Have you ever wondered how so many bloggers continuously push out blog post after blog post and actually make $ from their blogs? It’s not a *throw spaghetti at the wall* type of strategy. In fact, it’s actually quite the opposite – which is probably how you found your way here because you want to learn their secrets too. Which leads me to introduce you to our 8 steps of a no bullshit SEO checklist for blog posts.

The 8 Steps Of a No Bullshit SEO Checklist for Blog Posts

We’re starting where most checklists don’t.

1. Before You Write Anything, Answer This One Question

Why does this blog exist?

Not:

• “Because I should blog”
• “Because SEO”
• “Because my coach said so”

But:

• Who is this actually helping?
• What problem are they actively Googling right this second?
• What do I want them to understand when they leave?

If you skip this step, no amount of on-page SEO checklist magic will save the post.

This is the part Google actually cares about.

We use our Blogging HQ dash to organize all of our blogging ideas before we ever consider writing them.

2. Pick ONE Primary Keyword and Commit to It

For example:
SEO checklist for blog posts ← that’s the job of this post.

Everything else —
blogging checklist, SEO blog post, how to write SEO optimized blog post —
supports that main idea.

If your blog is trying to rank for 7 different things, Google doesn’t know what shelf to put it on.

And when Google’s confused… it moves on… and so does your visitor.

3. Structure the Blog Like a Human Would Read It

Unfortunately, we do live in the world of AI and there are plenty of blog posts out there that are definitely not written for humans. 

Instead, aim for:

• clear headings
• short, skimmable paragraphs
• obvious flow
• language you’d actually say out loud

Not because Google is picky — but because readers bounce when things literally don’t make sense.

SEO tracks behavior.
People staying on your page is the signal.

4. Write to Teach, Not to Perform

If you’re wondering how to write a SEO friendly blog that doesn’t sound stiff, this is the key:

👉 Stop trying to sound authoritative.
👉 Start trying to be understandable.

The best SEO optimized blog articles:

• explain why things work
• correct common misunderstandings
• slow down instead of speeding up (talk to me like I’m 5 energy)
• feel like someone is walking you through it

Educational blogs age better.
They rank longer.
They convert quieter but resonate deeper.

5. SEO Happens During Writing, Not After

If you’re writing the blog and thinking:

“I’ll optimize it later”

You’re already making it harder than it needs to be.

As you write:

• naturally include your primary keyword
• let secondary keywords show up where they make sense
• stay on-topic (this matters more than people realize)

If you have to shove keywords in at the end, the post was unclear from the start. Head to this post next to learn exactly how to find the right keywords for your blog posts.

6. Yes, Metadata Still Matters (Just Not the Way You Think)

You still need:

• a clear page title
• a compelling meta description
• a clean URL

More about what all of this means in this post.

This is standard WordPress SEO checklist stuff.

But metadata doesn’t fix a blog.
It just helps the right people click it.

The content does the heavy lifting → aka whether your visitors stay to read through, click around, save for later, or share with their friends.

7. Internal Links = Quiet SEO Power Moves

Strong SEO blogs don’t live in isolation. In fact, once you’ve built a solid bank of blogs, you should be able to internally link back to most of them. 

Internal links:

• help Google understand your site structure
• keep readers clicking
• build topical authority over time (aka: builds compounding SEO for your site)

This is one of the most skipped steps in the best blog SEO strategies and one of the most effective.

8. So… Does Blogging Increase SEO?

Short answer: yes.
Longer answer: only when it’s consistent, maintained and intentional.

One perfectly optimized post won’t carry your site.

A growing library of helpful, connected blogs will.

That’s how trust is built with Google and with real humans loving your content.

Your Real Blog Post SEO Checklist

Before publishing, ask yourself:

• Is this clearly about one thing?
• Would a beginner understand this?
• Does it actually help someone?
• Is the keyword obvious (within the first 250 words of the post) but not annoying?
• Does this connect to other content on my site?

If yes — you’re doing SEO right.

The Part No Checklist Can Do For You (But We Can)

Most blogs don’t struggle because of SEO.
They struggle because the writer is trying to:

• think (let’s fix that right now with these 52 blog post ideas for any creative industry)
• structure
• optimize
• and publish

all at once.

That’s why our Done-With-You blogging packages exist.

Inside our blogging services, we help you:

• clarify what you should be writing before you write it
• choose keywords that actually make sense for your business
• turn ideas into SEO-friendly blog posts without losing your voice
• build a blogging ecosystem that compounds over time (instead of burning you out)

You don’t need to blog harder.
You need a framework that works with your brain.

Explore why working with a copywriter & SEO duo is actually a 10/10 business strategy.

SEO doesn’t need to be louder.
It just needs to be clearer, little more human, and wayyy less botty.

P.S. If you loved this blog post, you’ll definitely want to subscribe to our weekly newsletter ‘The Wednesday Kin’ where we share bite-sized tips like this every single week.

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