# SEO Guidelines (SmartCrawl) — CLAUDE.md

> AI context file for Claude Code sessions.

## Project Identity

**SEO-Guidelines-Smartcrawl** is a comprehensive reference repository for configuring and using the SmartCrawl SEO plugin across Keylink IT managed WordPress sites. Includes SmartCrawl configuration guides, SEO keyword strategy, and reusable templates.

- **Repository**: https://git.keylinkit.net/craig/SEO-Guidelines-Smartcrawl
- **Plugin**: SmartCrawl v3.15.0 (WPMU DEV)

## Purpose

When working on SEO for any Keylink IT client site that uses SmartCrawl, this repository serves as:

1. **Configuration reference** — How to set up every SmartCrawl module with optimal settings
2. **SEO strategy playbook** — Keyword research, on-page optimization, local SEO, and content strategy
3. **Reusable templates** — Audit checklists, keyword research worksheets, and per-page optimization checklists

## Repository Structure

```
├── smartcrawl/
│   ├── overview.md                    # Feature inventory, Pro vs Free, version info
│   ├── configuration.md               # Module-by-module setup with recommended settings
│   ├── titles-and-meta.md             # Template macros, per-page overrides, best practices
│   ├── schema-markup.md               # All supported types, LocalBusiness, WooCommerce
│   ├── sitemaps.md                    # XML, News, Image sitemaps config + exclusions
│   ├── social-og-twitter.md           # Open Graph + Twitter Card setup
│   ├── redirects.md                   # 301/302/307, regex, bulk import, gotchas
│   ├── breadcrumbs.md                 # Shortcode usage, schema output, styling
│   ├── content-analysis.md            # Focus keywords, SEO checks, readability scoring
│   ├── hooks-and-filters.md           # Developer API reference (wds_* hooks)
│   └── known-issues.md                # Gotchas, conflicts, limitations
├── seo-strategy/
│   ├── keyword-research.md            # Fundamentals, free tools, competitor analysis
│   ├── keyword-selection-by-page.md   # Strategy per page type (home, service, blog, etc.)
│   ├── on-page-optimization.md        # Title tags, meta descriptions, headers, content, images
│   ├── local-seo.md                   # GBP, NAP consistency, local schema, geo-keywords
│   ├── technical-seo.md               # Core Web Vitals, mobile-first, crawlability, canonicals
│   └── content-strategy.md            # Topic clusters, gap analysis, seasonal, prioritization
└── templates/
    ├── site-audit-checklist.md        # Pre-optimization audit template
    ├── keyword-research-template.md   # Worksheet for keyword research per site
    └── page-optimization-template.md  # Per-page SEO checklist
```

## How to Use

### Starting SEO on a new site

1. Run the [Site Audit Checklist](templates/site-audit-checklist.md) to assess current state
2. Follow [SmartCrawl Configuration](smartcrawl/configuration.md) to set up the plugin
3. Use the [Keyword Research Template](templates/keyword-research-template.md) to identify targets
4. Apply the [Page Optimization Template](templates/page-optimization-template.md) to each priority page

### Optimizing an existing site

1. Review [On-Page Optimization](seo-strategy/on-page-optimization.md) for current best practices
2. Check [Known Issues](smartcrawl/known-issues.md) for any relevant gotchas
3. Use Search Console data mining from [Keyword Research](seo-strategy/keyword-research.md) to find quick wins

### Local business sites

Start with [Local SEO](seo-strategy/local-seo.md) — for small businesses, local optimization often has the highest ROI.