SEO Optimization Tool Guide

WordAgents specializes in SEO content, which includes creating content with the help of a range of keyword optimization tools. This guide will help you navigate various tools our clients can request that we use when creating their content.

How Do I Know If My Assignment Has an SEO Add-On?

Not sure if your assignment has an SEO add-on? Here's how to find out.

First, the pay rate should reflect the add-on. Second, look at the order information. If you see the optimization tool add-on in the 'see details' popup, that indicates that the client paid for the tool.

The tool link will be IN the instructions. If you notice a SEO tool in the instructions, but not as an “add-on,” ask for clarification. In doubt? Please check before accepting an assignment (or starting to write).

If the client has included an optimization tool but didn’t pay, please include 20 terms/keywords (if the list exceeds 20 terms) and follow any information provided regarding the outline. In short, if the client doesn’t pay, you don’t need to fully optimize the content, but our minimum of 20 keywords still applies.

Common WordAgents Client-Provided Tools

The optimization tools we use most often are SurferSEO, Clearscope, Topic, MarketMuse, Content Harmony, and Frase. We’ll discuss some of the basics of each.

SurferSEO

SurferSEO is a well-known optimization tool with a speedometer-type measurement scoring system.

SurferSEO Rules:

• Writers must optimize their article with the keywords and direction from SurferSEO so the document receives a Content Score of 70 or better.

• All relevant terms must be included in the document the number of times the tool suggests. The term will turn green in the right sidebar once you have included the term in your document the appropriate number of times.

Documents:

• SurferSEO Content Editor Guide

• SurferSEO Content Score Guide

Helpful Tips:

• How to Improve Content Score

• Before you start writing in SurferSEO or copy and paste your article to check the score, it’s important to make sure that there are no outlines or additional information in the SurferSEO writing panel. If you see some notes or an outline, simply copy and paste them into a blank doc just in case you need it for your assignment.

• Please check out the Terms/Topics/Note tabs that are located below the SurferSEO Content Score on the right side of the screen.

• You can write your content in Surfer SEO or copy and paste after you complete the article. Regardless of which you choose, PLEASE make sure your final draft is properly formatted and optimized.

• You might run into some word count discrepancies on the content score section vs. the order brief in SPP. Always follow the word count in SPP.

• The content score may also ask for images. Please note that we do not offer images as part of our service at this time. You are not required to include images, but may do so if you choose.

• If you encounter a term that doesn’t seem relevant to the article or you are unable to boost your Content Score, don’t hesitate to reach out and ask for guidance. Some articles will not meet the preferred score even when all terms are fulfilled.

Check out this video: Using The Writing Panel

Clearscope

Clearscope

Clearscope Rules:

• Clearscope uses a grading system for optimizing content. In most cases, the client chooses a minimum grade for the content. (If no grade is provided in the upper left hand corner of the text editor the minimum should be B+)

Video Guides:

• How to optimize content in Clearscope’s text editor

• Clearscope basics

Helpful Tips:

• You can write your content in the text editor or copy and paste after you complete the article. Make sure your final draft is properly formatted and optimized.

• When you open the Clearscope link you will notice a grade in the upper left hand side of the screen and a list of relevant terms on the right hand side. These terms are like main and secondary/lsi keywords. You’ll notice that some might have “heading” listed next to it and you’ll also see a range. The goal is to get the majority (if not all) terms within the range, much like SurferSEO.

Topic Content Grader

Topic (also known as Use Topic) is similar to Clearscope in the sense that it uses a grade and has relevant terms and heading suggestions. It’s important to create content using the relevant terms as naturally as possible and meet the minimum grade.

However, Topic also has a full outline feature under the Content Research tab. Many clients expect writers to use this tab as a jumping-off point for research, sources, and heading suggestions.

*Please double check for any additional notes or outlines that might be in Topic before you optimize the content with the terms. You can also use the outline generation tool to put together an outline directly from the provided Research.

You can write your content in the text editor or copy and paste after you complete the article. Make sure your final draft is properly formatted and optimized.

Check out this tutorial: How to optimize with Use Topic Content Grader

Frase

When you click on the Frase link from the client, you’ll see two tabs in the report. The Content Brief will have more information about your topic. The “My Content” tab is where you will either write your article or copy and paste to check your score.

In the Top Results section you’ll see how your content compares with Average content. Keep in mind that the goal is to exceed “average” but we don’t add images to our articles and the word count may differ.

If you click on Topic Score, this will show you a list of terms and range of recommended distribution. The goal of Topic Score is 100% (or whatever the client specifies) and definitely beyond the yellow gauge on the green line.

Like other optimization tools, Frase may have a different word count than what’s assigned. Always stick with the assigned word count. Make sure your final draft is properly formatted and optimized.

MarketMuse

MarketMuse typically has three parts: Executive Summary, Outline Brief, and Optimize. The Executive Summary and Outline Brief break down the terms and topics a little bit more, but you’ll likely focus on the Optimize tab.

Like other optimizing tools on this list you’ll see a list of terms on the right hand side of the screen. In the upper left you will see content score and target score. When you copy and paste your content (or write directly in the report) you want to meet or exceed the target score by using the suggested range of terms.

Make sure your final draft is properly formatted and optimized.

*Please note, the target word count may be different from the assigned word count. Always stick with the assigned word count that’s in the order instructions*

Hemingway App

*Hemingway doesn’t fall into our optimization add-on category*

Hemingway App is a tool that helps with the “readability” score. While Grade 5 or 6 content is common, some clients will request Grade 7 (or another grade). Always optimize to meet the client requirements — but keep in mind that the article still needs to make sense and read well.

The tool gives you a lot of suggestions of things to change to make the content more “readable” like reducing passive voice, shortening sentences, and eliminating very hard to read sections. Keep in mind that depending on your content and topic, you might not be able to resolve some issues.

You can either write in Hemingway or copy and paste. Make sure your final draft is properly formatted and optimized.

Check out Hemingway’s Help and FAQ section

Optimization Tools: Extra Tips

Though every optimization tool is different, you'll likely notice some trends with some or all of them. For example, some tools have specific requirements for key terms, while others are a bit more flexible.

Consider these tips when working with SEO add-on tools:

• Always check out the keyword list before starting your article; it's easier to work with KWs from the start rather than adding them in later

• Don't trust any SEO tool explicitly to save your work. While you can write in any tool, they're not as reliable as our trusty word processing programs. If you lose your work because an SEO tool page freezes/crashes, there's nothing we can do to retrieve it.

• Some tools won't count keywords if they're part of a hyperlinked phrase

• Some tools only count keywords that are used verbatim; others accept spaces/stop words/etc.

• Not every SEO tool follows SEO best practices (like the above point) — sometimes a human interpretation is needed and can skew the score. When in doubt, ask for help!

• Some tools pull common phrases that seem nonsensical given your topic; learn to ignore these. Terms like cart, email, buy now, and other sales-y phrases are common nonsense KW suggestions

• Many awkward phrases/long-tail keywords work well as headers (especially questions)

• If a key term is misspelled, please spell it correctly; our clients do appreciate proper spelling

For more general SEO tips, see the SEO Basics for Writers document.

Final Takeaways

If you use an optimization tool correctly it shouldn’t be too time-consuming to optimize and finalize your work. Remember, you are being paid more for optimizing the article, so it may take you a little longer than if you were just proofing your article and running through Grammarly.

Never hesitate to ask for help. If something doesn’t seem right, if the information doesn’t match with the topic, or if you’re stuck and can’t seem to boost your score/grade, reach out and ask for help.