seo-writer

Role Definition

The SEO Writer is the search optimization integration specialist. This is a cross-cutting skill that provides SEO guidance during the Architect (planning), Carpenter (execution), and Judge (validation) phases. It does not replace those phases -- it augments them with search-aware decisions.

Lead: AI analyzes search intent, maps keywords, and runs SEO validation. Support: Human confirms keyword targets, approves heading architecture, and decides trade-offs between readability and optimization.

The SEO Writer understands search intent classification, keyword-to-heading mapping, heading architecture for crawlability, featured snippet targeting patterns, and E-E-A-T signals. It applies these across the writing workflow rather than as an afterthought bolted onto a finished draft.

When to Use This Skill

• When the content goal includes organic search visibility
• When you need to analyze search intent before planning content structure
• When mapping keywords to headings during the Architect phase
• When targeting featured snippets or People Also Ask boxes
• When integrating keywords naturally during the Carpenter phase
• When writing or reviewing meta elements (title tags, meta descriptions, URL slugs)
• When running SEO validation during the Judge phase
• When auditing existing content for on-page SEO gaps
• When consolidating multiple thin pages into a single authoritative resource
• When a published article is underperforming in search and needs diagnostic analysis
• When planning internal linking strategy across a content cluster

Core Workflow

1. Analyze Search Intent and SERP Landscape -- Classify the target query as informational, navigational, commercial, or transactional. Run the SERP analysis checklist to understand what content format dominates, what subtopics are table stakes, and where opportunity gaps exist. See references/search-intent-analysis.md.

2. Architect Phase: Map Keywords to Structure -- During the Architect phase, map primary and secondary keywords to specific headings. Plan which headings target People Also Ask questions. Identify featured snippet opportunities and assign snippet formats (paragraph, list, table) to specific sections. See references/keyword-mapping.md.

3. Carpenter Phase: Integrate and Enrich -- During the Carpenter phase, integrate keywords naturally into prose. Write the primary keyword into the first 100 words, H1, and conclusion. Use semantic variations throughout to avoid repetition. Write meta elements (title tag, meta description, URL slug). Add content enrichment elements: comparison tables, definition paragraphs, numbered steps, and key takeaway callouts. See references/snippet-targeting.md.

4. Judge Phase: Validate SEO Elements -- During the Judge phase, run the full SEO validation checklist. Check on-page elements, keyword placement density, content quality signals, heading hierarchy, featured snippet optimization, and E-E-A-T signals. Flag issues by severity. See references/seo-validation-checklist.md.

5. Deliver SEO Report -- Produce a structured SEO report covering on-page element status, keyword placement audit, content enrichment inventory, featured snippet readiness, and optimization recommendations. Present to the human for review before finalizing.

Reference Guide

Topic	Reference	Use When
Search Intent and SERP Analysis	references/search-intent-analysis.md	Classifying queries, analyzing SERP landscape, choosing content format
Keyword Mapping and Heading Architecture	references/keyword-mapping.md	Mapping keywords to headings, building SEO-aware outlines
Featured Snippet Targeting and Content Enrichment	references/snippet-targeting.md	Targeting snippets, writing meta elements, enriching content
SEO Validation Checklist	references/seo-validation-checklist.md	Running the full validation pass during Judge phase
Content Type Formats and Common Mistakes	references/seo-content-types.md	Choosing format by content type, avoiding SEO anti-patterns

Constraints

MUST DO:

• Match content format to the dominant search intent for the target query.
• Integrate keywords naturally -- every keyword placement must read as if it belongs.
• Validate heading hierarchy (H1 > H2 > H3, no skipped levels).
• Run SERP analysis before making structural decisions.
• Write meta elements (title tag, meta description, URL slug) for every SEO piece.
• Check E-E-A-T signals: specificity, first-hand experience, credible sources.
• Include content enrichment elements (tables, definition paragraphs, key takeaway callouts) in every SEO piece.

MUST NOT DO:

• Force keywords into awkward or unnatural sentences.
• Stuff keywords -- if density feels noticeable to a reader, it is too high.
• Sacrifice readability for SEO. Write for the reader first, optimize second.
• Skip SERP analysis and assume a content format.
• Use vague headings like "Introduction" or "Conclusion" that waste heading real estate.
• Treat SEO as a post-draft checklist. Integrate it from the Architect phase forward.
• Optimize for keywords that do not match the content's actual subject matter.
• Duplicate meta descriptions or title tags across multiple articles in a content cluster.
• Ignore heading hierarchy violations -- H1 to H3 with no H2 confuses crawlers and screen readers.
• Optimize for search volume alone without considering keyword difficulty and domain authority match.

Output Frontmatter

Every SEO artifact opens with YAML frontmatter so downstream phases can trace provenance:

---
type: seo-report
version: N
applies-to: draft-<N>.md
---

SEO work attaches to inner-loop artifacts rather than deriving from them, so it uses applies-to instead of parent. type values:

• seo-keyword-map -- Architect phase keyword mapping; applies-to is the outline-<N>.md it maps
• seo-report -- Judge phase validation; applies-to is the draft-<N>.md or final-draft-<X>.md audited

Carpenter-phase keyword integration lives in the draft itself and needs no separate artifact.

Output Templates

SEO Report

# SEO Report: [Article Title]

## Target Query
Primary keyword: [keyword]
Search intent: [informational / navigational / commercial / transactional]

## On-Page Elements
- Title tag (50-60 chars): [title]
- Meta description (150-160 chars): [description]
- URL slug: [slug]
- H1: [heading]

## Keyword Placement Audit
- [ ] Primary keyword in first 100 words
- [ ] Primary keyword in H1
- [ ] Secondary keywords mapped to H2 headings
- [ ] Semantic variations used throughout
- [ ] No keyword stuffing detected

## Featured Snippet Targets
[Section]: [snippet type] -- [status]

## Recommendations
[Prioritized list of optimization actions]

Knowledge Reference

This skill applies search engine optimization principles as a cross-cutting concern across the Madman-Architect-Carpenter-Judge writing workflow. Rather than treating SEO as an afterthought, it integrates keyword research, heading architecture, and content enrichment decisions into the planning, writing, and validation phases where they have the most impact. Reference documents in the references/ directory provide detailed procedures for search intent analysis, keyword mapping, snippet targeting, validation checklists, and content type guidance.

Search intent classification is the foundation of every SEO decision in this skill. The four intent types -- informational, navigational, commercial, and transactional -- determine content format, heading structure, and enrichment strategy. Misclassifying intent produces content that ranks for the wrong queries or fails to match user expectations even when it ranks correctly. SERP analysis validates the classification by examining what content formats currently dominate the results page for the target query.

E-E-A-T signals (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) are integrated rather than bolted on. Specificity of examples demonstrates experience. Depth of technical explanation demonstrates expertise. Citation of credible sources demonstrates authoritativeness. Transparent methodology demonstrates trustworthiness. These signals emerge naturally from good writing practice when the Madman and Carpenter phases are executed well. The SEO Writer's role is to verify their presence, not to fabricate them.

Featured snippet targeting requires format-specific optimization. Paragraph snippets need a concise 40-60 word definition or answer directly following the target heading. List snippets need clean ordered or unordered lists with consistent formatting. Table snippets need structured comparison data with clear column headers. The snippet format must match the query type: "what is" queries pull paragraph snippets, "how to" queries pull list snippets, and comparison queries pull table snippets.

Heading architecture serves both readers and crawlers. Every H2 should map to a secondary keyword or a People Also Ask question. Headings that waste real estate on generic labels like "Introduction" or "Conclusion" miss the opportunity to signal topical relevance. The heading hierarchy must be strictly sequential (H1 to H2 to H3) with no skipped levels, which also benefits accessibility and screen reader navigation.

Maintained by @jeffallan, Principal Consultant at Synergetic Solutions

Documentation