wiki/knowledge/content-marketing/citrus-america-blogging-guidelines.md · 801 words · 2026-04-05
Citrus America Blogging Guidelines
Overview
This document captures the rationale and core principles behind the Citrus America blogging guidelines initiative, established after a content review revealed that AI-assisted blog drafts were producing off-brand, factually incorrect content that required significant rewrites. The goal is to reduce revision cycles by giving writers clear guardrails before drafting begins.
The formal "Citrus America Blogging Guidelines" document is owned by [1] and is being produced by Melissa Cusumano as a deliverable from the [2].
Why This Exists
During a blog content review, Brian Framson flagged that a draft post titled "Choosing a Juicer" was fundamentally off-brand and factually wrong in two critical ways:
- It promoted centrifugal juicers — a competing juicing technology — rather than Citrus America's cold-press/reamer-style commercial equipment.
- It incorrectly stated that Citrus America machines strip fiber from juice — the opposite of the truth. Citrus America juice retains fiber, which is an on-trend nutritional benefit.
Brian's assessment: "We always have to remember, what do we sell? We're selling juicing equipment, and I don't know if we always promote ourselves in the best way when we're writing these things."
The "Why Does Orange Taste So Good?" draft was closer to acceptable and required only targeted edits. The "Choosing a Juicer" draft required a full rewrite. The disparity in revision effort made clear that upfront guidelines would save significant time.
Core Principles
Know the Product
- Citrus America sells commercial citrus and pomegranate juicing equipment for retail grocery, foodservice, and hospitality.
- All blog content should be written from the perspective of a company that makes and sells juicing machines — not a neutral juice-industry observer.
- Content should reinforce why fresh-squeezed, on-demand juice is superior to bottled or processed alternatives.
Fiber Is a Feature, Not a Bug
- Citrus America machines produce juice that retains fiber. This is a selling point, not a drawback.
- Never describe the juicing process as "stripping" or "removing" fiber.
- Fiber is on-trend in food and nutrition. Content should lean into this where relevant.
- Do not write favorably about centrifugal juicers, cold-press (HPP) bottled juice, or other extraction methods that compete with Citrus America's equipment.
- Comparisons are acceptable only when they clearly position Citrus America's approach as superior.
Maintain the Brand Voice
- Citrus America's tone is knowledgeable, confident, and approachable — not clinical or overly technical.
- Blog posts should feel like they come from people who genuinely understand the juice industry, not generic content writers.
- Brian Framson's voice and perspective (as a 15-year founder) is the north star for tone.
Every Post Has an Angle
- General information is fine as a hook, but every post should connect back to Citrus America's value proposition.
- Ask before drafting: What does this post make the reader think about Citrus America?
Content Do's and Don'ts
| Do |
Don't |
| Highlight fiber retention as a nutritional benefit |
Say machines "strip" or "remove" fiber |
| Reference Citrus America equipment by name where relevant |
Write as if the company is brand-neutral |
| Use Brian or Miriam's voice/perspective as a tone reference |
Publish drafts without founder review for sensitive topics |
| Connect posts to current food trends (fiber, fresh, transparency) |
Promote centrifugal or HPP competing technologies |
| Include a soft CTA or brand mention at the end |
Leave posts without any connection to Citrus America's products or mission |
| Verify product claims against spec sheets or internal SMEs |
Rely solely on AI-generated content for technical claims |
Review Process
To reduce the back-and-forth that led to this initiative, the following review steps are recommended before a draft is submitted for client review:
- Writer self-check: Does this post pass the "what do we sell?" test? Are there any claims about the juicing process that need verification?
- Agency review (Melissa/team): Flag any brand voice issues or factual red flags before sending to client.
- Client review (Brian or Miriam): Final approval, especially for posts touching on product claims, nutrition, or competitive positioning.
Content Categories in Use
Citrus America's blog and news section uses the following content types. Guidelines apply across all of them:
- Educational posts (e.g., "Why Does Orange Taste So Good?") — general juice/fruit knowledge with a Citrus America lens
- Product-focused posts — feature announcements, product comparisons, use cases (e.g., X-Pro launch content)
- In the News — press release coverage, media pickups, milestone announcements (e.g., 15-year anniversary)
- Founder/team stories — interview series, behind-the-scenes, company culture