What we are going to cover
Your Blog Post Checklist
Creating a blog takes work, but publishing a great post that gets results takes strategy. If you’re spending time writing content, you want it to succeed. A proper checklist helps ensure you don’t miss crucial elements that could make the difference between a post that disappears and one that performs well.
Using a comprehensive blog post checklist helps you optimise every aspect of your content, from SEO and readability to visual appeal and promotion. Many bloggers focus only on writing good content but overlook important technical factors that affect how well your post ranks and connects with readers.
With the ever-changing digital landscape heading into 2025, your blog posts need more attention than ever. The latest SEO requirements and reader expectations continue to evolve, and pre-publishing checks can make your content stand out among the competition. Let’s explore what you need on your checklist to ensure every post you publish is fully optimised for success.
Planning Your Blog Post for Success
Successful blog posts require thoughtful planning before you even start writing. A well-planned post helps you meet both reader needs and your business goals.
Understanding Your Audience and Search Intent
Knowing who you’re writing for is essential for creating content that resonates. Take time to build detailed profiles of your target audience based on demographics, interests, and online behaviour.
Ask yourself: What problems are your readers trying to solve? What questions do they need answers to? The better you understand their pain points, the more effectively you can address them.
Search intent matters tremendously. People search for information in four main ways:
- Informational (wanting to learn something)
- Navigational (looking for a specific website)
- Commercial (researching before buying)
- Transactional (ready to purchase)
Match your content to the right intent to improve user experience and engagement. For example, if someone searches “how to start a blog,” they need a beginner-friendly guide, not a sales pitch.
Conducting Thorough Keyword Research
Keyword research forms the backbone of successful content. Use tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or even free options like Google Keyword Planner to discover what your audience is searching for.
Focus on finding a mix of:
- Primary keywords (main topics)
- Long-tail keywords (more specific phrases)
- Related terms and questions
| Keyword Type | Example | Monthly Searches | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary | blog writing | 12,000 | High |
| Long-tail | how to write a blog post checklist | 890 | Medium |
| Question | what should I include in a blog post? | 520 | Low |
Target keywords with decent search volume but manageable competition. For new blogs, long-tail keywords often provide the best opportunity to rank in search engine results.
Creating a Content Marketing Strategy
Your blog posts shouldn’t exist in isolation. They should be part of a broader content marketing strategy that supports your business goals.
Map out how each post fits into your buyer’s journey:
- Awareness stage: Educational content that addresses problems
- Consideration stage: Solutions-oriented content
- Decision stage: Content that showcases your offerings
Develop content pillars—core topics you want to be known for—and build clusters of related posts around them. This approach strengthens your authority and improves your SEO.
Consider how your blog content can be repurposed across other channels like social media, email newsletters, or podcasts to maximise its reach and impact.
Setting Clear Goals for Your Post
Every blog post should have specific, measurable objectives. Are you trying to:
- Increase organic traffic?
- Generate leads?
- Build authority in your niche?
- Improve conversion rates?
Set SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) for each post. For example: “This post will generate 50 newsletter sign-ups within 30 days of publication.”
Track relevant metrics to measure success and ROI. Different goals require different metrics—page views, time on page, social shares, comment engagement, or conversion rate.
Remember that some goals take time to achieve. SEO results, in particular, rarely happen overnight but can deliver sustainable traffic over the long term.
Optimising Your Blog Post Structure and Content
The structure and content of your blog post play a critical role in its success. A well-optimised post attracts more readers, keeps them engaged, and performs better in search engines.
Crafting an SEO-Friendly Title and Meta Description
Your title and meta description are the first elements visitors see in search results. Make your title tags compelling and include your target keyword near the beginning. Keep titles between 50-60 characters to ensure they display properly in SERPs.
Meta descriptions should summarise your content in 150-160 characters while enticing readers to click through. Include your primary keyword naturally and add a clear call to action.
Remember that a well-crafted meta description can significantly improve your click-through rate. Think of these elements as your content’s advertisement in search results.
Use this format for your SEO title:
- Primary Keyword | Secondary Keyword | Brand Name
- How-to/List/Guide + Keyword + Benefit
Enhancing Readability with Headings and Lists
Breaking up your content makes it more easy to read and scan. Use a logical hierarchy of headings (H2, H3, H4) to organise your content and include keywords naturally within these headings.
Best practices for readability:
- Keep paragraphs short (1-3 sentences)
- Use bullet points and numbered lists to highlight important information
- Include white space between paragraphs
- Bold important concepts or keywords (sparingly)
Lists are particularly effective for presenting steps, tips, or features. They give readers’ eyes a break from blocks of text and make complex information easier to digest.
Consider using a readability tool to ensure your content hits the right level for your audience. Aim for a reading level that’s accessible to most people.
Increasing Engagement with Images and Multimedia
Visual elements break up text and increase time spent on your page. Include at least one high-quality featured image that represents your content well.
When adding images, always:
- Optimise images for faster loading (compress without losing quality)
- Use descriptive, keyword-rich file names
- Add alt text that describes the image and includes keywords where natural
- Consider proper sizing to avoid slowing page load speed
Beyond images, consider adding infographics, videos, or interactive elements to explain complex concepts. These multimedia elements can increase engagement and reduce bounce rate.
Custom graphics that illustrate your points tend to perform better than generic stock photos and show your expertise and dedication.
Implementing On-Page SEO Techniques
On-page SEO techniques help search engines understand and rank your content. Start with thorough keyword research to identify terms your audience is searching for.
Include your target keyword in these critical places:
- URL/permalink (keep it short and descriptive)
- First 100 words of content
- At least one H2 heading
- Image alt text (where appropriate)
- Throughout the content (but avoid keyword stuffing)
Consider implementing schema markup to give search engines more context about your content. This structured data can improve how your content appears in search results.
Pay attention to your URL structure, keeping it clean and descriptive. A proper permalink structure helps both users and search engines understand what your page is about.
Strengthening Your Blog Post with Internal and External Linking
A strong linking strategy builds credibility and helps both readers and search engines navigate your site. Internal links connect your content to other relevant pages on your site, keeping visitors engaged longer.
For effective internal linking:
- Link to 3-5 relevant pages within your site
- Use descriptive, keyword-rich anchor text
- Link to both popular pages and ones that need more visibility
External linking to authoritative sources shows your research depth and builds credibility. When linking externally:
- Choose reputable, high-quality sites
- Make sure outbound links open in a new tab
- Link to sources that truly add value for readers
Both internal and external linking create a web of connections that improve your site’s SEO profile and user experience. Review your links regularly as part of your content audit process to ensure they remain active and relevant.
Your Questions Answered
Blogging success depends on careful planning and execution. These common questions address key aspects of creating effective blog posts that resonate with readers and perform well in search engines.
About the Author: Martin Reynolds
