SOPs or Standard Operating Procedures often get a bad rep in workplaces, especially for us writers who thrive on creativity and freedom. While it’s used to check quality and improve workflow efficiency, some claim that such rigid guidelines leave no room for flexibility.[1]
But at Urban Era Marketing (UEM), we’ve discovered the opposite is true. We don’t view structure as a prison, but as a foundation—one that steadies our work and gives writers the freedom to pursue their own vision for each article or project.
The more structure we have, the more energy is left for our ideas to flourish.
Table of Contents
- The Foundation: SOPs as Creative Enablers
- A Routine That Saved Me a Lot of Stress
- Freedom Within Frameworks
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The Foundation: SOPs as Creative Enablers
Let me walk you through some of the SOPs we follow at Urban Era Marketing. These practices might sound rigid at first, but they actually give us the freedom to create with more clarity and confidence.
Formatting and SEO (Search Engine Optimization) SOPs
As a digital marketing agency, Urban Era Marketing prioritizes content that benefits SEO while staying true to our brand. Our guidelines ensure that every article published on all of our websites is Yoast-optimized, contains credible internal and external links, formatted with appropriate H2 and H3s—you know, all the technical details about blogging.
Instead of stressing over scannability or whether a subheading works for SEO, these SOPs simply lay out the bare minimum expected of our work. I call it the bare minimum because it’s just that—an outline.
Think of it as a line sketch: useful for structure, but far from the finished piece. We, the writers, bring the inking, detailing, and color. We choose the angles to pursue, the insights to share, and the words that will connect with our audience.
No Room for Plagiarism
We also have an SOP on plagiarism prevention.
At Urban Era Marketing, every writer is expected to uphold integrity and credibility by taking ownership of their work and properly crediting borrowed ideas. Plagiarism, whether of tangible or intellectual property, is treated as a serious offense.
Writers cite sources in different ways. Some naturally embed the links to their sources within the article, whereas I, being the academic that I am, use a superscript system tied to a reference list at the end of my articles. The image below shows how I cited my sources for my piece on the historical gossip from Ancient Rome.
So, instead of overthinking whether to paraphrase, quote directly, or how much citation is enough, the rule is clear: At all times, give credit where credit is due.
This saves a huge amount of mental energy. Writers don’t waste time second-guessing the line between inspiration and copying.
Guidelines for AI Use
Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) has seeped into nearly every aspect of modern life, and it’s no surprise that creatives lean on it as a powerful tool. With a single prompt, AI tools like ChatGPT or Jasper can produce a fully formed blog post that might take a human writer hours. While these tools can be truly useful, some lean so heavily on them that they outsource everything.
Unsurprisingly, the result is generic content stripped of fresh insights and any real writer’s voice.
Our SOP on AI use prevents that. We’ve set clear boundaries: AI can support efficiency—brainstorming, organizing drafts, sparking ideas—but it cannot be used for the actual writing.
And no, we don’t rely on AI checkers. They’re unreliable, and more importantly, Urban Era Marketing trusts its writers. With professional experience and a rigorous writing process, our team can deliver fully human-written work without heavily depending on AI.
A Routine That Saved Me a Lot of Stress
One of the systems I’ve come to rely on at UEM is the follow-the-sun protocol. The process is simple: write today, publish tomorrow. On paper, it may look like it’s slowing down our process, because why else are we delaying posting?
You see, Urban Era Marketing functions as a creative studio, not a factory. Thus, we take our time in polishing our craft. Following this protocol removes the same-day pressure of following our writing process—research, draft, feedback, revise, publish—within hours. It provides our writers with more room to breathe.
Personally, I use this extra time for training (yes, Urban Era Marketing provides free training to its employees) and research for my next articles. Thanks to this system, I can learn and sharpen my skills without feeling like I’m falling behind on deadlines.
What’s even better is how it works beautifully across time zones. With team members in the US, Ethiopia, and the Philippines, there’s always someone moving the process forward. Instead of forcing late nights or rushed mornings, the structure respects everyone’s rhythms and makes collaboration effortless.
Freedom Within Frameworks
All this is to say, I don’t think creatives like us should shy away from structures and SOPs. They’re enforced for a reason, and that reason isn’t to stifle how we produce our craft but to make the entirety of our workflow more efficient.
We have to start viewing these systems as what they really are: foundations. They carry the weight of technical details so we can focus on what matters—ideas, stories, and connection. When we trust the structure, we don’t have to micromanage the basics. We can take risks and approach topics in ways we wouldn’t dare without that safety net.
So if you’re a writer reading this, maybe give structure another chance. You might just find it frees you more than it confines you.
And if you’d like to continue this discussion, drop a comment below or check out more of our blogs—we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Why does Urban Era Marketing implement SOPs?
SOPs keep our workflow efficient and consistent. They make sure projects move smoothly, deadlines are met, and writers have the clarity to focus on their craft without second-guessing the basics.
2. What is the “follow-the-sun” protocol?
It’s our feedback cycle: writers submit today, editors give feedback the next day, and the piece goes live on the same day feedback is returned. This keeps the process efficient without sacrificing quality.
3. Does Urban Era Marketing prohibit the use of AI?
We don’t entirely prohibit the use of AI, but we do set boundaries. AI can be used for brainstorming, organizing drafts, or sparking ideas—but not for writing, editing, or replacing a writer’s voice. The content we publish is always written by humans, for humans.
Reference:
[1] The advantages and disadvantages of Standard Operating Procedures | Touch Stay | Touchstay
