The Blog Post Checklist: Use Before Hitting “Publish”

1. The Blog Post Checklist: Use Before Hitting “Publish” By: Marscia Davis

2. Did I read the post after writing it? • Read the entire post before you publish it.

3. Is the post as complete as it could be? • Make sure your post is as complete as it could be. For example, • If your writing the instructions on how to make pizza you want to make sure you have written all the steps in the proper order and as detailed as possible.

4. Did I research the related keywords? • KEYWORDS RULE SEARCH ENGINES! • Maximize your traffic by using the same keywords that most people use.

5. Did I craft the title carefully? • The title of your post is the most important part. • Make sure the title has an emotional hook! • Remember to use the main keywords of your post in the title, this helps optimize the search engine.

6. Did I proofread it? • Proofread to focus on grammar and spelling mistakes. • Read your article backwards or out loud

7. Did I link to one or more of my older posts? • Helps readers to review your archives, possibly commenting or expanding on the information they have just read. • Helps search bots crawl your site more efficiently, and helps them understand your content

8. Did I link to external resources when appropriate? • Do not be afraid of linking external services. • Linking to relevant external sources. • If you use terms that might not be familiar with readers link the word to Wikipedia. For example: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kneading

9. Did I make sure all links are working? • Before publishing the post use the “preview” feature of your blogging software and click on all the links to make sure they work and pointing to the correct URL. http://www.youtube.com/ Htttp://www,youtube.com/

10. Did I credit any sources I might have used? • If your post was inspired by something you read somewhere else, credit it. • If you use information that came from a particular website or blog, make sure you mention and link it • Ex. http://www.dailyblogtips.com/the-blog-post-checklist/

11. Did I include an enticing image? • Images are a great way to entice people to read the rest of your post. • They can also help with the search engine optimization, and bring some traffic from Google images.

12. Did I optimize the permalink? • Permalink- a URL that points to a specific blog or forum entry after it has passed from the front page to the archives • If possible edit the permalink of each post to ensure your permalinks are concise.

13. Did I add one or more elements to engage the readers? • Every blog owner should be trying to build a community around his blog, engaging readers with your content is the best way to build that community. • For example: • You can ask questions • Include a poll • Make a call to action • Use their feedback directly in your post

14. Is this a good day for traffic? • Publishing your post on the right day is crucial for a successful blog • If you post your blog on a Sunday, regardless of how good it is, you will not get the best results. • Also be aware of international holidays, to make sure you don’t post a great article on those days • The best days for traffic are usually Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday • Make sure you track your traffic numbers so you can be sure of the best day for your blog

15. Who does this help?

16. Questions?