Strategies for successful article/gallery publishing on MSN

In this article

Format for readability and layout consistency

Craft effective headlines and intros

Use strong, relevant visuals

Build galleries that perform

Structure for engagement

Know your audience

Publish with quality and consistency

Format for readability and layout consistency

Well-structured formatting helps ensure your content is easy to read and visually consistent within the MSN platform. Clean layouts improve comprehension and help maintain reader engagement from the first paragraph onward.

Best practices:

• Use short paragraphs and clear subheadings to break up large blocks of text.

• Incorporate bullet points or numbered lists where appropriate.

• Avoid dense text at the top of the article, lead with clarity.

• Preview embedded media to confirm it displays correctly on MSN.

Craft effective headlines and intros

The headline and introduction are often your only chance to grab a reader’s attention. Make them specific, relevant, and aligned with the content.

Best practices:

• Write headlines that are clear, accurate, and avoid clickbait.

• Ensure the headline and thumbnail image support each other without being redundant.

• Use an intro that sets clear expectations and encourages the reader to continue.

• Use proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation in your titles.

• Ensure titles do not contain URLs.

• Use sentence case formatting; only the first word and any proper nouns or acronyms are capitalized. For example: "Smart devices are changing the way we live" or "The NASA program for space has started".

Use strong, relevant visuals

Visual content should support your story and add meaning—not just fill space. Generic or poor-quality images can lower trust and engagement.

Best practices:

• Use editorial-quality images that match the tone and subject of the article.

• Avoid low-resolution, pixelated, or watermarked visuals.

• Include captions that add context and value for the reader.

• Ensure images and thumbnails are not blurry, badly cropped, or use solid color backgrounds.

• Use images where all critical elements (faces, limbs, key objects) are visible and property framed.

• Ensure thumbnails relate to the content title and are not misleading or ambiguous.

• Avoid duplicating the content title as text overlay on the thumbnail.

• If a thumbnail is missing, upload one to ensure property display and engagement.

• When using a portrait image for a thumbnail, reformat it to fit a landscape layout without solid color bars. 

• Thumbnails must have a minimum width or height of 300 pixels. 

Build galleries that perform

Galleries (also known as slideshows) should do more than display a series of images—they should tell a story or provide useful context.

Best practices:

• Begin with a compelling lead slide that signals the topic clearly.

• Ensure each slide includes a high-quality image and an informative caption.

• Keep gallery structure tight and cohesive; avoid padding the count to meet slide minimums.

• Use consistent aspect ratios and image sizing for a polished visual experience.

Structure for engagement

The best articles are structured to draw readers in quickly and keep them scrolling. Help them get value early—and guide them to what’s next.

Best practices:

• Highlight key takeaways early in the article.

• Incorporate multimedia elements like videos, charts, or pull quotes.

• End with a clear next step, such as a related article link or summary takeaway.

Know your audience

MSN reaches a broad, diverse readership. Content should be accessible, inclusive, and tailored to general-interest consumption.

Best practices:

• Avoid niche terminology or explain it clearly for general audiences.

• Write with global distribution in mind, minimizing region-specific references unless relevant.

• Use inclusive language and ensure your content is approachable to all readers.

Publish with quality and consistency

High-performing content is consistently clean, well-proofed, and aligned with MSN's editorial standards. Even small issues—like typos or broken links—can negatively affect trust and visibility.

Best practices:

• Proofread for grammar, spelling, and link functionality before ingestion.

• Verify that all links are included and properly formatted as clickable links rather than plain text.

• Avoid repeating headlines or descriptions across multiple articles unless necessary.

• Ensure metadata, visuals, and copy all work together to support the article’s core message.

Next steps

Before publishing, review this checklist to ensure your article or gallery is optimized for visibility and engagement. Well-structured, reader-focused content is more likely to perform—and deliver lasting value on MSN.