| name | pages-article |
| description | When the user wants to create, optimize, or audit a single article/post page (not the blog index). Also use when the user mentions "article page," "blog post page," "single post," "post template," "individual article," "competitor article analysis," "optimize based on top-ranking articles," or "analyze ranking articles." |
| metadata | {"version":"1.0.0"} |
Pages: Article (Single Post)
Guides structure, SEO, and UX for individual article pages — one blog post, one guide, one piece of long-form content. Distinct from pages-blog, which covers the blog index/listing page.
When invoking: On first use, if helpful, open with 1–2 sentences on what this skill covers and why it matters, then provide the main output. On subsequent use or when the user asks to skip, go directly to the main output.
Output workflow: Always output in order: 0. Research Phase (keywords, search intent, competitors) → 1. Intent Analysis → 2. Content Analysis → 3. Recommendations. Do not skip steps. When Research Phase was performed via web search, show the search results and findings.
Optimization Foundation: Four Inputs
Article analysis and creation rest on four inputs. Gather or infer them before outputting recommendations:
| Input | Purpose | Source |
|---|
| Product | Product connection, features, use cases, CTA placement | product-marketing-context (Sections 1–4, 9–11); article content; web search |
| Keywords | Target keyword, primary/secondary placement | product-marketing-context Section 6; seo-content-keyword-research; article |
| Article intent | Informational, commercial, transactional, navigational; drives structure, CTA, SEO depth | product-marketing-context Section 6 (target intent); article orientation; content type |
| Competitor articles | Structure to adopt, content gaps, length target, keyword opportunities | User-provided URLs; product-marketing-context Section 11; web search |
When any input is missing: Proactively ask or search. For article analysis: perform Research Phase (keyword search, search intent, competitor articles) by default — see Research Phase section. For product/keywords/intent, infer from article or prompt user to add product-marketing-context.
Before Analysis: Gather Context
1. Product / company context
Use available context to give tailored analysis:
| Source | Use for |
|---|
| product-marketing-context.md | Keywords (Section 6), competitors (Section 7), content strategy (Section 11), product connection |
| Article content | Extract product name, features, URLs; infer target keyword and audience |
| Web search | When analyzing a known brand (e.g. Lessie AI): search for "[product] features", "[product] vs competitors", company positioning — use to validate product connection, suggest missing features/use cases, and improve competitor gap analysis |
If no product-marketing-context exists, infer from the article and optionally search for company/product info to enrich recommendations.
Research Phase: Keyword, Search Intent, Competitor (Required for Article Analysis)
When analyzing or auditing an article, perform the following searches and output the results in the analysis. Skip only if user explicitly asks to skip (e.g. "skip search").
1. Keyword Search
- Extract seed keywords from article (title, H1, H2s, meta keywords, first 100 words).
- Search the web for related keywords and opportunity:
"[primary keyword]" or "[primary keyword] related keywords""[primary keyword]" site:competitor.com (if competitors known)- Google autocomplete / "People also ask" style queries for the topic
- Output: Primary keyword, secondary keywords, keyword opportunities (terms top rankers use that this article misses).
2. Search Intent Analysis
- Determine intent for primary and secondary keywords:
- Informational: How-to, what is, why, guides → blog, FAQ
- Commercial: Comparison, best, review → comparison pages, product pages
- Transactional: Buy, pricing, sign up → product, pricing, CTA
- Navigational: Brand name, login → brand pages
- Search the web if needed:
"[keyword]" to see SERP result types (blogs, product pages, etc.) and infer intent.
- Output: Intent for primary keyword, intent for top 2–3 secondary keywords, whether article matches intent.
3. Competitor Article Search
- If user provides URLs: Use them for competitor analysis.
- If user does not provide URLs: By default, search for top-ranking articles:
- Web search:
"[target keyword]" or "[primary keyword]"
- Fetch 2–3 top-ranking pages via mcp_web_fetch or WebSearch
- Analyze: word count, H2 structure, keyword placement, content gaps, CTA, schema
- If user explicitly asks to skip: Omit competitor search; note "Competitor analysis skipped" in output.
- Output: Competitor URLs, brief structure comparison, content gaps, length target, keyword opportunities.
Scope
- Single article page: One post, one URL (e.g.
/blog/how-to-optimize-seo)
- Not the blog index, category pages, or archive pages — see pages-blog for those
Initial Assessment
Check for product marketing context first: If .claude/product-marketing-context.md or .cursor/product-marketing-context.md exists, read it for topics, audience, keywords, and Section 11 (Content/Blog/Article Strategy).
Identify:
- Product connection: How does this article support the product? (educate on problem, introduce features, nurture leads)
- Keyword basis: Target keyword from product context or keyword research — see seo-content-keyword-research
- Content type: Blog post, guide, tutorial, news, evergreen
- Length: Short (<1,000 words), medium (1,000–2,500), long (2,500+)
- Intent: Informational, commercial, problem-aware
Product-linked content: Articles should tie to the product (problem it solves, features, use cases). Avoid purely generic content with no product relevance. Link to product/feature pages naturally in conclusion or when context fits.
Article Orientations
Not all articles share the same goal. Choose structure, SEO depth, and schema based on orientation and primary objective.
Article Types by Orientation
| Orientation | Examples | Primary Goal | SEO Priority |
|---|
| Funding / PR | Funding rounds, acquisitions, executive hires | Brand awareness, press, investor relations | Low — thin content, few search queries |
| Product updates | Feature launches, release notes, changelogs | User education, product adoption | Low–medium — internal announcements rarely rank |
| Guides / How-to | Tutorials, step-by-step, best practices | Education, lead nurture, authority | High — matches search intent |
| News / Trending | Industry news, hot topics, seasonal | Engagement, social shares, topical relevance | Medium — quick traffic spikes, short shelf life |
| Evergreen | Pillar guides, glossaries, comparisons | Long-term traffic, backlinks, authority | High — compounds over time |
SEO-Driven vs Non-SEO-Driven
- SEO-driven: How-to guides, listicles, comparisons, pillar content. Target keywords, optimize structure, invest in GEO. Goal: organic traffic.
- Non-SEO-driven: Funding announcements, product updates, company news. Goal: brand, PR, existing audience. Don't expect rankings; focus on clarity, shareability, and internal linking to SEO content.
- Hybrid: Product launch posts can include SEO-friendly sections (e.g., "How to use [feature]" with keyword targeting) while the main goal remains announcement.
Evergreen vs Timely Content
| Attribute | Evergreen | Timely |
|---|
| Relevance | Year-round; foundational topics | Weeks to months; trends, news, seasonal |
| Traffic | Steady, compounds over time | Spikes then decline |
| Examples | "How to write a business plan," "Best SEO strategies" | Holiday guides, trending microtrends, breaking news |
| Maintenance | Refresh every 6–12 months; update stats | Often one-and-done; may archive or redirect |
| Schema | Article or BlogPosting | NewsArticle for time-sensitive news |
Recommended mix: 70/30 or 60/40 evergreen-to-timely. Too much evergreen = blog feels outdated; too much timely = irregular traffic, constant churn. Use timely content to link into evergreen pillar articles.
Date display: For timely content, datePublished matters more; for evergreen, prefer dateModified when visible (see Date Display below).
Competitor Article Analysis
Performed as part of Research Phase (see above). When competitor articles are obtained:
- Obtain articles: URLs from user or product context (Section 11), or search web for
"[keyword]" to find top-ranking pages (default for analysis)
- Fetch content: mcp_web_fetch, WebSearch, or user-provided text
- Analyze: Content Analysis dimensions + word count, H2 structure, keyword placement, content gaps, CTA, schema
- Output: In Research Phase (Section 0) + add to Recommendations — structure to adopt, sections to add, length target, keyword opportunities, content gaps to fill
Article Page Structure
| Section | Purpose |
|---|
| Hero/Header | Title (H1), author, single date (see Date Display below), reading time (word count ÷ 200; round up), featured image, share buttons |
| TL;DR or Key Takeaways | Choose one: TL;DR = 50–100 word bold summary paragraph; Key Takeaways = 5–7 bullet points; placed after intro; supports GEO/AI citation |
| Introduction | 40–120 words; hook in first 1–2 sentences (pain point, stat, or question); primary keyword in first 100 words; readers decide in ~8 seconds |
| Body | H2–H3 hierarchy; QAE pattern (see GEO below); scannable (lists, short paragraphs 40–80 words, visuals) |
| Conclusion | Summary, CTA (newsletter, related content, product — link to product/feature when relevant) |
| Related posts | 3–6 contextual links; end-of-article recommendations |
| Author bio | E-E-A-T; credentials, photo, link to author page |
Featured Image
The hero image displayed at the top of the article. Same image typically used for Schema, Open Graph, and Twitter Cards.
| Attribute | Guideline |
|---|
| Dimensions | 1200–1600px wide; proportional height; 1200×630px for social (og:image) |
| File size | Under 200 KB; compress (WebP preferred) |
| Format | WebP, JPEG, PNG; avoid oversized originals |
| Alt text | Descriptive; include keyword when natural; accessibility + Google Images |
| File name | Descriptive (e.g. seo-checklist-2025.webp); keyword when natural |
| Relevance | Must align with article topic; articles with relevant images get ~94% more views |
| LCP | Set width and height attributes to prevent CLS; use srcset/sizes for responsive |
Schema and Open Graph require the same image (min 1200px wide, absolute URL). See seo-on-page-open-graph, seo-on-page-twitter-cards.
Social Sharing
- Add share buttons (X, LinkedIn, Facebook, etc.) — see components-social-share
- Place after intro and/or end of article; sticky sidebar for long-form
- Requires Open Graph and Twitter Cards for rich previews when shared
GEO / AI Optimization (Generative Engine Optimization)
Optimize for AI citation (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews). Content structured for GEO is cited ~35% more frequently.
| Element | Guideline |
|---|
| TL;DR or Key Takeaways | Choose one: TL;DR = 50–100 word summary paragraph; Key Takeaways = 5–7 bullet points; placed after intro; supports GEO |
| QAE pattern | Question (H2) → Answer (2 sentences) → Evidence (data, examples, lists) |
| Answer-first | Direct answer in first 40–60 words after each H2 |
| Answer blocks | 100–200 words per section; direct answer + context + evidence + nuance |
| Structured formats | Lists, tables, numbered steps increase citation rate |
See strategies-geo for full GEO strategy.
Paragraph Length & Content
| Element | Guideline |
|---|
| Paragraph length | 2–4 sentences; 40–80 words per paragraph; avoid walls of text |
| Break long blocks | Use lists, subheadings (H3), images, callout boxes every 2–3 paragraphs |
| Answer blocks | 100–200 words per H2 section; direct answer + context + evidence |
| Scannability | Short sentences; one idea per paragraph; front-load key info (F-pattern: readers scan top, then left); bold key phrases for Featured Snippets |
Long-Form (1,000+ words)
- Add table of contents (TOC) after intro — see components-toc
- Use jump links for major sections
- Break text with images, lists, definition boxes, mini-FAQs
SEO Best Practices (2025)
Title & Meta
| Element | Guideline |
|---|
| Title | 55 chars; primary keyword near start; power words |
| Meta description | 150–160 chars; CTA; primary keyword |
| H1 | One per page; matches title; primary keyword naturally |
Keyword Placement
- Title: 1× primary keyword
- First 100 words: 1× primary keyword
- Body: 2–3× naturally; avoid stuffing
- At least one H2: Include primary or related keyword
Content Quality
- Readability: Grade 8–10 (Flesch-Kincaid); short sentences, clear language
- Depth: 2,500+ words for pillar content; 1,000+ for cluster articles
- Originality: Unique angle, data, examples; avoid thin or rehashed content
- E-E-A-T: Author bio, citations, changelog, expert quotes; Experience (first-hand, case studies, original research) strengthens trust; YMYL (health, finance, legal) requires higher E-E-A-T
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Multiple H1s; skipping heading levels (H2→H4); keyword stuffing in headings
- Neglecting conclusion or CTA; no internal links to related content
- Walls of text; generic "click here" anchors
URL
Use components-url-slug for slug creation. Key rules:
- Slug: 3–5 words; under 60 chars; primary keyword; lowercase, hyphens
- Example:
/blog/ai-people-search not /blog/ai-search-engine-finding-people-speed-discovery-outreach
- Avoid: Date in path (
/blog/2025/01/15/article-title); copy-pasting full title
Date Display (Critical for CTR)
Google recommends: Minimize the presence of other dates on the page. If both datePublished and dateModified are shown, Google may pick the wrong date for SERP display.
- Search Engine Land case: A site showing both dates saw 22% CTR drop — Google chose the outdated date.
- Best practice: Show only one date on the page — prefer
dateModified if it exists, otherwise datePublished.
- Schema: Keep both
datePublished and dateModified in JSON-LD; the rule applies to visible date only.
Schema (Article / BlogPosting / NewsArticle)
Choose the most specific type that matches content:
| Type | Use case |
|---|
| BlogPosting | Informal blog posts; individual authors; regularly updated |
| Article | Formal, evergreen content; tool intros; encyclopedic |
| NewsArticle | Time-sensitive news; recognized publishers |
Required Properties
- headline (max 110 chars; often = H1)
- image (min 1200px wide; absolute URL)
- datePublished (ISO 8601)
- author (Person or Organization)
- publisher (Organization with logo)
Recommended Properties
- dateModified — signals freshness
- description — brief summary
- mainEntityOfPage — canonical URL
JSON-LD Example
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "BlogPosting",
"headline": "The Ultimate SEO Checklist for 2025",
"description": "A complete guide to optimizing blog posts for search and AI.",
"image": "https://example.com/image.jpg",
"datePublished": "2025-01-15T09:00:00Z",
"dateModified": "2025-02-01T14:30:00Z",
"author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jane Doe", "url": "https://example.com/author/jane" },
"publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Example",
Place in <head> via <script type="application/ld+json">. Validate with Rich Results Test.
Open Graph for Articles
Use og:type: article for article pages (not website):
<meta property="og:type" content="article">
<meta property="og:article:published_time" content="2025-01-15T09:00:00Z">
<meta property="og:article:modified_time" content="2025-02-01T14:30:00Z">
<meta property="og:article:author" content="https://example.com/author/jane">
Internal Linking
| Element | Guideline |
|---|
| Volume | 3–5 contextual links in body + 3–6 in Related posts = 6–11 total per article |
| First paragraph | 1 link to pillar or key related content |
| Body | 2–4 contextual links; one per major section when relevant |
| Related posts | 3–6 end-of-article links; same topic cluster |
| Anchor text | Descriptive (e.g. "SEO checklist for 2025", "how to optimize meta tags"); avoid "click here", "learn more", "read more" |
| Variation | Mix exact-match, partial-match, branded anchors; avoid over-optimization |
| Orphan prevention | Every article has ≥1 internal link from hub/pillar or nav |
Outbound Links (External)
| Element | Guideline |
|---|
| Volume | 2–5 external links per article; cite authoritative sources |
| When to use | Statistics, research, definitions, tool comparisons, expert quotes |
| Anchor text | Descriptive (e.g. "Google's Search Quality Guidelines", "Semrush study"); link to source |
| Same URL | Counts once per page for link equity; no need to repeat |
| E-E-A-T | External links to reputable sources signal trust; avoid linking to low-quality sites |
References / Citations
| Scenario | Recommendation |
|---|
| Data or statistics | Cite source inline (e.g. "According to Semrush, 72% of…") or in a References section |
| Expert quotes | Attribute; link to source or profile |
| Reference section | For pillar/evergreen content with 5+ citations; list at end before Related posts |
| Format | Inline links preferred; numbered refs (e.g. [1], [2]) for academic-style pieces |
| When to include | Any claim that benefits from authority (stats, studies, definitions); strengthens E-E-A-T |
AI-Assisted Content
When content is AI-assisted: human review before publish; verify facts and add citations; original insights or data; avoid generic phrasing. Google may label AI content; transparency and human refinement support E-E-A-T.
Technical
- Core Web Vitals: LCP < 1.0s on mobile
- Images: WebP, compressed; descriptive alt text; keyword in filename when natural
- IndexNow: For fast indexing of new posts
- Canonical: Self-referencing canonical on article page
Post-Publication
- Refresh: Update every 6–12 months; refresh stats, add insights
- Internal links: Add links from older posts to new articles
- Monitor: GSC indexing, rankings, Core Web Vitals
Content Analysis
When auditing or optimizing an article, analyze content (beyond structure):
| Dimension | What to check |
|---|
| Hook | Intro opens with pain point, stat, or question? |
| Keyword in first 100 words | Primary keyword present? |
| QAE pattern | H2s as questions? Answer-first (40–60 words) in each section? |
| Word count | Matches type? (300–600 news, 1,000–2,500 cluster, 2,500+ pillar) |
| Paragraph length | 40–80 words per paragraph? No walls of text? |
| Multimedia | Images, tables, lists, stats; alt text; scannability |
| Product connection | Ties to product? Natural links to features/pricing? |
| CTA | Placement (conclusion, mid-article); clarity; product link |
| Internal links | 3–5 in body + 3–6 Related? Descriptive anchor text? No "click here"? |
| Outbound links | 2–5 external links? Authoritative sources? Descriptive anchors? |
| References | Data/stats cited? Reference section for 5+ citations? E-E-A-T signal? |
| Data/evidence | Original data, citations, examples; avoid thin content |
| Gaps | What do top-ranking articles cover that this misses? |
Output Format
0. Research Phase (output first, when analysis/audit is performed)
When analyzing or auditing an article, output this section before Intent Analysis. Include search sources and findings. If user asked to skip search, note that and infer from article only.
| Section | Output |
|---|
| Keyword Search | Primary keyword (from article or search), secondary keywords, keyword opportunities (from SERP/competitor analysis). If search was performed: query used, top results observed. |
| Search Intent | Intent for primary keyword (Informational/Commercial/Transactional/Navigational), intent for 2–3 secondary keywords, whether article content matches intent. If search was performed: SERP snippet types observed. |
| Competitor Articles | If searched: 2–3 URLs, brief structure (word count, H2s), content gaps, length target. If user provided URLs: same. If skipped: "Competitor analysis skipped." |
1. Intent Analysis (output second)
Before any recommendations, output a brief analysis:
| Dimension | Output |
|---|
| Orientation | Funding/PR, Product update, Guide, News, Evergreen |
| Primary goal | Brand, PR, education, product adoption, organic traffic, … |
| SEO vs non-SEO | SEO-driven / Non-SEO-driven / Hybrid |
| Evergreen vs timely | Evergreen / Timely |
| Implications | 1–2 sentences: e.g. "Low SEO priority → focus on clarity, shareability" or "SEO-driven → full keyword + GEO optimization" |
2. Content Analysis (output third)
Apply the Content Analysis table above. Output a brief assessment per dimension (✅ / ⚠️ / ❌ + one-line note).
3. Recommendations (output fourth, tailored to intent)
Assign priority to each item: P0 (critical), P1 (high), P2 (medium), P3 (nice-to-have). Output as table or list with priority prefix.
| Priority | Use when |
|---|
| P0 | Blocks GEO/SEO; missing core element (TL;DR or Key Takeaways, keyword in first 100 words, schema) |
| P1 | Significant impact on traffic, CTR, or conversion (title length, share buttons, CTA) |
| P2 | Improves UX or authority (related posts, author bio, internal links) |
| P3 | Polish (image optimization, readability tweaks) |
Example: [P0] Add TL;DR or Key Takeaways — GEO, AI citation
- Product connection (how article supports product; where to link)
- Keyword (target from product context or keyword research)
- Structure for article template (hero, TL;DR or Key Takeaways, intro, body, conclusion, related, author)
- Paragraph length (40–80 words; break with lists, H3s; 100–200 words per H2 section)
- Featured image (dimensions, alt, file size, og:image alignment)
- GEO elements (TL;DR or Key Takeaways, QAE pattern) — skip or minimal for non-SEO-driven
- SEO checklist (title, meta, H1, keyword placement) — skip or minimal for non-SEO-driven
- Schema type and JSON-LD
- Internal links (3–5 in body + 3–6 Related; anchor text suggestions; avoid "click here")
- Outbound links (2–5 external; cite stats, research; anchor text for each)
- References (inline citations vs Reference section; when to add for E-E-A-T)
- Competitor analysis (when URLs provided or searched): content gaps vs top rankers, structure to adopt, length target, keyword opportunities — see Before Analysis to prompt user or search
Related Skills
- pages-blog: Blog index/listing page; article pages live within blog
- seo-content-keyword-research: Keyword basis for articles; run before drafting
- seo-on-page-title, seo-on-page-description: Article metadata
- seo-on-page-schema: Article/BlogPosting/NewsArticle schema
- seo-on-page-heading: H1–H6 structure for article body
- seo-content-optimization: Word count, H2 keywords, keyword density, tables, lists, multimedia
- seo-on-page-internal-links: Related posts, contextual links
- seo-on-page-open-graph, seo-on-page-twitter-cards: Social previews for articles (required for share previews)
- components-social-share: Share buttons placement, platforms, intent URLs
- components-url-slug: URL slug creation for articles; 3–5 words, primary keyword
- components-toc: Table of contents for long articles
- components-breadcrumb: Breadcrumb (e.g. Home > Blog > Category > Post)
- strategies-geo: GEO strategy; AI citation optimization
