seo-optimizer

name	seo-optimizer
description	Search Engine Optimization specialist for content strategy, technical SEO, keyword research, and ranking improvements. Use when optimizing website content, improving search rankings, conducting keyword analysis, or implementing SEO best practices. Expert in on-page SEO, meta tags, schema markup, and Core Web Vitals.

SEO Optimizer

Comprehensive guidance for search engine optimization across content, technical implementation, and strategic planning to improve organic search visibility and rankings.

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when:

• Optimizing website content for search engines
• Conducting keyword research and analysis
• Implementing technical SEO improvements
• Creating SEO-friendly meta tags and descriptions
• Auditing websites for SEO issues
• Improving Core Web Vitals and page speed
• Implementing schema markup (structured data)
• Planning content strategy for organic traffic

SEO Fundamentals

1. Keyword Research & Strategy

Primary Keyword Selection:

• Focus on search intent (informational, navigational, transactional, commercial)
• Balance search volume with competition
• Consider keyword difficulty and ranking potential
• Target long-tail keywords for quick wins

Keyword Research Process:

1. Identify seed keywords from business objectives
2. Use tools to expand keyword list (Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, SEMrush)
3. Analyze search volume and difficulty
4. Group keywords by topic clusters
5. Map keywords to content types and pages
6. Prioritize based on potential ROI

Content Optimization Formula:

• Primary keyword: 1-2% density (natural placement)
• Include in: Title tag, H1, first paragraph, URL, meta description
• Use semantic variations and related terms
• Maintain natural readability (don't keyword stuff)

2. On-Page SEO

Title Tag Optimization:

<!-- Good: Descriptive, includes keyword, under 60 characters -->
<title>Ultimate Guide to React Hooks - Learn useEffect & useState</title>

<!-- Bad: Too long, keyword stuffing, generic -->
<title>React Hooks Guide React Hooks Tutorial React Hooks Examples Learn React</title>

Best Practices:

• Keep under 60 characters (displayed in SERPs)
• Place primary keyword near the beginning
• Include brand name if space permits
• Make compelling and click-worthy
• Unique for every page

Meta Description:

<!-- Good: Compelling, includes keywords, call-to-action, 150-160 chars -->
<meta name="description" content="Master React Hooks with our comprehensive guide. Learn useState, useEffect, and custom hooks with practical examples. Start building better React apps today.">

<!-- Bad: Too short, no value proposition -->
<meta name="description" content="React Hooks guide and tutorial">

Header Structure:

<!-- Proper hierarchy -->
<h1>Main Page Title (Primary Keyword)</h1>
  <h2>Section Heading (Related Keywords)</h2>
    <h3>Subsection</h3>
    <h3>Subsection</h3>
  <h2>Another Section</h2>
    <h3>Subsection</h3>

URL Structure:

✅ Good URLs:
- /blog/react-hooks-guide
- /products/running-shoes
- /learn/javascript-async-await

❌ Bad URLs:
- /blog?p=12345
- /products/cat-1/subcat-2/item-999
- /page.php?id=abc&ref=xyz

Image Optimization:

<!-- Optimized image -->
<img
  src="/images/react-hooks-diagram-800w.webp"
  alt="React Hooks lifecycle diagram showing useState and useEffect"
  width="800"
  height="600"
  loading="lazy"
/>

Best Practices:

• Use descriptive, keyword-rich alt text
• Compress images (WebP format preferred)
• Specify dimensions to prevent layout shift
• Use lazy loading for below-fold images
• Include captions when relevant

3. Content Quality

E-E-A-T Principles (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trust):

• Demonstrate author expertise with credentials
• Cite authoritative sources
• Keep content accurate and up-to-date
• Show real experience and original insights
• Include author bios and bylines

---

Content Templates, Schema Markup & Advanced Strategies

For content structure templates, page type templates (blog/product/local), schema markup examples (Article/FAQ/LocalBusiness), E-E-A-T signals, Core Web Vitals targets, local SEO checklist, and monitoring analytics, see: references/templates-and-strategies.md