QA Desk
It checks that the article fulfils its promise to the reader.
- IEditorial Director
- IISource Desk
- IIIPlanning Desk
- IVWriters Desk
- VFact Desk
- VIIEditor-in-Chief
- VIIIStandards Desk
- IXArt Desk
- XProduction Desk
The QA Desk receives the checked article from the Fact Desk. It hands its work to the Editor-in-Chief.
The QA Desk checks whether the whole article delivers the answer promised by its headline or search result. It reads the piece as someone searching for the subject would.
It removes filler and prepares the title, description, keywords and web address that appear in search. Without that check, a result could promise one subject while the article leads with another, or filler could stand between the reader and the answer.
One desk, one job. Nothing inside it is split into roles.
The QA Desk receives the article checked by the Fact Desk, the subject the reader searched for and whether your headline is locked. It reads the whole piece to decide whether it fulfils the promise made to someone searching for that subject.
It hands the Editor-in-Chief a tighter article and a verdict on whether it serves the search. Filler is cut, but nothing is added or reworded, and every source link remains in place. A locked headline stays exactly as you wrote it. When the headline is open, the desk offers a clearer one only if it is materially better. It also supplies the search title, description, keywords and a clean, readable web address. The title and description are checked together against the headline and kept within the space a results page provides. If they have moved to another subject, the headline is used in search and the description is marked for review.
4 things it holds to, on every piece it touches.
Locked headlines stay exact.
A locked headline stays exactly as you wrote it.
Every paragraph change is a cut.
Filler comes out, but nothing is added or reworded. Every source link remains in place.
Search results match the article.
The title and description are checked together against the headline. If they move to another subject, the search title becomes the headline and the description is marked for review.
Search details fit their space.
Each detail stays within the space a results page provides, and the web address stays clean and readable.
An article covers a new rule for home insurance, but its proposed search title and description lead with a side issue. The QA Desk restores the article headline as the search title and marks the description for review. Searchers then see a promise the article fulfils.
The article carries the prepared title for search, description, keywords and clean web address. If the title and description move away from the headline's subject, the headline is used in search and the description is marked for review.
What people ask about the QA Desk.
How does the QA Desk check search intent?
Can the QA Desk change my headline?
What happens when the search title leads with the wrong subject?
When is a meta description marked for review?
Does the QA Desk rewrite paragraphs?
Ten editorial desks,
on your next article.
7 days, 10 articles, no card. Every article shows its work.