Ever hit “publish” and then realize your blog post isn’t ranking, linking, or even looking right? That’s where Editorial SEO QA saves the day. It’s not just about editing for grammar. It’s about making sure every page is ready to rock on search engines.
Think of Editorial SEO QA like a pre-flight checklist. You’re the pilot. Your content is your plane. This is your guide to check all the buttons, knobs, and switches — before taking off.
Why Does Editorial SEO QA Matter?
You worked hard to write that post. But if it’s missing some SEO basics, Google may never show it. Worse, users may not click or stay. A strong QA process helps you:
- Get more traffic
- Improve readability
- Catch tiny SEO errors before they ruin big results
- Look polished and professional
Let’s dive into the checklists that make sure everything runs smoothly.
1. On-Page SEO Checklist
This checklist is for the structure of your content. It’s about making sure Google (and readers!) can understand what your post is about.
- Title Tag: Is your
<title>tag clear, keyword-rich, and under 60 characters? - Meta Description: Does it describe the content and invite clicks? Keep it under 160 characters.
- H1 Tag: Is it present? Only one per page!
- Subheadings: Use H2s and H3s to break up text and guide scanning.
- Keyword Usage: Is your main keyword used naturally in:
- Title
- Intro paragraph
- One or two subheadings
- URL
- Meta description
- Alt Tags: Are your images tagged with descriptive alt text?
Use this checklist each time you publish a post. It helps avoid common mistakes like missing H1s or duplicate page titles.
2. Readability & User Experience Checklist
You’re writing for people first. Google loves when users love your content.
- Paragraphs: Are they short and scannable?
- Sentences: Are they easy to read?
- Use of Lists: Do you use bullet points or numbered lists?
- Line Spacing: Is it comfortable to read?
- Images: Did you add useful visual content?
- Table of contents: For longer pieces, do you help the reader navigate?
- Internal Headlines: Do they guide the reader along the story?
Read your content out loud. Or better yet, use a tool like Hemingway or Grammarly. If it sounds clunky, time to clean it up.
3. Linking Strategy Checklist
Links help Google crawl your site. They also help readers explore more. But bad linking can hurt you.
- Internal Links: Link to at least 2-3 other relevant pages on your site.
- Anchor Text: Use natural, descriptive words, not “click here.”
- External Links: Link to trusted sources. Make sure they open in a new tab.
- Broken Links: Test them! Nothing’s worse than a 404 surprise.
Pro tip: Add links that add value. Don’t stuff just to look connected.
4. Technical SEO Touchpoints
This one sounds scary — but don’t panic! This is about quick checks to stop SEO disasters.
- URL Slug: Short, readable, and includes the key term. No random numbers or filler words.
- Canonical Tag: Is it correct? Avoid duplicate content issues.
- Mobile-Friendly: Does it display well on phones?
- Page Speed: Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights. Aim for fast, minimal load times.
- Schema Markup: Add structured data where needed (articles, reviews, FAQs).
Your dev team may help with some of these. But knowing what to check helps you speak their language.
5. Content Consistency & Formatting
Even strong content can look messy if it’s not formatted right. This checklist is all about polish.
- Fonts: Are the styles consistent?
- Spacing: White space is your friend.
- Bold & Italics: Use for emphasis, not decoration.
- Lists: Make info easy to scan with bullets or numbers.
- CTAs (Calls to Action): Are they clear? Not overused?
When you get the format right, your blog feels inviting. A clean layout builds trust.
6. Post-Publish Follow-Up Checklist
Wait — you’re not done after hitting “publish.” There’s a little more magic.
- Test Share Buttons: Do they work and show the right metadata?
- Preview Snippets: Use tools like SERPsim to see how your post appears in Google
- Social Graphics: Are Open Graph and Twitter cards working right?
- Submit to Search Console: Help Google find your new page faster
- Share with Others: Email list? Slack group? Social media? Spread the word!
This last lap makes sure people actually see all the great work you did.
Make SEO QA a Habit, Not a Hurdle
QA sounds like extra work. But it’s really about protecting your results. Catch errors now, save rankings later.
Try turning these checklists into a template. Put it into a Notion doc, Google Sheet, or content brief. It keeps your team aligned with every post you publish.
And don’t worry if you miss a few steps at first. The more you use these habits, the more natural it feels. You’ll start spotting issues before they ever become problems.
The Takeaway
Editorial SEO QA makes your content rank, read well, and shine. It’s your secret weapon to creating top-level pages that perform — and convert.
So before you hit publish, bookmark this guide. Run through the checklists. Double-check those links. And give your content what it needs to fly high in search.
Ready to click that publish button? Do the QA check first. Your content deserves it.