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:

Configuration reference — How to set up every SmartCrawl module with optimal settings
SEO strategy playbook — Keyword research, on-page optimization, local SEO, and content strategy
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

Run the Site Audit Checklist to assess current state
Follow SmartCrawl Configuration to set up the plugin
Use the Keyword Research Template to identify targets
Apply the Page Optimization Template to each priority page

Optimizing an existing site

Review On-Page Optimization for current best practices
Check Known Issues for any relevant gotchas
Use Search Console data mining from Keyword Research to find quick wins

Local business sites

Start with Local SEO — for small businesses, local optimization often has the highest ROI.

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