# Tell Distribb how to write and what to avoid

Source: https://distribb.io/help/content/writing-rules
Last updated: 2026-11-05

Set writing instructions, banned phrases, competitor rules and the things Distribb should never mention.

Your writing rules are read before every article. The clearer they are, the fewer articles you need to correct.

## Steps

1. Open **Article Settings** in the sidebar.
2. Scroll to **Overall AI Instructions For Content Generation And Keyword Research**. Write your rules in plain sentences, one per line.
3. Put words you never want to see in **Extra Banned Phrases**, one per line.
4. To keep competitors out of list articles, switch **No Competitor Listicles** on.
5. Choose **Save Content Settings**.
6. To list competitors, open the **Competitor Analysis** tab, fill in **Competitor Websites**, and choose **Save Competitor Analysis**.

## Rules that work

- "Never mention these companies: example.com, Example Inc."
- "We sell running shoes and socks, and nothing else. Never write about other products, and never recommend products we do not sell."
- "Our readers are in Switzerland. Only cite Swiss laws, courts and sources."
- "Never name individual doctors, lawyers or advisers."
- "Always link to /book-a-call as the call to action."

## Check it works

Open the next article written after you saved. Check it follows the rules. If one slips through, flag that exact sentence: see [Give feedback on an article](/help/content/give-feedback).

## Good to know

- There is no separate never-name list yet. Write the names into the AI Instructions as above.
- Rules apply to articles written after you save. Planned articles that are already written keep their text.
- Regulated businesses, such as [healthcare](/healthcare) practices, should add a rule about claims and a disclaimer line. Comparison pages like [Distribb vs others](/vs/) are where competitor names belong, and the [AI content writer](/ai-content-writer) follows your rules for everything else.

## Go further

- [AI content writer](https://distribb.io/ai-content-writer): How Distribb researches, writes and publishes each article.
- [Distribb compared](https://distribb.io/vs/): Side by side with the other AI SEO tools.
- [Healthcare SEO](https://distribb.io/healthcare): SEO for clinics and allied health practices.

Open in Distribb: https://distribb.io/settings?tab=project&subtab=content