Blog Post Checklist: How to Create Great Blog Content?

Before you hit publish on your next blog post, make sure you're following this blog post checklist to create content that's both reader and SEO-friendly.


Whether you're an experienced blogger or just starting, it's easy to get caught up in the excitement of creating new content and forget about some crucial money-making steps.


That's where the blog post checklist comes in handy!


So what are you waiting for? Get started on creating your next masterpiece!

Competitor Research: First Thing!

When creating a blog, it's easy to focus on the content itself and forget about the big picture. But to attract readers and make your blog stand out from the competitors, it's important to do some research beforehand.


Take a look at similar blogs in your industry and see what topics they're covering, what kind of tone they use, and how often they post new content. This will not only give you an idea of what's already out there but also inspire creating fresh and unique content for your blog.


If you're a tech-savvy gal, you can create an RSS feed to get notified every time a competitor posts new content.


Plus, keeping track of your competitors' content can help you stay ahead of the game and adjust your strategy as needed. So before you start hitting that publish button, make sure to do some research on your competitors - it might just take your blog to the next level.


One of my favorite competitor research tools is hosted within SEO content writing tools, NeuronWriter.


PS: If you sign up with my link, I'll receive an affiliate commission.


Neuron makes your competitor research easy by comparing your content with the content already ranking on page 1 of the Search Engine Results Page so you can 1-up your competition and generate money-making traffic to your site.

Define Your Topic:

When it comes to blog writing, the age-old saying "fail to plan, plan to fail" rings true.


Before you start churning out blog content left and right, you have to establish the focus and purpose of your blog.


Are you writing about fashion, food, travel, or something else entirely?


Once you have a clear understanding of your blog's theme and goals, it becomes easier to come up with blog post ideas and ensure that they align with your overall direction.


I always suggest my client to develop a content plan before writing since it makes the writing process easier and keeps your content within the scope that you're looking for.


Creating a blog post checklist can also help ensure that your blog posts are informative, well-written, visually appealing, and optimized for search engines.


I always suggest my client to develop a content plan before writing since it makes the writing process easier and keeps your content within the scope that you're lookin

Keyword Research is the Key!

As a blogger, you might already have a million ideas for blog content running through your head. But before you start writing about all of those amazing topics, it's important to do some keyword research. This can help ensure that your blog is not only informative and entertaining but also easily discoverable by potential readers.


By using tools like Google Ads or SEMrush, you can find popular relevant keywords to incorporate into your blog titles and content. This will increase the chances of your blog appearing on search engine results pages and getting discovered by new readers. Take a few minutes to do some keyword research and unlock the full potential of your blog content.


By targeting specific keywords, you'll be able to attract the right audiences and drive more traffic to your blog. But don't just rely on tracking popular keywords - think about the language your target audience uses and find relevant, less competitive terms as well.


Once you've identified your focus keywords, sprinkle them throughout your blog post in a natural way - keyword stuffing won't do you any favors. Don't forget to add related keywords to optimize your blog post for search engines too.


Blog Post Checklist

Start making money online with organic search traffic

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Outline Your Blog the Right Away

Learn how to outline and structure your blog content properly.


Start by organizing your blog post with header tags, using h1 for your main headline and h2, h3, h4, and so on for subheadings. Not only does this make your content look more professional and organized, but it helps search engines crawl and index your page more effectively.


Next, implement schema markup for any featured snippets or highlight parts of your blog post - trust me, the extra effort is worth it when Google starts putting those shiny featured snippets next to your blog in search results.


Lastly, don't forget those basic HTML tags like bolded or italicized text to break up long paragraphs and draw attention to important points.

Images and Videos are Boss in 2024

Let's face it, words are great and all, but a blog post without images is just a wall of text. That's why it's important to make sure you're not slacking on your image game.

First things first, use keyword-rich names for your images.


If you have videos, even better. The easiest way to get conversions online is by leveraging video content when you can.


This helps with search engine optimization and can drive more traffic to your blog post. And don't forget the alt tags. These provide descriptions for visually impaired readers and also give you a chance to stuff even more keywords in there.


Using branded images, like a logo or custom graphic, also helps build up your blog's brand recognition. And last but certainly not least, make sure to compress your images for faster site loading times. Nobody wants to wait forever for a blog post to load because of giant image files.

Write Content (This is it!)

When it comes to blog content, it's important to focus on quality over quantity. No amount of fancy SEO techniques or keyword stuffing can make up for a lack of substance in your writing.


Make sure your blog posts have a clear structure, interesting and relevant information, and a compelling call-to-action (CTA). Don't forget the little things like including a creative title and unique URL slug, as well as writing an attention-grabbing meta description and internal/external linking to related content.


Overall, by emphasizing substance and polish in your blog content, you'll be able to attract readers and keep them engaged.


Blog Post Checklist

Start making money online with organic search traffic

blog post checklist cover image

Publish or Schedule: Your Choice!

So, you've created some killer blog content and are ready to share it with the world. How should you go about publishing and scheduling your post?


First, consider sharing it with your email list. Your subscribers have already shown interest in your content, so why not give them first access to your latest blog

Next, make sure to promote the blog on social media. This is a great way to attract additional readers and potentially gain new followers.


Finally, don't forget about including your blog in any upcoming podcast episodes. This gives listeners a chance to visit and engage with your blog while also providing added value for them as consistent subscribers of your podcast.


Scheduling these various promotional outlets can seem overwhelming, but by approaching each one individually, you can successfully share your blog with a wider audience

Indexing: Last Item in this Blog Post Checklist

The final step in ensuring that your blog content is seen by the world? Requesting indexing in Google Search Console. This may sound like a small thing, but trust us - it's crucial.


Without requesting indexing, you run the risk of your blog posts never being found on search engines. So go ahead, take that last step, and request indexing. It'll only take a couple of minutes, and who knows - maybe your blog will suddenly start getting tons of views from all around the globe.

Conclusion

By following this blog post checklist, you will be on your way to creating higher-quality blog content that your readers will love.


Remember, the first step is always doing your research and knowing what it is you want to write about. Once you have a good understanding of that, then you can move on to developing an outline and start writing.


How do YOU make sure your blog posts are up to par? Do you have any other tips or tricks that help ensure quality? Share them with us in the comments!


I would love to help you optimize your website and increase your search engine rankings by teaching you how to generate traffic to your online business by leveraging search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo! Contact me.

Blog Post Checklist

Start making money online with organic search traffic

blog post checklist cover image
Made with love in Puerto Rico by Puerto Rican SEO Expert Pempi Ortiz.