7 Things To Double-Check Before You Hit Publish Online

As bloggers or writers, how can we be sure that our writing is publish-ready? What are the things to check before we hit “publish”? We start with an idea, develop a draft, and make revisions. How many revisions are enough? Perhaps we need a checklist of everything that needs to be checked and implemented before publishing our writing.

Since most of our writing is published online on our own blogs, websites, or other online platforms, here are seven steps to follow before publishing a blog post or article online. 

When we publish online, the biggest danger is for our blog post or article to disappear into the black hole of the World Wide Web. That’s why we need to ensure this doesn’t happen by taking several helpful steps. Here is the checklist. 

1. Research keywords. 

If you are a blogger, you have already defined your niche and themes, and you have ideas for content within them. The most important first step before even starting to write is to lay the SEO (Search Engine Optimization) foundation by researching keywords. You can simply write several phrases or questions related to your topic in the Google search bar and check if people are actually searching for this type of content. You can also see the related searches. The best approach is to use a keyword research tool like Ubersuggest or Keywords Everywhere for better, more precise results. Once your research is done, pick your main keywords and several related ones. 

2. Write an attention-grabbing title containing the keywords.

The next step is to write an attention-grabbing title that contains the keywords, again for SEO purposes. You can try different variations of the title, either using AI or tools like Headline Analyzer. It is very important to write a powerful title because this is the first thing people will see and decide whether to read further. 

3. Write the post or the article. 

The next step is to write the post or article. It is important to include the keywords and their variations throughout the text. It is also recommended to mix short and longer sentences and to write paragraphs of 3-4 sentences. Using headlines, bullets, or numbering also enhances readability and prepares the post to be found and read online. The word count of a high-ranking post is usually between 800 and 1,200 words. 

4. Edit the post. 

Editing your writing is the next step. You need to check for consistency and clarity. A helpful tip is to write the main takeaway at the top of the article (just for internal use), then check whether the article is focused and consistent with this main idea or takeaway. Once you are sure that the content is consistent, clear, and engaging, you can polish and proofread using tools like Grammarly or ProWritingAid. You can also ask a writer friend to read it and give us feedback. 

5. Prepare images and graphics. 

The next step is to prepare the images for the post or article. You can use Canva to create a blog cover, several pins, and Instagram graphics. Including your branding in the image (website name, author name, logo, brand colors, and fonts) makes your images recognizable and adds value to the article. 

6. Upload the content to your content management system (CMS). 

Once your content and images are prepared, you are ready to upload them via the content management system for your blog or website. Once you upload them, it is recommended to include hyperlinks in the text. These are both internal (links to your previous writing) and external (links to books or other external resources). You also write the meta description. It is good to make the graphics and the images in the post shareable, especially for Pinterest, as another search engine. You can also include a sign-up form or tweets in the text to enable sharing and gain subscribers. 

7. Publish and share. 

The final step is to hit “publish” and then share your content in different ways. You can share it on social media like Facebook, Instagram, X, Pinterest, and send a newsletter to your subscribers. You can also share in suitable groups and ask a writer friend to promote the article in their own newsletter. 

In the online world, our content needs to be optimized for the web and made easy to find and read. That’s why we need to implement several necessary steps before we hit “publish.” This will increase the visibility and authority of our writing. 

Blessings,

Hadassah Treu

Which of these steps have you followed so far? Is there a step that is new to you? Share in the comments.