The Ultimate SEO Blog Editing Checklist
Brand managers often need help understanding why their editing team takes substantially longer than the writing team to finalize a draft. They might remark:
"You're not starting from scratch. You're just reviewing it. Just give it a quick scan."
Quick scan!?
With the utmost respect, if editors merely skimmed through drafts and stamped them with an all-clear, project managers might find themselves in an awkward position.
Imagine explaining to clients why a website claims: "We utilize cutting-edge, state-of-the-art technology," only to declare a few lines later, "We believe in all things organic, having a human touch in creating personalized solutions."
You'd look like a clown!
But non-writing personnel probably won't understand why editing is tougher than writing. They can't perceive how you transformed an incohesive, self-contradicting piece into a professional, optimized, and impact-driven blog post.?
It takes time and effort!
While writing is like a joyful release, editing is a prison where the bars are my former intentions and the abusive warden my own neuroticism.
- Tiffany Madison
And no disrespect to writers, as all editors are writers, too. It's just that writers have the luxury of knowing their work will undergo a final review. They can trust the editors to catch and rectify them if they overlook a detail or two.
Editors, on the other hand, operate without that safety net. Once they greenlight a piece, it's out in the world—published, indexed, and open to public scrutiny. Add SEO into the mix, and the task becomes even more daunting.
But don't worry, editors. I've curated this one for you. This article will explore my final checklist for editing SEO blog posts. I hope it helps streamline your workflow and reduce the time it takes to finalize a draft.
Do You Have A Strong Title & Description?
We often judge books by their covers. If you typed Best Pasta Recipes on Google and the top result reads Pasta 101, would you click on it?
Possibly.
But what if it said, 10 Unforgettable Pasta Dishes That'll Change Your Life?
Now, that sounds tantalizing! It is not just about putting your focus keywords in the articles and making it look like everyone on the SERPs.
Ensuring strong meta titles and descriptions is a key element of your SEO blog editing checklist. Your titles should be able to command attention, offering you more visibility and relevance.
Use the optimum length (ideally 60 characters) with power words for more impact. You can also use numbers in the title, if applicable.
The same instructions go for the descriptions. Not only do they offer you an opportunity to rank on target keywords, but they're what will influence the user to click on the link.
Use authoritative words like proven or ultimate to compel action, use relevant keywords, and ensure you stay within the optimum character length (150-160 characters).
Check If Your Blog Has A Descriptive URL
Consider the following URLs:
Which of the two would you click on with more confidence?
Most would gravitate towards the second URL.
Why?
Because pasta recipes is descriptive and give a clear hint about the content you're about to access.
On the other hand, the first URL, filled with a jumble of numbers and letters, could lead anywhere—it's ambiguous and somewhat suspicious.
A well-structured URL improves user trust and enhances search engine optimization (SEO).
For instance, a URL with those exact words is more likely to rank higher if someone searches for pasta recipes.
Is Your First Sentence Bomb Enough?
First impressions are everything.
Instead of starting with a bland statement like, "I like pasta," why not set a scene or evoke a vivid memory?
For instance, "Last summer in Italy, I stumbled upon a pasta recipe so divine, it felt as if it had been whispered down from the gods themselves."
Such an introduction paints a picture and promises a story, ensuring your readers are hooked.
Does It Have An All-Encompassing Introduction?
Not only should your intros be creative, engaging, and leading enough to develop a rush of excitement, but it should also be wholesome.
Not that wholesome.
Let me come up with a better word. Let's use all-encompassing to explain my point with clarity.
The first sentence, along with a few that follow, should not only captivate readers but also directly address the premise presented in your title.
Imagine stripping away all the subsequent paragraphs, leaving only the title and the initial lines.
Even then, those introductory sentences should be able to stand alone, conveying the core message of your content. Let me show you an example:
You can't see the complete article, but if you look at the title and the introductory paragraphs, you'll realize that they deliver the entirety of my message. The rest of the article is there to build on details.
But be careful.
Some articles might need build-ups before approaching the topic. These can be situational cases (such as this one you're reading now), and you might take a different approach.
Nevertheless, technical jargon, Shakespearean vocabulary, metaphors, and complex sentence structures don't create a strong introduction.
Keeping it easy to read, captivating, and all-encompassing is what makes it work!
Does It Have An Impactful Conclusion?
Writers mostly do put some effort into crafting engaging intros, but they seldom work on conclusions. I've rarely come across impactful conclusions in my entire editing career.
Mostly, what I get are summaries of the entire article. I am not saying that approach is wrong. I'm just saying it mostly doesn't get you the closure you expect.
Have you listened to the legendary Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan?
Pick any Qawwali, and you'll feel a pulsating increase in the tempo throughout 10 minutes of pure class, lyricism, and vocal acrobatics. It would start slow and gradually speed up with a precise measurement of a set of bars.
Just before the end, it's the fastest as it could be in that sonic context.
But the ending?
It's never fast. Otherwise, it would feel like rushing up and crashing into the wall.
Instead, Khan Sahab ended every Qawwali by slowing down to the same speed as he had at the start. He emphasized alliteration and stressed on each lyric to make the ending unforgettable and impactful.
That is where I learned how to write perfect conclusions for my writeups!
Tweaking the conclusions to make them look impactful is an integral part of your SEO blog editing checklist. Like a perfectly sandwiched Oreo, the layers on either end matter. A riveting outro and a graceful (pushy but still not pushy) call-to-action resonate with the reader and leave a lingering taste.
You don't have to sound desperate, yet you don't want to sound passive. You have to act elegantly persuasive and impactful.
It's the difference between:
Does Your Blog Have A Table of Contents?
Just as a buffet without labels would leave you guessing between the chicken Alfredo and the seafood pasta, a lengthy article without a table of contents can disorient readers.
A table of contents is essentially the menu card for your content.
By offering this organized list, you provide a clear roadmap, allowing readers to jump directly to the sections that intrigue them the most.
In more technical terms, a table of contents enhances user navigation, reduces bounce rates, and can even positively impact SEO when combined with anchor links that allow direct access to sub-sections.
And it is not like you have to prepare it yourself. Some plugins do it for you automatically. You just have to take care of heading optimization.
If your text is divided rationally and cohesively between H2s and H3s, you won't have a problem generating a table of contents within seconds.
Are There Any Broken Links In Your Blog?
Clicking on a link expecting to find more information, only to be met with a 404 error page, is akin to a digital disappointment.
Imagine being promised a detailed article about the Latest Trends in Artificial Intelligence, but the link leads nowhere.
Ask yourself: How will they learn anything about Artificial Intelligence from a person who is this artificially dumb?
This not only frustrates the user but can also undermine the credibility of your website.
Moreover, from a technical standpoint, broken links can negatively affect your site's SEO ranking. Search engines view these as indicators of a poorly maintained site.
It's analogous to inviting a guest to your home for a dinner party, sending them the address, but forgetting to mention that you've moved.
Regularly checking and fixing broken links is a mandatory part of your SEO blog editing checklist. It will ensure a seamless user experience and retain the trustworthiness of your platform.
Do You Have Short Paragraphs?
Read these excerpts from different blogs on the same topic and tell me which one is more readable to you?
Just as encountering a solid block of text is daunting, consuming a dish that's too big for one bite can be overwhelming.
A 500-word paragraph is like a colossal sandwich you can't figure out how to eat.
Instead, breaking content into shorter, manageable paragraphs is necessary. Each portion must be concise, allowing readers to digest and understand every section easily.
Technically, shorter paragraphs enhance readability, reducing the risk of readers skimming or abandoning the content.
Studies have shown that users are more likely to engage with content organized into brief, clear paragraphs than with intimidating walls of text.
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Is Your Blog Wordy?
Wordiness can be as cumbersome as a dish overloaded with unnecessary ingredients. Nobody has the time or the attention span to read an unnecessarily dragged write-up.
Taking the example of "In my personal opinion, I genuinely believe that pasta is really, very good," we're using too many words to convey a simple sentiment.
Trimming it down to "I believe pasta is exquisite" is like refining a recipe to its core ingredients, ensuring each element shines.
Less is more!
From a technical standpoint, concise writing is more reader-friendly and can improve the clarity and directness of your message.
“Use the smallest word that does the job.“
- E.B. White
Overly wordy content can dilute your point, making readers struggle to grasp the intended message.
Does Your Blog Contain Relevant Visuals?
Visuals enhance the appeal and provide context to your content. Writing an article about Italy's best pasta dishes without accompanying mouth-watering photos is like serving a gourmet dish in the dark.
Imagine how colorful your blog automatically becomes when you add this.
Words alone might be able to paint the picture, but you should understand that most of the audience aren't avid readers. You have to keep them stimulated to keep them engaged. That's where visuals help!
However, while images elevate user experience, they also require technical attention for SEO.
Adding alternative text to images is a mandatory on-page SEO practice since search engines do not read pictures. The alt text provides context for search engines, describing what the image portrays.
For example, if there's a photo of spaghetti carbonara, the alt text might read spaghetti carbonara with crispy pancetta and parmesan.
This ensures search engines understand the image's content, improving SEO and accessibility for users who rely on screen readers.
Moreover, you can throw in your relevant main keyword or LSI keywords to add more traction.
Images without alt text have zero impact on your SEO. It's like missing out on a freely available opportunity since the images help your article rank in the Image search. Without putting an alt text, you're saying goodbye to free traffic.
Does Your Blog Have The Relevant Category Selected?
Imagine if Netflix starts putting the movies and TV shows in the wrong genre. You might hope to unwind with a light-hearted romantic comedy, but instead, you stumble upon the horror film The Conjuring.
Or you might spend hours watching Oppenheimer, waiting for aliens to come. ?
Proper categorization in your content platform is akin to organizing bookstore sections. Whether readers seek Travel Adventures, Culinary Delights, or Tech Innovations, clear categories allow them to navigate seamlessly and find content that matches their interests.
Technically, well-defined categories enhance user experience and play a role in site structure, which can impact SEO.
A well-categorized site makes it easier for search engines to crawl and index content, thereby improving search visibility.
Does Your Blog Have A Captivating Featured Image?
Featured images play a pivotal role in bringing the audience to your blog. Along with the title and the description, the featured image is another element of first contact between you and your reader. For example:
A captivating featured image can decide between a reader clicking on your content or scrolling past. It's a pivotal visual moment that grabs attention.
Let's say you're writing about The Serenity of Alpine Lakes. An image capturing the tranquil blue waters, surrounded by majestic peaks, can evoke curiosity and allure, prompting the reader to explore further.
On the technical side, ensuring the featured image is high quality, properly optimized for the web (in terms of file size and dimensions), and accompanied by appropriate alt text can improve page load times, enhance SEO, and provide context for search engines and visually impaired users.
Does Your Blog Have A Good Score On Your SEO Plugin?
Regarding content creation, your SEO plugin serves as a GPS. It plays the most pivotal role in helping you assess the content for on-page SEO. Addressing the errors it highlights is the ultimate goal of having an SEO blog editing checklist.
For editors, it's what they should treat like a scripture. If you follow what it recommends religiously, 70% of your editing is done!
Yoast is a popular SEO plugin for WordPress websites designed to help content creators optimize their posts and pages for search engines.
As a GPS might recommend the most efficient route or alert you to an upcoming turn, Yoast provides real-time feedback on your content's SEO and readability. It evaluates factors like keyword density, meta descriptions, and internal linking.
For example, if you're writing a blog post about "Homemade Pasta Recipes," Yoast will ensure you use this keyword consistently, but not excessively, throughout the content.
It'll also provide suggestions for creating a compelling meta description to increase click-through rates from search engine results pages.
However, Yoast isn't the only player in town. You're in for a treat if you're using Rankmath, another acclaimed SEO plugin.
Much like Yoast, Rankmath offers a plethora of features designed to streamline the SEO process. With its comprehensive SEO checklist options, Rankmath ensures that your content is well-optimized for both readers and search engines.
Whether you're concerned about optimizing images, ensuring you have appropriate header tags, or integrating schema markup, Rankmath has got you covered.
Does Your Blog Have A Strategic Keyword Distribution?
Now, this one is advanced, but it wouldn't hurt to start adding this to your SEO blog editing checklist.
Simply including keywords in your content isn't enough; their distribution throughout the text is equally critical. Strategic keyword distribution ensures that your content remains both user-friendly and search engine-optimized.
Keyword distribution refers to how primary and secondary keywords are spread throughout content. Instead of clustering them all in one section, they're strategically peppered throughout the article or webpage, ensuring a natural flow of information.
Let's take two blog posts as an example. Both of the blogs have 5 sections and a keyword density of 5.
Blog A has the focus keyword incorporated in all 5 of those sections.
Meanwhile, Blog B has used the focus keyword twice in the first section and thrice in the third section. The second, fourth, and fifth sections do not contain keywords.
When the crawler comes to both blogs, it will automatically assume that all the sections in Blog A are relevant.
Meanwhile, only the first and third sections are relevant in Blog B.
Which one will get a better ranking?
The answer is obvious.
Moreover, keyword distribution offers you several other benefits:
Let me help you out by giving you a step-by-step plan as to how you can use keyword distribution to its maximum potential and ensure that your blog is better than every other blog you're competing with:
Does Your Blog Match The Search Intent?
Simply ranking for keywords isn't the end game. It's about ensuring that users find precisely what they are looking for once they click on your content. This alignment of expectations with actual content is rooted in understanding and catering to search intent.
Search intent is a user's primary goal when typing a query into a search engine. In essence, it's the why behind a search query.
Common intentions include seeking information (informational intent), looking to make a purchase (transactional intent), or finding a specific website (navigational intent).
Someone searching for how to make pasta likely wants a step-by-step guide or recipe. It would be stupid if most of your content discussed the history of pasta, detailing pasta's origins, evolution, and cultural significance.
Ensure your content accurately matches the search intent and the expectations that come along with it.
Moreover, before crafting content, study the Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs) for your targeted keyword. If the top results for best smartphones 2023 are all listicles comparing different models, then an in-depth article on just one phone model may not align well with the current search intent.
Also, If your content matches search intent and is well-structured, it can be featured in the coveted snippet position on Google. For instance, if the search query is benefits of green tea, and you have a concise, bulleted list answering this in your content, you could land this prime spot.
Is Your Blog Readable?
Crafting engaging content is one thing; ensuring it's easily digestible and readable is another. In our quest to convey information and insights, we sometimes complicate matters with convoluted sentences or jargon.
“The road to hell is paved with adverbs.”
- Stephen King
Enter the Hemingway App, a digital tool inspired by Ernest Hemingway's clear and concise writing style, designed to guide writers toward simplicity and clarity.
Hemmingway highlights sentences that are hard to read, suggests simpler alternatives to complex words or phrases, identifies passive voice, and provides an overall readability score.
Simplifying Sentences
Hemingway color-codes sentences to indicate their complexity. Yellow indicates caution, suggesting the sentence might benefit from a little tweaking, while red signals that the sentence is genuinely convoluted and should be restructured or split.
Original: Despite the fact that she was feeling under the weather, she made it a point to attend the meeting to provide her invaluable insights.
Suggestion: Even though she felt sick, she attended the meeting to share her insights.
Limiting Passive Voice
Passive constructions can make writing feel distant or impersonal. Hemingway highlights these, nudging you towards a more active and engaging voice.
Original: The book was read by the entire class.
Suggestion: The entire class read the book.
Removing Adverb Overload
While adverbs have their place, over-reliance can weaken prose. Hemingway identifies excessive adverbs, prompting you to consider stronger verbs or rephrasing.
Original: She quickly ran to the store.
Suggestion: She sprinted to the store.
You're Ready To Publish!
Your blog is ready to go out, most probably. It was a long read, but I hope that it's worth the while. I have tried and tested this SEO blog editing checklist over the years and harnessed some really amazing results.
I know everyone has a different process, and things might feel scattered here and there. However, having a structured guide can make your process organized.
After all, how are you going to make a writeup organized and structured if your process is chaotic?
Editing can be a nightmare for some, but it doesn't have to be that way.
Happy proofreading!
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1 年good one