A Content Marketing Checklist for Blogs
This post was originally published on PixoLabo
The Benefits of a Content Marketing Checklist for Blogs
Believe us; we know the feeling! You have an excellent idea for a blog post and can't wait to write and post it. Before you forget your great idea, you sit down, crank out your blog post, schedule it for posting, and voila! Your beautiful blog post is out there for all to enjoy. But did you remember to make your post all that it can be? Many bloggers overlook opportunities for making their posts go further. Our content marketing checklist for blogs will show you what to do.
Our content marketing checklist for blogs lists 25 simple questions any blogger can ask themselves before publishing their posts. Like any good story, a good blog post has to grab your attention and arouse interest, leading to desire and action. If you want or need to reach the biggest possible audience, you will need to do some promotion. You can simply follow the steps in our content marketing checklist for blogs from beginning to end, or just those parts to improve your posts.
We already mentioned how to write an engaging blog post and provided you with guest blogging tips to help you reach a new audience in an earlier blog post. Now we want to show you how to create a useful content marketing post. From creating an attention-grabbing headline and intriguing introduction, writing the body of your blog post, and bringing it to a successful conclusion, our content marketing checklist for blogs gives you step-by-step instructions. We even give you some valuable tips for promoting your blog post.
25 Things to Consider for Effective Blogging
Headline - Attention
1. Is my headline clear, precise, and engaging enough?
2. Is my headline evoking any emotions?
3. Does my headline contain keywords or phrases that someone would type in search engines like Google and is less than 65 characters long? (In order not to get truncated on Google SERPs).
4. Does my headline use an H1 header tag?
Introduction - Interest
5. Does it give a good overview of what the post is all about?
6. Is it short enough (one to two paragraphs), and is it triggering people's desire to read through the entire post?
Body - Desire
7. Are my paragraphs short enough (usually 5-7 lines long)?
8. Am I using subheadings with the correct header tags? (Usually, H2, H3, and H4 are more than enough)
9. Am I engaging the reader by using a more personal writing style? (i.e., describing a personal experience, asking questions, etc.)
10. Do I format my post correctly using bullets, lists, italics, bold, quotes, etc.?
11. Do I enhance my content by including media such as images, infographics, video, audio, etc.?
12. Is my content concise and to the point without fluff or fancy and boring expressions?
13. Am I appealing to emotions such as anger, humor, or curiosity?
14. Do I link to other authoritative websites?
15. Do I increase my credibility by mentioning other people's quotes and opinions?
Conclusion - Action
16. Do I summarize my post in one or two short paragraphs?
17. Do I end my post with a question? (to generate comments and invite readers to a conversation)
18. Is my conclusion enticing enough to encourage people to read my post? (for those who scroll down to the end before actually reading the post.
Promoting Your Blog Post
19. Am I publishing my post to social media on the best day and time? (take a look at the Best Times to Post on Social Media in 2020 according to Sprout Social to get some ideas)
20. Do I have an email collection mechanism set up on my blog? (email newsletter or subscriber optins)
21. Am I able to offer something valuable (like a free ebook or membership) in exchange for a visitor's email?
22. Do I have social sharing functionality throughout my post?
23. Do I use social media meta tags when sharing my content on social networks?
24. Do I mention my sources and influencers when sharing>
25. Do I share my content more than once?
Do You Need Help with Your Blogging?
As you can see from our content marketing checklist for blogs, this is not rocket science. Most of you are probably already doing some of this. But we understand how easy it can be to miss a step or two in the excitement. Missing critical steps is the main reason we wanted to share this list with you. We use it ourselves, and it does work!
But what if you are just not into blogging? It is a personal inclination for some people and a time constraint for others. Many small businesses do not blog at all. There is another solution! There are many talented writers and bloggers out there that can create compelling and engaging content. If you don't feel up to creating your blog content, spend a little money, and have someone do it for you!
The Design of Your Blog Counts
Of course, it does help to have a well-designed blog to start. You can have excellent and relevant content. But it will not do you much good if your actual blog lacks mobile-first functionality and appeal. Modern and increasingly mobile consumers are getting ever more demanding and sophisticated. They expect a lot from your blog, and you better deliver.
If you need help with your content marketing strategy or creating effective content, I am here to help.
Gregor is Co-Founder and CXO of PixoLabo, a multilingual WordPress web design studio based in Japan, and has over 25 years of experience in web, UX and information design. Gregor consults and mentors startups in Asia and the US, and is an adjunct professor of design and user experience, as well as a foreign language editor at the Tohoku University School of Medicine. He lives with his wife, an award-winning Japanese designer, and photographer, in Sendai, Japan. When he is not working, he enjoys writing, traveling, gardening, and sampling new street food. You can connect with Gregor on LinkedIn or Twitter