The "Before You Publish" Checklist

There are times we write our posts and get in too big of a rush to hit that publish button. I know I am guilty. Here are some friendly reminders that are easy to forget:

1. Am I providing value to my readers?

2. Is my article written for a specific, targeted audience?

3. Do I have a great title that is clear and grammatically correct?

4. Does my headline cause my readers to be curious enough to read on?

5. Did I use the words, "you" and "I" to engage my reader and make them feel like I am talking directly to them, not at them?

6. Are my paragraphs short and not overwhelming?

7. Are my sentences and paragraphs correctly ordered?

8. Have I linked to any older relevant posts to keep my visitors on my site so that they can find even more helpful information?

9. Have I included visuals such as images, videos, charts, etc.? People online love visuals and you will keep their attention easier.

10. Did I back up any claims I made by using statistics or data to prove my information?

11. Have I invited my readers to interact with my blog? How about a call to action?

12. Did I check my links and be sure they are all are working?

13. Have I given credit to my sources? This increases your credibility and gives credit where credit is due.

14. Did I remember to proofread? You want to be professional and spelling and grammar errors can hurt you.

I'm sure there are many more, but these are some of the important ones. If you have others to add to the list, please feel free to leave them in the comments.

Have a great weekend! :)