seo-content-writer

What this skill does

# SEO Content Writer

> Write search-optimized content that ranks on Google using proven frameworks from Ahrefs, Moz, and Google's E-E-A-T guidelines—create helpful, people-first content that satisfies both search engines and readers.

## When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when you need to:

- **Write blog posts** optimized for search engines
- **Create pillar content** for topical authority
- **Optimize existing content** for better rankings
- **Write product or service pages** that rank
- **Create how-to guides** and tutorials
- **Develop content briefs** for writers
- **Audit content** for E-E-A-T compliance
- **Build topical clusters** around key themes

This skill is particularly valuable for:
- Content marketers creating SEO-driven content
- Bloggers wanting organic traffic
- SaaS companies building content marketing engines
- E-commerce sites needing category and product content
- Agencies producing client content at scale
- Anyone who wants their content to be found on Google

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## Methodology Foundation

**Sources:**
- Ahrefs - "SEO Writing: 8 Steps to Create Search-Optimized Content"
- Google Search Quality Rater Guidelines (E-E-A-T framework)
- Moz SEO Learning Center

**Core Principle:** SEO writing is about creating the best possible answer to a given query, presented in a way that's easily understood and skimmable, while demonstrating Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness.

> "Great writing should feel hard. If you can crank out an article by opening a few browser tabs, so can everyone else. But interview someone, read a book, find an esoteric research paper, or collect some data… and your willingness to do something difficult gives you an edge." — Ryan Law, Ahrefs

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## What Claude Does vs What You Decide

| Claude Does | You Decide |
|-------------|------------|
| Structures production workflow | Final creative direction |
| Suggests technical approaches | Equipment and tool choices |
| Creates templates and checklists | Quality standards |
| Identifies best practices | Brand/voice decisions |
| Generates script outlines | Final script approval |

## What This Skill Does

When invoked, I will guide you through the complete SEO content writing process:

1. **Research the keyword opportunity** - Find topics worth writing about
2. **Analyze search intent** - Understand what searchers really want
3. **Plan for E-E-A-T** - Build expertise and trust signals
4. **Create a comprehensive outline** - Structure for both users and search engines
5. **Write optimized content** - Balance readability with SEO best practices
6. **Optimize on-page elements** - Title tags, meta descriptions, headers
7. **Add internal links** - Connect to your content ecosystem
8. **Review for quality signals** - Final E-E-A-T checklist

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## How to Use

Provide information about the content you want to create:

**Example prompts:**

- "Write an SEO-optimized article about [topic]"
- "Create a content brief for [keyword]"
- "Optimize this existing content for search: [paste content]"
- "Help me structure a pillar page for [topic]"
- "Analyze this keyword and suggest a content approach"
- "Review this content for E-E-A-T compliance"

**Information that helps:**

- Target keyword(s)
- Your website/business context
- Target audience
- Existing content on the topic (yours or competitors')
- Any unique expertise or data you have
- Word count expectations
- Content type (blog post, guide, pillar page, etc.)

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## Instructions

### Phase 1: Keyword Research & Opportunity Assessment

#### Finding Keywords Worth Targeting

Before writing, ensure people are actually searching for your topic.

**Keyword evaluation criteria:**

| Factor | What to Look For |
|--------|------------------|
| **Search volume** | Monthly searches (varies by niche) |
| **Keyword difficulty** | Can you realistically rank? |
| **Business relevance** | Does it connect to your offering? |
| **Search intent match** | Can you satisfy what searchers want? |
| **Traffic potential** | Total opportunity including related terms |

#### Quick Keyword Qualification

Ask these questions:
- Does this keyword have search volume?
- Can I create content better than what currently ranks?
- Will this traffic benefit my business?
- Do I have (or can I develop) expertise on this topic?

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### Phase 2: Search Intent Analysis

#### Understanding What Searchers Want

Search intent is the "why" behind a query. Misaligning with intent means you won't rank, regardless of content quality.

**The Four Types of Search Intent:**

| Intent | User Goal | Content Format |
|--------|-----------|----------------|
| **Informational** | Learn something | Blog posts, guides, how-tos |
| **Navigational** | Find a specific page | Brand pages, homepage |
| **Commercial** | Research before buying | Comparisons, reviews, "best of" |
| **Transactional** | Make a purchase | Product pages, pricing pages |

#### How to Analyze Intent

1. **Google the keyword** - Look at what currently ranks
2. **Identify the dominant format** - Listicle? Guide? Video?
3. **Note common elements** - What do all top results include?
4. **Find the content gap** - What's missing?

**Intent alignment checklist:**
- [ ] Does my content format match top results?
- [ ] Am I answering the same core question?
- [ ] Do I cover the same subtopics?
- [ ] Am I at the same depth level?

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### Phase 3: E-E-A-T Planning

#### Building Trust Signals Into Your Content

Google evaluates content on four dimensions:

| Component | Definition | How to Demonstrate |
|-----------|------------|-------------------|
| **Experience** | First-hand involvement with topic | Personal stories, original photos, case studies |
| **Expertise** | Knowledge and skill in the field | Credentials, detailed explanations, accuracy |
| **Authoritativeness** | Recognition as a leading source | Backlinks, mentions, awards, industry presence |
| **Trustworthiness** | Accuracy, honesty, reliability | Citations, transparency, updated info, reviews |

#### E-E-A-T Content Tactics

**For Experience:**
- Include personal anecdotes relevant to the topic
- Use original images and screenshots
- Reference specific situations you've encountered
- Share results you've personally achieved

**For Expertise:**
- Add detailed author bio with credentials
- Include "Reviewed by" expert validation for YMYL topics
- Cite specific data, studies, and sources
- Demonstrate deep understanding (not surface-level)

**For Authoritativeness:**
- Link to and cite authoritative sources
- Reference your own original research
- Mention relevant credentials or experience
- Include expert quotes or interviews

**For Trustworthiness:**
- Provide accurate, fact-checked information
- Update content when information changes
- Be transparent about limitations or caveats
- Include proper citations and references

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### Phase 4: Content Outline Creation

#### Building a Comprehensive Structure

Your outline should include:

1. **Working title** (optimize later)
2. **Target keyword** and related keywords
3. **Search intent summary**
4. **Unique angle** (what makes your content different)
5. **H2 sections** covering all subtopics searchers expect
6. **H3 subsections** for detailed breakdowns
7. **Key points** to cover in each section
8. **Original elements** (data, examples, case studies)

#### Finding Subtopics to Cover

Comprehensive content covers what searchers expect. Find subtopics by:

1. **Analyzing competitor content** - What do top pages include?
2. **Reviewing "People Also Ask"** - Common questions to answer
3. **Checking related searches** - Additional angles to cover
4. **Using content gap analysis** - Keywords competitors rank for

#### Outline Template

```
# [Working Title with Keyword]

Target Keyword: [primary keyword]
Secondary Keywords: [list 3-5]
Search Intent: [informational/commercial/etc.]
Unique Angle: [what makes this different]

## Introduction
- Hook
- Problem/opportunity statem