You’ve gone through the long research process, completed endless edits and revisions, and concluded that you’re ready to publish some quality content. Before you hit “post” (or “publish”), there are some important things to consider. There are a few key questions to ask before sharing content, whether it be on your blog or any one of your social channels. If you don’t want to regret what you share, sit down and be honest with yourself by asking these five questions:
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1. How do I feel right now?
This may seem like an odd question, but it’s crucial to evaluate your current state of mind before posting. Are you flustered? Are you sharing on a whim? Are you tired of editing and simply want to be done? Evaluating how you feel right before you post is important to discovering your current motive for sharing and gives you a glimpse into how you might feel after you’ve posted. Have a sneaking feeling you might regret what you’re sharing? Hit “delete” instead.
2. Is this relevant?
Is your blog post or article share something that is relevant to your industry? Is this something that the majority of your audience can engage in or relate to? Keep in mind that you’re not writing or sharing for just yourself, but you’re targeting a specific kind of consumer. Make sure the content is relevant to current events, your industry, or another common interest.
3. Is this error-free?
This might seem like a no-brainer, but it’s more important than you think. Check and re-check your posts before deciding to share. Mistakes express that you aren’t careful or detail-oriented. They’re also a sure-fire way to show users you were working quickly and didn’t bother to check your work.
4. Am I proud of this post?
Would you tell people that you’re the one who posted this? Would you be excited and proud to express that you were the one who did the research for this blog post or uncovered the article shared on a social channel? Make sure your post is something you’d be proud to slap your name on. If there’s anything about the post that you’re ashamed of, change it or toss it entirely.
5. Would I read this?
This is perhaps the most important question you should be asking. Is this post interesting enough that you yourself would click on it if you saw it? Is this of interest to your audience? Would you be excited to click on this link? Would this post help you learn more about your industry? If you can’t get excited about your own post, don’t expect anyone else to care.
