Chapter 2 · Practice 5 of 5
Publish on your own site first, then cross-post carefully
Why it matters
Publishing first on a site you control keeps the original at a stable address. You can then share it on developer blogging platforms or LinkedIn to reach more readers.
When you cross-post the full article, use the platform's setting for the original or canonical URL if it has one, so search engines know which copy is the original. Google's documentation notes that a canonical preference is a hint, not a rule, so also link back to the original in the text.
If you would rather not duplicate the whole post, share a short summary with the key takeaway and a link to the full version.
Do
- Set the canonical URL when a platform offers it
- Link back to the original in cross-posts
Avoid
- Publishing the only copy of your best work on a platform you do not control