SEO Strategy Skill

Overview

This skill provides a complete SEO strategy framework based on what top agencies actually do to achieve dramatic results—from increasing domain authority from 13 to 36 in four months, to scaling from 3-4 clients per month to 200+.

Keywords: SEO strategy, keyword research, link building, domain authority, programmatic SEO, topical authority, E-E-A-T, content strategy

Reference Document: See references/Complete_SEO_Playbook.md for the full detailed playbook with all tactics, metrics, and step-by-step processes.

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The Three Pillars of Modern SEO (2025+)

1. Topical Authority Over Scattered Keywords

Google no longer ranks individual pages in isolation. It ranks entire websites that demonstrate comprehensive expertise in specific topics. Build topic clusters, not random articles.

2. E-E-A-T as Core Ranking Signal

Google evaluates content based on:

• Experience: First-hand knowledge
• Expertise: Deep subject matter knowledge
• Authoritativeness: Recognition from others
• Trustworthiness: Accuracy and reliability

3. AI as Force Multiplier

AI handles 80% of repetitive SEO tasks—keyword research, content generation, on-page optimization. You focus on strategy and quality control.

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The Winnable Keyword Framework

Critical Insight: A "low difficulty" keyword is NOT the same as a "winnable" keyword.

What Makes a Keyword Winnable

Factor	What to Look For
SERP Quality	Forums, Quora, thin listicles ranking on page 1
Content Gaps	Top results are thin, outdated, or don't fully answer query
Backlink Profile	Top-ranking pages have few or weak backlinks
Intent Clarity	Search intent is clear and underserved
Long-tail	3-6 words with niche modifiers

The 7-Step Keyword Research Process

Step 1: Define Topical Authority

• Identify 5-10 core topics where you have genuine expertise
• For each, identify 15-30 supporting subtopics
• This becomes your content roadmap

Step 2: Expand with Free Tools

• Google Autocomplete (what people actually search)
• People Also Ask boxes (long-tail opportunities)
• Google Trends (seasonal patterns)
• Reddit/niche forums (real questions)

Step 3: Gather Metrics

Tool	Cost	Purpose
Google Keyword Planner	Free	Volume, related terms
Keywords Everywhere	$10/mo	Real-time data in search
AnswerThePublic	Free tier	Question-based keywords
Google Search Console	Free	Your current rankings

Step 4: Manually Evaluate SERP Don't trust KD scores alone. Check:

• Page types (forums = opportunity)
• Content quality (gaps, outdated info)
• Backlinks to top pages
• Title relevance (loose matches = opportunity)
• allintitle:"keyword" count

Step 5: Calculate Keyword Golden Ratio (KGR)

KGR = Allintitle Count ÷ Monthly Search Volume

• KGR < 0.25 = Prime opportunity for new sites
• Example: 12 allintitle ÷ 150 volume = 0.08 (excellent)

Step 6: Validate Search Intent

• Informational: Tutorials, how-tos, guides
• Commercial: Best-of lists, comparisons, alternatives
• Transactional: Pricing, product pages
• Navigational: Brand-specific queries

Match content type to intent. Wrong format = no ranking.

Step 7: Score and Prioritize

Criteria	Score (1-5)
Intent match	__
Difficulty (lower = better)	__
Business value	__
SERP opportunity	__
Total (out of 20)	__

Prioritize keywords scoring 14+ out of 20.

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Content Production at Scale (Programmatic SEO)

The Content Pipeline Problem

Most fail not because they can't create content, but can't create it consistently:

1. Keyword research takes days
2. Content briefs are manual
3. Writing is slow
4. Optimization is sporadic
5. Publishing is error-prone
6. Tracking is fragmented

Solution: Systematize the entire pipeline.

The 6-Step Programmatic Framework

Step 1: Keyword Clustering Group keywords into logical clusters. Each cluster = content pillar + supporting articles.

Step 2: Data Collection Gather data needed for pages (specs, locations, features, case studies).

Step 3: Template Design Create reusable template:

• Meta title (60 chars, includes keyword)
• Meta description (160 chars)
• H1 with keyword
• Introduction with intent
• Table of contents
• Main sections (H2s)
• FAQ section (for featured snippets)
• Internal links
• Schema markup (JSON-LD)

Step 4: Automation Use tools to create pages from templates:

• Zapier / Make (workflow automation)
• WordPress + ACF (template-based)
• Custom scripts (maximum control)

Step 5: Editorial Review Checklist for each page:

• Demonstrates E-E-A-T
• Matches search intent
• Clean formatting
• No factual errors
• Relevant internal links
• Consistent brand tone

Step 6: Performance Monitoring Track via Google Search Console + Looker Studio:

• Index coverage
• CTR
• Average position
• Impressions
• Dwell time
• Conversions

The 80/20 AI Content Rule

• AI handles 80%: Research, outlines, first drafts, metadata, optimization
• You handle 20%: Strategy, fact-checking, tone, quality control

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Link Building Strategy

Why Links Still Matter

Metric	Impact
500+ referring domains	34% more organic traffic
100+ backlinks	Almost always ranks top 5
Average high-quality link cost	$508.95

One high-authority link > 100 low-quality links.

The Linkable Asset Strategy

Create content people naturally want to link to:

Asset Type	Example	Link Potential
Infographics	Visual optimization guide	High
Comprehensive guides	10K-word ultimate guide	Very High
Interactive tools	Free speed test tool	High
Original research	Survey of 1,000 users	Very High
Templates	Free SEO template	Medium
Case studies	"How we increased traffic 300%"	High

Strategic Outreach Framework

Step 1: Identify Potential Linkers

• Relevant to your niche
• High domain authority
• Already linked to similar content
• Published related content

Step 2: Personalize Outreach

Hi [Name],

I noticed your article on [Topic] and appreciated your
perspective on [Specific Point]. Your readers might find
value in [Your Asset], which covers [Key Benefit].

Let me know if it's a good fit for your audience.

Best,
[Your Name]

Step 3: Make Linking Easy Provide: direct link, embed code, suggested anchor text, preview image.

Step 4: Follow Up 5-7 days later if no response.

Link Exchange Platforms

Connect with quality sites for mutual linking. Only exchange with high-quality, relevant sites.

Guest Blogging & Digital PR

• HARO (Help A Reporter Out) queries
• Podcast guest pitches
• Newsworthy research/announcements
• Industry collaborations

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Technical SEO Foundation

Core Web Vitals

Metric	Target
LCP (Largest Contentful Paint)	< 2.5 seconds
FID (First Input Delay)	< 100ms
CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift)	< 0.1

Optimization: WebP images, lazy loading, CDN, minify CSS/JS, caching.

Schema Markup (Competitive Advantage)

Less than 30% of sites implement properly.

Schema Type	Best For
FAQ	Blog posts with Q&A
Article	Blog posts, news
Product	E-commerce
Local Business	Local services
Review	Customer reviews

On-Page Checklist

• Title tag: 50-60 chars, keyword, compelling
• Meta description: 150-160 chars, keyword
• H1: One per page, includes keyword
• H2s: Main sections with related keywords
• Content: 2,000+ words for competitive terms
• Images: Compressed, alt text with keywords
• Internal links: 3-5 relevant links
• External links: 2-3 to authoritative sources
• URL: Short, descriptive, includes keyword
• Schema: Appropriate for content type
• Mobile: Responsive, fast loading

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The 90-Day SEO Action Plan

Month 1: Foundation

Weeks 1-2: Audit & Strategy

• Audit current site (Screaming Frog, Sitebulb)
• Identify topical authority areas
• Analyze competitor content/backlinks
• Set realistic goals (+50% traffic in 90 days)

Weeks 3-4: Keyword Research

• Find 50-100 low-competition keywords
• Create keyword database
• Prioritize top 20 for content

Deliverables: Keyword database, content roadmap, competitor analysis

Month 2: Content Creation

Weeks 5-6: Generation

• Content briefs for top 10 keywords
• AI-assisted outlines and drafts
• Add unique insights, examples, case studies
• Optimize on-page SEO

Weeks 7-8: Publishing

• Publish 10 articles (1-2/week)
• Add internal links to pillar content
• Implement schema markup
• Optimize images and Core Web Vitals

Deliverables: 10 published articles, internal linking, schema

Month 3: Link Building & Scaling

Weeks 9-10: Linkable Assets

• Create 1-2 linkable assets
• Identify 50 potential linkers
• Begin outreach campaign

Weeks 11-12: Scale & Optimize

• Continue outreach (target 10-20 backlinks)
• Analyze first month results
• Optimize underperforming content
• Plan next batch

Deliverables: 1-2 linkable assets, 10-20 backlinks, optimization plan

90-Day Success Metrics

Metric	Baseline	90-Day Goal
Organic traffic	Current	+50-100%
Indexed pages	Current	+10
Backlinks	Current	+10-20
Top 10 rankings	0	5-10
Top 50 rankings	0	15-20
Domain Authority	Current	+2-5 points

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Key Numbers to Remember

Metric	Value
Comprehensive vs short articles	77% more links
Zero-click searches	~60% of all searches
Sites with proper schema	Less than 30%
New daily searches never seen before	15%
Data automation efficiency gain	64%

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Common Pitfalls

1. Chasing Volume Over Quality — 10 excellent articles > 100 mediocre ones
2. Ignoring Search Intent — Wrong format = no ranking
3. Neglecting Internal Linking — Connect supporting articles to pillars
4. Low-Quality Backlinks — Quality > quantity always
5. Not Monitoring Performance — Track weekly, adjust based on data
6. Ignoring E-E-A-T — Include credentials, cite sources, show expertise

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Integration with Other Skills

• keyword-research — Feeds into this strategy
• seo-content — Executes the content creation
• direct-response-copy — Makes content convert
• content-atomizer — Repurposes content across channels
• newsletter — Drives subscriber growth from SEO traffic

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How to Use This Skill

1. Assess Current State — Where are you in the 90-day plan?
2. Identify Blockers — Keyword research? Content? Links?
3. Pick the Right Phase — Foundation → Content → Links
4. Execute Systematically — Follow checklists, track metrics
5. Reference the Playbook — See references/Complete_SEO_Playbook.md for full details

For detailed tactics, metrics, examples, and the complete 10-part framework, reference the full playbook in the references folder.