| name | marketing-seo-complete |
| description | Use when running SEO audits, keyword research, content planning, or fixing technical SEO issues. Covers technical audits (Core Web Vitals, crawlability, structured data, robots/sitemaps/canonicals, mobile, security, internal linking), SEO strategy (keyword research, content planning, competitive analysis, E-E-A-T), link building, local SEO, international SEO (hreflang), and multi-platform SEO (Google, YouTube, Reddit, social). Updated for February 2026. |
SEO Technical and Marketing - Operational Skill
This skill contains actionable, production-ready systems for traditional search engine optimization:
- Technical SEO auditing (Core Web Vitals, crawlability, structured data, mobile optimization)
- SEO marketing strategy (keyword research, content planning, competitive analysis, brand building)
- Operational workflows (cross-team collaboration, stakeholder alignment, SEO OKRs)
- Total Search Optimization (Google, YouTube, Reddit, TikTok, forums, social SEO)
Structure: Technical fundamentals first -> Marketing strategy -> Operational execution -> Total Search Optimization.
For AI search optimization (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, AI Overviews, GEO): Use marketing-ai-search-optimization instead.
SEO vs GEO (Overlap Map)
Use this to avoid duplicating work across traditional SEO and AI answer engines.
Use marketing-seo-complete when
- You need crawl/indexation fixes, internal linking, sitemaps, canonicals, CWV/performance, structured data eligibility
- You want search demand capture (keywords), SERP strategy, link building, local/international SEO
- You need predictable technical and content operations that improve discoverability across search surfaces
Use marketing-ai-search-optimization when
- You care specifically about assistant visibility, citations, and “answer extraction” behavior (ChatGPT/Perplexity/Gemini/AIO)
- You are building entity pages, comparison pages, integration pages, and proof blocks optimized for quoting/citation
- You are measuring with a query bank and "share of model" rather than rankings
Note: For engineers building AEO monitoring platforms (API pipelines, citation databases, dashboards), see project-aeo-monitoring-tools — that's an engineering skill, not an SEO practitioner skill.
Use both when
- You want compounding discoverability (SEO) and compounding citation capture (GEO) with the same pages
- You are shipping high-intent pages (pricing, security, alternatives, integrations) and need both indexation + answer-ready structure
2026 Operating Assumptions (Evergreen)
- Prioritize usefulness and intent satisfaction; technical SEO cannot compensate for weak content.
- E-E-A-T matters most when claims can impact money, health, safety, or major decisions; for all niches, show real experience and verifiable proof where possible.
- Mobile-first is the default: performance, UX, and rendering on mobile are the primary gate.
- Crawl/indexation wins come from discoverability (internal links, sitemaps) and removing low-value crawl traps.
- Core Web Vitals are a weak signal but a strong tiebreaker; fix regressions and obvious failures.
- Structured data is for eligibility and rich results, not a ranking boost; use it to improve extraction and display.
- SERPs are multi-surface (web, video, local, forums, social); measure channel-by-channel, not only rankings.
Next.js Programmatic Reality (Build vs Discoverability)
- Static build artifact count is a deployment metric, not your SEO URL inventory.
- Discoverable/indexable scope comes from canonical URLs in sitemap plus internal linking and indexability signals.
- If
generateStaticParams() causes build artifact explosion or ENOSPC, reduce pre-render scope first, keep long-tail URLs discoverable via sitemap.
- Use a hybrid model for high-cardinality sites: pre-render priority URLs, serve long-tail dynamically (SSR/ISR), keep canonical/hreflang/sitemap/internal links aligned.
Primary sources live in data/sources.json. For time-sensitive changes (core updates, reporting changes), use official sources first (Google Search Central / Search Status Dashboard); if your environment supports web search, refresh against current updates before giving definitive advice.
Key Thresholds (2026)
| Metric | Target | Impact |
|---|
| LCP | < 2.5s | Mobile-first indexing threshold |
| INP | < 200ms | Replaced FID; user engagement signal |
| CLS | < 0.1 | Layout stability; ranking factor |
| TTFB | < 600ms | Crawl rate: slow servers often reduce pages crawled/day |
| Mobile score | > 90 | Required for competitive rankings |
When NOT to Use
Quick Reference
| Task | Resource/Template | Location | When to Use |
|---|
| Auditing | | | |
| Full Technical Audit | 10-Point Checklist | assets/audits/full-technical-audit.md | Comprehensive site-wide audit |
| Quick Audit | Abbreviated Checklist | assets/audits/quick-audit-checklist.md | Fast issue identification |
| Priority Matrix | Impact vs Effort | assets/priority/impact-effort-matrix.md | Prioritize audit findings |
| Core Web Vitals | | | |
| CWV Deep Dive | CWV Guide | references/core-web-vitals-guide.md | LCP, INP, CLS optimization |
| CWV Report | Report Template | assets/cwv/core-web-vitals-report.md | Document CWV findings |
| Crawlability | | | |
| Indexation Issues | Crawlability Guide | references/crawlability-indexing.md | Robots.txt, sitemaps, GSC issues |
| Indexation Acceleration | Fast Indexing Guide | references/crawlability-indexing.md#indexation-acceleration | New/large sites, internal linking, E-E-A-T |
| Performance | | | |
| Site Speed | Speed Guide | references/site-speed-optimization.md | TTFB, render-blocking, images |
| Technical Setup | | | |
| Mobile Optimization | Mobile Guide | references/mobile-seo-guide.md | Responsive, viewport, mobile-first |
| Structured Data | Schema Guide | references/structured-data-guide.md | JSON-LD, rich snippets |
| Schema Report | Validation Template | assets/schema/schema-validation-report.md | Document schema findings |
10-Point Audit Framework
Every technical SEO audit follows this systematic checklist:
| # | Area | Key Metrics | Weight |
|---|
| 1 | Crawlability | robots.txt status, sitemap coverage, crawl budget | High |
| 2 | Core Web Vitals | LCP <2.5s, INP <200ms, CLS <0.1 | High |
| 3 | Site Speed | TTFB <800ms, FCP <1.8s, Speed Index | High |
| 4 | Mobile | Mobile-friendly score, viewport, touch targets | High |
| 5 | Security | HTTPS, mixed content, HSTS, headers | Medium |
| 6 | Structured Data | Schema validity, rich snippet eligibility | Medium |
| 7 | On-Page | Meta tags, heading hierarchy, keyword signals | Medium |
| 8 | Architecture | Internal links, URL structure, canonicals | High |
| 9 | Duplicate Content | Canonical implementation, pagination | Medium |
| 10 | Internationalization | Hreflang (if applicable), geo-targeting | Low |
Scoring: Rate each area 0-10, calculate weighted average for overall Technical Health Score.
Decision Trees
### Audit Type Selection
Full site audit needed
-> Use assets/audits/full-technical-audit.md
Quick issue check
-> Use assets/audits/quick-audit-checklist.md
CWV-only deep dive
-> Use assets/cwv/core-web-vitals-report.md
Schema validation only
-> Use assets/schema/schema-validation-report.md
### Core Web Vitals Failing
LCP >2.5s
-> Preload LCP element, optimize images, add CDN
-> See references/core-web-vitals-guide.md
INP >200ms
-> Reduce JavaScript, optimize event handlers
-> See references/core-web-vitals-guide.md
CLS >0.1
-> Add dimensions to images/ads, avoid layout shifts
-> See references/core-web-vitals-guide.md
### Indexation Issues
Pages not indexed
-> Check robots.txt blocking
-> Verify sitemap inclusion
-> Check canonical tags
-> See references/crawlability-indexing.md
Crawl budget problems
-> Remove low-value pages from crawl
-> Fix redirect chains
-> Optimize pagination
-> See references/crawlability-indexing.md
New/large site needs fast indexation
-> Internal linking (#1 accelerator)
-> Manual GSC submission (10-20 priority pages)
-> Real content updates (not fake lastmod)
-> Brand mentions > backlinks (early stage)
-> See references/crawlability-indexing.md#indexation-acceleration
Build fails from route explosion (ENOSPC / artifact limits)
-> Reduce `generateStaticParams` scope to priority URLs
-> Keep long-tail canonical URLs in sitemap
-> Strengthen internal linking to top dynamic pages
-> Validate indexation in GSC Coverage + URL Inspection
### Mobile Issues
Mobile-unfriendly
-> Check viewport meta tag
-> Verify responsive CSS
-> Test touch target sizes
-> See references/mobile-seo-guide.md
### Link Building Issues
Need more backlinks
-> Create linkable assets (research, tools)
-> Set up HARO/Featured.com
-> Broken link building outreach
-> See references/link-building-strategy.md
Low domain authority
-> Focus on DA 50+ targets
-> Digital PR campaigns
-> Competitor backlink analysis
-> See references/link-building-strategy.md
### Local SEO Issues
Not showing in local pack
-> Optimize Google Business Profile
-> Build local citations (NAP consistency)
-> Generate more reviews
-> See references/local-seo-guide.md
GBP not verified
-> Complete verification process
-> Ensure NAP matches website
-> See references/local-seo-guide.md
### Security Issues
Mixed content warnings
-> Update all HTTP resources to HTTPS
-> See references/security-https-guide.md
SSL/TLS issues
-> Run SSL Labs test
-> See references/security-https-guide.md
GSC Issue Triage (Strict Output)
Use this format when diagnosing Google Search Console indexation and canonicalization statuses.
If missing context blocks a safe recommendation, ask only the minimum clarifying questions (example: "Should these URLs be indexed?").
For each issue:
- Issue:
- Severity: Critical / Moderate / Informational
- What Google Is Detecting:
- Why This Happens:
- Is This Against Google Rules? (Yes/No + Explanation):
- Safe Fix (Step-by-Step):
- Expected SEO Benefit:
- What NOT to Do (Important):
Navigation
Core Resources
- references/core-web-vitals-guide.md - LCP, INP, CLS thresholds and optimization
- references/crawlability-indexing.md - Robots.txt, sitemaps, GSC, indexation
- references/site-speed-optimization.md - TTFB, render-blocking, image optimization
- references/mobile-seo-guide.md - Mobile-first indexing, responsive design
- references/structured-data-guide.md - Schema.org, JSON-LD, rich snippets
- references/security-https-guide.md - HTTPS, HSTS, security headers
- references/internal-linking-strategy.md - Link architecture, orphan pages
- references/duplicate-content-handling.md - Canonicals, pagination, parameters
- references/internationalization-hreflang.md - Hreflang, geo-targeting
Marketing & Operations
- references/seo-marketing-strategy.md - Keyword research, content planning, competitive analysis, brand building
- references/seo-operational-workflows.md - Cross-team collaboration, OKRs, stakeholder communication
- references/total-search-optimization.md - YouTube, Reddit, TikTok, LinkedIn, AI platforms
- references/content-decay-refresh.md - Content audit methodology, decay detection, refresh vs rewrite decisions
- references/ai-seo-tools.md - AI-powered SEO tool landscape, human-in-the-loop workflows
E-Commerce & Scale
Link Building & Local SEO
Templates
Audits
Core Web Vitals
Structured Data
Prioritization
Trend Awareness Protocol
IMPORTANT: When users ask recommendation questions about SEO, refresh against current updates before giving definitive guidance. If your environment supports web search, use it. If not, rely on official sources in data/sources.json and ask the minimum clarifying question about timeframe/market (example: "Is this for the US market, and do you care about changes in the last 30/90 days?").
Trigger Conditions
- "What's the best approach for [Core Web Vitals/site speed/crawlability]?"
- "What should I focus on for SEO in 2026?"
- "What's the latest Google algorithm update?"
- "Current best practices for [structured data/mobile SEO/indexation]?"
- "Is [SEO technique] still relevant in 2026?"
- "How has Google Search changed recently?"
- "What Core Web Vitals thresholds should I target?"
Required Searches
- Search:
site:developers.google.com search updates
- Search:
Google Search Status Dashboard
- Search:
Core Web Vitals thresholds INP
- Search:
Search Console new features
What to Report
After searching, provide:
- Current landscape: What SEO factors matter most NOW (not 6 months ago)
- Emerging trends: New ranking signals or Google features
- Deprecated/declining: Techniques that no longer work or hurt rankings
- Recommendation: Based on fresh data and recent algorithm updates
Example Topics (verify with fresh search)
- Core Web Vitals updates (INP replacing FID, thresholds)
- Google algorithm updates (helpful content, spam updates)
- Structured data new types and requirements
- Mobile-first indexing changes
- AI Overviews impact on traditional search
- New Search Console features
SEO Marketing Strategy (January 2026)
Keyword research, content planning, competitive analysis, and brand building.
Key areas covered:
- Keyword research framework (seed discovery, expansion, intent classification, prioritization)
- Content planning by intent (informational, commercial, transactional, navigational)
- Competitive analysis workflow (monthly audits, intelligence signals)
- Brand building tactics (brand and entity signals often correlate with durable performance; validate with current updates)
- E-E-A-T content strategy (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trust)
See full guide: references/seo-marketing-strategy.md
SEO Operational Workflows (2026)
Cross-team collaboration, OKRs, and stakeholder communication.
Key areas covered:
- SEO as strategic quarterback (not isolated channel)
- Cross-team collaboration framework (Product, Engineering, Content, Paid, PR, Social)
- Pre-launch and post-deployment checklists
- SEO OKRs aligned to revenue (not vanity metrics)
- Stakeholder-specific reporting and communication
See full guide: references/seo-operational-workflows.md
Total Search Optimization (2026)
Multi-platform visibility beyond Google.
Platforms covered:
- YouTube SEO (video optimization, ranking factors)
- Reddit SEO (forum results increasingly appear for "best", "vs", and review-intent queries)
- Social SEO (LinkedIn B2B, TikTok B2C, X/Twitter)
- AI platforms (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini) - for optimization, use
marketing-ai-search-optimization; for monitoring infrastructure, use project-aeo-monitoring-tools
- Unified content distribution strategy
See full guide: references/total-search-optimization.md
Related Skills
Marketing & SEO
Technical Implementation
Quality & Performance
Key Differentiators
Audit Output Format:
- Critical Issues - Fix immediately (high impact)
- Important Optimizations - Fix soon (medium impact)
- Recommended Enhancements - Nice to have
Each finding includes:
- What's wrong and why it matters
- Step-by-step fix instructions
- Expected outcome
- Validation method
External Resources
See data/sources.json for primary sources across:
- Google Search Central, web.dev, and Chrome developer docs (CWV, Lighthouse, CrUX)
- Bing Webmaster Guidelines and diagnostic tooling
- Crawl/index/render fundamentals (robots, sitemaps, canonicals, JS SEO)
- Structured data eligibility and validation tooling
- SEO marketing strategy (Backlinko, Search Engine Journal, Sitebulb, Content Whale)
- Cross-team collaboration and operational workflows
- Total Search Optimization (YouTube, Reddit, TikTok, LinkedIn)
- Optional automation references (Search Console API, CrUX API, Lighthouse CI)
Getting Started
Quick audit (15 minutes):
- Run PageSpeed Insights on key pages
- Check robots.txt and sitemap.xml accessibility
- Validate structured data with Rich Results Test
- Review GSC Coverage report for indexation issues
- Use assets/audits/quick-audit-checklist.md
Full audit (2-4 hours):
- Use assets/audits/full-technical-audit.md
- Work through all 10 audit areas systematically
- Score each area 0-10
- Prioritize findings with assets/priority/impact-effort-matrix.md
- Document fixes with validation steps
Ongoing monitoring:
- Set up GSC alerts for indexation issues
- Monitor Core Web Vitals in CrUX
- Schedule quarterly audits
- Track improvements against baseline
SEO Testing & Monitoring
See: references/seo-testing-monitoring-and-collaboration.md
Success Criteria
A successful technical SEO audit delivers a prioritized list of issues with clear fix instructions and validation methods that measurably improve search visibility and Core Web Vitals scores.
SEO Business Metrics
| Metric | Formula | Benchmark |
|---|
| SEO ROI | (Organic Revenue - SEO Cost) / SEO Cost * 100 | >300% |
| Organic CAC | Total SEO Cost / Organic Conversions | B2B: <$100, B2C: <$30 |
| Pipeline Influence | Organic-Sourced Pipeline / Total Pipeline | >30% |
See full guide: references/seo-business-metrics.md - Attribution models, OKRs, stakeholder reporting
Anti-Patterns
| Anti-Pattern (AVOID) | Better Practice (DO) |
|---|
| Audit without action | Assign owners, set deadlines |
| Fix everything at once | Batch by priority, deploy incrementally |
| Ignore mobile | Test mobile-first (often the majority of traffic) |
| Trust lab data only | Use CrUX (field data) as truth |
| One-time audit | Continuous monitoring, quarterly deep audits |
| Chase vanity metrics (rankings) | Track revenue, conversions, pipeline |
| Chase static build page count as an SEO KPI | Track discoverable canonical URLs, indexation in GSC, and organic outcomes |
| Optimize pages in isolation | Build topical authority clusters |
| Ignore AI Overviews | Optimize for citation in AI results — see marketing-ai-search-optimization for content optimization and project-aeo-monitoring-tools for monitoring infrastructure |
International Markets
This skill uses Google-centric defaults. For international SEO:
If you're using a router-based setup, mention country/region/search engine explicitly so the router can bring in marketing-geo-localization when needed.
SEO Mistakes (High Risk)
See: references/seo-mistakes-high-risk.md
