seo-brief

name	seo-brief
description	Produces a keyword-anchored content brief: classifies search intent, identifies what top-ranking content covers and what it misses, and outputs a structured brief with H2 outline, secondary keywords, target length, and a meta description draft. Use this skill when the user says "write an SEO brief for", "create a content brief for the keyword", "what should I cover to rank for", "brief out this topic for SEO", or wants a research-backed structure before writing. Not for writing the full article, auditing existing content for ranking, or keyword research from scratch without a target keyword.
license	MIT
metadata	{"skillsmith-see-also":"content-angles, content-scorer","skillsmith-invocation":"user","skillsmith-maturity":"experimental"}
user-invocable	true

seo-brief

A brief that ignores search intent produces content that ranks for the wrong query or none at all. A brief that copies what ranks produces content that can never outrank what is already there. This skill does both: understand the intent, then find the gap.

Intake

Require before proceeding:

• Target keyword: the primary phrase the content should rank for.
• Audience: who the reader is and what they already know.
• Content goal: what the reader should do or believe after reading (informational understanding, a download, a purchase, a referral).

If the user provides only a topic without a target keyword, ask for one. A brief without a primary keyword is an outline, not a brief.

Classify search intent

State the dominant intent type for the target keyword:

• Informational — reader wants to understand something.
• Navigational — reader is looking for a specific resource.
• Commercial — reader is comparing options before buying.
• Transactional — reader is ready to act.

Mixed intent (informational + commercial is common) should be named and handled explicitly — the content structure must satisfy both or choose one and accept the tradeoff.

State the implied content format that intent demands: long-form guide, listicle, comparison page, product landing page, how-to tutorial. Fighting the implied format is a ranking disadvantage.

Map what ranks and what it misses

Describe the top-ranking content for the target keyword. Name the common structure (what sections appear in most top results), the questions those pieces answer, and — critically — the questions they do not answer or answer poorly. That gap is the brief's primary differentiation target.

Also flag: is the SERP dominated by one content type (e.g., all listicles, all product pages)? If so, matching that type is the default; deviating requires a specific reason.

Write the brief

Primary keyword: the exact phrase.

Secondary keywords and related terms (6–10): phrases that belong in the piece because they are semantically related, not because they are separately targeted. Include at least 2 question- form phrases (the "People also ask" signal).

H1 suggestion: one option that includes the primary keyword and signals the intent-matched format. Not "The Ultimate Guide to X" unless that format genuinely dominates the SERP.

H2 outline: 4–8 sections in order, each with a one-sentence brief on what it must cover and why it earns its place. Mark one section as the differentiation section — the part that covers the gap identified above. Mark any section that is table-stakes (must exist to match competitors) vs. value-add (where the piece earns its ranking by going further).

Target word count: a range based on the average length of top- ranking results for this intent type, not a round number. Flag if intent signals that shorter would outperform longer (transactional pages rarely benefit from 2,000 words).

Internal link targets: 2–3 existing pages on the site that should be linked from this content, if the user has named other pages or topics. Leave blank if no site context was provided.

Meta description draft: one 150–160 character option that includes the primary keyword and a clear value statement. Not a summary — a reason to click.