Blog Post Publishing Checklist
A blog post checklist for content teams: edit, fact-check, optimise for search, add images and links, publish and promote every article the same careful way.
- Typical schedule per blog post
- The checklist 5 sections, 25 items
- Variables
{{post_title}}
Use this checklist for every article between "draft finished" and "promoted". It works for a company blog with one writer as well as a content team with editors and a calendar. The writing itself is not on the list. What is on it are the steps that get skipped under deadline: the fact-check, the meta description, the internal links, and the promotion that turns a published post into a read one.
Who owns it
The editor or content lead owns the run. The writer does the first section, the editor signs off, and whoever runs social media and email handles promotion. If a subject matter expert must review the post, assign them that item so the review is on record.
Common pitfalls
- Publishing and forgetting. A post with no internal links pointing to it and no promotion is hard to find for readers and search engines alike. Link to it from older related posts.
- Optimising for a keyword nobody searches the way you wrote it. Check the search results for your target term and make sure your post matches what is already ranking in format and intent.
- Unchecked claims. Numbers and quotes without a source damage trust. Link the source or cut the claim.
- Broken previews. Check how the post looks when shared, including the social image and title.
Each run records who edited, reviewed and published the post, which helps when a team shares the work.
The checklist: Publish blog post: {{post_title}}
Edit and review
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Draft edited for structure, clarity and length
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Headline and introduction state clearly what the reader will get
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Facts, figures and quotes checked and their sources linked
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Subject matter expert review completed optional
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Spelling and grammar checked
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Brand style guide followed for terms, tone and capitalisation
Search optimisation
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Target keyword and search intent confirmed against the current search results
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Title tag and meta description written, within typical display lengths
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URL slug short and descriptive
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Headings structured with one H1 and logical H2s and H3s
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Links to two or more related posts or pages on your site added
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External links point to credible, current sources
Media and formatting
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Featured image and social sharing image set
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Images compressed, sized and given alt text
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Image licences or credits confirmed for any stock or third-party images
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Post previewed on mobile and desktop
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Call to action at the end matches the post's topic
Publish
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Author, category and tags set
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Post scheduled or published at the planned time
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Live post checked: links work, images load, no formatting errors
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Social share preview checked (e.g. LinkedIn Post Inspector)
Promote
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Links to the new post added from older related posts
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Post shared on the company's social channels
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Post included in the next newsletter optional
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People or companies mentioned in the post informed optional
Checklist as Markdown
Frequently asked questions
What should I check before publishing a blog post?
Check that facts and sources are correct, the headline matches the content, the title tag and meta description are written, images have alt text, and the post links to related content on your site. Then preview it on mobile and check the live version after publishing.
How do I optimise a blog post for SEO?
Choose one main topic and check what already ranks for it, so your post matches what searchers want. Use a clear title, a descriptive URL, logical headings, and internal links from related posts. Above all, answer the question better than the existing results; technical tweaks cannot make up for a weak post.
How should I promote a blog post after publishing?
Share it on the channels where your audience is, include it in your newsletter, and link to it from your older related posts. If you mention people or companies, let them know. Promotion is part of publishing, not an optional extra.
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