Content Quality Audit

Check both traditional SEO (E-E-A-T) and AI search (citability)

Two Dimensions

Dimension	Goal	Key Metrics
Traditional SEO	Google rankings	E-E-A-T score, keywords, structure
AI Citability	ChatGPT/Perplexity citations	Extractability, authority signals, third-party presence

Part 1: Traditional SEO - E-E-A-T Analysis

E-E-A-T Framework (updated Sept 2025 QRG)

Read seo/references/eeat-framework.md for full criteria.

Experience (first-hand signals)

Original research, case studies, before/after results
Personal anecdotes, process documentation
Unique data, proprietary insights
Photos/videos from direct experience

Expertise

Author credentials, certifications, bio
Professional background relevant to topic
Technical depth appropriate for audience
Accurate, well-sourced claims

Authoritativeness

External citations, backlinks from authoritative sources
Brand mentions, industry recognition
Published in recognized outlets
Cited by other experts

Trustworthiness

Contact information, physical address
Privacy policy, terms of service
Customer testimonials, reviews
Date stamps, transparent corrections
Secure site (HTTPS)

Content Metrics

Word Count Analysis

Compare against page type minimums:

Page Type	Minimum
Homepage	500
Service page	800
Blog post	1,500
Product page	300+ (400+ for complex products)
Location page	500-600

Important: These are topical coverage floors, not targets. Google has confirmed word count is NOT a direct ranking factor. The goal is comprehensive topical coverage — a 500-word page that thoroughly answers the query will outrank a 2,000-word page that doesn't. Use these as guidelines for adequate coverage depth, not rigid requirements.

Readability

Flesch Reading Ease: target 60-70 for general audience

Note: Flesch Reading Ease is a useful proxy for content accessibility but is NOT a direct Google ranking factor. John Mueller has confirmed Google does not use basic readability scores for ranking. Yoast deprioritized Flesch scores in v19.3. Use readability analysis as a content quality indicator, not as an SEO metric to optimize directly.

Grade level: match target audience
Sentence length: average 15-20 words
Paragraph length: 2-4 sentences

Keyword Optimization

Primary keyword in title, H1, first 100 words
Natural density (1-3%)
Semantic variations present
No keyword stuffing

Content Structure

Logical heading hierarchy (H1 → H2 → H3)
Scannable sections with descriptive headings
Bullet/numbered lists where appropriate
Table of contents for long-form content

Multimedia

Relevant images with proper alt text
Videos where appropriate
Infographics for complex data
Charts/graphs for statistics

Internal Linking

3-5 relevant internal links per 1000 words
Descriptive anchor text
Links to related content
No orphan pages

External Linking

Cite authoritative sources
Open in new tab for user experience
Reasonable count (not excessive)

AI Content Assessment (Sept 2025 QRG addition)

Google's raters now formally assess whether content appears AI-generated.

Acceptable AI Content

Demonstrates genuine E-E-A-T
Provides unique value
Has human oversight and editing
Contains original insights

Low-Quality AI Content Markers

Generic phrasing, lack of specificity
No original insight
Repetitive structure across pages
No author attribution
Factual inaccuracies

Helpful Content System (March 2024): The Helpful Content System was merged into Google's core ranking algorithm during the March 2024 core update. It no longer operates as a standalone classifier. Helpfulness signals are now weighted within every core update — the same principles apply (people-first content, demonstrating E-E-A-T, satisfying user intent), but enforcement is continuous rather than through separate HCU updates.

AI Citation Readiness (GEO signals)

Optimize for AI search engines (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews):

Clear, quotable statements with statistics/facts
Structured data (especially for data points)
Strong heading hierarchy (H1→H2→H3 flow)
Answer-first formatting for key questions
Tables and lists for comparative data
Clear attribution and source citations

AI Search Visibility & GEO (2025-2026)

Google AI Mode launched publicly in May 2025 as a separate tab in Google Search, available in 180+ countries. Unlike AI Overviews (which appear above organic results), AI Mode provides a fully conversational search experience with zero organic blue links — making AI citation the only visibility mechanism.

Key optimization strategies for AI citation:

Structured answers: Clear question-answer formats, definition patterns, and step-by-step instructions that AI systems can extract and cite
First-party data: Original research, statistics, case studies, and unique datasets are highly cited by AI systems
Schema markup: Article, FAQ (for non-Google AI platforms), and structured content schemas help AI systems parse and attribute content
Topical authority: AI systems preferentially cite sources that demonstrate deep expertise — build content clusters, not isolated pages
Entity clarity: Ensure brand, authors, and key concepts are clearly defined with structured data (Organization, Person schema)
Multi-platform tracking: Monitor visibility across Google AI Overviews, AI Mode, ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Bing Copilot — not just traditional rankings. Treat AI citation as a standalone KPI alongside organic rankings and traffic.

Generative Engine Optimization (GEO): GEO is the emerging discipline of optimizing content specifically for AI-generated answers. Key GEO signals include: quotability (clear, concise extractable facts), attribution (source citations within your content), structure (well-organized heading hierarchy), and freshness (regularly updated data). Cross-reference the seo-geo skill for detailed GEO workflows.

Content Freshness

Publication date visible
Last updated date if content has been revised
Flag content older than 12 months without update for fast-changing topics

Output

Content Quality Score: XX/100

E-E-A-T Breakdown

Factor	Score	Key Signals
Experience	XX/25	...
Expertise	XX/25	...
Authoritativeness	XX/25	...
Trustworthiness	XX/25	...

AI Citation Readiness: XX/100

Issues Found

Recommendations

Part 2: AI Citability - Three Pillars

Source: Princeton GEO Research + Industry Best Practices

Pillar 1: Structure (Extractability)

AI systems extract paragraphs, not entire pages. Each key claim should stand alone.

Content Block Type	Use Case	Example
Definition block	"What is X?"	"CRM is software that manages customer relationships..."
Steps block	"How to do X?"	"Step 1... Step 2... Step 3..."
Comparison table	"X vs Y"	Feature comparison table
Pros/cons block	Evaluation queries	"Pros:... Cons:..."
FAQ block	Common questions	Q:... A:...
Statistics block	Data support	"According to 2025 survey, 73% of users..."

Structure Rules:

Lead each paragraph with the answer (don't bury it)
Key paragraphs 40-60 words (optimal AI extraction length)
Use question format for H2/H3 headings (match user search)
Use tables for comparisons, lists for steps

Pillar 2: Authority (Citability)

Optimization Method	Visibility Boost	How to Do
Cite sources	+40%	Add authoritative citations and links
Add statistics	+37%	Specific numbers + source
Expert quotes	+30%	"According to [expert]..."
Authoritative tone	+25%	Demonstrate expertise
Keyword stuffing	-10%	Reduces AI visibility

Best combination: Fluency + Statistics = Maximum boost

Pillar 3: Presence (Third-Party Exposure)

AI doesn't just cite your website, it cites where you appear.

Platform	AI Citation Share	Action
Wikipedia	7.8%	Ensure brand page is accurate
Reddit	1.8%	Participate in relevant communities
YouTube	High	Create video content
Review sites	Medium	Keep G2, Capterra updated
Quora	Medium	Give in-depth answers to related questions

Combined Score Output

Content Quality Audit Report

1. Traditional SEO Score: XX/100
   - Experience: XX/25
   - Expertise: XX/25
   - Authoritativeness: XX/25
   - Trustworthiness: XX/25

2. AI Citability Score: XX/100
   - Structure Extractability: XX/33
   - Authority Signals: XX/33
   - Third-Party Presence: XX/33

3. Combined Score: XX/100

4. Priority Fixes
   - [Specific recommendations]

[PROTOCOL]: Update this header on changes, then check CLAUDE.md

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