Blog Post SEO Checklist: Introduction

Looking for a blog post SEO checklist? If so, you’re in the right spot!

Unfortunately, it’s not enough to just write blog posts, publish them, and expect to show up at the top of Google’s search engine results page (SERPs) (wouldn’t that be nice though!?)

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The thing is, actually optimizing your content for search engines is crucial if you want to drive organic traffic and reach your target audience.

But luckily, with the correct search engine optimization (SEO) strategies, you can increase the likelihood of appearing at the top of search engine results pages and attract the readers you want (don’t forget – you’ll also need backlinks!).

This blog post SEO checklist covers every step of my writing and optimization process, from creating a content brief to post-publishing optimization, that has enabled me to rank high on Google for keywords like:

And more!

So, if you want to follow my exact process to rank high on Google, keep reading.

Blog Post SEO Checklist

Step 1: Research the Top-Ranking Posts for Your Keyword
Step 2: Create a Content Brief
Step 3: Write Your Blog Post
Step 4: Write a Compelling H1 with Your Main Keyword
Step 5: Assign Category and Tags
Step 6: Optimize Headings (H1, H2, H3, etc.)
Step 7: Ensure Text is Skimmable
Step 8: Incorporate Internal and External Links
Step 9: Optimize Images
Step 10: Assign a Featured Image
Step 11: Responsive Design Check
Step 12: Yoast SEO Optimization
Step 13: Add a Call-to-Action (CTA)
Step 14: Proofreading and Grammar Check
Step 15: Page Speed Optimization
Step 16: Hit Schedule or Publish
Step 17: Review Everything Using the Detailed SEO Extension
Step 18: Submit to Google Search Console for Indexing
Step 19: Post-Publication Sharing
Step 20: Add Internal Links in Other Blog Posts
Step 21: Monitor Performance with Google Analytics
Step 22: Acquire Backlinks

Related: And just in case you haven’t already checked out my free blog planner, make sure you check it out to help you start your blog on the right foot and stay organized!

But first, what’s the difference between your on-page SEO checklist and this blog post SEO checklist, Sam?

I’m glad you asked 😉 !

The main difference between my on-page SEO checklist (freebie above) and my blog post SEO checklist (this blog post) is..

My on-page SEO checklist (freebie above) – addresses the core technical and structural aspects of every page on your website. It ensures your page is built with SEO best practices in mind, making it easier for search engine crawlers to index and understand all content across your site. This includes elements like meta tags, URL structures, backlinks, and mobile responsiveness.

My blog post SEO checklist (this blog post) – focuses specifically on writing optimized blog posts for better performance in the Google search results. It ensures each post is engaging, relevant, and strategically written to rank for targeted keywords. This approach emphasizes creating content that directly meets user needs while aligning with search engine criteria, making your posts more likely to attract and retain readers.

Ok, now let’s jump into some SEO blog writing!

Blog Post SEO Checklist:

Step 1: Research the Top-Ranking Posts for Your Keyword

Once you’ve vetted and chosen your target keyword, the first step in your SEO content strategy is to research the top-ranking posts for that keyword. This research will help you understand what’s working in search results and inform how you can create content that’s not only competitive but superior. Here are things to think about during your research:

  • How are the top posts structured? (e.g., lists, guides, step-by-step tutorials)
  • What are the most common headings (H1, H2, H3) used in the top posts?
  • Are the posts broken down into clearly defined sections or subtopics?
  • Does the content match the user’s search intent (informational, transactional, or navigational)?
  • Are the top posts providing answers quickly, or do they build up to the solution?
  • Is there a noticeable balance between depth of information and brevity?
  • Do the top posts include images, videos, infographics, or other multimedia elements?
  • Are these visuals enhancing the content or merely decorative?
  • Are there any opportunities to add more relevant visuals to improve user engagement?
  • What types of calls-to-action (CTAs) are included in the content (e.g., subscribing, commenting, downloading resources)?
  • Do top-ranking posts include interactive features like quizzes, calculators, or downloadable resources?
  • What types of external links are they using to build credibility?
  • Can you provide more recent statistics, trends, or news in your post?
  • Are any common questions or FAQs included in the top-ranking posts?
  • Do any of the top-ranking posts appear in Google’s featured snippets?

Step 2: Create a Content Brief

An SEO content brief is essential to writing high-quality SEO content that ranks high on Google. This brief will help you structure your blog content around the target keyword, ensure your writing stays focused, AND compete with what’s currently ranking.

While it’s common to skip this step to save time, I promise you it will actually save you so much time in the long run!

Here’s exactly how to create an SEO content brief, and here’s a brief summary:

  • Select Your Target Keyword
  • Analyze Top Ranking Posts
  • Install and Use the Detailed SEO Chrome Extension
  • Review Competitor Title, Description, and Heading Structure with the Extension
  • Prepare an SEO Title
  • Create a URL with the Target Keyword
  • Write a Meta Description
  • Determine Target Word Count
  • Analyze Image Count
  • Prepare an Organized Outline with Headlines
  • Include FAQs from the People Also Ask Section
  • Identify Internal Linking Opportunities
  • Identify External Linking Opportunities
  • Gather Relevant Keywords Using ChatGPT

Step 3: Write Your Blog Post

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With your content brief completed, it’s time to start writing your blog post. Focus on creating valuable, engaging content that answers your readers’ questions and provides the information they are looking for.

Things to keep in mind when writing your SEO blog post:

Include Your Target Keyword Naturally: Use your primary keyword in key sections like the introduction and conclusion, but keep the language natural. Focus on delivering value rather than forcing keywords into the content. Make sure to include other relevant keywords. Always avoid keyword stuffing, which is the practice of overloading your content with keywords to manipulate search ranking s— keyword stuffing can hurt readability and may result in penalties from search engines. Instead, aim for a natural flow that enhances the user experience.

Write for Search Intent: Search intent is the reason behind a user’s query—what they are looking to achieve when they type a search into Google. Search intent could be informational (seeking answers), navigational (finding a specific website), transactional (making a purchase), or commercial investigation (researching before buying). Ensure that your content matches what users are searching for by understanding their intent. Address their needs directly, providing clear answers or solutions that align with their goals. By satisfying search intent, you not only improve user satisfaction but also increase the likelihood of ranking higher in search results.

Use Subheadings for Structure: Organize your content with H2, H3, and H4 headings, making it easier for readers to navigate and digest the information (more on this below).

Write in a Skimmable Format: Use short paragraphs, bullet points, and lists to make the content easier for readers to scan quickly (like this blog post!)

The goal at this stage is to write high-quality, well-structured content that meets the needs of your audience. Optimization comes next as you refine the content for better search engine visibility.

Step 4: Write a Compelling H1 with Your Main Keyword

The H1 of your blog post serves as its title and should immediately convey what the content is about.

Here are essential tips for writing your H1:

#1. ALWAYS Include the Main Keyword: Your H1 should absolutely include your target keyword.

#2. Keep It Under 60 Characters: This ensures your title is displayed fully in Google search results.

#3. Make It Catchy: Engage readers with a title that grabs their attention and encourages clicks (but don’t be click-baity!) You can use the headline analyze tool by CoSchedule (part of their free plan) to analyze how well your H1 is written.

#4. Include Numbers or Modifiers: Use numbers (like “5 Tips” or “2025 Guide”) or modifiers (such as “best,” “easy,” or “ultimate”) to make your H1 more appealing and specific, which can boost clicks.

Writing great, clickworthy headings takes time, so practice and monitor your results (using the “clicks” metric inside Google Search Console).

Let’s cover an example – let’s say my target keyword is “website planning guide,” then:

Good Examples of H1s for “Website Planning Guide”:

  • “The Ultimate Website Planning Guide for Beginners”
  • “Website Planning Guide: Step-by-Step Instructions for Success”
  • “Your Complete Website Planning Guide to Build a Winning Site”

Bad Examples of H1s for “Website Planning Guide”:

  • “How to Make a Website”
  • “Guide for Websites”
  • “Everything You Need for a Website”

Why These Work/Don’t Work:

The good examples include the target keyword “website planning guide” directly, keeping the intent clear and relevant.

The bad examples are either too vague, missing the specific phrase, or not closely aligned with the intent behind a “website planning guide.”

Step 5: Assign Category and Tags

Categories and tags help organize your content and improve user experience, making it easier for readers to find related blog posts.

  • Select a Primary Category: Choose the most relevant category for your post.
  • Add Tags Thoughtfully: Use tags to group related content, but avoid adding too many tags that can create clutter.
  • Focus on User Experience: Tags don’t directly impact SEO but can improve navigation for users on your site.

Step 6: Optimize Headings (H1, H2, H3, etc.)

Using headers properly is crucial for both SEO and readability. Here’s a screen clip of the Detailed SEO Extension, which I go into more detail below, but it’s helpful to visualize here, too.

Tips for optimizing your Headings.

  • Use One H1: Every blog post should have only one H1, which is the title of the post.
  • Organize Content with H2s and H3s: Use H2s for main sections and H3s for subsections.
  • Include Keywords Where Relevant: Add your target keyword and related keywords to headings where they make sense.

Step 7: Ensure Text is Skimmable

Most readers skim content before deciding whether to read it thoroughly. Make your text easy to scan to keep them engaged.

  • Short Paragraphs: Keep paragraphs to 3-4 sentences.
  • Bullet Points and Numbered Lists: Use these for key points or steps.
  • Highlight Important Information: Use bold or italics for emphasis. Don’t underline text to emphasize it as it may be mistaken for a link.

Making your content skimmable improves user engagement, which can indirectly boost your rankings on Google’s search results.

Step 8: Incorporate Internal and External Links

Linking helps search engines understand the relevance and authority of your content.

Internal Links

Internal links are links that connect different pages within the same website.

Link to other blog posts or pages on your site to guide readers and help search engines crawl your entire website.

Tips for finding internal linking opportunities:

External Links

External links are links that point from your website to a different website, providing additional resources or references and helping to establish your site’s credibility with search engines.

Link to authoritative sources like industry blogs, research papers, or official guidelines.

External Linking Ideas:

  • Link to authoritative industry blogs.
  • Reference studies or research papers.
  • Link to relevant news articles.
  • Cite statistics from reputable sources.
  • Share links to official guidelines or standards.
  • Reference a government website for regulations.
  • Link to detailed how-to guides.
  • Cite industry reports or whitepapers.
  • Link to expert interviews or podcasts.
  • Reference popular case studies.
  • Share tools or resources related to your topic.
  • Link to webinars or online courses.

Proper internal and external linking can improve your blog’s SEO rankings by building relevance and credibility in the eyes of search engines.

Step 9: Optimize Images

Images make your content easier to read and more engaging, but they also need optimization to improve page load speed and SEO.

Here are my 5 essential steps for image optimization.

#1. Choose the Right File Type: Use JPG for photos and PNG for graphics with transparency to ensure optimal image quality and file size.

#2. Upload Images at the Right Width/Dimension: Resize images to the exact dimensions needed to avoid slowing down your site with oversized files.

#3. Compress the File Size of Your Images: Use tools like TinyPNG to reduce image file sizes and improve page loading speed.

#4. Use Descriptive File Names: Rename images with relevant keywords to help search engines understand their content.

#5. Add Alt Text for Every Image: Include descriptive alt text that explains the image’s content, incorporating keywords where appropriate for better accessibility and SEO.

Check out my blog post, Image Optimization Best Practices, for more details.

Step 10: Assign a Featured Image

How to set a featured image in wordpress

A featured image is the primary visual representation of a blog post or webpage, often displayed at the top of the post and in previews on social media and blog archives. A well-chosen featured image enhances the visual appeal of your blog post when shared on social media platforms, attracting more clicks.

Tips for choosing your featured image:

#1. Select a Relevant Image: Choose an image that reflects the content of your post.

#2. Optimize the Image: Compress it for faster loading and add alt text with your target keyword (see above).

Step 11: Responsive Design Check

Ensure your blog post is fully optimized for all devices, especially mobile. More users are browsing content on smartphones, so it’s crucial to check how your content displays across various screen sizes:

  • Test on Mobile and Desktop: View your post on different devices to ensure everything, from images to text, is properly formatted. This includes checking if images resize correctly, links are easily clickable, and text is readable without zooming in.
  • Click Through Links: Verify that all internal and external links are easy to find and work properly, providing a seamless navigation experience for users.
  • User-Friendly Design: Make sure interactive elements, like buttons and menus, are easy to use on touch screens. Focus on creating a clean, clutter-free layout that encourages users to stay on your page.

Step 12: Yoast SEO Optimization

Yoast SEO is a popular WordPress plugin designed to help users optimize their websites for search engines by providing tools and recommendations for on-page SEO, including keyword optimization, meta tags, readability analysis, and XML sitemaps.

There are others WordPress SEO plugins on the market, but Yoast is my favorite by far.

Here’s what you need to update:

  • Focus Keyphrase: Enter your primary keyword.
  • SEO Title Tag: Write an engaging title tag that includes your focus keyword.
  • Slug: Use a short, keyword-rich URL.
  • Meta Description: Write a compelling meta description under 150 characters.

Step 13: Add a Call-to-Action (CTA)

Encourage readers to take the next step with a clear and effective CTA. For example, the image above is an effective CTA that I use to promote my web design services at the bottom. ofblog posts where it makes sense.

Including a clear call-to-action (CTA) at the end of your blog post is crucial for guiding readers toward the next step. Your CTA can encourage your audience to leave a comment, share the post on social media, sign up for a newsletter, or explore related content.

Ending your blog post with a CTA helps increase engagement and keeps readers connected with your brand. Directing them toward a specific action creates an opportunity for continued interaction, turning passive readers into active participants and ultimately helping you achieve your content goals.

Step 14: Proofreading and Grammar Check

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Before hitting publish, it’s essential to proofread your blog post and perform a thorough grammar check. Typos, spelling mistakes, and awkward phrasing can undermine your credibility and distract readers from the value of your content.

Using tools like Grammarly or reading your content aloud can help catch mistakes that might have been missed during the writing process. Proper proofreading ensures that your content is polished, professional, and easy to read, which not only improves user experience but also builds trust with your audience, making them more likely to return for future content.

Step 15: Page Speed Optimization

A fast-loading page is essential for retaining readers and ranking well on search engines.

  • Use Google PageSpeed Insights: Identify issues slowing down your page.
  • Compress Images: Reduce image file sizes to improve loading times.
  • Use a Fast Web Host: Consider upgrading to a better hosting plan if your site is slow.

Page speed is a direct ranking factor and impacts user satisfaction.

Step 16: Hit Schedule or Publish

Once your blog post is fully optimized and ready to go, it’s time to decide when to make it live. Use your CMS to schedule the post at a time when your audience is most active, ensuring maximum visibility and engagement.

If timing isn’t crucial, you can simply publish it immediately. Scheduling allows you to plan your content calendar in advance, while publishing right away can be great for timely topics.

Either way, make sure everything is in place before hitting that button!

Step 17: Review Everything Using the Detailed SEO Extension

Before publishing, use the Detailed SEO Extension to ensure your post is fully optimized.

Here is a full tutorial and overview of the detailed SEO extension.

Here are the top 3 key points to check when using the Detailed SEO Extension:

  • Overview Tab: Quickly review the SEO title, meta description, URL, and canonical tags. This tab provides an at-a-glance summary of essential SEO information, such as word count, image count, and link details.
  • Headings Structure: Ensure the correct HTML heading hierarchy (one H1, multiple H2s, and H3s as needed). Including focus keywords in the H1 and first H2 is crucial for better SEO.
  • Links Analysis: Review the internal and external links on your page. Aim for at least 5 internal and 5 external links to support user navigation and enhance your site’s authority and trustworthiness with search engines.

This final review helps you catch any overlooked details, ensuring your blog post is ready to rank.

Step 18: Submit to Google Search Console for Indexing

After publishing your blog post, it’s essential to submit it to Google Search Console for indexing. This step helps ensure that Google discovers your new content more quickly, allowing it to appear in search results sooner.

To do this, simply copy the URL of your newly published blog post, go to Google Search Console, and paste it into the “URL Inspection” tool.

Adding URL to URL inspectiontool.

Click “Request Indexing” to prompt Google to crawl your page. Submitting your URL for indexing helps speed up the process of getting your content visible on Google’s search engine results pages, making it an important final step in your SEO checklist.

If you need help getting set up with Google Search Console, check out How to Verify Your Domain In Google Search Console.

Step 19: Post-Publication Sharing

After publishing, increase your blog post’s visibility by sharing it across various platforms. This helps to expand your content’s reach, attract more traffic, and send positive signals to Google about your content’s value and relevance.

Share on Social Media

Use platforms like Instagram, X, and YouTube.

Send to Your Email List:

Notify subscribers about your new post. For example, I often promote my new blog posts in my weekly newsletter. Sign up to see this in action 😉

Engage in Online Communities:

Share your insights or key points from your post in relevant forums or groups, adding value to the conversation without directly reposting the entire content.

Here are three tips for sharing content in online communities without risking duplicate content:

  1. Summarize Key Points: Write a brief summary of your blog post’s main takeaways and share that in the community, along with a link back to the full post for those interested in more details.
  2. Ask a Question: Start a discussion by posing a question related to your blog post’s topic, then mention that you’ve written about it in detail and share the link.
  3. Share a Unique Insight: Highlight one unique insight or statistic from your post, adding your own commentary or perspective, and invite others to read the full article for more information

Step 20: Add Internal Links in Other Blog Posts

After publishing your new blog post, it’s crucial to go back to your previously published content and add internal links pointing to the new post. Internal linking helps guide readers through related content on your site, improves user experience, and signals to search engines that your new post is important. Here’s how to approach this step:

  1. Review Your Existing Content: Identify relevant older blog posts where your new post would be a useful resource or where there’s a logical connection between the topics.
  2. Add Contextual Links: Insert the internal link within the body of the text, ensuring it feels natural and adds value to the reader. Use anchor text that includes relevant keywords or clearly describes the content of your new post.
  3. Prioritize High-Traffic Posts: Start by adding internal links from your most popular or high-traffic blog posts. This will help drive traffic to your new post and give it a stronger chance of ranking well.
  4. Use a Clear Structure: Avoid overloading a single post with too many internal links. Focus on quality rather than quantity, ensuring each link genuinely enhances the user’s experience.
  5. Update Navigation Menus or Sidebars: Consider adding your new blog post to key areas of your website like related post sections, navigation menus, or sidebar features for additional exposure.

Step 21: Monitor Performance with Google Analytics

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Hopefully, this meme isn’t you!

After publishing your blog post and ensuring it is indexed, use Google Analytics to track how it performs.

Google Analytics helps you monitor important metrics like page views, bounce rate, time on page, and conversion rates.

Understanding how visitors interact with your content allows you to make data-driven improvements over time, ensuring that your blog posts meet user needs and drive more organic traffic. Regularly review your analytics to spot opportunities for content updates or optimizations.

How to connect Google Analytics in WordPress

How to connect Google Analytics in Showit

Step 22: Acquire Backlinks

Backlinks are essential for improving your blog post’s authority and search engine rankings. A backlink is a link from another website that points to your content, signaling to search engines that your post is credible and valuable. Here are actionable steps to help you acquire high-quality backlinks for your blog post:

#1: Guest Posting: Reach out to relevant blogs in your niche and offer to write a guest post. In exchange, include a link back to your blog post. Look for websites with high domain authority to maximize the impact of the backlink.

#2: Build Relationships with Influencers: Connect with influencers or industry experts in your field and share your blog post with them. If they find it useful, they may link to it in their own content, amplifying your reach.

#3: Create Shareable Infographics or Resources: High-quality, visually engaging infographics are often picked up by other bloggers and websites. Make sure your infographic links back to your original blog post, and encourage others to share it.

#4: Submit to Relevant Directories: Look for directories or aggregators in your niche where you can submit your blog post. Be selective and only target high-quality, authoritative directories.

#5: Monitor Competitor Backlinks: Use tools like Ahrefs or Moz to see where your competitors are getting their backlinks. Reach out to those sites and offer your content as an additional or better resource.

#6: Offer Testimonials: Many businesses or websites will include backlinks in exchange for honest testimonials about their product or service. Offer a testimonial to sites you use, and include your blog post link in your author bio.

Blog Post SEO Checklist: Conclusion

By following this comprehensive blog post optimization checklist, you ensure that every piece of content you publish is ready to perform well on search engines. From creating a content brief to optimizing images and performing a final SEO check, each step is designed to boost your content’s visibility and drive relevant traffic. Stick to this process, and you’ll not only see improvements in your search engine rankings but also enjoy increased engagement from your readers. Happy blogging!