Five things to do after publishing your blog post

You’ve hit that publish button, and it feels like a victory, right? Your blog post is out in the wild, ready to make waves. But here’s the thing—your work isn’t done just yet. If you want your post to get viral, connect with your audience, and bring that traffic flooding in, you’ve got to take action. The real magic happens after you publish.

Let me walk you through five crucial steps to transform your freshly published post from “just another blog” into a well-oiled traffic machine.

1. Share on Social Media

Let’s face it: social media is where your audience lives. Whether they’re scrolling through Instagram, getting lost in a TikTok rabbit hole, or retweeting their latest hot take, you must be right there. The key is not just dropping a link and hoping for the best. Nope, it’s about crafting a mini-story or creating a hook that entices your audience to click.

Here’s what I do:

• For Twitter, I create multiple tweets with a different angle of the blog post.
• On Facebook, I might write more, mixing in a personal anecdote or asking a question that sparks conversation.
• Don’t forget to use relevant hashtags to tap into existing conversations.
• And yes, tagging people or brands you’ve mentioned in your post can give you an extra boost in visibility. It’s like giving them a virtual nudge to share your content.

But one pro tip here? Tailor each post for the platform you’re using. What works on LinkedIn might not work on Instagram, and vice versa.

2. Engage with Your Audience

You’ve got to keep the conversation going. Once your post is out there, actively engaging with your readers is the next step. This part is often overlooked because it doesn’t feel like “work.” But trust me, this step can be a game-changer.

When people drop comments, they’re essentially raising their hands, saying, “Hey, I want to talk to you.” So, respond to comments on your blog and social media—quickly. Not next week. Now. It shows people you’re active and approachable.

I also love to ask open-ended questions at the end of my posts. It gets readers engaged, and let’s be honest, everyone likes a good question.

For example, if you’re writing a post on SEO hacks, ask, “What’s your go-to SEO trick for ranking posts faster?” It’s simple but gets people involved and keeps the engagement high.

3. Send to Your Email Subscribers

Email is still king—yes, even in 2024. Your blog post isn’t going to reach its full potential if you’re not using your email list to its fullest. A well-crafted email that showcases your latest blog post can drive a serious amount of traffic.

What’s important here is the subject line—make it compelling. You want people to stop scrolling and open that email. Once they do, you’ve got to hook them in the first few lines. Don’t just say, “Hey, here’s my latest blog post.” That’s boring. Instead, frame it as something that will solve a problem for them.

Something like, “Struggling to boost your website traffic? This post has the solution,” works wonders. You’ve got to give them a reason to click through and read.

And remember to segment your list. If your audience is a mix of e-commerce owners and digital marketers, tailor your message accordingly. Personalization will increase your click through rates

4. Optimize for SEO

SEO doesn’t stop when you hit “publish.” In fact, it’s often the part that really ramps up after the post goes live. You might have already mixed your keywords in the title, headers, and body text, but a few things remain left to optimize.

Here’s what I typically double-check:

• Meta descriptions: Make sure your meta description is short, catchy, and includes your target keyword. This is your chance to convince people to click when they see your post in search results.
• Alt text for images: It’s tempting to skip over this, but every image on your post needs alt text. Not only does this make your post more accessible, but it’s also another spot to slide in those keywords.
• Interlinking: Link to your older posts. This not only helps with SEO but keeps readers on your site longer.

Lastly, keep an eye on page speed. A slow-loading post will send readers (and Google) packing. Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to ensure your blog opens up quickly and there’s no lag.

5. Create Micro-Videos

You’re missing out on a massive audience if you’re not changing your blog post into video content. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts are currently dominating the content world. So, why not turn key points from your blog post into engaging short videos?

You don’t have to be a video editing whiz for this. In fact, raw, simple videos often perform better because they feel authentic. Just record yourself sharing quick tips or highlights from your post. Keep it short, like 30 seconds to a minute.

For example, if your blog post is about “6 SEO Tips for Beginners,” make a quick video sharing your top two tips. You can even create a series of videos from one post, keeping your audience hooked for longer.

Remember to add text overlays and captions—most people watch videos on mute. Short videos are easy and quick and can drive a ton of traffic back to your post.

Conclusion

The blog post is only the beginning of your journey. You’ve spent time crafting great content, so don’t let it fizzle out after publishing. By sharing on social media, engaging your audience, sending emails, optimizing for SEO, creating videos, and retargeting readers, you’re making  your blog post reaches its full potential.

This isn’t just about getting clicks and traffic, it’s about building a connection with your audience, keeping them coming back for more, and, ultimately, growing your startup blog into an authority center.