# An SEO checklist for news sites

> 8 things to check before you publish every story.

*Published: 2026-09-10 · 4 min read*

## Headline and description

The headline should say what happened clearly and spark curiosity. Write the search description to summarize the story too.

## URL structure

Story URLs should be short, readable and match the headline. Avoid changing a URL after publishing.

## Images

Add a large, high-quality image to every story with descriptive alt text. Large images get more attention in Discover.

## Internal links

Link your story to related older stories. It keeps readers on your site longer and helps search engines understand it.

## Speed and mobile

Most readers come from phones. Fast mobile pages matter for both reader experience and rankings.

## Structured data and sitemap

Make sure stories are marked up with NewsArticle structured data and added to your sitemap. Ulakom does this for every story automatically.

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Source page: https://ulakom.com/en/blog/news-seo-checklist