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

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

What Claude Does vs What You Decide

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

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.)

Instructions

Phase 1: Keyword Research & Opportunity Assessment

Finding Keywords Worth Targeting

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

Keyword evaluation criteria:

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?

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:

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?

Phase 3: E-E-A-T Planning

Building Trust Signals Into Your Content

Google evaluates content on four dimensions:

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

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 stateme