Publish posts people can actually use.
A short editorial check for images, links, readability, and content warnings.
Before you begin
- A draft post.
- The original article or media so you can check its context.
- 01
Make the opening useful
Lead with the subject and why the link is worth opening. Avoid a string of unexplained hashtags or a bare URL when a sentence would orient the reader.
- 02
Describe meaningful images
Add alt text that explains what the image contributes. Include essential text shown in an image in the post or description. Keep decorative details secondary.
- 03
Make links understandable
Use clear link text where the platform supports it. Open the final destination and make sure it is the page you intend to share. Check that essential information is available beyond an image or video.
- 04
Check the reading experience elsewhere
Preview the post on a small screen and, when possible, from a receiving account. Apply appropriate content warnings for your audience. Confirm that important meaning survives changes in formatting.
What success looks like
Readers can understand the point, identify the destination, and access the information even without seeing the image.
Turn the guide into progress.
Keep track of the steps you’ve verified, or troubleshoot the part that isn’t working yet.
Open your checklistSources & further reading
Mastodon: composing posts and attaching mediaReviewed September 22, 2026. These are practical suggestions, not a verification of your installation.