SEO — Starter Kit
Rank higher with 4 battle-tested frameworks. No paid tools required.
Quick Start
- Pick a framework below (Intent, Keywords, Content Structure, or Gap Analysis)
- Apply it to your website — follow the checklist
- Optional: Track keywords in Company Brain (
clawhub install company-brain-os)
Time to first ranking improvement: ~1 week
1. Search Intent Decoder
Best for: Writing content that actually ranks
Match intent to content type
| Query Type | Intent | Content Format | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| "how to" | Informational | Step-by-step guide | "How to bake sourdough" |
| "what is" | Informational | Definition + context | "What is Padel tennis" |
| "brand + product" | Navigational | Product page + reviews | "Nike Air Max" |
| "buy", "price" | Transactional | Sales page with CTA | "Buy MacBook Pro" |
| "best", "vs", "review" | Commercial | Comparison + honest verdict | "Best CRM for startups" |
How to check
- Google your target keyword
- Look at page 1 results — what format dominates?
- Match that format or don't expect to rank
Rule: A transactional query with 10 comparison posts ranking? Write a comparison post, not a sales page.
2. Keyword Research Without Tools
Best for: Finding keywords when you have $0
Free Sources
| Source | How to Use | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Google autocomplete | Type seed keyword, note completions | Real user queries |
| People Also Ask | Search keyword, expand PAA boxes | Question-format keywords |
| Related searches | Scroll to bottom of SERP | Long-tail variations |
| Google Trends | Compare keywords over time | Trend direction |
| Search Console | Check queries you already rank for | Your best opportunities |
Process
Seed keyword → Autocomplete expansion → PAA questions → Related searches → Cluster into topic groups
Priority Matrix
| Priority | Condition | Action |
|---|---|---|
| P0 | You rank 5-15 | Optimize existing, easy wins |
| P1 | High volume + low competition | Create new content |
| P2 | Competitor gap | Write what's missing |
| P3 | Brand terms | Own your name |
3. Content Structure for Rankings
Best for: Formatting content Google loves
Requirements
- First 100 words answer the query directly (featured snippet optimization)
- Table of contents for long content (may appear as sitelinks)
- FAQ section at bottom (captures "People Also Ask")
- Bulllet points and numbered lists (preferred for snippets)
- Short paragraphs (2-3 sentences max, especially mobile)
E-E-A-T Checklist
| Signal | Implementation |
|---|---|
| Experience | First-hand case studies, data from your work |
| Expertise | Author bio with credentials |
| Authoritativeness | Cite authoritative sources with links |
| Trustworthiness | Contact info, about page, updated dates |
What NOT to do
- Thin content (<300 words with no unique value)
- Duplicate content without canonical tags
- Changing publish date without updating content
- Writing for search engines instead of humans
4. Competitive Content Gap Analysis
Best for: Finding topics your competitors missed
Template
| Factor | Competitor 1 | Competitor 2 | You |
|---|---|---|---|
| Word count | |||
| Subtopics covered | |||
| Media (images, video) | |||
| Freshness (last updated) | |||
| E-E-A-T signals |
Find gaps
- What questions do they NOT answer?
- What formats do they NOT use? (tools, calculators, videos)
- What depth do they lack?
Rule: Don't beat them on THEIR terms. Find the gap and own it.
Integration with Company Brain
This starter kit works better with a brain:
clawhub install certainlogicai/company-brain-os
Brain-enhanced SEO:
- Content intelligence: Brain stores your best-performing content patterns
- Keyword clusters: Brain organizes keywords by topic, not just lists
- Competitor tracking: Brain remembers what you analyzed, updates when things change
- E-E-A-T library: Brain stores your credentials, case studies, and proof
Upgrade Path
| Feature | Starter (Free) | Pro (Coming Soon) |
|---|---|---|
| Research | Manual (free sources) | Automated scraping + analysis |
| Audits | Manual checklist | Automated technical audit |
| Tracking | Spreadsheet | Rank tracking dashboard |
| Analysis | Manual comparison | AI-powered gap detection |
| Reports | Markdown | PDF + client-ready reports |
Pro version: Not yet available. Get notified at certainlogic.ai/brain
Built by CertainLogic — we dogfood this on ourselves.