Search Experience Optimization (SXO)
SXO bridges the gap between SEO (what Google rewards) and UX (what users need).
Traditional SEO audits check technical health. SXO asks: "Does this page deserve
to rank for this keyword based on what Google is actually rewarding in the SERP?"
Core Insight
A page can score 95/100 on technical SEO and still fail to rank because it is the
wrong page type for the keyword. If Google shows 8 product pages and 2 comparison
pages for your keyword, your blog post will never break through -- no matter how
well-optimized it is.
Commands
| Command |
Purpose |
/seo sxo <url> |
Full SXO analysis (auto-detect keyword from page) |
/seo sxo <url> <keyword> |
Full SXO analysis for a specific keyword |
/seo sxo wireframe <url> |
Generate IST/SOLL wireframe with concrete placeholders |
/seo sxo personas <url> |
Persona-only scoring (skip SERP analysis) |
Execution Pipeline
Step 1: Target Acquisition
- Fetch the target URL via
scripts/render_page.py --mode auto (SPA-aware and SSRF-safe)
- Parse with
scripts/parse_html.py to extract: title, H1, meta description,
headings hierarchy, word count, schema markup, CTAs, media elements
- If no keyword provided, extract primary keyword from title tag + H1 overlap
- Validate keyword is non-empty before proceeding
Step 2: SERP Backwards Analysis
Read references/page-type-taxonomy.md for classification rules.
- Search Google for the target keyword (WebSearch)
- For each of the top 10 organic results, record:
- URL and domain authority tier (brand / niche authority / unknown)
- Page type (classify using taxonomy)
- Content format (long-form, listicle, how-to, comparison, tool, video)
- Word count estimate (from snippet length and page structure)
- Schema types present (from SERP features: ratings, FAQ, HowTo)
- Media signals (video carousel, image pack, thumbnail presence)
- Record SERP features present:
- Featured snippet (paragraph / list / table / video)
- People Also Ask (extract all visible questions)
- Ads (top and bottom -- count and analyze ad copy themes)
- Related searches (extract all)
- Knowledge panel / local pack / shopping results
- AI Overview presence and source types
- Calculate SERP consensus:
- Dominant page type (>60% = strong consensus, 40-60% = mixed, <40% = fragmented)
- Content depth expectations (average word count tier)
- Schema expectation (most common structured data types)
- Media expectations (video required? images critical?)
Step 3: Page-Type Mismatch Detection
This is the core SXO insight. Compare target page type against SERP consensus.
Mismatch severity levels:
| Target Type |
SERP Expects |
Severity |
Recommendation |
| Blog Post |
Product Pages |
CRITICAL |
Create dedicated product page |
| Blog Post |
Comparison |
HIGH |
Restructure as comparison with matrix |
| Product |
Informational |
HIGH |
Add educational content layer |
| Landing Page |
Tool/Calculator |
HIGH |
Build interactive tool component |
| Service Page |
Local Results |
MEDIUM |
Add location signals + local schema |
| Any type match |
- |
ALIGNED |
Focus on content depth and UX |
Classification rules:
- Classify target page using
references/page-type-taxonomy.md
- Classify each SERP result using the same taxonomy
- Flag mismatch if target type differs from SERP dominant type
- If SERP is fragmented (no dominant type), note opportunity for differentiation
Step 4: User Story Derivation
Read references/user-story-framework.md for the full framework.
From SERP signals, derive user stories:
- PAA questions reveal knowledge gaps and concerns
- Ad copy themes reveal commercial triggers and value propositions
- Related searches reveal the search journey (what comes before/after)
- Featured snippet format reveals the expected answer structure
- AI Overview reveals what Google considers the definitive answer
For each signal cluster, generate a user story:
As a [persona derived from signal],
I want to [goal derived from query intent],
because [emotional driver from ad copy / PAA tone],
but I'm blocked by [barrier derived from PAA questions / related searches].
Generate 3-5 user stories covering the primary intent angles.
Step 5: Gap Analysis
Compare the target page against SERP expectations across 7 dimensions:
| Dimension |
What to Compare |
Score |
| Page Type |
Target type vs SERP dominant type |
0-15 |
| Content Depth |
Word count, heading depth, topic coverage |
0-15 |
| UX Signals |
CTA clarity, above-fold content, mobile layout |
0-15 |
| Schema Markup |
Present vs expected structured data types |
0-15 |
| Media Richness |
Images, video, interactive elements vs SERP norm |
0-15 |
| Authority Signals |
E-E-A-T markers, social proof, credentials |
0-15 |
| Freshness |
Last updated, date signals, content recency |
0-10 |
Total: 0-100 SXO Gap Score (lower = larger gap, higher = better alignment)
Step 6: Persona-Based Scoring
Read references/persona-scoring.md for methodology.
- Derive 4-7 personas from SERP intent signals:
- Cluster PAA questions by theme
- Segment ad copy by target audience
- Map related searches to journey stages
- For each persona, score the target page on 4 dimensions (25 pts each):
- Relevance: Does the page address this persona's need?
- Clarity: Can this persona find their answer within 10 seconds?
- Trust: Are there adequate trust signals for this persona?
- Action: Is there a clear next step for this persona?
- Output persona cards with scores and specific improvement recommendations
- Sort recommendations by weakest persona first (biggest opportunity)
Step 7: Wireframe Generation (Optional)
Only execute when /seo sxo wireframe is invoked.
Read references/wireframe-templates.md for templates.
- Generate IST (current state) wireframe from parsed page structure
- Generate SOLL (target state) wireframe based on:
- SERP consensus page type
- Gap analysis findings
- Persona scoring weaknesses
- Use ultra-concrete placeholders:
- NOT: "Add a CTA here"
- YES: "Add pricing CTA with annual savings badge below hero, linking to /pricing#enterprise"
- Output as semantic HTML section outline with annotations
DataForSEO Integration
If DataForSEO MCP tools are available:
- Before any API call, run cost estimate and confirm with user
- Use
google_organic_serp for precise SERP data (positions, features, snippets)
- Use
keyword_data for search volume and competition metrics
- Fall back to WebSearch if DataForSEO unavailable -- note reduced precision in output
SXO Score vs SEO Health Score
The SXO score is separate from the main SEO Health Score.
- SEO Health Score = technical compliance (crawlability, speed, schema, etc.)
- SXO Gap Score = alignment between page and SERP expectations
- A page can score 95 SEO + 30 SXO = technically perfect but strategically misaligned
- Both scores should be reported together when both are available
Cross-Skill References
| Finding |
Hand Off To |
| E-E-A-T gaps in persona scoring |
/seo content for deep E-E-A-T audit |
| Missing schema types |
/seo schema for generation |
| Local intent detected in SERP |
/seo local for GBP analysis |
| Content depth gaps |
/seo page for deep page analysis |
| Technical issues found during fetch |
/seo technical for full audit |
| Image/media gaps |
/seo images for optimization |
Output Format
Full SXO Analysis
## SXO Analysis: [URL]
### Target Keyword: [keyword]
### 1. SERP Landscape
- Dominant page type: [type] ([confidence]% consensus)
- SERP features: [list]
- Content depth norm: [word count range]
- Schema expectation: [types]
### 2. Page-Type Alignment
- Your page type: [type]
- SERP expects: [type]
- Verdict: [ALIGNED | MISMATCH (severity)]
- Impact: [explanation]
### 3. User Stories (derived from SERP signals)
[3-5 user stories with source signals]
### 4. Gap Analysis (SXO Score: XX/100)
[7-dimension breakdown table]
### 5. Persona Scores
[4-7 persona cards with 4-dimension scores]
### 6. Priority Actions
[Ranked list: fix mismatch first, then weakest persona gaps]
### 7. Limitations
[What could not be assessed, data source notes]
Error Handling
| Error |
Action |
| URL fetch fails |
Report error, suggest checking URL accessibility |
| No keyword provided or detected |
Ask user to provide target keyword |
| WebSearch returns <5 results |
Proceed with available data, note limited sample |
| SERP has no organic results (all ads) |
Note highly commercial SERP, analyze ad copy only |
| Target page is JavaScript-rendered |
Note limitation, use available HTML content |
| DataForSEO cost exceeds threshold |
Fall back to WebSearch, notify user |
Quality Checklist
Before delivering results, verify:
1---2name: seo-sxo3description: Search Experience Optimization: reads Google SERPs backwards to detect page-type mismatches, derives user stories from search intent signals, and scores pages from multiple persona perspectives. Identifies why well-optimized pages fail to rank by analyzing what Google rewards for each keyword. Use when user says "SXO", "search experience", "page type mismatch", "SERP analysis", "user story", "persona scoring", "why isn't my page ranking", "intent mismatch", or "wireframe".4license: MIT5---6
7# Search Experience Optimization (SXO)
8
9SXO bridges the gap between SEO (what Google rewards) and UX (what users need).
10Traditional SEO audits check technical health. SXO asks: "Does this page deserve
11to rank for this keyword based on what Google is actually rewarding in the SERP?"
12
13## Core Insight
14
15A page can score 95/100 on technical SEO and still fail to rank because it is the
16**wrong page type** for the keyword. If Google shows 8 product pages and 2 comparison
17pages for your keyword, your blog post will never break through -- no matter how
18well-optimized it is.
19
20## Commands
21
22| Command | Purpose |
23|---------|---------|
24| `/seo sxo <url>` | Full SXO analysis (auto-detect keyword from page) |
25| `/seo sxo <url> <keyword>` | Full SXO analysis for a specific keyword |
26| `/seo sxo wireframe <url>` | Generate IST/SOLL wireframe with concrete placeholders |
27| `/seo sxo personas <url>` | Persona-only scoring (skip SERP analysis) |
28
29## Execution Pipeline
30
31### Step 1: Target Acquisition
32
331. Fetch the target URL via `scripts/render_page.py --mode auto` (SPA-aware and SSRF-safe)
342. Parse with `scripts/parse_html.py` to extract: title, H1, meta description,
35 headings hierarchy, word count, schema markup, CTAs, media elements
363. If no keyword provided, extract primary keyword from title tag + H1 overlap
374. Validate keyword is non-empty before proceeding
38
39### Step 2: SERP Backwards Analysis
40
41Read `references/page-type-taxonomy.md` for classification rules.
42
431. Search Google for the target keyword (WebSearch)
442. For each of the top 10 organic results, record:
45 - URL and domain authority tier (brand / niche authority / unknown)
46 - Page type (classify using taxonomy)
47 - Content format (long-form, listicle, how-to, comparison, tool, video)
48 - Word count estimate (from snippet length and page structure)
49 - Schema types present (from SERP features: ratings, FAQ, HowTo)
50 - Media signals (video carousel, image pack, thumbnail presence)
513. Record SERP features present:
52 - Featured snippet (paragraph / list / table / video)
53 - People Also Ask (extract all visible questions)
54 - Ads (top and bottom -- count and analyze ad copy themes)
55 - Related searches (extract all)
56 - Knowledge panel / local pack / shopping results
57 - AI Overview presence and source types
584. Calculate SERP consensus:
59 - Dominant page type (>60% = strong consensus, 40-60% = mixed, <40% = fragmented)
60 - Content depth expectations (average word count tier)
61 - Schema expectation (most common structured data types)
62 - Media expectations (video required? images critical?)
63
64### Step 3: Page-Type Mismatch Detection
65
66This is the core SXO insight. Compare target page type against SERP consensus.
67
68**Mismatch severity levels:**
69
70| Target Type | SERP Expects | Severity | Recommendation |
71|-------------|-------------|----------|----------------|
72| Blog Post | Product Pages | CRITICAL | Create dedicated product page |
73| Blog Post | Comparison | HIGH | Restructure as comparison with matrix |
74| Product | Informational | HIGH | Add educational content layer |
75| Landing Page | Tool/Calculator | HIGH | Build interactive tool component |
76| Service Page | Local Results | MEDIUM | Add location signals + local schema |
77| Any type match | - | ALIGNED | Focus on content depth and UX |
78
79**Classification rules:**
80- Classify target page using `references/page-type-taxonomy.md`
81- Classify each SERP result using the same taxonomy
82- Flag mismatch if target type differs from SERP dominant type
83- If SERP is fragmented (no dominant type), note opportunity for differentiation
84
85### Step 4: User Story Derivation
86
87Read `references/user-story-framework.md` for the full framework.
88
89From SERP signals, derive user stories:
90
911. **PAA questions** reveal knowledge gaps and concerns
922. **Ad copy themes** reveal commercial triggers and value propositions
933. **Related searches** reveal the search journey (what comes before/after)
944. **Featured snippet format** reveals the expected answer structure
955. **AI Overview** reveals what Google considers the definitive answer
96
97For each signal cluster, generate a user story:
98```
99As a [persona derived from signal],
100I want to [goal derived from query intent],
101because [emotional driver from ad copy / PAA tone],
102but I'm blocked by [barrier derived from PAA questions / related searches].
103```
104
105Generate 3-5 user stories covering the primary intent angles.
106
107### Step 5: Gap Analysis
108
109Compare the target page against SERP expectations across 7 dimensions:
110
111| Dimension | What to Compare | Score |
112|-----------|----------------|-------|
113| Page Type | Target type vs SERP dominant type | 0-15 |
114| Content Depth | Word count, heading depth, topic coverage | 0-15 |
115| UX Signals | CTA clarity, above-fold content, mobile layout | 0-15 |
116| Schema Markup | Present vs expected structured data types | 0-15 |
117| Media Richness | Images, video, interactive elements vs SERP norm | 0-15 |
118| Authority Signals | E-E-A-T markers, social proof, credentials | 0-15 |
119| Freshness | Last updated, date signals, content recency | 0-10 |
120
121**Total: 0-100 SXO Gap Score** (lower = larger gap, higher = better alignment)
122
123### Step 6: Persona-Based Scoring
124
125Read `references/persona-scoring.md` for methodology.
126
1271. Derive 4-7 personas from SERP intent signals:
128 - Cluster PAA questions by theme
129 - Segment ad copy by target audience
130 - Map related searches to journey stages
1312. For each persona, score the target page on 4 dimensions (25 pts each):
132 - **Relevance**: Does the page address this persona's need?
133 - **Clarity**: Can this persona find their answer within 10 seconds?
134 - **Trust**: Are there adequate trust signals for this persona?
135 - **Action**: Is there a clear next step for this persona?
1363. Output persona cards with scores and specific improvement recommendations
1374. Sort recommendations by weakest persona first (biggest opportunity)
138
139### Step 7: Wireframe Generation (Optional)
140
141Only execute when `/seo sxo wireframe` is invoked.
142
143Read `references/wireframe-templates.md` for templates.
144
1451. Generate IST (current state) wireframe from parsed page structure
1462. Generate SOLL (target state) wireframe based on:
147 - SERP consensus page type
148 - Gap analysis findings
149 - Persona scoring weaknesses
1503. Use ultra-concrete placeholders:
151 - NOT: "Add a CTA here"
152 - YES: "Add pricing CTA with annual savings badge below hero, linking to /pricing#enterprise"
1534. Output as semantic HTML section outline with annotations
154
155## DataForSEO Integration
156
157If DataForSEO MCP tools are available:
158
1591. **Before any API call**, run cost estimate and confirm with user
1602. Use `google_organic_serp` for precise SERP data (positions, features, snippets)
1613. Use `keyword_data` for search volume and competition metrics
1624. Fall back to WebSearch if DataForSEO unavailable -- note reduced precision in output
163
164## SXO Score vs SEO Health Score
165
166The SXO score is **separate** from the main SEO Health Score.
167
168- SEO Health Score = technical compliance (crawlability, speed, schema, etc.)
169- SXO Gap Score = alignment between page and SERP expectations
170- A page can score 95 SEO + 30 SXO = technically perfect but strategically misaligned
171- Both scores should be reported together when both are available
172
173## Cross-Skill References
174
175| Finding | Hand Off To |
176|---------|-------------|
177| E-E-A-T gaps in persona scoring | `/seo content` for deep E-E-A-T audit |
178| Missing schema types | `/seo schema` for generation |
179| Local intent detected in SERP | `/seo local` for GBP analysis |
180| Content depth gaps | `/seo page` for deep page analysis |
181| Technical issues found during fetch | `/seo technical` for full audit |
182| Image/media gaps | `/seo images` for optimization |
183
184## Output Format
185
186### Full SXO Analysis
187
188```
189## SXO Analysis: [URL]
190### Target Keyword: [keyword]
191
192### 1. SERP Landscape
193- Dominant page type: [type] ([confidence]% consensus)
194- SERP features: [list]
195- Content depth norm: [word count range]
196- Schema expectation: [types]
197
198### 2. Page-Type Alignment
199- Your page type: [type]
200- SERP expects: [type]
201- Verdict: [ALIGNED | MISMATCH (severity)]
202- Impact: [explanation]
203
204### 3. User Stories (derived from SERP signals)
205[3-5 user stories with source signals]
206
207### 4. Gap Analysis (SXO Score: XX/100)
208[7-dimension breakdown table]
209
210### 5. Persona Scores
211[4-7 persona cards with 4-dimension scores]
212
213### 6. Priority Actions
214[Ranked list: fix mismatch first, then weakest persona gaps]
215
216### 7. Limitations
217[What could not be assessed, data source notes]
218```
219
220## Error Handling
221
222| Error | Action |
223|-------|--------|
224| URL fetch fails | Report error, suggest checking URL accessibility |
225| No keyword provided or detected | Ask user to provide target keyword |
226| WebSearch returns <5 results | Proceed with available data, note limited sample |
227| SERP has no organic results (all ads) | Note highly commercial SERP, analyze ad copy only |
228| Target page is JavaScript-rendered | Note limitation, use available HTML content |
229| DataForSEO cost exceeds threshold | Fall back to WebSearch, notify user |
230
231## Quality Checklist
232
233Before delivering results, verify:
234- [ ] Target URL was fetched via `scripts/render_page.py --mode auto` (not raw curl/fetch)
235- [ ] Page type classification uses taxonomy from references
236- [ ] At least 5 SERP results were analyzed
237- [ ] User stories cite specific SERP signals as evidence
238- [ ] Persona scores include concrete improvement suggestions
239- [ ] SXO score is clearly labeled as separate from SEO Health Score
240- [ ] Limitations section is present and honest
241- [ ] Cross-skill recommendations are included where relevant