# Claude SEO System for Article Writing > Claude SEO Writer is a skill for Claude that turns SEO article writing into a sequential process. ## 1. What is Claude SEO Writer Claude SEO Writer is a specialized skill for Claude that transforms SEO article writing into a structured, production-grade workflow. Instead of an oversimplified prompt like "write an article about this keyword," the system methodically executes a full 10-stage engineering cycle: 1. Determines exact search intent. 2. Analyzes page 1 of Google and top-ranking competitors. 3. Researches authentic audience questions, pain points, and discussions on Reddit. 4. Builds a comprehensive semantic Keyword Map. 5. Constructs a detailed, section-by-section Article Blueprint. 6. Writes a complete, comprehensive First Draft backed by sources. 7. Performs a dedicated Humanization rewrite pass to eliminate AI cliches. 8. Verifies facts, statistics, citations, and links (Fact-Check Appendix). 9. Evaluates text quality across 9 criteria and rewrites weak sections. 10. Packages an end-to-end Delivery Package ready for CMS publishing. Under the hood, this is a sophisticated pipeline, but you don't have to orchestrate the steps manually. The entire workflow is organized into four clean passes: - **Pass 1 β€” Research + Blueprint:** topic exploration, Google SERP analysis, Reddit sentiment mining, semantic keyword mapping, and architectural outline sign-off. - **Pass 2 β€” First Draft:** SEO title options, meta description, narrative hook introduction, and full content sections written from primary sources. - **Pass 3 β€” Humanization:** complete structural rewrite focused on tone, cadence, and conciseness, stripping generic AI phrasing (or matching brand voice via Style Mirror). - **Pass 4 β€” Verification + Delivery:** rigorous fact-checking, automated quality audit (Quality Score), and final delivery packaging for one-click CMS deployment. > [!NOTE] > **Core Philosophy:** Research deeply first, engineer a validated blueprint second, and only then proceed to drafting, humanization, and factual verification. ## 2. What You Need to Get Started Setting up the system requires minimal prerequisites: - **Claude.ai account** (Pro or Team plan recommended). - **Skill package:** `seo-article-writer.skill` (or renamed to `.zip`). - **Setup time:** about 10 minutes for the initial project configuration. Once set up, the configuration persists across all future writing sessions. ### Enabling Required Capabilities Open your Claude settings: > πŸ“ **Menu Path:** `Profile β†’ Settings β†’ Capabilities` Ensure the following toggle is activated: - **Code execution and file creation** β€” required for Claude Skills to generate and read files. ### Selecting the Right Model We recommend using **Claude 3.7 Sonnet** (or Claude 3.5 Sonnet). The skill's internal prompts are fine-tuned for Sonnet's analytical precision. > [!TIP] > If your interface supports **Extended thinking**, enable it at least for **Pass 1 (Research + Blueprint)**. This is where Claude performs its heaviest analytical work: breaking down competitor gaps and synthesizing search intent. Once the outline is approved, you can disable it to conserve rate limits. ## 3. Installing the SEO Writer Skill Installation is a one-time process: 1. In Claude, navigate to `Settings β†’ Skills` (or `Customize β†’ Skills`). 2. Click **Β«Upload skillΒ»** (or the **+** button). 3. Select `seo-article-writer.skill`. 4. Wait for the upload to complete and verify that the skill appears as enabled in your skills list. > [!TIP] > If the uploader rejects the `.skill` extension as an unsupported file type, simply rename the file to `seo-article-writer.zip` (no need to change the internal archive contents) and upload again. ## 4. Creating a Dedicated SEO Project Create a dedicated workspace (Claude Project) named **SEO Article Writer**: > πŸ“ **Menu Path:** `Claude β†’ Projects β†’ New Project` This project will store persistent knowledge regarding your business, target audience, brand tone of voice, real case studies, and primary calls-to-action (CTAs). This eliminates the need to re-explain your context for every new article. In the Project Instructions field, paste the following system directive: ```text This project writes complete SEO articles built to rank on Google's first page and inside AI search engines (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews). Every article goes through a complete workflow: live competitor research, Reddit pain-point research, keyword mapping, an SEO blueprint, a first draft, a separate humanization rewrite, fact-checking and final quality control. If a product or service needs to be promoted, integrate it naturally into the article without turning the text into an obvious sales pitch. To start, type Start in a new chat inside this project. The work should be delivered in four passes: 1. Research + Blueprint 2. First Draft 3. Humanization Rewrite 4. Verification + Final Delivery ``` Save your project settings. ## 5. One-Time System Onboarding Open your newly created **SEO Article Writer** project, start a new chat, and send: ```text Start ``` On first execution, Claude will launch a comprehensive two-part onboarding interview (5 questions each) to tailor future output to your brand: - Core business model and product/service value propositions; - Target audience personas, emotional triggers, and objections; - Key organic search competitors and conversion goals (CTAs); - Editorial guidelines, voice preferences, and forbidden buzzwords; - Real-world case studies, proprietary statistics, and proof points (E-E-A-T). > [!TIP] > Provide concrete, specific answers. Real metrics, verifiable numbers, and actual case studies form strong E-E-A-T signals (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) that help your content outrank generic AI-generated articles in Google Search and AI answer engines. After the interview, Claude generates three foundational files: - `business-profile.md` β€” business overview, audience pains, target domains, and CTA strategies. - `voice-profile.md` β€” editorial voice rules, sentence cadence, and style blacklist. - `eeat-assets.md` β€” library of verified results, metrics, case studies, and proprietary insights. Upload all three generated files into your project knowledge: > πŸ“ **Upload Path:** `Project β†’ Project Knowledge β†’ Add content` Once added, Claude will remember your business context automatically and will never ask you to repeat the onboarding interview. ## 6. Running the Brief for Your First Article To write a new article, create a fresh chat inside your project and type: ```text Start ``` Because your profile files are stored in Project Knowledge, Claude skips the onboarding and immediately presents a 6-question briefing prompt: 1. **Topic or primary keyword:** e.g., `how to choose a CRM for a small business`. 2. **Keyword research:** paste your existing keyword list or reply `run it` to let Claude conduct live research. 3. **Target length:** specify word count (e.g., `2500 words`) or reply `you decide` to match top-ranking competitors. 4. **Must-include items:** proprietary data, required examples, specific references, or `nothing`. 5. **Product promotion:** product name and URL, `profile` (use project defaults), or `none` (strictly informational). 6. **Writing style:** choose `skill rules` (default concise style), `profile` (from `voice-profile.md`), or provide 1–3 reference URLs. Claude summarizes your inputs into a compact **Run Brief** and automatically initiates the research phase. ## 7. How the Research Pass Works Unlike standard LLM generation, Claude does not jump straight into drafting prose. It first compiles a thorough **Research Report**. ### Search Intent Analysis Claude classifies the keyword intent (informational, commercial, transactional, navigational) and identifies the underlying user problem. If Google's first page is saturated with head-to-head comparisons, the system won't write an introductory guide; it will create a high-depth comparative teardown. ### Cannibalization Check If your domain is configured in the profile, Claude checks existing search listings to ensure you haven't already published a piece targeting this exact query, preventing internal keyword conflict. ### Google Page 1 Gap Analysis (SERP Gaps) The system reviews top-10 competitor pages to analyze: - Section hierarchy and common H2/H3 coverage; - Mandatory topical baseline questions; - Outdated statistics, superficial explanations, and missing subtopics; - **Content Gap Map:** concrete opportunities to provide superior information. ### Reddit Audience Mining Claude crawls active Reddit threads within the niche to capture: - Common frustrations and unresolved discussions; - Failed solutions users have tried in real life; - The authentic vocabulary and colloquial phrasing real people use. ### Synthesis from Primary Sources For each identified problem, Claude retrieves answers from technical documentation, authoritative YouTube lectures, research papers, and case studies, capturing direct attribution links. ## 8. Generating the Article Blueprint The research findings are consolidated into an **Article Blueprint** β€” an engineering blueprint for the article. For each individual section, the Blueprint outlines: - The section's objective and the user question it resolves; - Secondary LSI keywords and *People Also Ask* queries covered; - Required statistics, data points, and counter-arguments; - Attribution links and citations; - Eligibility for Google Featured Snippets and AI Overview answer blocks. ### Engineering for Google (Information Gain) The outline covers all baseline topical expectations from Google's top 10 while introducing unique **Information Gain** β€” proprietary insights, original data, and real-world examples from `eeat-assets.md` that competitors lack. ### Engineering for AI Engines (Answer-First Format) To optimize for ChatGPT Search, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews: - Major sections lead with an **Answer-First block** (a standalone, direct summary answering the query in 2–3 sentences); - Sub-headings are framed as direct user questions; - Structured comparison tables and definition lists are pre-planned. ### Reviewing and Approving the Blueprint You receive the complete architectural plan: Title variations, URL slug, full H2/H3 hierarchy, and CTA placement. Review the structure carefully. If everything aligns with your goals, reply: ```text approved ``` If you want to modify sections or reorder topics, provide feedback in plain text. Drafting only begins once you approve the blueprint. ## 9. The Four-Pass Writing Pipeline The skill avoids attempting research, writing, polishing, and verification in a single prompt. Four sequential passes ensure rigor at every level. ### Pass 1 β€” Research + Blueprint The analytical discovery phase described above. Concludes with your `approved` command. ### Pass 2 β€” First Draft Claude writes the initial full-length article: - 3 SEO title candidates + recommended primary title; - Meta Description including primary keyword; - Editorial hook introduction; - Complete body copy written with direct reference to the retrieved sources. Once the draft is ready, Claude pauses and waits for your confirmation: ```text next ``` ### Pass 3 β€” Humanization Rewrite The entire article undergoes a complete rewrite: - Passive voice, filler sentences, and AI cliches (Β«in today's digital landscape...Β», Β«it is essential to consider...Β») are eradicated; - Sentence rhythm is varied and vocabulary is sharpened for clarity and momentum; - Factual claims, data points, internal links, and headings remain untouched. After reviewing the humanized copy, advance to the final step: ```text next ``` ### Pass 4 β€” Verification + Delivery The final quality assurance review: 1. Automated cross-referencing of every factual assertion and statistic against primary sources (**Fact-Check Appendix**). 2. 9-point quality assessment (**Quality Scorecard**). Any section scoring below 8/10 is automatically rewritten until it meets quality benchmarks. 3. Final compilation of the complete CMS-ready marketing package. ## 10. Voice Control and Product Integration ### Option 1 β€” Default Style (Skill Rules) Choosing `skill rules` produces a crisp, direct, high-momentum editorial voice inspired by modern business writing: punchy sentences, zero fluff, high insight density. ### Option 2 β€” Style Mirroring You can supply 1–3 reference articles. Claude decomposes their paragraph rhythm, sentence variance, vocabulary register, and humor, reproducing that exact voice. If saved in `voice-profile.md`, simply specify `profile`. ### Organic Product Promotion If promoting a product or service, Claude analyzes your landing page and embeds non-intrusive copywriting frameworks: - **PAS (Problem β†’ Agitate β†’ Solve):** surfacing the reader's bottleneck, exploring its cost, and positioning your solution as the next step. - **PPP (Proof β†’ Promise β†’ Plan):** verifiable evidence, a clear outcome, and a step-by-step roadmap. > [!IMPORTANT] > **Cardinal Rule:** **Reader value comes first**. The product is only introduced where it naturally solves an discussed challenge, never as an intrusive hard sell. ## 11. What's Inside the Delivery Package Upon completion, you receive a production-ready publishing bundle: - **Complete Markdown article** with formatted H2/H3 sections. - **SEO Metadata:** 3 Title options, Meta Description, canonical URL slug. - **FAQ Section:** 5–6 high-relevance questions derived from *People Also Ask*. - **Internal & External Link Strategy:** recommended contextual anchor text. - **Visual Asset Plan:** image placement notes, alt text descriptions, and Midjourney prompts. - **Fact-Check Appendix:** full audit table citing original sources for all claims. - **Quality Scorecard:** objective ratings on depth, readability, and E-E-A-T. - **Topic Cluster Expansion:** 3–5 complementary article titles to build topical authority. ## 12. SEO Audit Mode: Upgrading Existing Content The skill can also revitalize existing articles that have slipped in rankings. To trigger an audit, send: ```text Optimize this article for "best AI tools for small business": [paste URL or text] ``` Claude initiates a comparative analysis: 1. Compares your current content against the live top-10 Google SERP. 2. Identifies gaps in search intent, missing subtopics, and outdated statistics. 3. Produces a prioritized action plan: optimized titles, missing H2s, and schema recommendations. To execute the recommendations, simply reply: ```text apply ``` Claude will rewrite the article, humanize the text, verify new facts, and output a refreshed, ranking-ready version. ## 13. Step-by-Step Practice: Building an Article Here is the complete end-to-end execution flow. ### Step 1. Start a New Chat Inside the **SEO Article Writer** project, open a fresh chat and type `Start`. ### Step 2. Submit the Brief Paste your completed brief parameters: ```text Topic / keyword: how to choose a CRM for a small business Keyword research: run it Length: you decide Must include: comparison criteria, hidden costs, migration mistakes Product: none Style: profile ``` ### Step 3. Review the Blueprint Review the proposed outline, Answer-First blocks, and unique sections. Reply: ```text approved ``` ### Step 4. Inspect the First Draft Review the draft and reply: ```text next ``` ### Step 5. Evaluate the Humanized Copy Check the refreshed tone and reply: ```text next ``` ### Step 6. Receive the Delivery Package Copy the final article, metadata, FAQ markup, image prompts, and cluster ideas directly into your CMS. > [!TIP] > **Command Sequence Cheat Sheet:** > `Start` β†’ (brief) β†’ `approved` β†’ `next` β†’ `next` β†’ publishing bundle. ## 14. Troubleshooting Common Issues ### Claude Does Not Launch SEO Writer After Β«StartΒ» Verify that the skill is enabled under `Settings β†’ Skills` and confirm that **Code execution and file creation** is turned on in your account settings. ### File Upload Rejection If the browser rejects the `.skill` extension, rename the file to `.zip` and re-upload. ### Claude Repeats the Onboarding Interview This occurs when the system cannot locate your profile files. Ensure `business-profile.md`, `voice-profile.md`, and `eeat-assets.md` are uploaded into **Project Knowledge**. ### Research Pass Takes Longer Than Usual This is expected behavior. Claude performs live web searches, analyzes competitor pages, and queries Reddit discussions during this phase. High-depth research takes 1–2 minutes. ### How to Request Changes to the Blueprint Do not type `approved`. Instead, specify your adjustments in plain text (e.g., Β«remove section 4, add a pricing comparison table, and expand on data migrationΒ»). ### Updating an Already Published Post Never start from scratch to avoid keyword cannibalization. Use `Optimize this article for "[target keyword]": [URL]`, review the suggested audit changes, and send `apply`.