Hackney Directory welcomes high quality guest contributions that inform, inspire, and support the local Hackney community. We are selective about what we publish. Every submission must add genuine value to our audience and reflect the standards of the platform.

By submitting a guest post, you agree to comply with the following guidelines.

What You Must Submit

To be considered, your submission must include:

• Post title
• Full article between 500 and 1000 words
• Short author bio, maximum 50 words
• One backlink to your website homepage or relevant listing
• Minimum of four high quality images in JPEG, JPG, or PNG format

Articles must be easy to read, structured with short paragraphs, and written in clear UK English.

Content Standards

Your article must be:

• Original and not published elsewhere
• Informative, practical, or genuinely entertaining
• Relevant to Hackney residents or businesses
• Factually accurate and up to date
• Written in your own words

We do not accept rewritten versions of existing online articles, spun content, AI generated mass content, or articles previously published on other platforms.

Any copied content, including from your own website, will be rejected.

Editorial Quality

Submissions must meet professional standards.

We will reject content that contains:

• Poor grammar or spelling errors
• Clickbait headlines
• Thin content with no substance
• Overly generic advice
• Excessive promotional tone
• Keyword stuffing

Your article should focus on delivering value first. Promotion must be secondary.

Prohibited Content

The following will result in automatic rejection:

• False, fake, misleading, or inaccurate information
• Outdated information presented as current
• Profanity, sexually explicit, or pornographic material
• Bullying, harassment, or inflammatory content
• Defamatory or discriminatory statements
• Illegal, unethical, or immoral activities
• Gambling, MLM schemes, tobacco, or alcoholic drink promotion
• Promotion or glorification of illegal drugs or counterfeit goods
• Personal attacks on businesses or individuals
• Infringement of intellectual property rights
• Publication of private or sensitive data

We reserve full editorial discretion to refuse content that does not align with our standards or community values.

Backlinks and Self Promotion

You may include:

• One backlink in your author bio
• The link must direct to a legitimate, secure website
• The link must not redirect through tracking spam or unreliable URLs

Links may be removed if:

• The website is low quality or unrelated
• The content is misleading
• The link appears manipulative

Guest posts are not a substitute for paid advertising. Articles written solely to promote products or services will not be accepted.

Images and Usage Rights

You must provide at least four relevant, high quality images.

For every image, you must supply:

• A caption
• The source
• Confirmation of usage rights

If the image is your own, clearly state that you own the rights.

If the image is licensed, provide proof of licence.

We do not accept watermarked images or images taken from Google search results without permission.

Topics We Welcome

We accept content relevant to Hackney’s lifestyle and business community, including:

• Local business insights
• Parenting and family life
• Health and fitness
• Wellbeing and personal growth
• Career and professional advice
• Technology and digital trends
• Interior design and home improvement
• Budget friendly living and bargains
• Product reviews with honest evaluation
• Recipes and food culture
• Local interviews and community stories
• Culture, arts, and nightlife in Hackney
• Travel experiences connected to Hackney residents
• Real life positive stories

If your topic has no clear relevance to Hackney or its community, it is unlikely to be approved.

Editorial Process

All submissions are reviewed before publication.

We reserve the right to:

• Edit for clarity, grammar, and formatting
• Adjust headings or structure
• Remove links
• Reject submissions without detailed explanation

Submission does not guarantee publication.

Data and Privacy

We will store your personal details, including your name and email address, for communication and record keeping.

We will not sell or share your personal data with third parties for marketing purposes.

You may request deletion of your personal data at any time.

Please note that published content will remain part of the Hackney Directory archive and may be used in newsletters, social media, or other promotional materials related to the platform.

Ownership and Rights

By submitting your article, you grant Hackney Directory the right to publish, distribute, and promote your content on our website and associated channels.

You confirm that:

• You are the original author
• You hold the rights to all submitted material
• The content does not infringe any third party rights