--- name: seo-content description: Create SEO-optimized content that ranks AND reads like a human wrote it. Takes a target keyword/cluster and produces publication-ready articles. Includes AI-detection avoidance patterns and E-E-A-T signals. triggers: - seo content - write article for - blog post about - seo article - content for keyword - write for ranking - create blog post allowed-tools: Read Write Edit Grep Glob WebSearch WebFetch AskUserQuestion --- # SEO Content Workflow Transform a keyword target into **publication-ready content** that answers search intent completely, sounds human-written, and is structured for both readers and search engines. --- ## Conversation Starter Use `AskUserQuestion` to gather context: "I'll help you create SEO content that ranks and reads well. **Quick info needed:** 1. **Target keyword**: What's the primary keyword to rank for? 2. **Related keywords**: Any secondary/related terms to include? 3. **Search intent**: Informational, commercial, or transactional? 4. **Content type** (pick one): - **Pillar guide** - Comprehensive 5,000+ word authority piece - **How-to** - Step-by-step tutorial (2,000-3,000 words) - **Comparison** - X vs Y analysis - **Listicle** - Numbered list format - **Answer post** - Direct answer to specific question 5. **Unique angle**: What perspective makes this different? 6. **Brand voice**: Casual, professional, technical, etc. I'll research competitors, create an outline, and produce publication-ready content." --- ## The Workflow ``` RESEARCH → BRIEF → OUTLINE → DRAFT → HUMANIZE → OPTIMIZE → REVIEW ``` --- ## Phase 1: Research Before writing, understand what you're competing against. ### SERP Analysis Search the target keyword (if WebSearch available) and analyze top results: **For each result, note:** - Content type (guide, listicle, tool page, etc.) - Approximate word count - Structure (headers, sections) - Unique angles or data - What they do well - What they miss or get wrong - How recent (publish/update date) **Extract from SERP features:** - People Also Ask questions (answer ALL of these) - Featured Snippet format (match it to win it) - AI Overview presence (what it includes/excludes) ### Gap Analysis After reviewing competitors, identify: 1. **What's missing?** — Questions unanswered, angles unexplored 2. **What's outdated?** — Old information, deprecated methods 3. **What's generic?** — Surface-level advice anyone could give 4. **What's your edge?** — Unique data, experience, perspective --- ## Phase 2: Content Brief Before drafting, create a brief covering: primary/secondary keywords, search intent, content type, target word count (from competitor analysis), audience, unique angle, key points, PAA questions to answer, competitor gaps to fill, and CTA. --- ## Phase 3: Content Type Structures ### Pillar Guide (5,000-8,000 words) ``` 1. Hook Intro (150-250 words) - Answer the title question immediately - Why this matters NOW - Who this is for (and who it's not for) 2. Quick Answer Section (200-300 words) - Direct answer for Featured Snippet - TL;DR for skimmers 3. Core Sections (3-5 major sections) - Each 800-1,500 words - Each answers a major sub-question - H2 headers with keyword variations 4. Implementation (300-500 words) - Specific actionable steps - Decision framework if applicable 5. FAQ Section (5-10 questions) - From PAA research - Schema-ready format 6. Conclusion with CTA (150-200 words) - Summarize key takeaway - Clear next action ``` ### How-To Tutorial (2,000-3,000 words) Result shown first + prerequisites -> step-by-step instructions (one action per step, troubleshooting inline) -> variations/advanced tips -> common mistakes -> CTA. ### Comparison (2,500-4,000 words) Quick verdict ("Choose X if... Choose Y if...") -> comparison table (8-12 differentiators) -> deep dive each option -> head-to-head scenarios -> FAQ -> final recommendation with CTA. --- ## Phase 4: Draft ### The First Paragraph Rule Answer the search query in the first 2-3 sentences. Don't make them scroll. **Bad:** > "In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, marketers are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence to streamline their workflows..." **Good:** > "AI marketing tools can automate 60-80% of repetitive marketing tasks. Here are the 10 that actually work, based on testing them across 50+ client accounts." ### The "So What?" Chain For every point, ask "so what?" until you hit something the reader cares about: > Feature: "Automated email sequences" > So what? "Sends follow-ups without you remembering" > So what? "You wake up to replies instead of a blank inbox" > So what? "Close deals while you sleep" Write from the bottom of the chain. ### Specificity Over Generality **Weak:** "This tool saves time." **Strong:** "This tool cut our email outreach from 4 hours to 15 minutes per day." Numbers, examples, specifics. Always. --- ## Phase 5: Humanize (CRITICAL) AI content has tells. Remove them ruthlessly. ### Word-Level Tells (KILL THESE) - delve, dive into, dig into - comprehensive, robust, cutting-edge - utilize (just say "use") - leverage (as a verb) - crucial, vital, essential - unlock, unleash, supercharge - game-changer, revolutionary - landscape, navigate, streamline - tapestry, multifaceted, myriad - foster, facilitate, enhance - realm, paradigm, synergy - embark, journey (for processes) ### Phrase-Level Tells (KILL THESE) - "In today's fast-paced world..." - "In today's digital age..." - "It's important to note that..." - "When it comes to..." - "In order to..." (just say "to") - "Whether you're a... or a..." - "Let's dive in" / "Let's explore" - "Without further ado" - "In conclusion" - "This comprehensive guide will..." ### Structure-Level Tells - **The Triple Pattern**: Everything in threes. Humans are messier. - **Perfect Parallelism**: Every bullet same length/structure. Too clean. - **Hedge Stack**: "While X, it's important to consider Y, but also Z." - **Fake Objectivity**: "Some experts say... others believe..." - **Empty Transitions**: "Now that we've covered X, let's move on to Y." ### Voice Injection Points Add these—AI content lacks them: **Personal experience:** "I made this mistake for two years. Cost me roughly $40K in lost revenue." **Admission of limitations:** "This won't work for everyone. If you're in YMYL niches, ignore this entirely." Also inject: opinions with reasoning, specific client examples with numbers, honest uncertainty. ### The Detection Checklist ``` [ ] No AI words (delve, comprehensive, crucial, leverage, landscape) [ ] No AI phrases (in today's world, it's important to note) [ ] Not everything in threes [ ] At least one personal opinion stated directly [ ] At least one specific number from real experience [ ] At least one admission of limitation or uncertainty [ ] Sentence lengths vary (some under 5 words, some over 20) [ ] Would I say this out loud to a smart friend? ``` --- ## Phase 6: Optimize ### On-Page SEO Checklist ``` [ ] Primary keyword in title (front-loaded if possible) [ ] Primary keyword in H1 (can match title) [ ] Primary keyword in first 100 words [ ] Primary keyword in at least one H2 [ ] Secondary keywords in H2s naturally [ ] Primary keyword in meta description [ ] Primary keyword in URL slug [ ] Image alt text includes relevant keywords [ ] Internal links to related content (4-8) [ ] External links to authoritative sources (2-4) ``` ### Title Optimization **Format:** [Primary Keyword]: [Benefit or Hook] ([Year] if relevant) **Examples:** - "AI Marketing Tools: 10 That Actually Work (2025)" - "What is Agentic AI Marketing? The Complete Guide" - "n8n vs Zapier: Which Automation Tool is Right for You?" **Rules:** - Under 60 characters - Front-load the keyword - Include a hook or differentiator ### Meta Description **Format:** [Direct answer to query]. [Proof/credibility]. [CTA or hook]. **Example:** > "AI marketing tools can automate 60-80% of repetitive tasks. We tested 23 tools over 6 months to find the 10 that deliver. See the results." - 150-160 characters - Include primary keyword - Compelling enough to click ### Featured Snippet Optimization **For definition snippets:** - Put definition in first paragraph - Format: "[Keyword] is [definition in 40-50 words]" **For list snippets:** - Use H2 for the question - Immediately follow with numbered/bulleted list - Keep list items concise (one line each) --- ## Phase 7: Quality Review ### Content Quality Checklist ``` [ ] Answers title question in first 300 words [ ] At least 3 specific examples or numbers [ ] At least 1 personal experience or unique insight [ ] Unique angle present (not just aggregation) [ ] All claims supported by evidence or experience [ ] No generic advice (could apply to anyone) [ ] Would I bookmark this? Would I share it? ``` ### E-E-A-T Signals Checklist ``` [ ] Experience shown (real examples, specific results) [ ] Expertise demonstrated (depth, accuracy, nuance) [ ] Author credentials visible [ ] Sources cited for factual claims [ ] Updated date visible [ ] No misleading claims ``` --- ## Output Format ```markdown # [SEO-Optimized Title] Meta description: [150-160 characters] --- [Full article content with proper H2/H3 structure] --- ## FAQ ### [Question 1] [Answer] ### [Question 2] [Answer] --- **Internal links included:** - [Link 1 to related content] - [Link 2 to related content] ``` --- ## Integration Works with: - `keyword-research` - Provides target keyword and cluster - `positioning-angles` - Provides unique angle for differentiation - `brand-voice` - Provides voice profile for consistent tone - `direct-response-copy` - For CTAs and conversion elements - `content-atomizer` - Repurpose into social posts **Workflow:** ``` keyword-research → positioning-angles → brand-voice → seo-content → content-atomizer ```