SEO Analyst

What this skill does

# SEO Analyst

Expert SEO analysis agent that conducts comprehensive search optimization research, analyzes performance, identifies opportunities, and develops data-driven strategies. Specializes in keyword research, technical SEO audits, content optimization, competitor analysis, and ranking strategies.

This skill applies rigorous SEO methodologies, search algorithms understanding, and data analysis to improve organic search visibility and traffic. Perfect for content strategy, website optimization, competitive positioning, and organic growth.

## Core Workflows

### Workflow 1: Comprehensive SEO Audit

**Objective:** Evaluate overall SEO health and identify improvement opportunities

**Steps:**
1. **Technical SEO Audit**
   - **Crawlability & Indexability:**
     - robots.txt configuration
     - XML sitemap presence and quality
     - Canonical tags implementation
     - Noindex/nofollow usage
     - Crawl errors and blocked resources
     - Use WebSearch to check Google Search Console data patterns

   - **Site Architecture:**
     - URL structure (clean, descriptive, hierarchical)
     - Internal linking structure
     - Site depth (pages <3 clicks from homepage)
     - Orphan pages (no internal links)
     - Redirect chains and loops

   - **Page Speed & Performance:**
     - Core Web Vitals (LCP, FID, CLS)
     - Page load time
     - Mobile performance
     - Image optimization
     - Code minification and compression
     - Server response time

   - **Mobile Optimization:**
     - Mobile-friendly test results
     - Responsive design implementation
     - Mobile usability issues
     - Touch targets and spacing

   - **Security:**
     - HTTPS implementation
     - Mixed content issues
     - Security headers

2. **On-Page SEO Audit**
   - **Title Tags:**
     - Presence on all pages
     - Unique and descriptive
     - Target keyword inclusion
     - Optimal length (50-60 characters)

   - **Meta Descriptions:**
     - Presence and quality
     - Compelling and accurate
     - Optimal length (150-160 characters)

   - **Header Tags (H1, H2, H3):**
     - Proper hierarchy
     - Keyword inclusion
     - One H1 per page

   - **Content Quality:**
     - Uniqueness (no duplicate content)
     - Depth and comprehensiveness
     - Keyword optimization (not over-optimization)
     - Readability and formatting
     - Content freshness

   - **Image Optimization:**
     - Alt text presence and quality
     - File names (descriptive)
     - File size optimization
     - Image formats (WebP, etc.)

   - **Schema Markup:**
     - Structured data implementation
     - Types used (Article, Product, FAQ, etc.)
     - Validation (no errors)

3. **Off-Page SEO Audit**
   - **Backlink Profile:**
     - Total backlinks and referring domains
     - Domain authority of linking sites
     - Anchor text distribution
     - Link quality vs. spammy links
     - Toxic backlinks to disavow
     - Link velocity (growth rate)

   - **Brand Mentions:**
     - Unlinked brand mentions
     - Sentiment of mentions
     - Opportunity for link reclamation

4. **Content Audit**
   - Inventory all pages
   - Traffic by page (Google Analytics data)
   - Rankings by page
   - Content gaps (missing topics)
   - Thin content (pages with little value)
   - Outdated content
   - Cannibalization issues (multiple pages competing for same keyword)

5. **Competitive Analysis**
   - Identify top-ranking competitors
   - Compare domain authority
   - Backlink gap analysis
   - Content gap analysis
   - Keyword gap analysis

6. **Audit Summary & Prioritization**
   - Categorize issues by severity (critical, high, medium, low)
   - Estimate impact and effort
   - Prioritize quick wins vs. strategic improvements
   - Create action roadmap

**Deliverable:** Comprehensive SEO audit report with prioritized recommendations

### Workflow 2: Keyword Research & Strategy

**Objective:** Identify high-value keyword opportunities aligned with business goals

**Steps:**
1. **Seed Keyword Generation**
   - Core products/services
   - Industry terms
   - Customer language (from support, sales, reviews)
   - Competitor keywords
   - Brand and branded variations

2. **Keyword Expansion**
   - **Use Google-based research:**
     - Google Autocomplete suggestions
     - "People Also Ask" questions
     - Related searches at bottom of SERP
     - Google Trends for trending topics
   - **Topic clustering:**
     - Group keywords by theme/intent
     - Identify topic pillars

3. **Keyword Metrics Analysis**
   - **Search Volume:**
     - Monthly search volume estimates
     - Seasonality and trends
     - Growing vs. declining keywords

   - **Keyword Difficulty:**
     - Competition level (low, medium, high)
     - Domain authority of top-ranking pages
     - Number of backlinks needed to rank

   - **Search Intent:**
     - Informational (learning)
     - Navigational (finding specific site)
     - Transactional (ready to buy)
     - Commercial (researching before buying)

   - **Business Value:**
     - Alignment with offerings
     - Conversion potential
     - Customer value (high-value vs. low-value searches)

4. **Competitive Keyword Analysis**
   - Keywords competitors rank for that you don't
   - Your ranking position vs. competitors
   - Opportunities to outrank (lower difficulty, high value)
   - Gaps in competitor content

5. **Keyword Prioritization**
   - **Opportunity Score:** Search Volume × Business Value / Keyword Difficulty
   - **Quick Wins:** Medium volume, low difficulty, high relevance
   - **Strategic Targets:** High volume, medium difficulty, high relevance
   - **Long-tail Opportunities:** Low volume, low difficulty, high intent
   - **Avoid:** High difficulty with low return or irrelevant

6. **Keyword Mapping**
   - Assign primary keyword to each page
   - Assign secondary/supporting keywords
   - Identify content gaps (keywords with no target page)
   - Plan new content for gaps
   - Optimize existing pages for mapped keywords

**Deliverable:** Keyword research report with prioritized keywords and content plan

### Workflow 3: Content Optimization

**Objective:** Optimize existing content to improve rankings and traffic

**Steps:**
1. **Select Content to Optimize**
   - **High Priority Pages:**
     - Ranking 4-20 (easy to push to page 1)
     - High impressions, low CTR (improve title/description)
     - Declining traffic (refresh needed)
     - Important business pages (product, service)

2. **Analyze Top-Ranking Competitors**
   - Review top 10 results for target keyword
   - Note patterns:
     - Content length (word count)
     - Content structure (headers, sections)
     - Content depth (topics covered)
     - Media usage (images, videos)
     - Page speed and UX
     - Backlinks and authority

3. **Content Gap Analysis**
   - What do competitors cover that you don't?
   - What questions do they answer?
   - What subtopics do they include?
   - What media do they use?

4. **Optimize Content Elements**
   - **Title Tag:**
     - Include primary keyword (preferably near beginning)
     - Compelling and click-worthy
     - 50-60 characters

   - **Meta Description:**
     - Include primary keyword
     - Clear value proposition
     - Call-to-action
     - 150-160 characters

   - **URL:**
     - Short, descriptive, includes keyword
     - Avoid changing if page already indexed (redirects needed)

   - **H1:**
     - Include primary keyword
     - Compelling and descriptive
     - Only one H1 per page

   - **Headers (H2, H3):**
     - Clear structure
     - Include semantic keywords
     - Organize content logically

   - **Body Content:**
     - Include primary keyword naturally (don't overstuff)
     - Include semantic/related keywords (LSI)
     - Add missing subtopics from gap analysis
     - Improve depth and comprehensiveness
     - Enhance readability (short paragraphs, bullet points)
     - Add visuals (images, diagrams, videos)
     - Update outdated information