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seo-optimization Comprehensive 7-phase SEO optimization workflow covering technical SEO auditing, keyword research strategy, on-page optimization, content SEO and E-E-A-T, structured data implementation, link building, and AI search optimization. Use when auditing search engine visibility, diagnosing ranking issues, implementing schema markup, conducting keyword research, optimizing content for E-E-A-T signals, or adapting for AI-driven search (AI Overviews, SGE).
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name seo-optimization description Comprehensive 7-phase SEO optimization workflow covering technical SEO auditing, keyword research strategy, on-page optimization, content SEO and E-E-A-T, structured data implementation, link building, and AI search optimization. Use when auditing search engine visibility, diagnosing ranking issues, implementing schema markup, conducting keyword research, optimizing content for E-E-A-T signals, or adapting for AI-driven search (AI Overviews, SGE). version 1.0.0 license MIT invoked_by agent user_invocable false tools ["Read","Write","Edit","Bash","WebSearch","WebFetch","Glob","Grep","TaskUpdate","Skill"] agents ["marketing-strategist","aso-specialist"] category domain-specific tags ["seo","search-engine-optimization","technical-seo","keyword-research","on-page-optimization","structured-data","schema-markup","core-web-vitals","link-building","e-e-a-t","content-seo","ai-search","marketing","aso"] source builtin trust_score 100 provenance_sha a6e25d039c93512e
SEO Optimization
Comprehensive 7-phase SEO optimization workflow. Audit search visibility, diagnose ranking issues, implement structured data, and produce actionable optimization recommendations for both traditional and AI-driven search.
When to Apply
Use this skill when:
Conducting a full technical SEO audit
Diagnosing ranking drops or crawlability issues
Implementing structured data / schema markup for rich results
Conducting keyword research and building content strategy
Optimizing on-page elements (title tags, meta descriptions, headers)
Building topical authority via content clustering
Evaluating and improving E-E-A-T signals
Preparing content for AI Overview (SGE) visibility
Planning or evaluating a link building strategy
Optimizing App Store listings alongside web SEO (ASO correlation)
Core Ranking Factors (2025-2026)
Category Factor Weight Notes Technical Core Web Vitals (LCP, INP, CLS) High Direct ranking signal since 2021 Technical Crawlability / indexing High robots.txt, sitemaps, canonical tags Technical HTTPS / security Medium Baseline expectation Content E-E-A-T signals High Critical for YMYL and AI Overview Content Topical authority High Hub-and-spoke content clusters Content Search intent match High Informational/navigational/commercial/transactional On-Page Title tag / H1 / meta Medium Title is primary keyword signal Authority Backlink quality and relevance High Domain Rating + topical alignment AI Search Structured data / schema High 57% of SERPs show AI Overviews (2025) AI Search Content clarity and structure High LLMs favor scannable, factual content
7-Phase SEO Workflow
Phase 1: Technical SEO Audit
Assess crawlability, indexing, and site health before optimizing content.
Metric Good Needs Improvement Poor LCP (loading) โค 2.5s 2.5sโ4.0s > 4.0s INP (interactivity) โค 200ms 200msโ500ms > 500ms CLS (visual stability) โค 0.1 0.1โ0.25 > 0.25
For deep Core Web Vitals optimization, invoke:
Skill ({ skill : 'web-perf' });
npx lighthouse https://example.com --only-categories=performance,seo --output=json
curl https://yourdomain.com/robots.txt
curl https://yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml
Phase 2: Keyword Research and Strategy Build a keyword strategy grounded in search intent before optimizing any page.
Search Intent Classification:
Intent Type Query Pattern Content Type Informational "how to", "what is", "guide" Blog posts, guides, tutorials Navigational Brand name, product name Landing pages, product pages Commercial "best", "vs", "review" Comparison pages, listicles Transactional "buy", "price", "discount" Product/category pages, checkout
Keyword Research Process:
Seed keywords : Start with 3-5 core topics your product/service coversExpand with long-tail : Use tools (Ahrefs, SEMrush, Google Keyword Planner) to find related, lower-competition termsLSI synonyms : For each primary keyword, identify 3-5 Latent Semantic Indexing variantsCompetitor gap analysis : Find keywords competitors rank for that you don'tGroup by topic cluster : Group related keywords into hub-and-spoke architecture Keyword Prioritization Matrix:
Priority Search Volume Keyword Difficulty Intent Match P0 High (1000+/mo) Low-Medium (<50 KD) Exact match P1 Medium (100-999/mo) Medium (<65 KD) Strong match P2 Low (<100/mo) Any Long-tail / niche
Content Cluster Architecture:
Pillar Page: "Complete Guide to [Topic]"
โโโ Cluster: "[Topic] for Beginners"
โโโ Cluster: "[Topic] Best Practices"
โโโ Cluster: "[Topic] vs [Alternative]"
โโโ Cluster: "How to [Specific Action] with [Topic]"
โโโ Cluster: "[Topic] Pricing and Plans"
Internal links: Every cluster page links to pillar; pillar links to all clusters.
Phase 3: On-Page Optimization Optimize each page's metadata and content structure for target keywords.
Per-Page Optimization Checklist:
Title tag : Primary keyword near front, unique, โค 60 charactersMeta description : Includes keyword, compelling CTA, 150-160 charactersH1 tag : Exactly one per page, matches or contains primary keywordH2/H3 tags : Logical hierarchy, include secondary keywords naturallyURL : Short, hyphenated, includes primary keyword, no parametersFirst 100 words : Primary keyword appears in opening paragraphImage alt text : Descriptive, includes keyword when contextually naturalInternal links : 3-5 internal links per page to related contentOutbound links : 1-2 links to authoritative external sources (Google, Wikipedia, gov, .edu)Content length : Matches competitive SERP (run Skill({ skill: 'ripgrep' }) to audit) Primary Keyword + Secondary Modifier + Brand Name
Example: "SEO Audit Checklist 2025 | YourBrand"
Maximum: 60 characters (avoid truncation in SERPs)
Meta Description Formula:
Action verb + Primary keyword + Key benefit + CTA
Example: "Run a complete SEO audit with our 2025 checklist. Fix technical issues, optimize content, and boost rankings. Free template included."
Maximum: 160 characters
Phase 4: Content SEO and E-E-A-T Build content that demonstrates Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness.
E-E-A-T Signal Checklist:
YMYL Content (Your Money or Your Life) โ Highest E-E-A-T Required:
YMYL topics: finance, medical, legal, safety, news. These require:
Named, credentialed author on every page
Medical/legal/financial review process documented
Regular content freshness updates
Expert citations for all factual claims
Content Quality Framework:
Dimension Standard Check Depth Covers topic comprehensively; answers follow-up questions Compare to top 5 ranking pages Accuracy All factual claims sourced or verifiable Spot-check key claims Freshness Published/updated date visible; outdated data refreshed Audit annually Readability Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level โค 9 for general audiences Run readability tool Structure Headers, bullets, tables; scannable for 8-second attention span Visual audit Uniqueness Original research, data, or synthesis; not paraphrased Plagiarism check
AI-Generated Content Policy (2025):
AI content is acceptable but MUST be reviewed for accuracy, tone, and nuance
Never publish raw AI output: edit for real examples, expert insights, brand voice
Disclose AI assistance in editorial process documentation (E-E-A-T signal)
Use AI to generate outlines and research; add original expert insight manually
Phase 5: Structured Data Implementation Implement JSON-LD schema markup to enable rich results and AI Overview eligibility.
Schema Type Use Case Rich Result Benefit ArticleBlog posts, news Author byline, date in SERP ProductE-commerce items Price, rating, availability stars FAQQ&A sections Expandable Q&A in SERP LocalBusinessPhysical locations Map pack, hours, phone in SERP BreadcrumbListSite navigation Breadcrumb trail in SERP URL OrganizationCompany info Knowledge panel, logo Review/AggregateRatingReviews Star rating in SERP HowToStep-by-step guides Numbered steps in SERP EventEvents/webinars Event listing in SERP
JSON-LD Template (Article):
<script type ="application/ld+json" >
{
"@context" : "https://schema.org" ,
"@type" : "Article" ,
"headline" : "Your Article Title" ,
"author" : {
"@type" : "Person" ,
"name" : "Author Name" ,
"url" : "https://example.com/author/name"
},
"publisher" : {
"@type" : "Organization" ,
"name" : "Brand Name" ,
"logo" : {
"@type" : "ImageObject" ,
"url" : "https://example.com/logo.png"
}
},
"datePublished" : "2025-01-01" ,
"dateModified" : "2025-06-01" ,
"mainEntityOfPage" : "https://example.com/article-url" ,
"image" : "https://example.com/article-image.jpg"
}
</script >
<script type ="application/ld+json" >
{
"@context" : "https://schema.org" ,
"@type" : "FAQPage" ,
"mainEntity" : [
{
"@type" : "Question" ,
"name" : "What is [topic]?" ,
"acceptedAnswer" : {
"@type" : "Answer" ,
"text" : "Clear, concise answer under 200 words."
}
}
]
}
</script >
Google Rich Results Test: https://search.google.com/test/rich-results
Schema.org Validator: https://validator.schema.org/
Google Search Console > Enhancements > Monitor structured data errors
Implementation Checklist:
Phase 6: Link Building Strategy Build high-quality backlinks using relevance-first outreach.
Metric Target Tool Domain Rating (DR) โฅ 40 for most link sources Ahrefs Topical Relevance Same or adjacent industry Manual review Traffic Linking page receives organic traffic Ahrefs Site Explorer Link Placement In-content (not sidebar/footer) Manual review Dofollow vs Nofollow Prefer dofollow; nofollow still drives traffic Chrome SEO extension
Effective Link Building Tactics (2025):
Digital PR : Create data studies, original research, or infographics; pitch to journalistsGuest posting : Contribute expert articles to industry publications (DR 40+)Broken link building : Find broken links on authority sites; suggest your content as replacementResource page outreach : Find "Best Resources for [Topic]" pages; request inclusionTestimonials : Write testimonials for tools/services you use; earn links from their testimonials pageHARO/Connectively : Respond to journalist queries to earn media mentions and linksCompetitor backlink analysis : Identify where competitors earned links; replicate Anchor Text Diversity (avoid over-optimization):
Anchor Type Target % Example Branded 40-50% "YourBrand" Generic 20-25% "click here", "learn more" Partial match 15-20% "SEO tool for agencies" Exact match 5-10% "technical SEO audit" Naked URL 5-10% "https://example.com/page "
Link farms, PBNs (Private Blog Networks): Google penalty risk
Paid links without rel="sponsored" disclosure: Guidelines violation
Comment spam: Zero value, potential penalty
Reciprocal link schemes: Devalued by Google algorithms
Low-DR, irrelevant sites: Dilutes link profile
Phase 7: AI Search Optimization Optimize for AI Overviews, Google SGE, and LLM citation patterns (AI Overviews appear in 57% of SERPs as of 2025).
AI Overview Eligibility Signals:
Content Formatting for AI Readability:
# Topic Title (H1)
## What is [Topic]? (H2 โ Direct answer format)
[First sentence: direct answer in under 50 words]
[Remaining sentences: expand with context and nuance]
## How to [Do Thing] (H2 โ How-to format)
1. Step one: [Action verb + clear instruction]
2. Step two: [Action verb + clear instruction]
3. Step three: [Action verb + clear instruction]
## [Topic] vs [Alternative] (H2 โ Comparison format)
[Clear differentiation table]
## Frequently Asked Questions (H2 โ FAQ format)
**Q: [Common question?]**
A: [Direct answer under 100 words]
Entity Building for AI Visibility:
Establish brand/person entity on Wikipedia (if notable)
Maintain consistent Name/Address/Phone (NAP) across the web
Claim Google Business Profile and other directory listings
Build brand mentions across news, social, and industry sites
Cross-link between official brand assets (website, YouTube, social profiles)
Knowledge Panel Optimization:
Add Organization or Person schema to homepage
Use sameAs property to link all official profiles:
{
"@type" : "Organization" ,
"name" : "YourBrand" ,
"sameAs" : [
"https://twitter.com/yourbrand" ,
"https://linkedin.com/company/yourbrand" ,
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YourBrand"
]
}
SEO Audit Report Template # SEO Audit Report
**Domain:** [target domain]
**Date:** [audit date]
**Auditor:** [agent/team]
## Executive Summary
[2-3 sentences: overall health, critical issues, priority action]
## Technical SEO
### Core Web Vitals
| Metric | Score | Rating | Target |
| ------ | ----- | --------------------------- | ------- |
| LCP | X.Xs | GOOD/NEEDS IMPROVEMENT/POOR | โค 2.5s |
| INP | Xms | GOOD/NEEDS IMPROVEMENT/POOR | โค 200ms |
| CLS | X.XX | GOOD/NEEDS IMPROVEMENT/POOR | โค 0.1 |
### Crawlability / Indexing
- Indexed pages: [N]
- Coverage errors in Search Console: [N]
- sitemap.xml: [PRESENT/MISSING]
- robots.txt issues: [list or NONE]
## Keyword and Content Analysis
- Primary keywords targeted: [list]
- Pages without title tags: [N]
- Duplicate title tags: [N]
- Missing meta descriptions: [N]
- Pages missing H1: [N]
## Structured Data
- Schema types implemented: [list]
- Rich result errors in Search Console: [N]
- Validation status: [PASS/FAIL]
## Link Profile
- Total backlinks: [N]
- Referring domains: [N]
- Average DR of referring domains: [N]
- Toxic/spammy links: [N]
## Findings (Priority Order)
### P0 (Immediate Action Required)
1. [Finding] โ [Impact] โ [Recommended Fix]
### P1 (Address This Sprint)
1. [Finding] โ [Impact] โ [Recommended Fix]
### P2 (Address This Quarter)
1. [Finding] โ [Impact] โ [Recommended Fix]
## Optimization Roadmap
1. [Action with estimated impact and timeline]
2. [Action with estimated impact and timeline]
3. [Action with estimated impact and timeline]
Enforcement Hooks Input validated against schemas/input.schema.json before execution.
Output contract defined in schemas/output.schema.json.
See hooks/pre-execute.cjs for pre-execution validation and hooks/post-execute.cjs for observability event emission.
Anti-Patterns
Do NOT optimize content before completing technical SEO audit โ crawl/index issues negate content work
Do NOT target keywords without analyzing search intent โ mismatched intent kills rankings
Do NOT implement schema markup that misrepresents page content โ Google manual action risk
Do NOT pursue exact-match anchor text aggressively (>10%) โ over-optimization penalty risk
Do NOT use AI-generated content without human review โ accuracy and tone issues hurt E-E-A-T
Do NOT ignore Core Web Vitals on mobile โ majority of Google indexing is mobile-first
Do NOT create individual keyword-stuffed pages โ topical clusters outperform thin pages
Do NOT set rel="noindex" to solve duplicate content โ use canonical tags instead
Do NOT skip FAQ schema on Q&A content โ missed AI Overview eligibility
Do NOT use disallow: / in robots.txt for pages you want indexed โ blocks Googlebot
Iron Laws
ALWAYS audit technical SEO (crawlability, indexing, CWV) before content or keyword work โ broken technical foundation negates all other effortNEVER target a keyword without first classifying search intent โ content that mismatches intent cannot rank regardless of qualityALWAYS validate structured data with Google Rich Results Test before deploying โ invalid schema produces no rich result benefitNEVER pursue link building without ensuring on-page fundamentals are in place โ links to poorly optimized pages waste link equityALWAYS use JSON-LD for structured data implementation โ Google's recommended format over Microdata or RDFaNEVER publish AI-generated content without human review for accuracy, E-E-A-T signals, and brand voice โ raw AI output fails E-E-a-T standardsALWAYS align content to topical clusters rather than isolated keyword pages โ Google rewards demonstrated topical authority
References
Memory Protocol (MANDATORY) Before starting:
Read .claude/context/memory/learnings.md
Previous SEO audits run on this domain
Known CWV issues or structured data errors
Established keyword strategy or cluster architecture
New SEO pattern discovered โ Append to .claude/context/memory/learnings.md
Crawl/indexing issue found โ Append to .claude/context/memory/issues.md
Keyword strategy decision โ Append to .claude/context/memory/decisions.md
ASSUME INTERRUPTION: Your context may reset. If it's not in memory, it didn't happen.
