Style Guide Configuration

**Decision**: Title Case for H1, Sentence case for H2-H6

**Examples:**
- H1: "How to Start a Podcast in 2025"
- H2: "Choose your podcast hosting platform"
- H3: "Evaluate hosting features"

- Castos: Always capitalized
- Seriously Simple Podcasting: Title case
- podcast RSS feed: lowercase "podcast", uppercase "RSS"

- podcast / Podcast: lowercase (common noun)
- RSS: Always uppercase (acronym)
- SEO: Always uppercase (acronym)
- WordPress: Capital P (official brand style)

**When to Spell Out:**
- Spell out: One through nine
- Use numerals: 10 and above

**Exceptions:**
- Percentages: Always numerals (5%, 50%)
- Money: Always numerals ($5, $500)
- Measurements: Always numerals (5 GB, 50 MB)
- Lists/stats: Always numerals for scannability

**Large Numbers:**
- Use commas: 1,000+ 
- Spell out millions: 1 million, 5 billion

**Decision**: Yes, always use Oxford comma

**Examples:**
- ✅ "A, B, and C"
- ❌ "A, B and C"

**Style**: — (em dash, no spaces)

**Usage**: For parenthetical statements or emphasis

**Example**: "Podcast analytics—when used correctly—drive better content decisions."

**Decision**: "Straight quotes" for simplicity

**Usage**:
- Direct quotes from sources
- Titles of episodes or articles
- Avoid air quotes for emphasis (use italics instead)

**First Use Rule:**
Spell out on first use with acronym in parentheses

**Example**: "Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds distribute your podcast to all major platforms. Your RSS feed updates automatically..."

**Exceptions for universally known:**
- SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
- URL (Uniform Resource Locator)
- CTA (Call-to-Action)
- API (Application Programming Interface)

**Common Podcasting Acronyms:**
- RSS: Really Simple Syndication
- DAI: Dynamic Ad Insertion
- IAB: Interactive Advertising Bureau
- CPM: Cost Per Mille (thousand impressions)

**Say This** → **Not That** (Reason)

- podcast creators → podcasters (more inclusive, not all identify as "podcasters")
- listeners → subscribers (listeners is more accurate)
- podcast hosting → podcast storage (hosting is the industry term)
- analytics → stats (analytics is more professional/comprehensive)
- show notes → episode description (show notes is the industry standard)
- monetize → monetise (US English spelling)

**Avoid:**
- "Very", "really", "actually" (usually unnecessary)
- "Click here" or "Read more" (use descriptive links)
- "Utilize" (say "use")
- "Leverage" (unless referring to actual leverage)
- "Best practices" (overused; be specific)
- "Cutting-edge" or "innovative" (show, don't tell)
- Passive voice when active is clearer

**Guidelines:**
- Use gender-neutral language ("they" instead of "he/she")
- "Podcast creator" instead of gendered terms
- Avoid idioms that may not translate globally
- Be mindful of accessibility in descriptions
- Use people-first language when discussing disabilities

**Use for:**
- Key concepts first mentioned
- Important takeaways
- Terms being defined

**Don't overuse:** If everything is bold, nothing stands out

**Example:** "**Keyword density** refers to how often your target keyword appears in your content."

**Use for:**
- Emphasis (sparingly)
- Titles of podcasts/books/articles
- Foreign phrases

**Example:** "The term *podcast* combines 'iPod' and 'broadcast'."

**Decision:** Generally avoid (reserve for links)

**Decision:** Avoid except for standard acronyms (RSS, SEO, API)

**Use for:** Non-sequential items, features, benefits

**Style:**
- Capitalize first word
- Period if complete sentence, no period if fragment
- Parallel structure (all sentences or all fragments)

**Example:**
- Choose your podcast topic
- Set up hosting
- Record your first episode

**Use for:** Sequential steps, rankings, ordered priorities

**Format:** 1. 2. 3. (with period after number)

**Example:**
1. Research your target keyword
2. Analyze top-ranking competitors
3. Create comprehensive content
4. Optimize for featured snippets

**Guidelines:**
- Descriptive (tell reader where they're going)
- Keyword-rich when possible
- 2-5 words typically

**Examples:**
- ✅ "Learn more about podcast SEO"
- ✅ "our complete guide to podcast analytics"
- ❌ "Click here"
- ❌ "Read more"

**Internal links:** No special attributes
**External links:** No special attributes (search engines ignore nofollow on editorial links)
**Affiliate links:** Use rel="sponsored"

**Use backticks for:**
- URLs
- File names
- Code snippets
- Terminal commands

**Example:** "Your RSS feed URL is `https://feeds.castos.com/your-show`"

**Use for:** Multi-line code, configuration examples

**Include language identifier:**

\`\`\`bash
cp .env.example .env
\`\`\`

**Standard Structure** (150-250 words):

1. **Hook** (1-2 sentences): Grab attention
   - Question, statistic, or bold statement
   
2. **Problem** (2-3 sentences): What challenge does this address?
   - Articulate reader pain point
   
3. **Promise** (2-3 sentences): What will reader learn/achieve?
   - Clear benefit and outcome
   
4. **Credibility** (optional, 1-2 sentences): Why trust this source?
   - Data, experience, or authority

**Keyword Placement:**
- Must include primary keyword in first 100 words
- Natural integration, not forced

**Guidelines:**
- Minimum: 150 words per section
- Maximum: 500 words per section (break into subsections if longer)
- Ideal: 250-350 words per main section

**Standard Structure** (150-250 words):

1. **Recap** (3-5 bullet points or paragraph): Key takeaways
2. **Action** (1-2 sentences): What should reader do next?
3. **CTA** (1-2 sentences): Call-to-action
4. **Forward-looking** (optional, 1 sentence): Encouraging final thought

**Requirements:**
- 50-60 characters including spaces
- Include primary keyword
- Include "| Castos" if space allows
- No ending punctuation

**Examples:**
- ✅ "How to Start a Podcast in 2025 | Complete Guide"
- ❌ "Podcast Tips and Tricks" (too vague, no keyword)

**Requirements:**
- 150-160 characters including spaces
- Include primary keyword
- Include call-to-action
- End with complete thought

**Formula:**
[Problem/Question]? [Solution/Benefit]. [Unique angle]. [CTA].

**Example:**
"Learn how to start a podcast with our step-by-step guide. Everything from equipment to launch strategy. Perfect for beginners. Start today." (159 chars)

**Requirements:**
- Lowercase only
- Hyphens between words
- Include primary keyword
- 3-5 words ideal

**Format:** /blog/primary-keyword-phrase

**Examples:**
- ✅ /blog/start-podcast-guide
- ✅ /blog/podcast-analytics
- ❌ /blog/how-to-start-a-podcast-in-2025-the-complete-guide (too long)

**Requirements:**
- Describe what image shows
- Include keyword naturally if relevant
- 125 characters or less
- No "image of" or "picture of" (implied)

**Examples:**
- ✅ "Podcast editing software interface showing waveform and timeline"
- ❌ "Image"
- ❌ "Picture of podcast editing software"

**Decision:** Month DD, YYYY

**Examples:**
- January 15, 2025
- March 4, 2026

**Decision:** 12-hour format with a.m./p.m.

**Examples:**
- 3:00 p.m. EST
- 9:00 a.m. Pacific

**Guidelines:**
- Always cite sources
- Link to original source when possible
- Include year of data
- Round large numbers for readability

**Format:**
"According to [Source], [statistic]."

**Examples:**
- Use % symbol: 15% (not "percent")
- Use $ for money: $500 (not "dollars")
- Include commas: 10,000 (not 10000)
- Round large numbers: "1.2 million" (not "1,234,567")

**Requirements:**
- Descriptive link text (not "click here")
- Image alt text for all images
- Proper heading hierarchy (H1→H2→H3, no skipping)
- Descriptive table headers

**Guidelines:**
- Write at 8th-10th grade level
- Define technical terms on first use
- Use short sentences and paragraphs
- Break complex ideas into digestible chunks

cp ~/workspace/source/context/style-guide.md ~/workspace/source/context/my-style-guide.md

/write "Test Article Topic"