360TFT New Blog Post SEO Checklist

Use this checklist for every new blog post to ensure optimal SEO performance.

Before Writing

Keyword Research

• Target keyword identified (check search volume)
• Keyword not already targeted by another post (avoid cannibalization)
• Long-tail variations listed for natural inclusion
• Competitor content analyzed for word count and structure

Content Planning

• Outline created with H2/H3 structure
• 3-4 FAQ questions identified (for schema)
• 3-5 related posts identified for internal linking
• Target word count set (1,500+ for competitive keywords)

Writing the Post

Front Matter (YAML)

---
layout: post
title: "[Keyword-Rich Title Under 60 Characters]"
description: "[150-155 character description with keyword and CTA]"
date: YYYY-MM-DD
author: "Kevin Middleton"
categories: [primary-category, secondary-category]
tags: [tag1, tag2, tag3]
keywords: [target keyword, variation 1, variation 2, related term 1, related term 2]
excerpt: "[1-2 sentence summary for blog cards]"
image: "/assets/images/blog/[descriptive-filename].jpg"
image_alt: "[Descriptive alt text with keyword]"
faqs:
  - question: "[FAQ 1 - include keyword naturally]"
    answer: "[Comprehensive answer 2-4 sentences]"
  - question: "[FAQ 2]"
    answer: "[Comprehensive answer]"
  - question: "[FAQ 3]"
    answer: "[Comprehensive answer]"
  - question: "[FAQ 4 - optional]"
    answer: "[Comprehensive answer]"
---

Title Optimization

• Title under 60 characters
• Primary keyword included (front-loaded if possible)
• Title is compelling and click-worthy
• Title matches search intent

Meta Description

• Under 155 characters
• Includes primary keyword
• Includes a call-to-action
• Accurately describes content

Content Structure

• H1 is the title (automatic in Jekyll)
• 3-6 H2 headings with keywords
• H3 subheadings where appropriate
• Logical flow from introduction to conclusion

Keyword Placement

• Primary keyword in first 100 words
• Primary keyword in at least one H2
• Keyword density 1-2% (natural, not stuffed)
• Related keywords used throughout
• Keywords in image alt text

Content Quality

• Word count appropriate for topic (1,500+ for competitive keywords)
• Content answers the search query completely
• Unique insights not found elsewhere
• Practical, actionable advice
• Examples and specific details included

Internal Linking

• 3-5 internal links to related posts
• Links use descriptive anchor text (not “click here”)
• Links are contextually relevant
• Consider adding to “Related Reading” section at end

External Linking

• 1-2 external links to authoritative sources (optional)
• External links open in new tab
• Links are to relevant, high-quality sites

Images

• Featured image added to front matter
• All images have descriptive alt text
• Images compressed (<200KB for blog images)
• WebP format used when possible
• Descriptive filenames (not IMG_1234.jpg)

FAQ Section

• 3-4 relevant questions added to front matter
• Questions are actual search queries
• Answers are comprehensive (2-4 sentences)
• Primary keyword appears in at least one Q&A

After Writing

Standard CTAs at End of Post

Include at least one of these:

---

**Ready to transform your coaching?**

- **[328 Training Sessions](/training-sessions/)** - Complete session library for all ages
- **[Football Coaching Academy](https://www.skool.com/coachingacademy)** - Join 1,600+ coaches ($1/month to join)
- **[FootballGPT](https://www.footballgpt.co)** - AI coaching assistant

---

Final Checks

• Read through for typos and grammar
• Verify all links work
• Check formatting on mobile preview
• Images display correctly
• No duplicate content from other posts

After Publishing

Immediate Actions

• Verify post appears on blog page
• Check structured data with Google Rich Results Test
• Submit URL to Google Search Console (Request Indexing)

Within 24 Hours

• Share on social media (Twitter, Facebook)
• Add internal links FROM older related posts TO new post
• Check for any 404 errors in console

After 2-4 Weeks

• Check Google Search Console for impressions/clicks
• Monitor keyword rankings
• Update if not performing (expand content, improve title)

Reference: Word Count Guidelines

Reference: Good vs Bad Titles

Reference: Good Meta Descriptions

Template: [Problem/Hook]. [Solution/Value]. [CTA].

Examples:

✅ Good:

“Players bunching around the ball? Here are 5 proven solutions that create spacing and improve decision-making in youth football. Get the guide.”

❌ Bad:

“This article talks about youth football coaching and how to help players stop bunching around the ball during games and training.”

Quick Reference: Image Specifications

Quick Reference: Categories

Use these existing categories for consistency:

• player-development
• training-sessions
• coaching-tips
• technical-development
• coaching-methodology
• tactics
• session-planning
• pre-season
• psychology
• parent-management
• position-specific
• match-day

Last updated: January 2026