BLOG STYLE GUIDE (U:1251130)

I. BRAND OVERVIEW

Primary Audience

English-speaking expats, investors, retirees, and foreign property owners. They are seeking clear, practical guidance on Costa Rican legal, tax, and administrative systems.

Brand Identity

• Archetype: The Trusted Guide (Friendly Authority).
• Voice: Clear, factual, practical, and steady.
• Design Philosophy: Tropical Minimalism + Professional Clarity.

Content Mission

To provide accurate, easy-to-understand information that gives readers peace of mind, responsible oversight, and confidence when navigating Costa Rica’s systems.

II. WRITING & STRUCTURE STANDARDS

1. Article Structure

• H1 (Title): Only one H1 per article. This is set in the Ghost title field only. Never place an H1 in the body text.
• H2: Use for all main sections.
• H3: Use for subsections.
• H4/H5: Avoid unless absolutely required for complex hierarchies.

Required Elements:

1. Intro Hook: 2–4 clear sentences stating the problem and the solution.
2. Definitions: Define legal/tax terms immediately upon introduction.
3. Practical Examples: Use real-world scenarios (property taxes, residency, etc.).
4. Conclusion: A summary with a single clear takeaway.
5. CTA: A helpful, guidance-focused call to action at the bottom.

2. The Bilingual Standard (Crucial)

We prioritize English comprehension while respecting Costa Rican legal terminology.

The Rule: Always write the English term first, followed by the Spanish legal term in parentheses and italics.

Common Examples:

• not domiciled (no domiciliado)
• primary residence (vivienda habitual)
• Tax Code (Código de Normas y Procedimientos Tributarios)

3. Tone & Framing

General Tone

• No Jargon: Explain complex concepts in plain English.
• Steady Voice: Be the calm expert.
• No Emojis: Do not use emojis inside the article body.

Legal-Administrative Framing

• Collaborative Responsibility: Use language like "whether held by your notary or by you."
• Safekeeping: Emphasize custody, accuracy, and compliance without being alarmist.
• Avoid Conflict: Do not use "versus" or confrontational framing. Focus on solutions.

4. Data, Formatting & Numbers

• Numbers: Use U.S. formatting.
  • Example: ¢250,000 (Comma for thousands).
  • Example: ¢1.25 million (Period for decimals).
• Acronyms: Define at first use.
  • Example: TRIBU-CR (Costa Rica’s digital tax system).
• Simplification: Break complex topics (like Withholding or Residency) into short, digestible sections or bullet points.

III. DESIGN & SEO

5. SEO Requirements

• Meta Title: ≤ 60 characters.
• Meta Description: ≤ 300 characters.
• Slug: Short, clean, and keyword-focused.
• Links: Include at least 1 internal link and 1 authoritative external link.
• Keywords: Target 3 primary keywords (high-intent) integrated naturally.

6. Images & Visuals

• Feature Image: 1536×1024 px.
• Social Image: 1080×1080 px.
• Aesthetic: "Tropical but Professional." Use palms, mountains, clean gradients, and brand teal (#146b6d).
• Alt Text: Short, descriptive, neutral.
  • Example: Capital gains tax in Costa Rica — 2.5% withholding.

7. Tables & Cards (Ghost Layouts)

Use HTML-style card layouts for comparisons, pros/cons, or step-by-step guides.

• Colors: Use Teal #146b6d for headers/accents.
• Backgrounds: Light neutral backgrounds for cards.
• Spacing: Rounded corners and generous padding. Avoid text walls.

IV. CONVERSION & PUBLISHING

8. Call to Action (CTA) Style

CTAs must be supportive, not sales-heavy. Focus on guidance and safekeeping.

Approved Examples:

"Sign up free for our weekly guides. Practical tips for life and business in Costa Rica.""Book a consultation to avoid costly mistakes.""Learn how to keep your documents safe and compliant."

9. Quality Control Checklist

Before publishing, ensure the following are true:

• [ ] Hook: Intro is clear and direct (2–4 sentences).
• [ ] Bilingual Terms: English first (Spanish in italics).
• [ ] Tone: Professional, helpful, no emojis.
• [ ] Structure: H2/H3 hierarchy is logical.
• [ ] SEO: Meta title, description, and slug are optimized.
• [ ] Links: 1 Internal + 1 External included.
• [ ] Visuals: Images are branded; Alt text is present.
• [ ] Value: Includes a practical example or scenario.
• [ ] CTA: Clear, supportive CTA at the end.

V. INTERNAL PRODUCTION GUIDE: PDF WORKFLOW

Use this workflow when generating PDF downloads (Legal translations, Guides, Checklists) via ChatGPT.

Step 1: Finalize Content

Ensure the Ghost-ready article is 100% polished, with correct H2/H3 structure and bilingual term formatting. The PDF text must match the web text exactly.

Step 2: PDF Structure (AI Instructions)

• Use ReportLab (platypus).
• Font: Clean, professional serif or sans-serif.
• Headings: Visual separation (H1 → H2 → H3).
• Use Unicode fonts for Spanish characters.
• No Ghost-specific markdown syntax in the final output.

Step 3: Visual Standards

• Style: Minimalist. Clean white background.
• Brand: No bright colors or decorative elements.
• Header/Footer: Subtle. Include "Costa Rica Expertise" and page numbers.
• Images: Only include diagrams/forms if critical for clarity. Do not include feature images.

Step 4: The Export Process

1. Provide final text to ChatGPT.
2. ChatGPT reconstructs structure using platypus.
3. Export via python_user_visible tool.
4. Download the PDF.

Step 5: When to Produce PDFs

• YES: Legal translations, step-by-step guides, compliance checklists, decision trees.
• NO: Short articles, news updates, time-sensitive posts.

VI. MISC/OTHER

• How to add no-index tags (like for this page)
  Code Injection: Page Header:

<meta name="robots" content="noindex">

• >