SEO Content Engine

Create content that ranks. This skill guides you through the entire SEO content workflow — from keyword research to published draft — with data-driven decisions at every step.

What It Does

• Keyword Research: Find low-competition, high-intent keywords
• SERP Analysis: Understand what Google wants for your target keyword
• Content Outlines: Structure articles that satisfy search intent
• SEO-Optimized Drafts: Write with proper heading hierarchy, internal links, and meta tags
• Content Refresh: Update old posts to regain lost rankings

Quick Start

1. New Article from Keyword

"Create an SEO-optimized article targeting the keyword: 'best project management software for small teams'

Target word count: 2000
Tone: Professional but approachable
Include: Comparison table, pricing section, FAQ"

2. Content Refresh

"Refresh this old blog post for better SEO performance:
[paste existing content]

Target keyword: [keyword]
Current issues: [dropped rankings, outdated info, etc.]
Add: Current data, new sections, better internal links"

3. Content Strategy

"Build a 3-month content calendar for a [industry] business targeting [audience].

Focus topics: [topic 1], [topic 2], [topic 3]
Goal: [leads/brand awareness/authority]
Output: 12 article ideas with target keywords and priority scores"

The SEO Content Workflow

Phase 1: Keyword Intelligence

Input: Seed topic or competitor URL Output: Prioritized keyword list with difficulty scores

Key metrics to consider:

• Search Volume: Monthly searches (higher ≠ always better)
• Keyword Difficulty: Competition level (start with <30 for new sites)
• Search Intent: Informational, navigational, transactional, commercial
• CPC: Cost-per-click (indicates commercial value)

Phase 2: SERP Analysis

Before writing, analyze the top 10 results:

• Content Type: Blog post? Product page? Listicle? Guide?
• Content Depth: Word count, sections covered, detail level
• Content Gaps: What's missing that you can add?
• Common Elements: Do all top results have videos? Tables? FAQs?
• Domain Authority: Are you competing with Wikipedia or small blogs?

Phase 3: Outline Creation

Structure for SEO success:

H1: Target Keyword (exact or close variant)
  H2: Introduction (hook + promise + proof)
  H2: What is [Topic]? (definition for informational intent)
  H2: Why [Topic] Matters (benefits, statistics)
  H2: [Number] Best [Options] (for listicles/comparisons)
    H3: Option 1
    H3: Option 2
    H3: Option 3
  H2: How to [Achieve Result] (tutorial section)
  H2: Common Mistakes to Avoid
  H2: FAQ (target "People Also Ask" questions)
  H2: Conclusion + CTA

Phase 4: Draft Writing

On-Page SEO Checklist:

• [ ] Keyword in first 100 words
• [ ] Keyword in at least one H2
• [ ] Keyword in URL slug
• [ ] Keyword in meta title (front-loaded)
• [ ] Keyword in meta description
• [ ] Internal links (3-5 per 1000 words)
• [ ] External links to authoritative sources
• [ ] Image alt text with keywords
• [ ] Table of contents for long posts
• [ ] Schema markup suggestions

• [ ] Original insights or data
• [ ] Actionable advice (not just theory)
• [ ] Visual elements suggested (images, tables, charts)
• [ ] Short paragraphs (2-3 sentences max)
• [ ] Bullet points for scannability
• [ ] Examples and case studies
• [ ] Updated statistics (within 2 years)

Advanced Techniques

The Skyscraper Technique 2.0

• Find content ranking for your target keyword
• Identify weaknesses (outdated, shallow, boring)
• Create something objectively better
• Make it significantly different (don't just copy)
• Promote to people who linked to original

Search Intent Matching

Content Clusters

Build topical authority with hub-and-spoke model:

Pillar Page (broad topic, 3000+ words):

• "The Complete Guide to Project Management"

• "Agile vs Waterfall: Which is Right for You?"
• "10 Project Management Tools Compared"
• "How to Run a Standup Meeting"
• "Project Management Certifications Guide"

Content Refresh Strategy

When to Refresh

• Rankings dropped 5+ positions
• Content is 2+ years old
• Competitors published better content
• New information/products available
• Traffic declining month-over-month

Refresh Checklist

• Update statistics and examples (current year)
• Expand thin sections (add depth where competitors beat you)
• Improve readability (shorter paragraphs, better formatting)
• Add new sections (trends, new tools, updated methods)
• Optimize for new keywords (related terms, long-tail variants)
• Refresh meta tags (improve CTR with better titles/descriptions)
• Add internal links (to newer content on your site)
• Update publish date (republish as "updated")

Tools Integration

While this skill guides strategy and creation, these tools help with data:

• Keyword research: Ahrefs, SEMrush, Ubersuggest, Google Keyword Planner
• SERP analysis: Surfer SEO, Clearscope, MarketMuse
• Rank tracking: Ahrefs, SEMrush, AccuRanker
• Content optimization: Yoast, RankMath, Surfer SEO

Templates

Meta Title Formulas

• "[Number] Ways to [Achieve Result] in [Timeframe]"
• "[Keyword]: The Complete Guide for [Audience] ([Year])"
• "How to [Desired Outcome] (Even If [Common Obstacle])"
• "Best [Products/Services] for [Audience] ([Year] Update)"
• "[Keyword] vs [Competitor]: Which is Better for [Use Case]?"

Meta Description Formulas

• "Discover [number] proven ways to [benefit]. This guide covers [topics] to help you [outcome]."
• "Looking for [solution]? We compare the top [number] [options] to help you choose."
• "Learn how to [achieve result] with our step-by-step guide. Includes [features/bonuses]."

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Keyword stuffing — natural language always wins
• Ignoring search intent — ranking #1 for wrong intent = no conversions
• Neglecting internal links — easy SEO win most people skip
• Forgetting mobile — 60%+ of searches are mobile
• No content promotion — great content without promotion = crickets
• Publishing and forgetting — content needs updates to stay relevant

Integration Ideas

• Use with content-repurposer to distribute SEO content across channels
• Connect to client-intake-bot to capture leads from organic traffic
• Track content ROI with invoice-tracker when content drives consulting

Monetization Note

This skill is part of the Content Creator Suite. For maximum value, use alongside:

• content-repurposer — distribute SEO content widely
• client-intake-bot — convert organic traffic to leads