Blog content guide

Giant Swarm Blog Content Guide

Purpose and Vision

The Giant Swarm blog serves as a platform to:

• Demonstrate our deep expertise in platform engineering
• Share valuable insights that help organizations overcome common challenges
• Showcase our unique perspective on industry developments
• Build trust through transparency about our approaches and methodologies
• Establish thought leadership in the Kubernetes and platform engineering space

Content Strategy

Content Categories

Technical Content (Primary Focus)

• Platform Engineering Insights
• Kubernetes Best Practices
• GitOps Implementation
• Observability Solutions
• Security Architecture
• Cluster Management
• Developer Tooling
• Autoscaling Strategies
• Technical Tutorials
• Performance Optimization

Business & Culture Content

• Industry Trends Analysis
• Inside Giant Swarm
• Product Updates & Roadmap
• Team Insights
• Case Studies
• Best Practices
• Management Perspectives

Content Types

Deep Technical Articles

• Detailed technical explanations
• Step-by-step tutorials
• Architecture deep-dives
• Performance analysis
• Security implementations

Thought Leadership

• Industry trend analysis
• Future of platform engineering
• Technology adoption strategies
• Best practices compilations
• Expert opinions

Behind-the-Scenes

• Engineering culture insights
• Development process details
• Team perspectives
• Product development journey
• Lessons learned

Content Quality Guidelines

Technical Accuracy

• All technical content must be peer-reviewed
• Include working code examples when applicable
• Provide clear explanations of complex concepts
• Link to relevant documentation
• Update content when technology changes

Writing Style

Voice and Tone

• Write with authority but without arrogance - we’re sharing knowledge, not showing off
• Use active voice: “We deployed the cluster” vs “The cluster was deployed”
• Address the reader directly using “you” to create engagement
• Include your personal experiences and lessons learned - authenticity matters
• Keep sentences short and purposeful (aim for max 25 words per sentence)

Technical Writing

• Define technical terms on first use, even if they seem obvious
• Use concrete examples instead of abstract concepts
• Include real-world scenarios that readers can relate to
• Break down complex ideas into digestible chunks
• Show both what works AND what doesn’t - failed approaches are valuable lessons

Engagement Techniques

• Open with a hook that connects to reader pain points
• Use analogies to explain complex technical concepts
• Include dialogue and personal experiences where relevant
• Ask rhetorical questions to make readers think
• End sections with forward-looking statements or questions

Structure

Title and Headers

• Main title should be specific and searchable
• Use question-style headers to address reader concerns directly
• Keep headers under 60 characters
• Ensure headers follow a logical hierarchy
• Use action words in headers: “Implementing” vs “Implementation”

Content Flow

1. Introduction (10% of total length)

• Hook with a real problem or challenge
• State what the reader will learn
• Establish your credibility on the topic

1. Main Content (80% of total length)

• One main idea per section
• Progressive disclosure - start basic, get complex
• Include code blocks with explanatory comments
• Add diagrams for system architecture or workflows
• Use numbered steps for tutorials
• Include troubleshooting sections for common issues

1. Conclusion (10% of total length)

• Summarize key takeaways
• Provide next steps or additional resources
• End with a call to action or thought-provoking question

Visual Elements

• Custom diagrams for architecture and workflows
• Screenshots with annotations
• Code blocks with syntax highlighting
• Comparison tables for different approaches
• Charts for performance data
• Warning boxes for common pitfalls
• Info boxes for pro tips and shortcuts

Value Proposition

Every post should:

• Address specific platform engineering challenges
• Provide actionable insights or solutions
• Demonstrate Giant Swarm’s expertise
• Connect with reader pain points
• Include clear takeaways

Content Creation Process

Planning

1. Topic identification based on:

• Current industry challenges
• Customer questions and feedback
• Technical innovations
• Strategic company initiatives
• Market trends

1. Content brief development:

• Main thesis/argument
• Key points to cover
• Target audience
• Expected outcomes
• Required technical depth

Writing

1. Initial draft development
2. Technical review
3. Editorial review
4. Final approval
5. Publication scheduling