seo-audit

# SEO Audit Skill

A comprehensive SEO audit methodology that evaluates content for both traditional search engine optimization and modern AI/LLM visibility (GEO). Informed by Google's multi-stage ranking pipeline.

## When to Use

- Auditing existing content for SEO performance
- Reviewing new content before publication
- Identifying optimization opportunities
- Assessing AI citation readiness
- Evaluating E-E-A-T signals
- Checking technical SEO elements
- Diagnosing why content isn't ranking
- Auditing new domains (sandbox considerations)

## Google's Ranking Pipeline

Content passes through sequential evaluation gates. Understanding this pipeline informs what to audit and why.

```
Mustang → Topicality (T*) → NavBoost → Twiddlers
   ↓           ↓              ↓           ↓
 Initial   Query-match    User clicks   Final
 scoring   relevance      (13 months)   adjustments
```

**Key Implications:**
- Content must pass Mustang's quality gate before relevance even matters
- User behavior (NavBoost) accumulates over 13 months—patience required
- Two foundational pillars: Q* (site quality) and P* (popularity via Chrome data)
- Page potential is capped by domain's `siteAuthority` score

See `resources/google-ranking-signals.yaml` for complete signal reference.

## Audit Framework

### Phase 0: Domain & History Context

Before auditing content, assess domain-level factors that cap page potential:

**Domain Authority Check:**
- [ ] Established domain (>6 months) or new domain sandbox?
- [ ] Site-wide quality signals (clutterScore, ad density)
- [ ] Homepage authority inheritance for new pages
- [ ] Brand entity recognition (`queriesForWhichOfficial`)

**URL History Assessment:**
- [ ] Is this an established URL with history?
- [ ] URL changes reset accumulated trust (Google tracks last 20 versions)
- [ ] Evergreen URL structure (no dates unless news content)
- [ ] URL permanence strategy in place

**Sandbox Awareness (New Domains/Pages):**
| Factor | Status | Impact |
|--