SEO Research for Content Writers
A working routine for writers who want articles to rank: pick the keyword, read what top pages cover, write to a brief and score the draft.
Clients now ask writers for pages that rank, not only pages that read well. You do not need to become an SEO. You need a repeatable way to choose a topic, see what a good page covers, and check your draft before you send it.
Step 1: choose the keyword with the client
Ask which page the article is for, who will read it and what they should do next. Then look at the keyword. In keyword research you can see volume, difficulty and intent for the phrase, in the country your reader is in. If the keyword is too hard for a young site, suggest a narrower one, and show the client the numbers.
Step 2: read what already ranks
Open the top results. Note the sections they share, the questions they answer, how long they run and whether they lean on lists, steps or tables. A content brief gathers this for you from up to ten pages, with the intent and a suggested length.
Step 3: write your version
A brief is a map, not a script. Cover the sections and questions it lists, and add what only you can: a real example, a client detail, a step you have tried yourself. That is the part a reader remembers.
Step 4: score the draft
Paste the draft into the brief. The score looks at length, topics covered, headings, questions answered, keyword use and readability, and lists what is missing. Scoring is free, so you can fix and score again as often as you like.
Step 5: hand it over with proof
Send the client the draft, the brief and the score. It shows the work behind the article, which makes revisions shorter and conversations about rates easier.
A note on honesty
A high score does not guarantee a ranking. It tells you the page covers what the best results cover. Whether it ranks also depends on the site, its links and how useful the page really is. Say so to clients, and you will not be blamed for things outside your control.
Keep it cheap
Making a new brief is one paid lookup, and the price shows first. Opening saved briefs and scoring drafts cost nothing. Credit does not expire, so a slow month costs nothing.