Stop! Do This Before Publishing Your Next Blog: Essential SEO Audit Tips

 

Hitting “publish” on a new blog post feels great—until it gets buried on page 10 of Google. The truth is, even the best-written content won’t perform if it’s missing key SEO foundations.

Before you send another blog into the digital void, take a few minutes to run an SEO audit. This pre-publishing checklist can be the difference between a post that’s invisible and one that drives consistent traffic for months (or even years).

Here’s exactly what you should check before you click “publish.”

1. Start with Keyword Optimization

Every blog needs a target keyword—the main search term you want it to rank for. Without it, Google has no idea what your post is about.

How to do it:

• Pick one primary keyword and a few secondary keywords.

• Include the primary keyword in your title, first paragraph, H1, and at least one subheading (H2).

• Sprinkle secondary keywords naturally throughout the content.

Pro Tip: Use tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, or SEMRush to find keywords with high search volume but low to medium competition.

2. Check Your Title and Meta Description

Your blog title and meta description aren’t just for search engines—they’re your first impression in search results.

Checklist:

• Title: Under 60 characters, includes your main keyword, and sparks curiosity.

• Meta Description: Around 150–160 characters, compelling enough to make people click, and contains your keyword.

Example:
Bad: “SEO Blog Tips”
Good: “10 SEO Blog Audit Tips to Boost Your Google Rankings in 2025”

3. Optimize Your URL

Your URL should be short, descriptive, and keyword-rich.

Example:

• Bad: yoursite.com/blog/12345

• Good: yoursite.com/seo-audit-tips

Shorter URLs tend to perform better in search rankings and are easier for users to remember.

4. Improve Readability

Even if your SEO is perfect, walls of text will drive readers away. Google notices when visitors leave quickly—and it can hurt your rankings.

Readability checklist:

• Short paragraphs (2–4 sentences)

• Bullet points and numbered lists

• Clear subheadings every 150–200 words

• Simple, conversational language

5. Check for Internal and External Links

Internal links help Google understand your site’s structure and keep visitors engaged longer.

Best practice:

• Link to 2–4 other relevant pages on your site.

• Include 1–2 high-authority external links to credible sources (e.g., industry publications, research studies).

6. Optimize Images for SEO

Images make your blog more engaging—but they also need optimization.

Checklist:

• Use descriptive file names (seo-audit-checklist.jpg instead of image1.jpg).

• Add alt text with your keyword where relevant.

• Compress images to speed up page load times (use tools like TinyPNG).

7. Test Mobile Friendliness and Page Speed

Google uses mobile-first indexing, meaning your mobile site performance matters more than desktop.

Quick checks:

• Test your page on Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test.

• Check load speed with PageSpeed Insights—aim for under 3 seconds.

8. Add a Clear Call-to-Action (CTA)

Every blog should guide the reader to take the next step—whether that’s signing up for your email list, downloading a free guide, or making a purchase.

Example CTAs:

• “Download our free SEO checklist”

• “Book your free strategy call today”

The Bottom Line

A great blog isn’t just well-written—it’s strategically optimized before it goes live. By following this SEO audit checklist, you’ll give your post the best chance of ranking high, attracting readers, and converting them into customers.

Remember: Publishing without auditing is like building a store without putting up a sign—people won’t find you.