Posted on February 12, 2009
Blogging Best Practices Checklist
BY JASON CORMIER
I know there is already a great deal of information on this, but it keeps coming up in client conversations. Since one of our clients recently requested that we create a checklist, I'm posting a version of it here to share with you all. As always, feel free to add your input too!
Blogging Best Practices Checklist
When Posting
1. Title: Intriguing titles go a long way. Consider using odd numbers as part of your title (example: The 7 Deadly Sins of Social Media)
2. Keywords: As much as possible, use your top keywords in:
i.) The post title
ii.) Hyperlinks pointing to older posts or specific company web pages in the post body
iii.) Tags used to describe the post subject matter
3. Scheduling: Consult your editorial calendar, in addition to top keywords highlighted in your SEO/Analytics report and/or your keyword analysis. No less that one post per week if possible.
4. Images: Including an image with a post is recommended when possible. Use your keywords in the image "alt" attribute when possible
5. Links: Link to other blogs and/or to previous posts of your own (using keywords for links to posts of your own when possible)
6. Post Length and Content: Mix up length of your posts. Don't be afraid to be brief (i.e. 200 words). When possible, offer analysis, new tips and tricks
7. Submitting: If resources are available, run your pending post by a trusted advisor or editor who can do a review, make minor edits and immediately submit on your behalf. If it has to go back to you for your "final approval," it may not be worth having an approval process.
8. Announcing: Sometimes announce on other social networks to notify others about your post (example: Facebook or Twitter). Chris Brogan recommends doing this tactfully by writing a question, then including a link to your post. Also remember not all posts are Twitter worthy - so don't abuse this.
When Commenting
1. On Your Blog: Comment to other's comments in your own blog. This will grow the conversation and ad more value to your posts
2. On Other Blogs: Make your comments thoughtful, beginning often by referencing what stood out to you in the post or in another's comments. Strive to include a valuable take-away for anyone else reading your comments
3. Frequency: No hard rule, but remember conversations are easier to join than start. Commenting on a few of the same blogs often can establish a relationship with the blogger and their audience.
4. Linking: If you are linking to content of your own, be sure it very relevantly addresses the topic at hand. Consider including links to other blogs often. Linking to your own content in a comment is better received when the blogger recognizes you have commented earlier.
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Yeha very Useful information , this is both good reading for starters and experts, have quite a few good key points, and I learn some new stuff from it too, thanks for sharing your information.
Not that I'm totally impressed, but this is more than I expected when I found a link on Digg telling that the info here is awesome. Thanks.
@Capt Vlad Nikolskly: Outbound links don't have to be to blogs with the same thematic content. However, this would be an advisable strategy due to the increased likelihood of reciprocity from a site that may often have content relative to your own.
Always speculative with Google, but strong evidence has suggested for some time that incoming links containing relevant keywords (in the anchor text) in the midst of content also relevant to your business (and those keywords) contributes to favorable, natural search results.
Thanks for the tips, that's very helpful. I actually read a few of those tips from an ebook I paid $15 for, now it's free here in a nice clear and concise format.
Hi, Its a nice blog and it encourage the new generation for making their own blog.Its very creative one and the thinking behind this is great.Thanks for sharing the information with us.
Ye thanks for the tips. I have been working in SEO for just over a year now and am always looking for tips and best practises. Your site very user friendly. Thanks
Good tips. Thanks for posting!
Outbound links don't have to be to blogs with the same thematic content. However, this would be an advisable strategy due to the increased likelihood of reciprocity from a site that may often have content relative to your own.
Thank you, Jason, for useful tips.
Could you please enlight (point 5) - links have to be done to blogs of the same thematic, or it does not matter?