Content provider guidelines

Please read this section to find out all you need to know about having content published on Business.govt.nz. If you would like to submit content now, please read the How to submit content section, and e-mail us at info@business.govt.nz.

On this page:

• Who can submit content
• What are the criteria
• How to submit content
• About the audience
• Writing guidelines
• The content curriculum

Who can submit content

Business.govt.nz is a 'first-stop shop' where businesses can interact with government and find the latest expert advice on starting, managing and growing a business.

To support Kiwi businesses in this capacity, we recognise that, instead of all content being written by the Business.govt.nz team, there is both public and private sector content that already exists that may be more appropriate to reference. This avoids duplication of time and effort where best practice content is already available.

Therefore, both public and private sector organisations have the opportunity to have their content published on Business.govt.nz. Content provided is evaluated against set criteria and if it qualifies, it may be published online. We reserve the right to accept/decline any content that does not meet any of these criteria.

NB: Content includes web-based content, events to be added to our upcoming event calendar, interactive tools, and static content.

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What are the criteria

Before content is published on Business.govt.nz, it will be evaluated against the following criteria.

1. It must fit with the Business.govt.nz content curriculum, and help solve common issues for SMEs (small to medium-sized enterprises). A curriculum has been developed that identifies these issues. You can find out more about the curriculum by downloading it below.
2. The credibility and expertise of the organisation providing content in a specific area must complement existing content.
3. Anything containing advertising or product placement is highly unlikely to be published. The extent to which private sector content is perceived to be using Business.govt.nz to advertise or promote their products or services will be scrutinised.
4. Content must have a regional or national focus, so content from local operators who do not have a national or regional focus is unlikely to be accepted. 

As a guide, content from the following organisations will most often fit the Business.govt.nz criteria.

• Government departments, or government funded bodies.
• Non-profit organisations such as business associations or non-profit groups that support small to medium-sized enterprises.
•  NZTE training voucher approved providers.
• Recognised nationwide expert private sector organizations.

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How to submit content

To provide existing online content to Business.govt.nz, e-mail the following to info@business.govt.nz.

1. Your organisation name.
2. The topic of your content and the section of the content curriculum you see it fitting in to.
3. The URL link to the content on your website. We have a ‘harvesting’ tool that will take this content and place it inside Business.govt.nz. Automatic alerts are generated by the tool whenever you change the content on your site, allowing us to ensure your content never becomes outdated.
4. A summary description of the content (short paragraph).
5. The type/form of the content (e.g., article, .pdf).
6. Is the content regionally specific? If so, to which region?
7. Your permission to use the content.
8. If you have static content that is not in an online format (e.g., MS Word/PDF documents, podcasts, videos, templates, tools), then email it to us at info@business.govt.nz, with the above information, for review.

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About the audience

Business.govt.nz is targeted at firms that have fewer than 20 employees. Typically, our audience is short on time and requires quick answers to business problems. Our audience wants solutions that are effective and easy to implement.

Within this audience, our visitors could be:

• Business owners
• Employees
• Individuals thinking of starting a business
• Support organisations.

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Writing guidelines

Please ensure any content you provide is:

• Clear and consistent - the content should be written using plain English with simple but non-patronising language. Avoid using jargon and slang.
• Trustworthy - advice must be seen as being definitive and non-contradictory with Government sources.
• Helpful – all content must be written with an emphasis on practical things a business owner can do to improve their business. How can you help the user make a decision and implement it?
• Action focused – the content should not only tell businesses what they should or must do, but how to do it. Explain what a business needs to do to solve a problem and demonstrate how it can be done.
• Of an appropriate length – there is no set word limit, although 800-1,000 words is a good guide. If your content is longer, consider splitting it up into 2 or 3 separate topics. You can also review existing content to assess word limit examples.
• Engaging – content that engages small to medium-sized enterprises is preferred. This includes, but is not limited to, articles, podcasts, online training, webinars, videos, guides and templates.
• Free from advertising and product placement.

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Content curriculum

Please read this section to find out more about how your content could fit with Business.govt.nz. If you think there is a gap in the curriculum, feel free to e-mail us at info@business.govt.nz to make a suggestion.

Download curriculum
 

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