seo-mastery

# SEO Mastery

Search engine optimization strategies and tactics for sustainable organic growth.

## Language & Quality Standards

**CRITICAL**: Respond in the same language the user is using. If Vietnamese, respond in Vietnamese. If Spanish, respond in Spanish.

**Standards**: Token efficiency, sacrifice grammar for concision, list unresolved questions at end.

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## When to Use This Skill

Apply SEO expertise when:
- Optimizing content for search rankings
- Conducting keyword research
- Performing technical SEO audits
- Building link acquisition strategies
- Analyzing search performance
- Creating content strategies for organic growth

## Core Concepts

### Search Intent Types

| Intent | User Goal | Content Type | Examples |
|--------|-----------|--------------|----------|
| Informational | Learn something | How-to, guides, definitions | "how to write email copy" |
| Navigational | Find specific site | Brand pages | "HubSpot login" |
| Commercial | Research before buying | Comparisons, reviews | "best email marketing tools" |
| Transactional | Complete purchase | Product pages, pricing | "buy mailchimp subscription" |

### Keyword Research Framework

**Keyword Metrics to Evaluate**:
| Metric | What It Means | Good Range |
|--------|--------------|------------|
| Search Volume | Monthly searches | 100-10,000 for most |
| Keyword Difficulty | Competition level | 0-30 for new sites |
| CPC | Commercial intent | Higher = more valuable |
| SERP Features | What's on page 1 | Fewer = easier |

**Keyword Types**:
- **Head Terms**: 1-2 words, high volume, very competitive
- **Body Terms**: 2-3 words, medium volume, competitive
- **Long-tail**: 4+ words, low volume, less competitive

### On-Page SEO Elements

**Title Tag** (50-60 characters):
- Primary keyword near front
- Compelling and click-worthy
- Unique per page
- Include brand (if room)

**Meta Description** (150-160 characters):
- Include primary keyword naturally
- Call-to-action
- Unique value proposition
- Match search intent

**Header Structure**:
```
H1: Main Page Title (one per page, contains keyword)
  H2: Major Section (keyword variations)
    H3: Subsection (semantic terms)
      H4: Supporting detail
```

**Content Optimization Checklist**:
- [ ] Keyword in first 100 words
- [ ] Natural keyword density (1-2%)
- [ ] Semantic variations throughout
- [ ] Internal links to related content (3-5 per post)
- [ ] External links to authoritative sources (1-2)
- [ ] Image alt text with keywords
- [ ] Short, descriptive URLs

### Technical SEO Essentials

**Core Web Vitals**:
| Metric | Target | What It Measures |
|--------|--------|------------------|
| LCP (Largest Contentful Paint) | <2.5s | Loading performance |
| FID (First Input Delay) | <100ms | Interactivity |
| CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift) | <0.1 | Visual stability |

**Crawlability Checklist**:
- [ ] XML sitemap submitted
- [ ] Clean robots.txt
- [ ] No broken links (4xx errors)
- [ ] Proper redirects (301 for permanent)
- [ ] Mobile-friendly design
- [ ] HTTPS enabled

**Indexability Checklist**:
- [ ] Canonical tags on duplicate pages
- [ ] No accidental noindex
- [ ] Hreflang for international
- [ ] Proper pagination handling

### Link Building Strategies

| Strategy | Effort | Impact | Best For |
|----------|--------|--------|----------|
| Guest Posting | High | Medium | New sites, authority |
| Broken Link Building | Medium | Medium | Quick wins |
| Resource Pages | Medium | Medium | Comprehensive content |
| Digital PR | High | High | Brand + links |
| Original Research | Very High | Very High | Thought leadership |
| HARO | Low | Variable | Easy opportunities |

### Content Clusters

**Pillar-Cluster Model**:
```
Pillar Page (comprehensive, 3000+ words)
├── Cluster 1 (specific subtopic, links to pillar)
├── Cluster 2 (specific subtopic, links to pillar)
├── Cluster 3 (specific subtopic, links to pillar)
└── Cluster N (specific subtopic, links to pillar)
```

**Benefits**:
- Establishes topical authority
- Improves internal linking
- Captures long-tail variations
- Better user navigation

## Best Practices

### Keyword Research Excellence
1. **Intent Match**: Align content with search intent
2. **Realistic Targets**: Start with achievable difficulty
3. **Cluster Thinking**: Group related keywords
4. **Commercial Balance**: Mix informational and transactional

### Content Excellence
1. **10x Content**: Be definitively better than page 1
2. **Comprehensive Coverage**: Answer all related questions
3. **Updated Regularly**: Refresh for freshness signals
4. **Multimedia Rich**: Images, videos, interactive elements

### Technical Excellence
1. **Speed Priority**: Fast sites rank better
2. **Mobile-First**: Google indexes mobile version
3. **Clean Architecture**: Logical URL and site structure
4. **Structured Data**: Schema markup for rich snippets

## Agent Integration

| Agent | How They Use This Skill |
|-------|------------------------|
| `attraction-specialist` | Full SEO strategy and execution |
| `copywriter` | SEO-optimized content creation |
| `researcher` | Competitor SEO analysis |
| `docs-manager` | SEO documentation and audits |

## Anti-Patterns to Avoid

| Anti-Pattern | Why It's Wrong | Do This Instead |
|--------------|----------------|-----------------|
| Keyword stuffing | Hurts rankings, UX | Natural density |
| Buying links | Penalty risk | Earn links |
| Duplicate content | Cannibalization | Canonical or consolidate |
| Ignoring search intent | Poor engagement signals | Match intent exactly |
| Chasing only volume | Ignores conversion | Balance volume + intent |

## Related Commands

- `/seo/keywords` - Keyword research
- `/seo/audit` - Comprehensive SEO audit
- `/seo/competitor` - Competitor SEO analysis
- `/seo/optimize` - Content optimization
- `/checklist/seo-weekly` - Weekly SEO maintenance

## References

- `references/keyword-research.md` - Keyword research methodology
- `references/on-page-seo.md` - On-page optimization checklist
- `references/technical-seo.md` - Technical SEO requirements
- `references/link-building.md` - Link acquisition strategies
- `references/local-seo.md` - Local search optimization
- `references/seo-audit-checklist.md` - Comprehensive audit framework