seo-strategist

# SEO Strategist

Strategic SEO planning toolkit for site-wide optimization, keyword research, technical audits, and competitive analysis. Complements content-creator's on-page SEO with strategic, site-level planning.

## Overview

This skill provides automated tools and expert frameworks for developing comprehensive SEO strategies that go beyond individual content optimization. While content-creator focuses on optimizing individual pieces of content, seo-strategist handles the strategic layer: keyword research, topic clusters, technical SEO audits, competitive analysis, and roadmap planning.

**Core Value:** Save 60%+ time on SEO strategy development while improving search visibility by 40% through systematic, data-driven planning.

**Relationship to content-creator:**
- **content-creator** = On-page SEO (single article optimization, keyword density, meta tags)
- **seo-strategist** = Strategic SEO (site-wide strategy, keyword research, technical audits, roadmaps)

## Core Capabilities

- **Keyword Research & Clustering** - Analyze keyword lists, create topic clusters, map to content pillars
- **Technical SEO Audits** - Crawlability, indexation, site structure, Core Web Vitals assessment
- **Competitive Analysis** - SERP position tracking, content gap analysis, competitor benchmarking
- **SEO Roadmap Planning** - Prioritized action items, quarterly planning, resource estimation
- **Site Architecture** - Internal linking strategy, URL structure, information architecture
- **Performance Monitoring** - KPI tracking, ranking reports, progress dashboards

## Quick Start

### Keyword Research
```bash
# Analyze and cluster keywords
python scripts/keyword_researcher.py keywords.csv --cluster

# Generate topic clusters with priorities
python scripts/keyword_researcher.py keywords.csv --cluster --output json > clusters.json
```

### Technical SEO Audit
```bash
# Audit local site files
python scripts/technical_seo_auditor.py ./site-export/ --output text

# Analyze with specific checks
python scripts/technical_seo_auditor.py ./site-export/ --checks all --output json
```

### SEO Roadmap
```bash
# Generate quarterly roadmap from audit
python scripts/seo_roadmap_generator.py audit-results.json --quarters 4

# Quick wins focus
python scripts/seo_roadmap_generator.py audit-results.json --quick-wins --output md
```

### Access Frameworks
- SEO Strategy: `references/seo_strategy_framework.md`
- Technical SEO: `references/technical_seo_guide.md`
- Competitive Analysis: `references/competitive_seo_analysis.md`

## Key Workflows

### 1. Keyword Strategy Development

**Time:** 4-6 hours

1. **Gather seed keywords** - Compile initial keyword list from business goals, competitors, brainstorming
2. **Expand keyword list** - Add variations, long-tail keywords, question-based queries
3. **Cluster keywords** - Run keyword_researcher.py to group by topic
   ```bash
   python scripts/keyword_researcher.py keywords.csv --cluster --min-cluster-size 3
   ```
4. **Analyze clusters** - Review topic clusters, identify content pillars
5. **Map to content** - Assign clusters to existing or planned content
6. **Prioritize** - Score by search volume, competition, business value
7. **Document strategy** - Use keyword_research_template.md

See [seo_strategy_framework.md](references/seo_strategy_framework.md) for detailed methodology.

### 2. Technical SEO Audit

**Time:** 3-4 hours

1. **Export site data** - Download HTML files or use sitemap
2. **Run technical audit** - Execute technical_seo_auditor.py
   ```bash
   python scripts/technical_seo_auditor.py ./site-export/ --checks all --output json > audit.json
   ```
3. **Review findings** - Analyze crawlability, indexation, structure issues
4. **Prioritize fixes** - Categorize by impact and effort
5. **Create action plan** - Document fixes with owners and deadlines
6. **Validate fixes** - Re-run audit after implementations

See [technical_seo_guide.md](references/technical_seo_guide.md) for checklist.

### 3. Competitive SEO Analysis

**Time:** 4-5 hours

1. **Identify competitors** - List 5-10 SERP competitors for target keywords
2. **Gather competitor data** - Export competitor sitemaps, content lists
3. **Analyze keyword overlap** - Compare keyword targeting
4. **Identify content gaps** - Find topics competitors rank for that you don't
5. **Benchmark technical SEO** - Compare site structure, page speed
6. **Document opportunities** - Create competitive positioning report

See [competitive_seo_analysis.md](references/competitive_seo_analysis.md) for framework.

### 4. SEO Roadmap Creation

**Time:** 2-3 hours

1. **Compile audit findings** - Gather technical audit results, keyword research
2. **Score opportunities** - Use impact/effort matrix
3. **Generate roadmap** - Run seo_roadmap_generator.py
   ```bash
   python scripts/seo_roadmap_generator.py audit.json --quarters 4 --output md
   ```
4. **Define KPIs** - Set measurable targets for each quarter
5. **Assign resources** - Estimate hours and owners for each initiative
6. **Present plan** - Review with stakeholders, adjust priorities

## Python Tools

### keyword_researcher.py

Keyword research, clustering, and content mapping tool.

**Key Features:**
- Keyword clustering by semantic similarity
- Topic pillar identification
- Search intent classification
- Priority scoring (volume x competition x relevance)
- Content gap analysis
- Export to JSON, CSV, Markdown

**Common Usage:**
```bash
# Basic clustering
python scripts/keyword_researcher.py keywords.csv --cluster

# With priority scoring
python scripts/keyword_researcher.py keywords.csv --cluster --score --output json

# Content mapping
python scripts/keyword_researcher.py keywords.csv --map-content content-inventory.csv

# Help
python scripts/keyword_researcher.py --help
```

### technical_seo_auditor.py

Technical SEO site audit and health assessment.

**Key Features:**
- Crawlability analysis (robots.txt, sitemap.xml)
- Indexation checks (canonical tags, noindex)
- Site structure evaluation (heading hierarchy, internal links)
- Performance indicators (page size, resource count)
- Structured data validation
- SEO score (0-100)

**Common Usage:**
```bash
# Full audit
python scripts/technical_seo_auditor.py ./site-export/ --checks all

# Specific checks
python scripts/technical_seo_auditor.py ./site-export/ --checks crawlability,structure

# JSON output for roadmap
python scripts/technical_seo_auditor.py ./site-export/ --output json > audit.json

# Help
python scripts/technical_seo_auditor.py --help
```

### seo_roadmap_generator.py

SEO roadmap and prioritization tool.

**Key Features:**
- Impact/effort prioritization matrix
- Quick wins identification
- Quarterly planning
- Resource estimation
- KPI target setting
- Markdown and JSON output

**Common Usage:**
```bash
# Generate quarterly roadmap
python scripts/seo_roadmap_generator.py audit.json --quarters 4

# Focus on quick wins
python scripts/seo_roadmap_generator.py audit.json --quick-wins

# Markdown report
python scripts/seo_roadmap_generator.py audit.json --output md > roadmap.md

# Help
python scripts/seo_roadmap_generator.py --help
```

## Reference Guides

### When to Use Each Reference

**[seo_strategy_framework.md](references/seo_strategy_framework.md)** - Strategic planning
- Pillar-Cluster content model
- Keyword research methodology (seed → expand → cluster → prioritize)
- SEO maturity assessment framework
- Search intent classification (informational, navigational, transactional, commercial)
- SERP feature targeting strategies

**[technical_seo_guide.md](references/technical_seo_guide.md)** - Technical implementation
- Crawlability checklist (robots.txt, XML sitemaps, crawl budget)
- Indexation management (canonical tags, noindex, pagination)
- Core Web Vitals optimization (LCP, FID, CLS)
- Structured data/schema markup guide
- Mobile-first indexing requirements
- Site architecture best practices

**[competitive_seo_analysis.md](references/competitive_seo_analysis.md)** - Competitive intelligence
- Competitor identification framework
- SERP analysis methodology
- Content gap analysis process
- Backlink profile comparison
- Keyword overlap analysis
- Competitive positioning strategies

## Best Practices

### Quality Standards
- Technical SEO score: 80+ (good), 90+ (excellent)
- Keyword cluster size: 5-15 keywords per cluster
- Content coverage: 80%+ of priority keywords mapped
- Roadmap timeline: Quarterly with monthly milestones
- Quick wins: 3-5 items completable within 2 weeks

### Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Targeting keywords without search intent analysis
- Ignoring technical SEO in favor of content-only focus
- Creating content without cluster/pillar strategy
- Not tracking competitor movements
- Focusing on vanity metrics instead of business impact
- Over-optimizing for search engines at expense of users

## Performance Metrics

**Organic Search Metrics:**
- Organic traffic growth (target: 15-25% quarterly)
- Keyword rankings (track top 10, top 3 positions)
- Click-through rate from SERPs (target: 3-5% average)
- Impressions growth (leading indicator)

**Technical SEO Metrics:**
- Core Web Vitals scores (all green)
- Crawl errors (target: 0 critical)
- Index coverage ratio (target: 95%+)
- Mobile usability score (target: 100)

**Business Metrics:**
- Organic conversion rate (target: 2-5%)
- Organic revenue/leads
- Cost per organic acquisition
- SEO ROI (organic value vs. investment)

## Integration with content-creator

This skill works alongside content-creator in a complementary workflow:

1. **seo-strategist**: Keyword research → Topic clusters → Content priorities
2. **content-creator**: Write content → On-page SEO → Brand voice
3. **seo-strategist**: Technical audit → Site structure → Internal linking
4. **content-creator**: Content optimization → Meta tags → Readability

**Handoff Points:**
- seo-strategist provides keyword targets → content-creator optimizes content
- content-creator identifies content gaps → seo-strategist validates with data
- seo-strategist audits site → content-creator updates existing content

## Additional Resources

- **Templates** - See `assets/` directory
- **Strategy framework** - See [seo_strategy_framework.md](references/seo_strategy_framework.md)
- **Technical checklist** - See [technical_seo_guide.md](references/technical_seo_guide.md)
- **Competitive analysis** - See [competitive_seo_analysis.md](references/competitive_seo_analysis.md)