Ready, Set, Publish! 10 Proven Things to Do Before Publishing a Blog Post

While writing content can often feel like an overwhelming task, especially when it comes to search engine optimization, having some structure in place will help make sure that every single one of your posts follows the best practices.

From choosing the right title and optimizing for search engines to adding links both internally and externally, as well as proofreading out loud.

In this post, you’ll find the essential steps that you need to take before hitting publish on any piece of content.

Must-Do’s Before YOU Publish Your Blog Post

Below, you will find the 10 things to do before publishing a blog post.

Let’s get started!

1. Choose an Engaging Post Title

Choosing an engaging title for every blog post is essential for capturing the attention of readers. It should be short, sweet, and accurately reflect the content of your post.

Titles that are too long or vague will not attract readers as effectively as titles that are concise and clear.

When creating a title, think about what would make you click on a link when scrolling through social media or search results pages (SERPs).

Try to use keywords related to the topic in order to increase visibility in SERPs.

Utilizing captivating phrases can help draw people’s attention and encourage them to click on your post.

For example, if you were writing an article about marketing strategies for small businesses, instead of creating your title to say, “Marketing Strategies For Small Businesses,” which is generic and less likely to attract readers’ attention, use something like “5 Proven Strategies To Grow Your Small Business“.

Including numbers in titles can also be helpful since they give readers an idea of how much information they’ll get from reading the article without having to read through it first.

This helps save time while still giving them valuable insight into what the blog posts contain before clicking on them.

Finally, try adding adjectives or adverbs into your titles for added emphasis, such as “Amazing Tips To Boost Your Blogging Income“ or “Quick & Easy Ways To Get Started With SEO“.

Doing this will make your titles stand out even more among other blog posts with similar topics by making them sound more interesting and exciting than others that use a more generic title.

Creating an engaging title is the first step in making sure every blog post gets noticed, so make sure to put some thought into it.

Now that you’ve got a great post title, let’s look at how to optimize your new post for SEO.

Key Takeaway: A great blog post title should be short, sweet, and keyword-rich to capture readers’ attention and maximize visibility in SERPs. Incorporate numbers and adjectives for added emphasis to make your titles stand out.

2. Optimize for Search Engines

Search engine optimization (SEO) is a critical component of any successful blogging business.

It helps you increase your visibility on search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo, sending more traffic to your potential customers and helping them find your content more easily.

To optimize for SEO, you need to ensure that your blog posts are properly formatted and structured with the right keywords in place. Here are some tips to help you get started:

1. Choose an Engaging Title – Your title should be catchy and relevant to the topic of your post while also including important keywords related to what people may be searching for when looking for information about this topic.

2. Optimize Your Content – Make sure you’ve done your keyword research and that all of the text within your new post contains relevant keywords throughout without being too repetitive or spammy-sounding.

Add keywords and use synonyms where possible but keep it natural-sounding as well.

Add an internal link from other pages on your website, which will help readers navigate through different topics more easily, as well as external sources which provide additional context or evidence for the main points made in the blog posts themselves.

3. Check Formatting & Structure – Ensure that all headings are correctly formatted using H1s, H2s, H3s, etc., paragraphs are broken up into 1-2 sentences each, and images have captions with alt tags included (this helps visually impaired users).

Also, make sure there’s enough white space between sections so it’s easier to read through quickly without getting overwhelmed by large blocks of text.

4. Add a Meta Title and Meta Description – These 2 elements are essential for SEO, as they provide the search engine with an idea of what relevant content can be expected from a particular page.

To ensure that these elements are optimized correctly, include related keywords while also making sure the meta description is descriptive enough so readers know exactly what to expect when clicking through.

5 . Make Your URL SEO Friendly – URLs should always be short yet descriptive; avoid using numbers or symbols unless absolutely necessary, and make sure words are separated by hyphens instead of underscores or spaces, as this makes them easier for search engine crawlers to understand better.

6 . Add Visual Aids To Your Post – Adding visual elements such as photos, videos, infographics, etc., not only breaks up long chunks of text but also gives readers something interesting to look at.

Adding these visual aids and providing ALT text will provide another opportunity for keyword optimization via image file names/alt tags etc.

Don’t go overboard here, though, because too many visuals could distract visitors away from actually reading/engaging with the content itself.

7. Call to Action – At the conclusion of each post, provide readers with an actionable suggestion such as “share this article if you found it useful” or “Please leave a comment with your thoughts below.”

This encourages engagement from those who may have otherwise just scrolled past without taking any further steps after reading the content.

8. Check for Spelling and Grammatical Errors – Before publishing anything, double-check for spelling mistakes, grammar errors, etc., by reading your blog post out loud.

Reading your post aloud will help you find errors that you’d normally not find while reading with strictly your eyes.

By optimizing every blog post for search engines, you can increase the chances of people finding it and engaging with it.

Now let’s look at how adding links to external sources will help you to further engage readers and boost visibility.

3. ADD Links to External Sources

Adding links to external sources is a great way to improve the quality of your blog post.

It can help you build credibility and allow your entire site to be seen as a valuable resource by providing additional information for readers who are interested in learning more about a particular topic.

By linking out to other websites, you’re giving your readers access to additional resources that they may not have found otherwise.

When adding links, it’s important to make sure that they are relevant and reliable.

Make sure the link goes directly to the source material rather than an unrelated website or page with ads or affiliate links.

Also, be sure that the content on the linked page is accurate and up-to-date before including it in your post.

It’s also important to consider how many external links you include in each post, as too many can be distracting for readers and take away from their experience with your blog overall.

Try to limit your external links to other sites unless you need to reference a source to back up certain information you put in your post or to pass on additional information to help improve on your article.

Also, be sure to use “nofollow” tags on any affiliate links included in posts; this will ensure that the search engine knows not to crawl those pages, which could negatively impact SEO rankings over time if done incorrectly.

Once you have included links to external sources, it is time to focus on internal linking.

Internal links can help readers navigate your blog post more easily and provide them with additional content that may be relevant or interesting.

Check out HubSpot’s article, 7 External Linking Best Practices for SEO, for additional help.

4. ADD Internal Links to Related Content

Internal links are an important part of SEO and can help boost your blog’s rankings in search engine results pages (SERPs).

Adding links to internal content and other posts from anywhere within your own site will help Google and other engines understand your content better.

Internal links are hyperlinks that link to old posts and other pages within the same website or domain. They help visitors navigate through a website, as well as give the search engine clues about the structure and content of a page.

When adding links to other blog posts, it’s important to ensure they are relevant and helpful for readers.

This means linking to a related post that will provide more information on topics discussed in the current post or posts that cover similar topics.

For example, if you were linking from one article discussing ‘blogging basics’ to another article covering ‘how to write great headlines’ then using anchor text such as ‘great headlines’ would be more beneficial rather than just using generic words like ‘click here’ or ‘learn more‘.

It’s also worth noting that too many links within your post can look spammy and may actually hurt your SEO efforts, so try not to overdo it.

Aim for no more than 4-5 total for your entire article, depending on length; any more than this could start looking unnatural and turn off readers who don’t want their reading experience interrupted by lots of external links all over the place.

5. Check Formatting & Structure

When it comes to formatting and structure, there are a few key elements that you should keep in mind when writing your blog post.

First, make sure the content is organized into logical sections with clear headings and subheadings.

This will help readers quickly find the information they need without having to read through long blocks of text.

Second, use bullet points or numbered lists whenever possible to break up large chunks of text, which will make it easier to scan.

It’s also important to pay attention to font size and color when formatting your blog post.

You’ll want the H1 (your main headline) and sub-headlines H2’s and H3’s, etc., to stand out from the rest of the text so that readers can easily identify them as they scroll down the page.

Also, be sure not to use too many different fonts throughout your post; stick with one or two for consistency’s sake.

Finally, don’t forget about white space. It’s essential for creating an aesthetically pleasing design while making it easier for readers to digest what you have written without feeling overwhelmed by a wall of words on their screen.

Make sure there is plenty of breathing room between paragraphs and other elements like images or videos so that everything looks neat and organized on both desktop computers as well as mobile devices.

6. Add Images to Your Blog Post

Adding images to your blog post, including a featured image, is an essential part of creating engaging content.

Images can help break up long blocks of text, draw attention to important points, and provide visual context for the reader.

When used correctly, they can also increase the time visitors spend on your page and improve your site’s ranking.

When selecting images for your post, it’s important to choose ones that are relevant to the topic you’re discussing.

If possible, use your featured image, along with photos or illustrations, to help tell the story.

At the same time, make sure you have permission from the copyright to use any image.

Otherwise, look for free stock photos online that fit the theme of your post.

It’s also a good idea to optimize images by making sure they are properly sized so they don’t slow down loading times on mobile devices or desktop computers.

Once you’ve chosen an image (or multiple images) for your post, be sure the ALT text and file names accurately describe what’s in each photo, which will help with SEO.

By following these steps when adding pictures to posts, you’ll create visually appealing content while increasing your chances of ranking higher in SERPs due to better SEO practices being implemented throughout all aspects of website design and development.

Now let’s take a look at how adding a meta title and a meta description can help you optimize your blog post for search engines.

7. ADD Meta Title and Description

Meta titles and descriptions are an important part of SEO (Search Engine Optimization). They provide a brief summary of what the page is about, which can help the search engine determine if it’s relevant to the user’s query.

The meta title should be no more than 60 characters long and include your main keyword.

Meta descriptions should be between 150-160 characters long and also include your main keyword.

When writing meta titles and descriptions, make sure they accurately reflect the content on the page.

This will help ensure that users click through to your website from search engine results pages (SERPs).

Additionally, use actionable language in both title tags and meta descriptions to entice readers into clicking through to your site instead of someone else’s.

For example, “Learn How To Make Money Blogging Today.” is much more engaging than “Making Money Through Blogging” or something similar.

It’s also important to avoid duplicate meta titles or descriptions across multiple pages on your website, as this could lead to penalties from Google for having duplicate content across multiple URLs.

Finally, make sure you update these regularly so that they remain up-to-date and relevant for users searching for related topics online; this will help keep them engaged with your content over time.

Now let’s look at how making the URL search engine friendly can further boost your blog’s performance.

8. Make URL Search Engine Friendly

Creating a search engine-friendly URL is an important part of optimizing your blog for SEO.

A well-crafted URL can help to boost the visibility of your content and make it easier for users to find.

When crafting URLs, keep them short and concise.

Avoid using too many words or characters, as this will make them difficult to remember or type into a browser’s address bar.

Instead, focus on including only the most relevant keyword phrase that describes the content you are linking to. Many SEO experts will tell you to attempt to keep them around 3 words in length.

For example, if you are linking to a post about “How To Start A Blogging Business,” then use something like “start-blogging-business” instead of “how-to-start-a-blogging-business-with-step-by-step-instructions-and-tips-for-beginners.”

In addition, try not to include any characters other than letters, using the hyphen (-) between the words.

NOTE: Do not include any dates (numbers) because years later, after you’ve updated your content many times, yet it has the date from 2017 within the URL, the person will see it as an outdated article, not seeing it as the most relevant information, moving on to another article.

Once you have crafted a search engine-friendly URL, it’s time to take the next step and add a call-to-action that will entice readers to click through and explore your blog post.

9. Add a Call to Action

Adding a call to action (CTA) is an essential part of any blog post. It helps readers understand what you want them to do next, and it can also help boost conversions.

A CTA should be placed at the end of your post after all other content has been presented.

When creating a CTA, make sure it’s clear and concise. Use words that are easy to understand and avoid jargon or technical terms.

You should also keep the length of your CTA short, no more than two sentences long so that readers don’t get overwhelmed with too much information.

Make sure your CTA stands out from the rest of your content by using bold text or highlighting it in some way.

This will draw attention to it and encourage readers to take action on whatever you are suggesting they do next.

A few examples of CTA’s could be:

• A “Buy Now” button or text leading to a product you offer
• A “Download our free ebook today!” text leading to a free PDF download
• “Subscribe to our email list… ” to help increase email subscribers
• Have an opinion, be sure to leave me a comment
• If you’ve enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends

Adding a call to action at the end of your blog post encourages readers to take the next step, whether that be subscribing, sharing your post, downloading a resource, or simply leaving a comment.

Now let’s move on and look at how proofreading out loud can help you refine your content before publishing it.

10. Proofread Out Loud

Proofreading is an essential part of the writing process. It’s a final check to make sure your work is error-free and ready for publication.

While you can proofread on paper or on a computer screen, reading out loud helps catch mistakes that you may have missed.

When you read out loud, it forces your brain to focus more intently on each word and phrase in order to comprehend what you are saying.

This extra attention allows your mind to pick up errors that would otherwise go unnoticed when simply skimming through text with your eyes.

For example, if there is a missing word or punctuation mark in the sentence “The dog barked loudly at the mailman,” it might not be immediately obvious when reading silently but will become apparent when read aloud as “The dog barked loudly at mailman.”

Did you catch what’s wrong with the sentence above?

Reading out loud also helps identify awkward phrasing or sentences that don’t flow naturally due to incorrect grammar usage or lack of clarity in meaning.

If something doesn’t sound right while speaking it out loud, then chances are it needs further revision before being published.

Finally, reading out loud gives a writer an opportunity to hear their own voice, which can help them gain insight into how readers perceive their work and make necessary changes.

Proofreading out loud should be a part of every writer’s routine as it provides an additional layer of quality control that ensures accuracy and clarity.

FAQs in Relation to Things to Do Before Publishing

What to Do Before Publishing An Article?

Before publishing an article, it is important to ensure that the content was well-researched and of high quality.

Additionally, make sure that all facts are accurate and that sources are properly cited.

It’s also a good idea to review the article for any typos or grammar mistakes before publication.

Finally, consider optimizing your post with one or more keywords, along with meta tags, so it can be easily found by search engines.

Taking these steps will help you create content that readers will find valuable and engaging.

Dos and Don’ts of Posting a Blog Post

Do

• Research your topic thoroughly before you start writing.
• Ensure the content is relevant and interesting to your target audience.
• Use visuals such as images, videos, or infographics to make your blog post more engaging.
• Promote your blog posts on social media platforms and other channels for maximum reach.
• Include a “Call to Action” at the end of each post to encourage readers to take action.

Don’t

• Don’t plagiarize – always give credit where it’s due.
• Don’t forget about SEO when creating content; use keywords in titles and throughout the body of text for better visibility online.
• Don’t publish low-quality content; ensure that all posts are well-written with no spelling or grammatical mistakes.
• Don’t use overly promotional language or make exaggerated claims.
• Don’t use clickbait titles that do not accurately reflect the content of the post.

Final Thoughts

Publishing a blog post is no easy feat, but it can be made easier if you follow the steps outlined above. Doing these things before publishing can also ensure you more traffic.

Taking the time to do things like choosing an engaging title, optimizing for search engines, adding links and images, and proofreading out loud will help ensure that your blog post is of high quality before you hit publish.

If you’re fairly new and could use additional help writing a blog post from start to finish, don’t hesitate to use the link.

Now, keep in mind it’s geared towards those just starting out with blogging, but you might find some helpful information in there to take home with you, including a quick 9-point checklist before you hit publish.