SmartNews

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Where this platform overrides General Guidelines: The headline character range is 70–90 characters (data-validated)—extending below the 80-character universal minimum. Question headlines and “What to Know” endings are explicitly avoided (data-validated underperformers)—General Guidelines permit question formats in some contexts; SmartNews does not. GIFs are prohibited in all image positions. SmartView’s stripped-down rendering environment imposes strict article structure constraints: no CSS or scripted styling; HTML limited to supported tags (<figure>, <figcaption>). Feed thumbnail specs (<media:thumbnail>, 4:3, 320×240px) have no General Guidelines equivalent.

Platform Overview

SmartNews distributes content via SmartFormat feed (enhanced RSS/XML). Articles render in SmartView—a stripped-down, mobile-optimized native environment that discards CSS and scripted styling entirely. The algorithm surfaces content based on read velocity and reader engagement signals: not just whether a reader taps, but whether they finish. Content that earns clicks but loses readers quickly is deprioritized.

Analytics note: GA4 records SmartView content as in-app views, not referral traffic to your site. See Analytics below.

Headline

(REQUIRED)

Character count: 70–90 characters (data-validated).

• Clear, direct, and keyword-forward—SmartNews surfaces content based on read velocity; click-worthy clarity matters more than cleverness
• Number-led headlines trend positive on SmartNews (data-validated)—e.g., “7 Ways to Lower Your Electric Bill This Summer”
• Plain declarative statements are the safe baseline—e.g., “Florida Property Taxes Are Rising. Here’s What Homeowners Need to Do.”
• Avoid question marks—question headlines underperform on SmartNews (data-validated)
• Avoid “What to Know” endings—they underperform platform-wide (data-validated)
• Service journalism verticals (Mind/Body, Everyday Living, Experiences) perform well when headlines signal actionable, practical value—lead with “How to,” cost/savings angles, or a specific number
• Headline is pulled from RSS <title>—the standard SEO title serves SmartNews when written to spec
• Casing: follow destination site style guide (sentence case for CUE)

Tone

(REQUIRED)

Clear, direct, value-first, zero friction.

Front-load the practical takeaway in both headline and lead paragraph. Readers decide within the first few words whether the content is worth their time—deliver the value immediately or lose them. Avoid clever framing that delays the payoff.

Target persona: The SmartNews Skimmer—A mobile-first news consumer scrolling in short, high-frequency sessions—commutes, breaks, idle moments. Drawn to headlines that promise immediate practical value. Core Drive: Give me something useful right now—I’ll decide in two seconds whether it’s worth my time.

Article Structure

(REQUIRED)

SmartView strips all CSS and scripted styling. Article structure must be clean and text-forward—no custom layouts, no embedded styling, no CSS classes.

• Use only supported HTML tags for structural elements: <figure> and <figcaption> for image captions
• Do not rely on any CSS-dependent formatting—it will not render in SmartView
• Front-load value—the practical takeaway should appear in the lead paragraph, not buried after context-setting
• Service journalism framing (how-to, cost/savings, numbered lists) performs well in SmartNews for Mind/Body, Everyday Living, and Experiences verticals
• Clean prose structure; bullet lists are acceptable where content calls for them

Image Requirements

(REQUIRED)

Provide a 4:3 crop option for all lead images to support feed thumbnail requirements. The 1,200px+ lead image serves all platforms; the 4:3 crop is SmartNews-specific.

Discoverability

SmartNews is fully algorithm-driven—readers do not browse categories. The algorithm surfaces content based on read velocity (how many users tap) and reader engagement signals (how many finish). Both signals matter: a headline that earns clicks but loses readers quickly is deprioritized over time.

• Headline clarity drives the initial tap
• Content quality and front-loaded value drive completion
• Consistent publication of content that earns completions builds long-term algorithmic standing

Analytics

GA4 caveat: SmartNews GA tracking records in-app content views, not referral traffic to your website. When reporting SmartNews performance, note this distinction explicitly—SmartNews views will not appear as site visits in standard traffic reports.

To track SmartNews performance in GA4: Reports > Acquisition > Traffic Acquisition > filter by Session Source/Medium.

Monetization

• One 300×250px ad unit at the bottom of SmartView
• Up to 2 sponsored links per article
• Publishers keep 100% of self-sold ad revenue
• Self-serve ads via existing ad tech integration

What to Avoid

Pre-Publish Checklist

• Headline: 70–90 characters (data-validated), keyword-forward, plain declarative or number-led
• No question marks in headline
• No “What to Know” ending in headline
• No GIFs anywhere in the article
• Lead image: 1,200px+ wide with 4:3 crop option available for feed thumbnail
• Feed thumbnail: <media:thumbnail> tag populated in RSS, 4:3 aspect ratio, 320×240px
• All inline images: 400px+ wide
• Article structure: no CSS or scripted styling; <figure> and <figcaption> used for image captions
• Performance will appear in GA4 as in-app views—not as site referral traffic; report accordingly