name: seo-mastery
description: Search engine optimization strategies and tactics for organic growth. Use when optimizing content for search, conducting keyword research, performing SEO audits, or building link strategies.

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.

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

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

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

Anti-Patterns to Avoid

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