When I write a blog post, I don’t just write it then publish it. There is a process I go through after writing it, sort of a checklist.
I thought it a great idea to put this into an actual checklist for both my own use, and yours – as I tend to have this checklist more in my head than in physical form – as I’m often distracted by those stupid auto-play videos on Facebook that I sometimes forget a few steps. Stupid Facebook.
1. Proof read out loud.
This is to ensure I have no spelling or grammar mistakes. I like to read it allowed because I find it really highlights any sentences that might not flow so well. Then I can change the sentence structure to make it sound less complicated.
2. Link back to a previous post.
I like to link back to at least one previous post in each article I write. This helps readers stay on my blog a little longer, increases bound rate and is also good for the old SEO!
3. Include ALT tags in images.
Giving any images alt tags is a great way to improve SEO. It increases keyword density and also ensures your images show up in Google image search.
Don’t know how to edit you ALT tag? See this post: SEO for bloggers part 2.
4. Ensure the title is interesting.
Try to make the title of your post as interesting and catchy is as possible to get people to ready it.
The post title is usually one of the last things I decide, as often it comes about as I write the post.
5. Edit the URL
Ensure you edit the URL to the post title, or so it includes any keywords you are wanting to optimise your post for.
Unsure of how to edit your URL? See this post: SEO for bloggers part 1.
6. Ask a question.
Ask a question at the end of each post. This is a great way to encourage conversation on your blog and gives readers a reason to comment.
7. View Preview and Re-Read.
I like to preview the post at various times through my writing process, but when it’s finished I liked to preview it for a final time and then proof read again. You can guarantee some spelling errors have slipped through my original proof read!
8. Schedule the post.
The final step to my checklist is to schedule the post to the right day and time. I always schedule a week or so in advance so then I don’t have to worry about rushing things if something crops up! It’s good to have a safety net as life can be unpredictable!
What process do you go through after writing a blog post?
Thank you so much for sharing these are great tips
Candice |
Glad to see that I’m not the only one who reads my posts back out loud! I hate posting things and then seeing a typo later, so it’s great to edit.
Yup! I still see typos slip through though 🙁
Very helpful tips doll thanks. Have a lovely weekend.
This is such a great post! I don’t think people realise just how much is involved in getting a post up onto the blog! And thats not even thinking about all the social media etc. that comes after…
Oh I know, it can be quite the mission!
These are such good tips! We always do that except for changing the URLs which we forget most times hahah
Really useful, thank you!
xx
http://robberscorner.blogspot.com.es
I sometimes re-read the post a couple of times and think about it, and sometimes I just write and press “Publish” button 😉
This is perfect Corrine!
This is a really good checklist! I have learned some SEO basics and know that URL and ALT tags for example are very important however I’m most often too lazy to care about it :p
Haha, sometimes I am a bit to lazy with things like that, esp mata/search tags!
This is seriously such a helpful post and reminds you of the things that so many of us overlook or forget about like the bound ratings.
I’m excited to learn more about the blogging world from you – you are always filled with so much wisdom x
Thanks Jade 🙂
Thank you so much for this! I’ve only recently started blogging and although it is extremely fun, it can get a bit confusing at times. These tips have seriously helped me, you’ve got no idea!! x
Much love,
https://alyshamdn.wordpress.com/
I’m glad to hear that they’ve helped so much!
Eeek! I feel like a newbie compare to you. LOL! I wish I am as organize as you but for me is pictures and draft is on my ‘off days’, try to stop little tyke from playing on my laptop, proof read and then publish the next day. That’s pretty much it and sometimes I still struggle to balance blogging and family life.
Reflection of Sanity
Haha, don’t be silly – I’m just a bit anal about my blog!
I’ve just started including alt tags in my images 🙂
If only more people proof-read…
I definitely need to do this for my posts, I skip a couple of steps for my posts
check me out
xx
Tyana
Very helpful tips! Thanks for sharing Corinne))
http://fairyland111.blogspot.com/
I really like how you arranged the composition of your post photo and the editing. Did you get the peony from cargo? That’s where I got mine 🙂
http://creamteaandrosejam.blogspot.co.uk/?m=0
Thanks – I got it from Dunns 🙂
All great tips I like to read and read my post and preview to check the content works. I tips about the title and url is a good one that I always forget Lucy x
I actually do all those things as well 😉 xoxo
This is a fab post, such great tips! x
Josie’s Journal
Amazing tips, I’ll have to start doing some of them! Thanks for sharing! xx
http://www.beyondthevelvet.blogspot.co.uk/
These are really good tips! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Viola | A Piece of Viola
Sign up to my Christmas Blogger Gift Swap! http://apieceofviola.wordpress.com/2014/11/14/get-involved-christmas-blogger-gift-swap/ 🙂
Great tips – I always proofread a lot and check it in preview. Sometimes I leave it for a day and come back to check it too, and I’m starting to include previous links in many posts. Still have some work to do though! xo
Living links is a great way of getting people to click on previous posts!
Great tips – I need to start linking back to other posts 🙂
Thanks for this post it was really useful 🙂 x
Great list, I actually do the same thing.
Such good tips – never thought of changing the URL of the post to optimize it – definitely going to do this!
Drea xo
From your list, the things I don’t get to do often are adding ALT tags on photos and editing the URL (never done that) but it’s very helpful!
I always try to keep titles catchy, they attract readers and that’s a win win!
I should follow some of these rules a lot more! I’ve got more into the habit of reading a post back to myself as if I was reading someone elses post and I find it gives me a better idea of how bad my writing is!
Cloey x
This is a great post Corinne! I love it I’m going to steal it too 🙂 so thanks for that!
I love this checklist–it’s definitely the sort of mental one that I’ve got, but it’s helpful to have written down somewhere.
This is now my go to check list for all my posts. I still get typos but even this can’t combat dyslexia. Thank you for the post!!
BellaMeetBeauty.com
I forever have typos and I know I should read the posts out loud before I publish them but I usually publish then go back and fix them after I read them again. I feel weird whenever I talk out loud and people are listening. Lol.
xo, Kimberly