Blog Post SEO Checklist: 12 Steps From Idea to Published

Table of Contents

Quick answer

Choose one keyword and intent, answer it clearly near the top, structure with headings, add links and schema, then promote and refresh the post.

Last updated: October 2026

Use this checklist for every article so each one has a chance to rank and be quoted.

Plan

  • ☐ One primary keyword and clear intent
  • ☐ Check the top results for the angle that wins
  • ☐ Add original experience, data or examples

Write

  • ☐ Direct answer in the first paragraph
  • ☐ Headings covering related questions
  • ☐ Short paragraphs, lists and visuals
  • ☐ Author name and updated date

Optimise and publish

  • ☐ Title and meta description written for clicks
  • ☐ 2 to 5 internal links to related content
  • ☐ Compressed images with alt text
  • ☐ FAQ schema if you include real FAQs
  • ☐ Share and add to relevant hub pages
  • ☐ Review and refresh every 6 to 12 months

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Frequently asked questions

How long should a blog post be?

Long enough to answer the query fully. For many topics that is 1,000 to 2,000 words, but quality matters more than length.

How often should I update old posts?

Review key posts every 6 to 12 months and refresh any with outdated facts.

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