SEO-Guidelines-Smartcrawl/smartcrawl/content-analysis.md

Content Analysis

SmartCrawl provides real-time SEO and readability analysis in both the Classic Editor and Block Editor. This module is the primary tool for optimizing individual posts and pages.

Focus Keywords

How They Work

• Set up to 3 focus keywords per post/page (1 primary + 2 secondary)
• Enter as comma-separated values in the SmartCrawl meta box
• SmartCrawl checks the page content against each keyword
• The primary keyword gets the most checks; secondary keywords supplement

Best Practices for Focus Keywords

Rule	Details
One primary keyword per page	The single most important search term this page should rank for
1-2 secondary keywords	Closely related terms or long-tail variations
Match search intent	The keyword should match what the page actually delivers
Check for cannibalization	SmartCrawl shows the 10 most recent posts using the same keyphrase — avoid duplicates
Use natural language	"motorcycle safety course Anchorage" not "motorcycle+safety+course+anchorage"

Keyword Selection Per Page Type

Page Type	Primary Keyword Pattern	Example
Homepage	Core service + location	"motorcycle safety courses Alaska"
Service page	Specific service + location	"basic rider course Anchorage"
Blog post	Informational long-tail	"what to wear to a motorcycle safety course"
Portfolio	Role + qualifier	"instructional design portfolio"
Contact	Brand + contact	"contact Alaska Safe Riders"
Landing page	Transactional long-tail	"register motorcycle course Anchorage May 2026"

SEO Analysis Checks

SmartCrawl runs these checks against your focus keyword(s):

Title Tag

Check	Pass Criteria
Keyphrase in title	Primary keyphrase appears in the title tag
Title length	Between 50-60 characters
Title uniqueness	Not used by other posts

URL / Slug

Check	Pass Criteria
Keyphrase in URL	Primary keyphrase appears in the URL slug
URL structure	Uses hyphens (not underscores), reasonable length

Meta Description

Check	Pass Criteria
Keyphrase in description	Primary keyphrase appears in the meta description
Description length	120-160 characters
Hand-crafted	Not auto-generated from content excerpt

Content

Check	Pass Criteria
Keyphrase in H1	Primary keyphrase in the main heading
Keyphrase in subheadings	At least one H2/H3 contains the keyphrase
Keyphrase density	Appears a reasonable number of times (not too few, not stuffed)
Keyphrase in first paragraph	Appears within the first 100-200 words
Keyphrase in image alt text	At least one image has the keyphrase in its alt attribute
Content length	Sufficient content for the topic (no specific minimum enforced)

Links

Check	Pass Criteria
External links	At least one dofollow external link to a relevant, authoritative source
Internal links	Links to other pages on the site

Images

Check	Pass Criteria
Image optimization	Images have alt text, reasonable file names
Keyphrase in alt	At least one image alt includes the focus keyphrase

SEO Analysis Color Coding

Color	Meaning
Green	Check passed — well optimized
Yellow/Gray	Needs improvement — suggestion provided
Red	Critical issue — should be fixed

Interpreting Results

• Aim for all green on important pages
• Yellow is acceptable when the suggestion would make content unnatural
• Red should always be addressed unless you have a specific reason to deviate
• Don't sacrifice readability for a green check — natural writing always wins

Readability Analysis

SmartCrawl uses the Flesch-Kincaid readability test along with structural checks.

Flesch-Kincaid Score

Score	Reading Level	Assessment
90-100	5th grade	Very easy to read
80-89	6th grade	Easy to read
70-79	7th grade	Fairly easy
60-69	8th-9th grade	Target range
50-59	10th-12th grade	Fairly difficult
30-49	College level	Difficult
0-29	Graduate level	Very difficult

Target: 60-70 (8th-grade level). This is readable by the widest audience while still sounding professional.

Readability Checks

Check	Standard
Sentence length	Average under 20 words. 14+ words = hard. 25+ words = very hard.
Passive voice	Minimize passive constructions (aim for <10% of sentences)
Paragraph length	2-4 sentences per paragraph
Subheading distribution	Use subheadings every 200-300 words
Transition words	Use transition words to connect ideas

Readability Tips

• Break up long sentences — if a sentence has a comma and "and", it can usually be split
• Use active voice — "We teach motorcycle safety" not "Motorcycle safety is taught by us"
• Short paragraphs — walls of text hurt both readability scores and user engagement
• Use lists and tables where appropriate — they are easier to scan than prose
• Write at 8th-grade level — this is not "dumbing down," it is clear communication

Note: SmartCrawl's readability analysis is reportedly "more difficult to please" than other plugins. A yellow readability score is acceptable if the content reads naturally.

Content Analysis in the Editor

Where to Find It

• Classic Editor: SmartCrawl meta box below the editor
• Block Editor: SmartCrawl panel in the right sidebar

Real-Time Updates

Analysis updates as you type (with a short delay). No need to save/publish to see results.

Keyword Cannibalization Check

When you enter a focus keyword, SmartCrawl checks your other posts and shows the 10 most recent posts using the same keyphrase. If duplicates are found:

• Consider whether both pages are needed
• Differentiate their focus (e.g., one informational, one transactional)
• If truly duplicated, merge content into one page and redirect the other

Workflow Recommendation

For every page you publish or optimize:

1. Set the focus keyword(s) before writing or after outlining
2. Write naturally first — don't write "for the SEO checker"
3. Run the analysis after drafting
4. Address red items — these are genuine issues
5. Review yellow items — fix what makes sense, skip what would make content unnatural
6. Check readability — simplify where possible without losing substance
7. Preview the Google snippet — verify title and description look good in the preview