diff --git a/README.adoc b/README.adoc
index bb0591b19..c96c41e11 100644
--- a/README.adoc
+++ b/README.adoc
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ This repository hosts the documentation content for Redpanda.
 
 The Redpanda docs are open source, and we welcome your contributions!
 
-Before you add or edit content, consult the Redpanda https://github.com/redpanda-data/docs-site/blob/main/meta-docs/STYLE-GUIDE.adoc[Style Guide] for product documentation guidelines.
+Before you add or edit content, consult the Redpanda https://github.com/redpanda-data/docs-team-standards/blob/main/resources/writing-style/style-guide.md[Style Guide] for product documentation guidelines.
 
 To contribute to the Redpanda docs, you have the following options:
 
@@ -51,15 +51,21 @@ If you are a Redpanda employee, submit doc issues in `redpanda-data/documentatio
 You have two options to contribute to the documentation:
 
 . Directly edit a page on GitHub by selecting **Make a contribution** > **Edit on GitHub** located at the bottom of a documentation page.
-. Clone the docs repository to make changes locally on your machine. For a guide, see {url-playbook}/blob/main/meta-docs/CONTRIBUTING.adoc[Submit your first contribution].
+. Clone the docs repository to make changes locally on your machine. For a guide, see https://github.com/redpanda-data/cupboard/blob/main/sales/customer-success/documentation/2026-08-04-authoring-guide.md[Build and test your changes locally].
 
 Check the open docs issues. If you find an issue you'd like to work on:
 
 - If the issue is already assigned to someone else, please consider another one.
 - If the issue is unassigned, add a comment expressing your interest in working on it.
 
+== Set up GitHub authentication
+
+Building this site locally fetches content from other GitHub repositories, including the private `docs`, `rp-connect-docs`, and `adp-docs` repositories, so you need a GitHub token even for read-only builds. See "Set up GitHub authentication" in the https://github.com/redpanda-data/cupboard/blob/main/sales/customer-success/documentation/2026-08-04-authoring-guide.md[authoring guide].
+
 == Local development
 
+Local builds require the GitHub authentication set up above.
+
 If you want to run the website locally, install and update the packages:
 
 ```bash