Blog Post SEO Checklist: How to Show Up in Search Results in 2025

If your business has been consistently publishing blog content for months—and you're still not seeing meaningful traffic from search—something’s off.

You’ve put in the time, maybe even followed some basic SEO advice, but the results just aren’t showing up. No rankings, no traffic spikes, no real movement. It’s like shouting into the void.

At that point, it’s natural to start wondering: Are we writing about the wrong things? Are we missing something obvious? Is this even worth it?

Meanwhile, your competitors—some of whom are publishing less frequently—are outranking you. And that stings.

So what's really going on here? It’s not usually a lack of effort. It’s a lack of strategy.

Without the right SEO foundation in place, even your best content can get buried before it has a chance to be seen.

It’s not just frustrating. It’s confusing. You’re checking all the boxes (or at least it feels like you are), but your posts aren’t climbing the rankings.

And the longer this goes on, the more pressure builds: missed opportunities, skeptical stakeholders, and content that never gets the chance to do its job.

Here’s the deal: most businesses that struggle to rank aren’t failing because their content is bad—it’s because they’re overlooking key SEO fundamentals.

And in today’s landscape, good content without optimization is like writing a brilliant novel and leaving it in a drawer—no one’s going to find it.

Here at media junction, we’ve been helping businesses get to the top of Google for 25+ years. We've seen every new SEO breakthrough and even weathered all of the gimmicks and black hat tactics. 

Some SEO principles have stood the test of time; others evolve every year. We stay on top of what works—and teach others how to do the same. We pride ourselves in knowing what separates content that performs from content that collects dust.

This article breaks down the blog post SEO checklist we use to evaluate content before it goes live. It’s part strategy, part quality control, and fully focused on helping you publish blog posts that are worth your time.

By the end of this article, you’ll know how to make sure your content isn’t just well-written—but actually finds its way to the people searching for it.

Let’s dive in.

Cover Topics Your Buyers Care About (The Big 5 Framework)

The first checkpoint on our blog SEO checklist isn’t technical—it’s strategic. Ask yourself: Is this article something your buyers are actively looking for?

If it doesn’t answer a real question or concern your customers have, even the best SEO tactics won’t save it from disappearing into the digital ether.

A proven way to stay on track is using the Big 5 framework from They Ask, You Answer—a content strategy model created by Marcus Sheridan.

These are the five categories of content that buyers consistently research before making a purchase decision:

• Cost: Be transparent about how much things cost and what affects the price. Everyone wants to know the $$ upfront.
• Problems: Talk openly about the problems, challenges, or downsides of your product or service. (Yes, even if it’s uncomfortable – honesty builds trust.)
• Comparisons: Compare your solution to alternatives or competitors. Buyers searching “X vs Y” are deep in consideration mode.
• Best of lists: Create roundups of the best options, best practices, or top tips in your space.

• Reviews:  Offer honest, in-depth reviews of your own products or services. These posts help buyers understand what to expect and show that you're confident enough to address both the pros and cons—transparency that builds trust.

These topics align with real-world buying behavior. If someone is considering outsourcing HR, they’re likely typing in “How much does outsourced HR cost?” or “Best outsourced HR providers.”

By writing articles that match those queries, you're not just creating content—you're answering questions buyers are already asking in search.

But here's the nuance: not every effective blog post has to fit neatly into the Big 5. There are many other buyer-relevant topics that perform incredibly well—especially when they help explain a process, define an unfamiliar term, or solve a specific pain point.

For example:

• “How to prepare for a website redesign”
• “Pros and cons of hiring a fractional CMO”
• “What does a UX strategist actually do?”

These might not be Big 5, but they’re still content gold—especially if your sales team is fielding these questions on a regular basis.

Pro tip: If a topic shows up frequently in sales conversations, it probably deserves a spot on your blog. And if it’s something your competitors are ranking for (but you’re not), it definitely does.

Need help identifying the right mix of content? Check out our list of blog topics buyers want to read] . You can also learn how to choose business blog topics and how to prioritize those topics so you're always creating the most strategic content possible.

The bottom line is this: blog SEO starts with writing the right content.

When you consistently answer the questions your customers are already Googling—Big 5 or otherwise—you’re not only improving your chances of ranking… you’re building trust, speeding up the sales process, and making your marketing more useful across the board.

Structure Your Content for Readability and SEO

Now let’s talk about the blog itself – the meat and potatoes of your post. Great content isn’t just about what you say; it’s also about how you organize and present it.

Both readers and search engines prefer content that is clear, logically structured, and easy to skim.

Use headers (H1, H2, H3) to create an outline: Think of your article like a textbook. Chapters are broken into sections, and sections into subtopics—each with a clear heading. That’s exactly how your blog should be structured.

Your H1 is the title (and should include your main keyword), your H2s are the primary sections or main ideas, and your H3s (and beyond) are the supporting details or subpoints beneath them.

This hierarchy helps Google understand your post’s structure and key topics. A good test: if someone could grasp the article’s main ideas by just skimming the headers, you’re doing it right.

Keep paragraphs and sentences short: Long blocks of text scare off readers. Aim for 2–4 sentence paragraphs. Writing clearly and concisely improves readability and SEO performance.

Leverage bullet points and bold text: Bullets are easy to scan—use them for lists, tips, or breakdowns. Bold key takeaways so even scanners can find the good stuff quickly.

Include images or visuals: A well-placed image or video resets attention and adds clarity. Use visuals to explain concepts, highlight examples, or just break up the layout.

Well-structured posts get read, shared, and ranked. Before publishing, scroll through your draft and ask: Would I want to read this?

Nail the Technical Essentials (Keywords, Links, Length & More)

Once the post is well-structured and readable, run through these technical SEO checks:

• Keyword Research: Choose a primary keyword and a few supporting terms. Integrate naturally—especially in the title, headers, intro, and image alt text. Avoid keyword stuffing.
• Word Count: HubSpot found that top-ranking posts often fall in the 1,200–2,400 word range. Match depth to the complexity of the topic. Don’t add fluff.
• Internal and External Links: Link to relevant internal content and reputable external sources. Make anchor text descriptive. Set external links to open in a new tab.
• Readability and Grammar: Use tools like Hemingway or Grammarly to polish your prose. Read your post out loud—if you trip over a sentence, rewrite it.
• Mobile Optimization: Make sure your blog is mobile-friendly. Fast loading, clean formatting, and readable font sizes matter.

This is your final pre-publish sweep. Tidy up these details, and you’ll avoid common ranking pitfalls.

Optimize Images and Multimedia (Alt Text, File Size, Context)

Multimedia—images, videos, infographics—can boost your blog’s engagement and SEO. But only if you handle them right.

Use visuals with purpose. Images and videos should clarify or reinforce your content. A diagram, before-and-after example, or short explainer video can make a complex point easier to digest. As a rule of thumb, include at least one image per post, and more if it’s long or covers multiple sections.

Keep image file sizes small. Large files slow down your page, and site speed is a ranking factor. Compress images before uploading (tools like TinyPNG or Squoosh work great). Stay under 200–300KB per image when possible, and consider next-gen formats like WebP for faster loading.

Use descriptive filenames and alt text. Don’t upload “IMG_1234.png.” Use something like “blue-widget-demo.png” instead. And always write alt text—short, plain-language descriptions of the image that assist screen readers and give search engines context.

Place media thoughtfully. Position images and videos where they enhance the content—not just randomly. If a video covers the full topic, place it at the top. If it explains a section, embed it right there.

Well-optimized media improves readability, accessibility, and SEO. Done right, it’s the cherry on top of a high-performing blog post.

Optimize Your Post for the SERP (Title, URL, Meta Description)

Once your post is written and optimized for readability, it’s time to package it for the search engine results page (SERP). Your title tag, URL, and meta description are what searchers see first—and they’re critical.

Craft a strong title: Your title tag should include your primary keyword and clearly reflect what the post delivers. Aim for 55–65 characters, with an absolute max of 70 to avoid getting cut off in search results.

For example, instead of “Everything You Should Know About Choosing a Small Business CRM,” go with “How to Choose the Right Small Business CRM: Cost, Features & More.”

Keep URLs short and clean: Strip out filler words, unnecessary dates, and special characters. Use hyphens between words, and put the keyword up front.

If your title is long, trim the URL for clarity.
Title: how-to-create-an-effective-b2b-content-marketing-strategy-in-2025
URL: /b2b-content-marketing-strategy

Write a compelling meta description: This is your post’s elevator pitch. Stay under 155 characters, aiming for 145–155. Use strong verbs or a question to create curiosity.

Example: “Struggling to choose a CRM? This guide compares pricing, features, pros and cons, and expert picks to help you find the best fit for your small business.”

And above all—make sure all three elements reflect the content inside. Misleading metadata might earn a click, but it’ll tank trust (and your bounce rate).

Ready to Publish with Confidence?

You made it. And now you’ve got a clear, battle-tested checklist to make sure every blog post you publish has a real shot at showing up in search results.

You’ve learned how to:

• Choose topics your buyers are actually searching for
• Structure your content for clarity and skimmability
• Nail the technical SEO must-haves like keywords, links, and image optimization
• Polish up your title, URL, and meta description so your content looks great on the SERP

You’re no longer guessing at what makes a blog post SEO-friendly—you’ve got a strategy that works.

But let’s be honest, even with a great checklist, content takes time, skill, and consistency. And if you’re short on time, stuck in a rut, or just want to make sure your blog is working as hard as it should… we can help.

At media junction, we’ve spent decades helping businesses create content that ranks, converts, and actually supports sales. Whether you need a partner to build your blogging strategy from the ground up or just want expert support to scale what you’re already doing, we’re here for it.

Want to find out if we’re a good fit? Book a consultation and let’s talk about how we can help you turn content into customers.