SEO Content Production

Complete workflow from keyword research to publication. This skill orchestrates other skills - it does not duplicate their functionality.

Workflow Overview

RESEARCH → STRUCTURE → SOURCES → DRAFT → QUALITY → PUBLISH │ │ │ │ │ │ seomachine outline proprietary write quality webflow content -loop -publish

Phase 1: Research

Use seomachine for Data

All SEO data comes from the seomachine skill. DO NOT hardcode credentials.

Credentials: Stored in vault .env file:

• DATAFORSEO_LOGIN , DATAFORSEO_PASSWORD

• Keyword research

• GA4_PROPERTY_ID , GOOGLE_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_PATH

• Traffic data

• GSC_SITE_URL

• Search Console data

Common research tasks:

Keyword research

import sys sys.path.insert(0, ".claude/skills/seomachine/modules") from dataforseo import DataForSEO

dfs = DataForSEO() ideas = dfs.get_keyword_ideas("waldorf vs montessori", limit=50) questions = dfs.get_questions("homeschool curriculum", limit=20) serp = dfs.get_serp_data("best homeschool math curriculum")

Generate content brief with competitor analysis

python3 .claude/skills/seomachine/scripts/content_brief_generator.py "keyword phrase"

Find keyword gaps vs competitors

python3 .claude/skills/seomachine/scripts/competitor_gap_finder.py --batch --min-volume 200

Validation Criteria

Before proceeding:

• Search volume > 500/month

• Keyword difficulty < 30 (winnable)

• Topic aligns with OpenEd expertise

• We have (or can create) proprietary perspective

Phase 2: Structure

Identify OpenEd's Unique Angle

Before outlining, answer:

• What does OpenEd believe about this topic? (Check opened-identity skill)

• What can we say that competitors can't? (Podcast quotes, staff expertise)

• What do most articles get wrong or avoid?

Content Type Templates

Templates are in references/content-templates.md . Common types:

Type Length When to Use

Comparison 2000-3000 X vs Y searches

Pillar Guide 2500-3500 "Complete guide to X"

How-To 2000-2500 "How to X" searches

Listicle 1500-2500 "Best X for Y" searches

Phase 3: Source Compilation

Search Order (Priority)

• OpenEd Book - .claude/references/OpenEdBook/

• Published Content - Search Master Content Index

• Podcast Transcripts - Grep Published Content/Podcasts/

• Staff Knowledge - Tag relevant team members

• External Research - Fill remaining gaps

Source Search Commands

Search published content

grep -rli "topic" "Published Content/" | head -20

Check Master Content Index

grep -B5 "Tags:.*homeschool" ".claude/references/Master_Content_Index.md"

Phase 4: Draft

Before Writing

• Research brief complete (from seomachine)

• Unique angle identified

• Sources compiled

• Internal links planned (3+ minimum)

Writing Constraints

Apply these skills automatically:

• ai-tells

• Patterns to avoid

• ghostwriter

• Authentic voice techniques

Key rules:

• BLUF first - lead with the answer, not the backstory (see references/bluf-rewrite-pattern.md )

• Table early (for skimmers)

• 5+ internal links, 2-3 external

• Use spaced hyphens - not em dashes

AI-isms to Eliminate

See references/ai-tells-quick-reference.md for full list.

Kill words: delve, comprehensive, crucial, leverage, landscape, navigate, foster, facilitate, realm, paradigm, journey, tapestry, myriad, seamless

Kill patterns:

• "It's not just X - it's Y" (correlative constructions)

• "In today's fast-paced world..."

• "Let's dive in..."

• "The best part? ..."

Phase 5: Quality Control

Use quality-loop Skill

Run every draft through 5 judges:

Judge Type Checks

Human Detector BLOCKING AI tells, correlative constructions

Accuracy Checker BLOCKING Facts verified against sources

OpenEd Voice BLOCKING Brand alignment, not preachy

Reader Advocate BLOCKING Engaging, logical flow

SEO Advisor ADVISORY Keywords, links, meta elements

Quick Checks (Grep Patterns)

Forbidden words

grep -inE "delve|comprehensive|crucial|leverage|landscape" DRAFT*.md

Correlative constructions

grep -inE "isn't just|not just .* - it's" DRAFT*.md

Em dashes (should be hyphens with spaces)

grep -n "—" DRAFT*.md

Internal link count

grep -oE '(https://opened\.co[^)]*\)|\(/[^)]*\)' DRAFT*.md | wc -l

Phase 6: Visuals

Use nano-banana-image-generator Skill

Asset Dimensions Style

Thumbnail 16:9 watercolor-line

Social card 1:1, 4:5 brand colors

Comparison article concepts:

• Two hands offering different gifts

• Split path through two environments

• Same tree with different root systems

Phase 7: Publish

Use webflow-publish Skill

Pre-publish checklist:

• All blocking judges passed

• Thumbnail created

• Meta elements finalized

• Internal/external links verified

Post-Publish

• Update articles that should link TO this piece

• Sync Master Content Index

• Schedule social promotion via newsletter-to-social

Skill Dependencies

Phase Primary Skill Purpose

Research seomachine

DataForSEO, GSC, GA4 data

Structure opened-identity

Brand perspective

Draft ai-tells , ghostwriter

Writing quality

Quality quality-loop

5-judge review

Visuals nano-banana-image-generator

Thumbnails

Publish webflow-publish

CMS upload

Social newsletter-to-social

Derivative posts

Project Folder Structure

Studio/SEO Content Production/[Topic]/ ├── SEO_RESEARCH_BRIEF.md # From seomachine ├── SOURCES.md # Compiled proprietary sources ├── OUTLINE.md # Approved structure ├── DRAFT_v1.md # First draft ├── DRAFT_v2.md # Post-quality-loop └── thumbnail-final.png # Header image

Quick Start

1. Validate topic with seomachine → Volume > 500, KD < 30, OpenEd has perspective

2. Create folder: Studio/SEO Content Production/[Topic]/

3. Run research: seomachine content brief + competitor gap

4. Compile sources: OpenEd book → Published → Podcasts → External

5. Get outline approved: Structure + unique angle

6. Draft with constraints: ai-tells + ghostwriter + internal links

7. Quality loop: 5 judges, fix blocking issues

8. Create thumbnail: nano-banana-image-generator

9. Publish: webflow-publish → newsletter-to-social

Refactored: 2026-01-29 (consolidated from seo-content-writer, removed credential exposure)