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