SEO Content Writer

SEO Content Writer

Write SEO-optimized content that ranks AND reads like a human wrote it. Use this skill AFTER completing research with seo-research skill.

When to Use This Skill

Use when:

• Writing hub pages, deep-dive articles, SEO blog posts
• Refreshing declining content
• Creating content from a research brief

DO NOT use for:

• Research/planning phase (use seo-research first)
• OpenEd Daily/Weekly newsletters (use newsletter skills)
• Social media content (use social-content-creation)
• Podcast assets (use podcast-production)

The Writing Process

BRIEF → DRAFT → HUMANIZE → OPTIMIZE → PUBLISH

1. Brief - Review research brief from seo-research
2. Draft - Write following content type template
3. Humanize - Remove AI tells, inject voice
4. Optimize - SEO elements, internal links
5. Publish - Final review and publish

Phase 1: Pre-Writing Setup

Review Research Brief

Before writing, you should have from seo-research:

• Primary keyword and search volume
• Secondary keywords
• Competitive analysis (what's ranking, word counts)
• Content gaps to fill
• Proprietary sources (podcast quotes, community insights)
• Internal linking opportunities
• Proposed outline

Gather Proprietary Sources

Use NotebookLM skill to query for topic insights from podcasts and newsletters.

Check Studio/Open Education Hub/ and Studio/SEO Article Factory/Content Map.md for internal linking opportunities.

Phase 2: Draft by Content Type

Pillar Guide (2500-3500 words)

H1: [Primary Keyword]: Complete Guide for [Audience]

Introduction (150-200 words)
- Hook with story, stat, or pain point
- Primary keyword in first 100 words
- Preview what article covers
- Establish OpenEd credibility

H2: What Is [Topic]? (300-400 words)
- Clear definition (featured snippet opportunity)
- Context and background
- Why it matters for homeschool families

H2: [Core Concept 1] (400-500 words)
- H3 subsections as needed
- Include proprietary insight or podcast quote
- 1-2 internal links

H2: [Core Concept 2] (400-500 words)
- H3 subsections as needed
- Specific examples with details
- 1-2 internal links

H2: [Core Concept 3] (400-500 words)
- H3 subsections as needed
- Practical application

H2: How to Get Started (300-400 words)
- Step-by-step guidance
- Resources and tools
- Link to OpenEd if relevant

H2: Common Challenges (200-300 words)
- Real problems families face
- Solutions from community experience

H2: FAQ (200-300 words)
- 3-5 questions from "People Also Ask"
- 40-60 word answers (featured snippet length)

Conclusion (100-150 words)
- Key takeaways
- Encouragement
- Natural CTA to OpenEd

How-To Tutorial (2000-2500 words)

H1: How to [Achieve Outcome]: [Benefit]

Introduction (100-150 words)
- What they'll achieve
- Time estimate
- Prerequisites

H2: Why This Approach Works (200-300 words)
- Context for the method
- Why it's effective

H2: Step 1: [Action] (250-350 words)
- Clear instruction
- Tips and warnings
- Example

H2: Step 2: [Action] (250-350 words)
...

H2: Step N: [Action] (250-350 words)

H2: Tips for Success (200-300 words)
- Pro tips from experience
- Common mistakes to avoid

H2: FAQ (150-200 words)

Conclusion (100-150 words)

Comparison (2000-3000 words)

H1: [Option A] vs [Option B]: Which Is Right for Your Family?

Introduction (150-200 words)
- The decision they're facing
- Quick verdict preview

H2: Quick Comparison (use table)
| Aspect | Option A | Option B |
|--------|----------|----------|

H2: What Is [Option A]? (300-400 words)
- Definition and philosophy
- Key characteristics
- Best for...

H2: What Is [Option B]? (300-400 words)
- Definition and philosophy
- Key characteristics
- Best for...

H2: Key Differences (400-500 words)
- H3 for each major difference
- Specific examples

H2: How to Choose (200-300 words)
- Decision framework
- Questions to ask yourself

H2: Can You Combine Them? (150-200 words)
- Hybrid approaches

H2: FAQ (150-200 words)

Conclusion (100-150 words)
- Clear recommendation by scenario

Listicle (1500-2500 words)

H1: [Number] Best [Things] for [Audience/Goal]

Introduction (100-150 words)
- Why this list matters
- How items were selected

H2: Quick Overview (table or bullet list)
- All items at a glance

H2: 1. [Item Name] (150-250 words)
- What it is
- Why it's included
- Best for...
- Honest limitations

H2: 2. [Item Name] (150-250 words)
...

H2: How to Choose (150-200 words)
- Decision criteria

H2: FAQ (100-150 words)

Conclusion (100 words)

Phase 3: Humanize the Draft

This is the most critical phase. AI-generated content fails in predictable ways. Fix them ruthlessly.

For systematic quality control: Use the quality-loop skill, which provides 5 judge personas with full reference files:

• Human Detector (blocking) - AI tells
• Accuracy Checker (blocking) - Factual verification
• OpenEd Voice (blocking) - Brand alignment
• Reader Advocate (blocking) - Engagement
• SEO Advisor (advisory) - Search optimization

AI-ism Detection: Word Level

Kill these words immediately:

AI-ism Detection: Phrase Level

These scream "AI wrote this" - remove or rewrite:

• "In today's fast-paced world..."
• "In today's digital age..."
• "It's important to note that..."
• "When it comes to..."
• "In order to..." → just "to"
• "Whether you're a... or a..."
• "Let's dive in" / "Let's explore"
• "Without further ado"
• "At the end of the day"
• "It goes without saying"
• "In conclusion" (especially at the end)
• "This comprehensive guide will..."
• "Are you looking for..." (fake questions)
• "Look no further"
• "The best part? ..."
• "Here's the thing..."
• "Let's be honest..."
• "And here's the kicker"
• "Enter: [thing]"
• "X changed everything"
• "This symbolizes..." / "Which reflects..."

Forbidden Short Hook Questions:

• "Want access?"
• "Ready to level up?"
• "Sound familiar?"
• "Curious?"

Empty Enthusiasm (especially in conversational content):

• "Absolutely!"
• "Great question!"
• "You're absolutely right!"

Authenticity Theater:

• Overusing "real" ("real strategy from real experts getting real results")
• Forced relatability ("we've all been there")

Negation Structure:

• "No X. No Y. Just Z."
• "No fluff. No theory. Just actionable insights."

AI-ism Detection: Structure Level

Patterns that reveal AI authorship:

AI-ism Detection: Voice Level

The hardest to fix - but most important:

Voice Injection Techniques

Add these to make content sound human:

1. Personal experience with specifics:

"When we talked to homeschool mom Jennifer about this, she mentioned spending two years trying curriculum after curriculum before realizing her son just needed more hands-on projects."

2. Opinion with reasoning:

"Honestly, most Charlotte Mason guides overcomplicate things. The core is simpler than people make it: living books, nature study, short lessons. That's it."

3. Admission of limitations:

"This approach won't work for every family. If your kids thrive with structure and workbooks, Charlotte Mason's open-ended nature might frustrate everyone."

4. Specific examples from real sources:

"As homeschool dad Mike Goldstein told us on the OpenEd podcast, 'The best curriculum is the one you'll actually use consistently.'"

5. Uncertainty where honest:

"We're not 100% sure why nature study works so well for retention. Best guess: the multisensory experience creates stronger memory encoding. But we've seen it work across dozens of families."

6. Tangents and asides:

"This is the part where most guides tell you to 'trust the process.' (Useless advice.) Here's what that actually means in practice..."

Rhythm Variation

AI writes in monotonous rhythm. Fix it:

• Vary sentence length. Short punch. Then longer explanatory sentences that build out the context and nuance.
• Use fragments. For emphasis. Or drama.
• Start with "And" or "But" when natural.
• Include parenthetical asides (the kind you'd say to a friend).
• Ask questions. Then answer them. Or don't.
• One-word paragraphs.

Really.

The Detection Checklist

Before moving on, verify:

• No AI words (delve, comprehensive, crucial, leverage, landscape)
• No AI phrases (in today's world, it's important to note, let's dive in)
• Not everything in threes
• At least one personal opinion stated directly
• At least one specific number from real experience
• At least one admission of limitation or uncertainty
• Sentence lengths vary (some under 5 words, some over 20)
• Would I say this out loud to a smart friend?
• Does it sound like a specific person, or a committee?

The Read-Aloud Test

Read your draft out loud. If you stumble, readers will too. If it sounds like a textbook, rewrite it. If you'd be embarrassed to read it to a colleague, it's not ready.

Phase 4: Optimize for SEO

Keyword Placement Checklist

• Primary keyword in H1
• Primary keyword in first 100 words
• Primary keyword in 2-3 H2 headings (variations OK)
• Primary keyword in meta title
• Primary keyword in meta description
• Keyword density: 1-2% (roughly 1 mention per 100-200 words)

Internal Linking (3-5+ minimum)

Check Studio/Open Education Hub/ and Studio/SEO Article Factory/Content Map.md for related content.

Linking priorities:

1. Blog posts (highest value)
2. Podcast episodes
3. Hub pages

Anchor text rules:

• Use descriptive text, not "click here"
• Include keywords naturally
• Vary anchor text across links

External Linking (2-3 minimum)

• Link to authoritative sources (.edu, .gov, established publications)
• Support claims with data sources
• Link to tools or resources mentioned

Meta Elements

Meta Title (50-60 characters):

• Include primary keyword
• Make it compelling, not just keyword-stuffed
• Example: "Charlotte Mason Homeschool: A Complete Guide for Beginners"

Meta Description (150-160 characters):

• Include primary keyword
• Clear value proposition
• Include soft CTA
• Example: "Learn how Charlotte Mason's philosophy of living books, nature study, and short lessons can transform your homeschool. Practical guide with real family examples."

Featured Snippet Optimization

For definition snippets:

• Put definition in first paragraph of relevant section
• Format: "[Topic] is [definition in 40-50 words]"

For list snippets:

• Use H2 for the question
• Follow immediately with numbered/bulleted list
• Keep items concise (one line each)

For FAQ snippets:

• H3 for each question (exact question format)
• Answer in 40-60 words
• Direct, complete answer first

Phase 5: Final Review

SEO Checklist

Keyword Optimization:

• Primary keyword in H1
• Primary keyword in first 100 words
• Primary keyword in 2-3 H2 headings
• Primary keyword in meta title and description
• Keyword density: 1-2%

Internal Linking:

• 3-5+ internal links to related OpenEd content
• Anchor text includes keywords naturally
• Links placed contextually

External Linking:

• 2-3+ links to authoritative sources
• Links support claims

Meta Elements:

• Meta title: 50-60 characters
• Meta description: 150-160 characters
• Both include primary keyword

Content Quality:

• No AI-isms (see kill lists above)
• Uses regular hyphens for breaks - like this - not em dashes
• Includes proprietary insights (podcast quotes, community stories)
• Natural, conversational voice
• Readability: 8th-10th grade level

Structure:

• Clear H1 > H2 > H3 hierarchy
• Sections are 300-500 words each
• FAQ section for featured snippets
• CTA at end

Humanity Checklist

• At least 3 specific examples with names/numbers
• At least 1 opinion stated directly
• At least 1 limitation acknowledged
• Sentence lengths vary
• Passes read-aloud test
• Sounds like a person, not a committee

Reference: E-E-A-T Examples

Study these writers for voice and quality benchmarks:

Marketing/Business:

• Paul Graham (essays)
• Wait But Why
• Stratechery (Ben Thompson)
• James Clear
• Backlinko (Brian Dean)
• Lenny's Newsletter
• Derek Sivers

Finance/Economics:

• Matt Levine (Money Stuff)
• Morgan Housel (Psychology of Money)

Technical/Education:

• Julia Evans (technical writing)
• Dan Luu
• First Round Review

Healthcare/Science:

• Dr. Peter Attia
• Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee

The goal: content that reads like these writers - not like AI trained on generic web content.

Before/After Examples

Generic → Specific

Before:

"Many homeschool families find Charlotte Mason's approach helpful for developing a love of learning."

After:

"When Sarah started homeschooling her three kids in 2021, she burned through four different curricula in the first year. Nothing stuck. Then she discovered Charlotte Mason's approach - specifically, the idea of 'short lessons' (15-20 minutes max per subject). Her 8-year-old, who used to melt down during 45-minute math blocks, now finishes his work before lunch and asks for more."

Robotic → Human

Before:

"It's important to note that when it comes to nature study, consistency is crucial. Furthermore, the benefits of outdoor learning are well-documented. Additionally, children who engage regularly with nature demonstrate improved focus and creativity."

After:

"Here's what nobody tells you about nature study: it feels weird at first. You're standing in your backyard, staring at a tree, wondering if this is actually 'educational.' Then your kid notices the woodpecker holes. Then they want to know what made them. Then you're both Googling pileated woodpeckers at the kitchen table. That's when you realize - this is working."

Vague → Actionable

Before:

"Consider incorporating living books into your curriculum for a more engaging educational experience."

After:

"Replace one textbook this week. Just one. Instead of that dry science textbook about ecosystems, try 'The Burgess Bird Book for Children' (free on Project Gutenberg). Read one chapter together. Watch what happens when your kid starts noticing the birds in your yard and can name them."

Common Pitfalls

1. Keyword Stuffing - Use variations and synonyms
2. Generic Content - Every article needs proprietary OpenEd insights
3. Weak Internal Linking - Link to specific pages, not just homepage
4. Boring Meta Descriptions - This is your SERP sales pitch
5. Ignoring Search Intent - Match content to what searchers want
6. No CTA - Guide readers toward OpenEd
7. AI Voice Leakage - Check kill lists carefully
8. No Specifics - Add names, numbers, concrete examples
9. No Opinion - Take a stance, don't hedge everything

After Publishing

1. Update Studio/SEO Article Factory/Content Map.md with status
2. Add internal links from related existing content
3. Monitor rankings in 2 weeks
4. Check GA4 for traffic trends after 30 days