PandaDoc Editorial Policy

Introduction

PandaDoc’s blog strives to be a model of excellence in the digital documentation industry. We craft our content meticulously to instill confidence, empower informed decisions, and advocate for a paperless, productive work and business environment. Our commitment is to produce consistent, high-quality content that resonates with our readers, helping them navigate their choices with clarity and confidence.

Mission

Our mission at PandaDoc is to empower the “Davids” — the growing businesses challenging established “Goliaths” — with the knowledge and tools to win. Our content is crafted to level the playing field, providing insights and resources that help burgeoning enterprises thrive in competitive landscapes.

Through our articles, we aim to be the slingshot that enables these businesses to aim higher and strike true.

Values

Make an impact

We aim to produce content that changes the trajectory of businesses, delivering insights that lead to tangible improvements.

Learn

Our expertise is continuously evolving. We commit to deepening our understanding and sharing comprehensive knowledge with our readers.

Have fun

We celebrate the journey of learning and growth, infusing our content with enthusiasm and a spirit of celebration.

Empathy

We craft our content with care, considering our audience’s diverse needs and perspectives, ensuring every piece is relatable and respectful.

Editorial Principles

Quality

At PandaDoc, we are dedicated to crafting high-quality content that serves as a beacon of information.

Our standard is to deliver articles that are not just informative but also rich in depth and precision, empowering businesses to make well-informed decisions.

Accuracy

We hold ourselves to the highest standard of accuracy, ensuring every piece of content is fact-checked and sourced from credible information. Our commitment is to provide solutions and clarity that our readers can rely on.

Transparency

We emphasize a transparent editorial voice, offering clear insights into our research and writing methods. Our content is concise, well-structured, and jargon-free, making complex subjects accessible and building trust with our audience.

Trustworthiness

Trust is the cornerstone of our relationship with our readers. We take great care to ensure that our content is reliable, especially when dealing with critical financial, legal, or business decisions.

Relevance

Every article is curated to meet the specific needs and challenges of our target audience.

We strive to address real-world problems with tailored solutions that resonate with our readers.

Engagement

Our content strikes a balance between conversational and professional tones, designed to engage and hold the reader’s attention while providing valuable insights.

Inclusivity

Recognizing the diversity of our audience, we craft our content to be inclusive, ensuring that we address a wide range of use cases and perspectives.

Originality

Only original content is generated, full stop. We steer clear of defaulting to recycled knowledge in order to provide our readers with fresh, innovative perspectives.

Timeliness

Our content is continually updated to reflect the latest trends and industry developments, ensuring that our readers have access to the most current and relevant information.

Editorial Workflow

1. Topic ideation

The process begins with brainstorming topics relevant to the target audience’s needs — the integration of current trends and modern SaaS solutions drive topic generation. Each potential topic undergoes a thorough analysis for relevancy and engagement potential.

2. Task assignment

Validated topics are recorded in a spreadsheet, detailing objectives and content calendar placement. These topics are then assigned to writers with relevant expertise, ensuring a match of skills and subject matter for high-quality content.

3. Research

For each topic, writers invest the time necessary to deliver well-researched, detailed outlines that form a clear skeleton of the article’s structure and conceptual description.

Typically, our topics combine tech and business knowledge, which we present in an engaging way for both SMEs and those less familiar with tech solutions.

4. Outline review

The vision and formal outline for the piece are then reviewed by the editor for comprehensiveness, accuracy, and adherence to editorial standards. Upon confirming the document’s integrity and flawlessness, it receives approval.

5. Content creation

Once approved, writers move forward with composing the full draft, incorporating their research, outline structure, and our brand voice, ensuring each piece is informative, engaging, and solutions-driven.

6. Draft review

The draft undergoes a comprehensive quality assessment, starting with any structural editing needed for logical flow and adherence to the approved outline.

When applicable, product teams will audit at this stage to evaluate technical accuracy, alignment with user expectations, and SEO compliance.

7. Finalization

Post-review, the writer and editor work together to refine the draft for clarity, conciseness, and tone as needed, always in step with PandaDoc’s editorial principles.

Final approval confirms all feedback has been integrated and no further revisions or iterations are required. Lastly, a thorough proofreading ensures error-free content ready for publication.

8. Asset creation

Charts and infographics are employed in much of the content we create. They serve two purposes simultaneously: to both visually express and aid in comprehending the value of what’s presented to the reader.

9. Publishing

The content is published, marking the culmination of a rigorous, multi-layered editorial process.

Quality Standards

Our team is composed of adept writers and reviewers who are also deeply versed in tech, SaaS solutions, and business development. This, along with our high bar for source selection, helps us reliably deliver original content that resonates with our discerning audience.

Our sourcing criteria includes:

• Credibility verification: Prioritizing established, reputable sources in tech and business, like peer-reviewed journals and authoritative industry reports.

• Relevance: Selecting the most recent and relevant information, focusing on the latest trends and developments in our industry.

• Expert validation: Ensuring sources align with real-world tech and business applications, verified by our industry experts.

• Depth: Favoring sources that offer in-depth analysis and comprehensive coverage of topics, avoiding superficial content.

Ethical Standards

Our ethical standards are uncompromising:

• Fact-checking. We rigorously verify all facts and data.

• Unbiased reporting. Our content remains objective, offering balanced perspectives.

• Disclosure. We clearly state that our content is informational and not a substitute for professional legal advice.

Competitor Landscape

We believe healthy competition in a vibrant SaaS market makes everyone stronger, and support all companies in their quest to develop better products.

When referencing competitors, our internal teams rigorously uphold the following procedures:

• Avoid unsubstantiated claims. Our sourcing and methodologies are 100% transparent. All statements about competitors are verified and backed by credible evidence.

• Maintain an objective, respectful tone. We acknowledge unique selling points (USPs) that competitors may offer, ensure all comparisons are objective and factual, and employ a professional tone throughout.

Contact us

Feel free to contact us for any reason. Ask any questions you have about our editorial policy, the workflow we follow, ethical standards, and our product, of course.

Visit our Contact page, choose the communication channel that is the most convenient for you, and we’ll reply as soon as possible.