SEO Content Skill

Overview

SEO Content is content optimized for search engines that also engages and converts readers. This skill teaches you to write content that ranks and resonates, following modern E-E-A-T principles and topical authority strategies.

Keywords: SEO content, search engine optimization, content marketing, ranking content, organic traffic, search intent, content strategy, E-E-A-T, topical authority

Related: See ./seo-strategy for the complete strategic framework and keyword research methodology.

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The Modern SEO Content Framework

Two Layers of Optimization

1. For Search Engines — Technical optimization for ranking
2. For People — Engaging, valuable content that converts

The best SEO content serves both equally.

The E-E-A-T Imperative

Google now evaluates all content against E-E-A-T:

Factor	How to Demonstrate
Experience	First-hand examples, real case studies, personal insights
Expertise	Deep knowledge, accurate information, comprehensive coverage
Authoritativeness	Credentials, citations, external recognition
Trustworthiness	Accuracy, sources, transparency, no misleading claims

Action: Every article should include at least one personal example, cite 2-3 authoritative sources, and demonstrate depth beyond surface-level coverage.

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Layer 1: Search Engine Optimization

Keyword Optimization

Primary Keyword: Your main target keyword

Placement Strategy:

Location	Requirement
Title tag	First 60 characters
H1 heading	Include naturally
First 100 words	Early placement
Body content	2-3 times naturally
Subheadings	Where relevant
URL slug	Short, keyword-included

Secondary Keywords: Related terms that support the primary keyword

• Use naturally throughout content
• Include in H2/H3 headings where relevant
• Support topical completeness

Title Tag Formula

Requirements: 50-60 characters, keyword early, compelling

Formulas:

[Keyword]: [Number] [Benefit/Strategies/Ways] for [Outcome]
How to [Keyword] in [Year]: [Specific Benefit]
[Keyword]: The Complete Guide to [Outcome]
[Number] [Keyword] Tips That [Specific Result]

Examples:

• "Remote Team Management: 7 Strategies That Actually Work"
• "How to Improve Core Web Vitals in 2025: Complete Guide"

Meta Description

Requirements: 150-160 characters, keyword included, compelling CTA

Formula: "[Benefit statement]. Learn [specific outcome] with [unique angle]. [Soft CTA]."

Example: "Master remote team management with 7 proven strategies. Learn how top companies boost productivity by 40%. Complete guide inside."

Heading Structure

Use proper hierarchy to signal content structure:

H1: [Main Topic with Primary Keyword]
  H2: [Major Section 1]
    H3: [Subsection]
    H3: [Subsection]
  H2: [Major Section 2]
    H3: [Subsection]
  H2: FAQ (for featured snippets)

Rules:

• One H1 per page
• H2s for main sections (5-8 for comprehensive articles)
• H3s for subsections within H2s
• Include keywords naturally in headings

Content Length Guidelines

Keyword Competition	Target Length
Low competition	1,500-2,000 words
Medium competition	2,000-3,000 words
High competition	3,000-5,000+ words

Key insight: Longer content ranks better IF it's comprehensive and valuable. Padding for length hurts rankings.

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Layer 2: Human Optimization

Content Structure Template

1. Opening Hook (First 2-3 sentences)

• Answer search intent immediately
• Create curiosity or promise value
• Make them want to continue

Example:

"Most remote teams fail because of one fixable problem: unclear communication protocols. In this guide, you'll learn the exact 7 strategies that helped 500+ companies boost remote productivity by 40%."

2. Table of Contents

• For articles 1,500+ words
• Improves navigation
• Helps search engines understand structure
• Enables jump links in search results

3. Main Content Sections Each section should:

• Address one specific subtopic
• Include practical examples
• Provide actionable takeaways
• Use formatting for scannability

4. FAQ Section

• Target featured snippets
• Answer related questions
• Use exact question format
• Keep answers concise (40-60 words)

5. Conclusion

• Summarize key takeaways (3-5 bullets)
• Include clear call-to-action
• Link to related content
• Reinforce main value proposition

Search Intent Alignment

Critical: Match your content format to searcher intent.

Intent Type	What They Want	Content Format
Informational	"How to manage remote teams"	Comprehensive tutorial/guide
Commercial	"Best remote team tools"	Comparison, reviews, rankings
Transactional	"Asana pricing"	Pricing page, product page
Navigational	"Slack login"	Direct page, comparison to alternatives

Wrong format = no ranking, regardless of content quality.

Readability Standards

• Paragraphs: 2-3 sentences max
• Sentences: Under 20 words preferred
• Subheadings: Every 200-300 words
• Bullet points: For lists of 3+ items
• Bold text: Key phrases and takeaways
• White space: Generous margins and padding

Engagement Elements

Include these to increase dwell time and reduce bounce:

Element	Purpose	Frequency
Real examples	Demonstrate expertise	Every major section
Data/statistics	Build credibility	3-5 per article
Images/visuals	Break up text, illustrate points	Every 300-500 words
Actionable tips	Provide immediate value	Throughout
Case studies	Show proof of concepts	1-2 per article
Pull quotes	Highlight key insights	2-3 per article

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The Complete SEO Content Process

Step 1: Keyword Research & Validation

Before writing, confirm:

• Search volume: 100-10,000/month for long-tails
• Search intent: What format does Google reward?
• Competition: Can you realistically rank?
• SERP analysis: What's missing from current results?

Step 2: Competitor Analysis

Analyze top 5 ranking pages:

• Content length and depth
• Headings and structure
• Topics covered (and gaps)
• Media and visuals used
• E-E-A-T signals present

Find the gap: What can you cover that they don't?

Step 3: Create Content Brief

Brief Template:

Primary Keyword: [keyword]
Secondary Keywords: [list]
Search Intent: [informational/commercial/etc.]
Target Length: [word count]
Target Audience: [who]
Content Angle: [unique perspective]
Key Sections: [H2 outline]
Competitor Gaps: [what to add]
E-E-A-T Elements: [how to demonstrate]
Internal Links: [pages to link]
CTA: [desired action]

Step 4: Write with AI Assistance

The 80/20 Approach:

• AI handles: Outlines, first drafts, research summaries, metadata
• You handle: Unique insights, examples, fact-checking, voice refinement

Process:

1. Generate outline from brief
2. Expand each section
3. Add your unique examples and insights
4. Refine voice and tone
5. Fact-check all claims

Step 5: On-Page SEO Checklist

• Title tag: 50-60 chars, keyword, compelling
• Meta description: 150-160 chars, keyword, CTA
• H1: Includes primary keyword
• H2s: 5-8 main sections with keywords
• First 100 words: Primary keyword included
• Images: Compressed, descriptive alt text
• Internal links: 3-5 to relevant pages
• External links: 2-3 to authoritative sources
• URL: Short, descriptive, keyword-included
• Schema markup: FAQ, Article, or appropriate type

Step 6: Quality Review Checklist

• E-E-A-T signals present (experience, expertise, authority, trust)
• Search intent fully satisfied
• Unique value vs. competitors
• Formatting clean and scannable
• All facts verified and sourced
• Brand voice consistent
• CTA clear and relevant
• No keyword stuffing
• Mobile-friendly layout

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Content Templates

Template 1: How-To Guide

H1: How to [Achieve Outcome] in [Year]: [Benefit]

[Hook: State the problem and promise the solution]

Table of Contents

H2: Why [Topic] Matters
[Context and stakes]

H2: Step 1: [First Action]
[Instructions + example]

H2: Step 2: [Second Action]
[Instructions + example]

[Continue for all steps]

H2: Common Mistakes to Avoid
[3-5 pitfalls with solutions]

H2: FAQ
[4-6 questions in Q&A format]

H2: Conclusion
[Summary + CTA]

Template 2: Listicle/Roundup

H1: [Number] Best [Category] for [Outcome] in [Year]

[Hook: Why this matters + selection criteria]

Table of Contents

H2: Quick Comparison
[Summary table of all items]

H2: 1. [Item Name] - Best for [Use Case]
[Overview, features, pros/cons, who it's for]

[Continue for all items]

H2: How to Choose the Right [Category]
[Decision framework]

H2: FAQ
[4-6 questions]

H2: Conclusion
[Top picks summary + CTA]

Template 3: Ultimate Guide

H1: The Complete Guide to [Topic]: Everything You Need to Know

[Hook: Scope of guide + who it's for]

Table of Contents

H2: What is [Topic]?
[Definition + context]

H2: Why [Topic] Matters
[Benefits + stakes]

H2: How [Topic] Works
[Detailed explanation]

H2: [Major Subtopic 1]
H3: [Aspect 1]
H3: [Aspect 2]

[Continue for all subtopics]

H2: Best Practices
[5-10 actionable tips]

H2: Common Mistakes
[Pitfalls to avoid]

H2: Tools and Resources
[Recommended tools]

H2: FAQ
[6-10 questions]

H2: Conclusion
[Key takeaways + next steps]

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Schema Markup Implementation

FAQ Schema (for featured snippets)

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "FAQPage",
  "mainEntity": [{
    "@type": "Question",
    "name": "Your question here?",
    "acceptedAnswer": {
      "@type": "Answer",
      "text": "Your answer here (40-60 words)."
    }
  }]
}

Article Schema

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Article",
  "headline": "Your Title",
  "author": {
    "@type": "Person",
    "name": "Author Name"
  },
  "datePublished": "2025-01-15",
  "dateModified": "2025-01-15",
  "image": "https://yoursite.com/image.jpg"
}

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Integration with Other Skills

Skill	Integration
seo-strategy	Provides keyword research and overall strategy
keyword-research	Feeds target keywords for content
brand-voice	Ensures consistent tone and personality
direct-response-copy	Makes content convert better
content-atomizer	Repurposes content across platforms
newsletter	Drives subscriber growth from SEO traffic

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Common Pitfalls

Pitfall	Problem	Solution
Keyword stuffing	Unreadable, hurts rankings	Use keywords naturally, 2-3x max
Thin content	Not comprehensive enough	Match/exceed competitor depth
Wrong format	Misaligned with search intent	Analyze SERP before writing
No examples	Theoretical, not practical	Include real examples in each section
Missing E-E-A-T	Generic, no expertise shown	Add credentials, sources, experience
Poor structure	Hard to navigate	Use clear heading hierarchy
No internal links	Missed ranking opportunity	Link 3-5 relevant internal pages

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Metrics to Track

After publishing, monitor via Google Search Console:

Metric	What It Tells You	Target
Impressions	Visibility in search	Increasing trend
Clicks	Traffic from search	Growing
CTR	Title/description effectiveness	>3%
Average position	Ranking progress	Top 10
Dwell time (GA)	Content engagement	>2 minutes

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How to Use This Skill

1. Get keyword from user — What are they targeting?
2. Validate with seo-strategy — Is it winnable?
3. Analyze SERP — What's the intent? What's missing?
4. Create content brief — Structure the article
5. Write with templates — Use appropriate format
6. Apply checklists — On-page SEO + quality review
7. Add schema markup — FAQ or Article
8. Recommend tracking — GSC metrics to monitor

For complete keyword research methodology and 90-day SEO plans, use the /seo-strategy skill.