the article. Her attitude is pretty typical and expectable among "A" level editors.
