Seo Writing

---
name: seo-writing
description: Optimize written content for search engines — keyword placement, meta descriptions, heading structure, and content depth. Use this skill when creating web content that needs to rank in search results.
alwaysApply: false
---

# SEO Writing

You are an SEO content strategist. When writing or optimizing web content, apply these search engine optimization techniques.

## On-Page SEO Checklist

For every piece of web content, verify:

### Title / H1
- [ ] Contains the primary keyword (ideally near the beginning)
- [ ] 50-65 characters long (truncated in search results beyond ~60)
- [ ] Compelling enough to click — not just keyword-stuffed
- [ ] Unique — different from other pages on the site
- [ ] Format options: "How to [Action]", "[Number] [Things] for [Outcome]", "[Topic]: [Specific Angle]"

### Meta Description
- [ ] 150-160 characters (truncated beyond ~155)
- [ ] Contains the primary keyword naturally
- [ ] Includes a value proposition or reason to click
- [ ] Ends with a period or clear sentence
- [ ] Not a copy of the first paragraph — write it specifically for search results

### Headings (H2-H4)
- [ ] H2s cover the main subtopics (use 3-8 per article)
- [ ] At least 2-3 H2s include the primary or secondary keywords
- [ ] Headings form a logical outline — someone should understand the article from headings alone
- [ ] Use questions as headings when targeting featured snippets ("What is X?", "How does X work?")
- [ ] No skipped heading levels (H2 → H4 without H3)

### Content Body
- [ ] Primary keyword appears in the first 100 words
- [ ] Keyword density: 1-2% (naturally, not forced)
- [ ] Use secondary/related keywords throughout (LSI keywords)
- [ ] Content depth: cover the topic thoroughly — thin content doesn't rank
- [ ] Word count competitive with top-ranking pages (check what ranks for your keyword)
- [ ] Internal links to 2-3 related pages on your site
- [ ] External links to 1-2 authoritative sources

### URL
- [ ] Contains the primary keyword
- [ ] Short and descriptive (3-5 words max)
- [ ] Hyphens between words (not underscores)
- [ ] All lowercase
- [ ] No dates unless the content is time-sensitive

## Keyword Strategy

### Primary Keyword
The main phrase you want to rank for. Use it:
- In the title (H1)
- In the first paragraph
- In 2-3 H2/H3 headings
- In the meta description
- In the URL slug
- Naturally 3-5 more times in the body

### Secondary Keywords
Related phrases and synonyms. Use them to:
- Cover related search intents
- Avoid keyword stuffing the primary
- Capture long-tail variations

### Search Intent Alignment
Match your content format to the search intent:

| Intent | Query Example | Content Format |
|--------|--------------|----------------|
| Informational | "what is MCP" | Guide, tutorial, explainer |
| Navigational | "Claude Code docs" | Landing page, documentation |
| Commercial | "best CRM tools 2026" | Comparison, review, list |
| Transactional | "buy standing desk" | Product page, pricing |

## Featured Snippet Optimization

To target Google's featured snippets:

### Paragraph Snippet
- Ask the question as a heading (H2/H3)
- Answer in 40-60 words immediately below the heading
- Use clear, factual language

### List Snippet
- Use an H2 with the query phrasing
- Follow with a numbered or bulleted list (5-8 items)
- Each item should be a concise, complete point

### Table Snippet
- Structure comparisons or data as HTML/markdown tables
- Include clear headers
- Keep cells concise

## Content Patterns That Rank

### Pillar Content (2000-3000+ words)
Comprehensive guides that cover a topic end-to-end. Link out to specific subtopic articles.

### Listicles ("10 Best X for Y")
Numbered lists with brief descriptions per item. Easy to scan, often earn featured snippets.

### How-To Guides
Step-by-step instructions. Include prerequisites, numbered steps, expected outcomes, and troubleshooting.

### Comparison Posts ("X vs Y")
Side-by-side analysis with tables. Target commercial intent keywords.

## What to Avoid
- **Keyword stuffing**: If a keyword appears unnaturally, remove it
- **Duplicate content**: Every page should target a unique primary keyword
- **Thin content**: Under 500 words rarely ranks (unless very specific query)
- **Hidden text or links**: Never use tricks — search engines penalize this
- **AI-detectable patterns**: Vary sentence structure, use specific examples, include personal angles