It is hard remembering everything, so to make it easy I have created a worksheet for things you need to before you publish a blog post. As bloggers we put a huge emphasis on writing amazing content. After all that is what our blog is all about. But, there is so much more that goes into simply writing a post. It may sound easy. You write an article and hit post. That’s it, right? Wrong.
If you are like me then you wear many hats and not only write the post but promote it, optimize, take the pictures for it and so much more.
After you have spent countless hours writing an awesome post you want to take the time
to not only promote it but make sure it is perfect so that you can reach a bigger audience and gain more traffic to your blog.
Today, I am going to share with you the steps I take when I write a new post for my blog. Although it seems like a lot it becomes a routine after you do it so many times.
Before You Publish A Blog Post:
Effective Headline
This is the very first thing someone will see about your post and it will determine if they want to click to read your article. You want to write an effective post title that is persuasive enough for someone to read the post. Even if you have amazing content, if your title is weak then most people will just pass it by.
Your title needs to grab the reader’s attention and be intriguing enough for them to see the benefit in reading your post. You only have a few seconds to get their attention so your headline is extremely important.
- Identify a problem
- Make a statement
- Ask a question
- Use numbers
You also want to include keywords or phrases in the title. Your title plays a vital role in search engine optimization. Here is an example of how you can rework a title to make it sound better:
Subheadings & Short Paragraphs
To make it easier on your audience you want to break up your content with subheadings and shorter paragraphs. Often times people will skim an article without taking the time to read it in its entirety. You need your post to have a clear and concise layout for better presentation and ease of readability. Also consider using shorter sentences, images, lists and even bullet points.
Once I am finished writing a post I go back through and break up the paragraphs. I normally get really wordy so I take out an extra information and shorten my sentences. If possible, I will also add in a list or two to make it easier to read. I am definitely guilty of not reading posts so when I see one that has really long paragraphs I immediately leave the blog.
Relevant Links
I always like to include relevant links to other posts that I have already written. Not only does this provide the reader with more information about the topic but it also will keep people on your blog longer. You can also use a related posts plugin to have at the bottom of the posts. You want your reader to know what they should do next once they have finished reading your article.
Images
Every article that you post on your blog should have images that accompany it. You want to have different images for each social media channel. For example, you want an image that is pin-worthy for Pinterest and another one that is horizontal and works best on Facebook. {You can read more about what makes an image pin-worthy.}
By including these different size images you have a greater chance of people sharing your content.
For my posts I like to include these image sizes:
700×100 – Pinterest
560×292 – Facebook {I place this image in the ‘social’ section of the Yoast SEO plugin}
I will also have a square image and add a few throughout to keep the post interesting. When uploading your pictures you want to make sure they are SEO ready by renaming the file before uploading it to your blog. For example, if you image is ‘IMG_2061’ you will want to save it as a keyword phrase for that post like ‘Washable Sidewalk Chalk.’
Alt-text for Images
Once you have uploaded the images to your post be sure to add in a good description in the alt text box that includes keywords and phrases. Normally, this is the default description that shows up when someone pins an image from your site, so you do not want it to just me the file name of the image.
Featured Image
Depending on your WordPress theme you will want to include a featured image for every post. Most of the time it is the image that will be used on your homepage when your post goes live. Be sure to use the correct size for your blog’s theme so that it looks right.
Optimize the post
Search engine optimization is extremely important for bloggers. Although you may not be writing every article for SEO it is vital that it is not neglected. By properly optimizing your blog posts you are increasing your chances of driving traffic to your site from search engines.
Personally, I use the Yoast SEO plugin and fill out all of the necessary information like the title and meta-description to optimize my posts. This plugin makes it easy for you to complete the step before you hit publish.
Category & Tags
Have you picked the correct category for your post? Be sure to check the proper category for your post and add the appropriate tag for it as well.
Proofread
Always take the time to read and re-read your posts. Even if you have done spellcheck and fixed any grammar issues you never know when a word can change the whole meaning of a sentence. I rarely ever sit down and write a post in its entirety. I often write some of it and then save it and come back. Or, I even jump around throughout the article. This can lead to a lot of mistakes.
It can be difficult to proofread your own posts because you know what it should say even though it does not always say it that way. I learned this trick from an English professor in college. He told me to proofread my posts from the end. Start at the end of your post and read it backwards. It will help you to find the mistakes because it takes the information out of context. Try it sometime!
Engaging Question or Call to Action
My goal in writing a post is to keep the discussion going. I want my readers to feel compelled to write their opinion or leave a comment about their knowledge and experiences. You can encourage your readers to comment by asking an engaging question at the end of the post.
It may seem so simple but a lot of people need the encouragement to leave a comment. You are providing them with a call to action and telling them what you would like them to do. A lot of readers may not even think to leave a comment until you actually say “What do you think about __?”
Affiliate Links
This is another thing that seems easy but is often overlooked. Before you hit publish think if you have any affiliate links that need to be added to the post. In the past I have gotten emails from readers asking for my sources or what I used in the post, and there have even been a few times where they have asked for my affiliate link to help support my blog.
Conclusion:
So i have given you all the important things you should do before you publish a blog post. Keep in mind more the efforts you give more results you will get.
