Blog post SEO checklist
Publishing a blog post without SEO is like printing flyers and leaving them in your desk drawer. This checklist ensures every article has the structure, metadata, and signals search engines need to rank it.
Critical
— 4 itemsPlace your primary keyword near the beginning of the title. Keep it under 60 characters. The title is the strongest on-page ranking signal.
Write 120-160 characters that include your target keyword and a clear value proposition. This is your ad copy in search results.
Your H1 should closely match what people type into Google. It does not need to be identical to the title tag, but it should target the same intent.
If you syndicate content or have similar pages, set the canonical to the original. This prevents duplicate content dilution.
Important
— 6 itemsStructure content with H2 and H3 subheadings
Break content into scannable sections. Use H2s for main sections and H3s for subsections. Include related keywords naturally in subheadings.
Add 3-5 internal links to related content
Link to other relevant pages on your site using descriptive anchor text. Internal links distribute authority and help search engines discover content.
Every image needs descriptive alt text. Compress images to under 200KB where possible. Use WebP format for smaller file sizes.
Create a unique OG image for the post. Include the title text overlaid on a branded template. Posts with custom images get significantly more clicks on social media.
Include JSON-LD Article schema with headline, author, datePublished, and dateModified. This enables rich results and helps Google understand your content.
Thin content rarely ranks. Aim for comprehensive coverage of the topic. Most competitive queries require 1000+ words, but quality matters more than length.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a blog post be for SEO?
There is no magic number. Cover the topic thoroughly. For competitive keywords, top-ranking pages typically have 1500-2500 words. For niche topics, 600-800 words can be enough if the content is comprehensive.
Should I optimize for one keyword or multiple?
Target one primary keyword per post. Include 2-3 semantically related terms naturally in your content. Do not keyword-stuff — Google understands synonyms and related concepts.
How quickly do blog posts rank in Google?
New content typically takes 3-6 months to reach its ranking potential. Low-competition keywords can rank in weeks. High-competition terms may take 6-12 months. Consistent publishing and internal linking accelerate the process.
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