seo-monitoring
The seo-monitoring skill guides users in building a comprehensive SEO data analysis system that tracks four core metrics: indexing status, organic traffic, keyword rankings, and backlink quality. Use this skill when a user needs to set up benchmark tracking, create an article performance database, recover from algorithm penalties, establish a traffic diversification strategy, or manage SEO work documentation and monitoring dashboards.
git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/kostja94/marketing-skills /tmp/seo-monitoring && cp -r /tmp/seo-monitoring/skills/analytics/seo/seo-monitoring ~/.claude/skills/seo-monitoringSKILL.md
# Analytics: SEO Monitoring Guides building a holistic SEO data analysis system. Covers four core metrics (indexing, traffic, keywords, backlinks), benchmark setup, article database, tool selection, traffic diversification, penalty recovery, and work document management. **When invoking**: On **first use**, if helpful, open with 1-2 sentences on what this skill covers and why it matters, then provide the main output. On **subsequent use** or when the user asks to skip, go directly to the main output. ## Scope - **Core metrics**: Indexing, traffic, keywords, backlinks - **Benchmark**: Natural traffic baseline; trend comparison - **Article database**: Per-article performance tracking - **Tool selection**: GA4, GSC, SEO tools, analytics platforms - **Traffic diversification**: Healthy source mix - **Penalty recovery**: Algorithm impact, fix workflow - **Work documents**: Monthly records, responsibility tracking ## Four Core Metrics ### 1. Indexing | Metric | Purpose | Data Source | |--------|---------|-------------| | **Pages indexed / not indexed** | Coverage; early focus: all target pages indexed | GSC, site: command, SEO tools | | **Keyword count per page** | More keywords = more potential traffic | SEO tools | | **Index coverage** | Target pages indexed; functional pages findable | GSC, site: command | **Early priority**: Ensure all pages that need to rank are indexed. ### 2. Traffic | Metric | Purpose | Data Source | |--------|---------|-------------| | **Total traffic** | Growth; keyword relevance (irrelevant traffic has little value) | GA4, SEO tools | | **Subdirectory traffic** | Per-section performance; concentration vs dispersion | SEO tools, GA4 | | **Competitive comparison** | Organic, keyword traffic, total clicks vs competitors | SEO tools | | **Organic by page / country** | Granular breakdown | GA4, GSC | ### 3. Keywords | Metric | Purpose | Data Source | |--------|---------|-------------| | **Rank changes** | Target keyword movement | GSC, SEO tools | | **Keyword count** | New gains / losses per page | SEO tools, GSC | ### 4. Backlinks | Metric | Purpose | Data Source | |--------|---------|-------------| | **Referring domains vs backlinks** | Ratio; directory links can be high volume but low value | SEO tools | | **Backlink quality** | Do links drive traffic? Low ROI = deprioritize | SEO tools, GA4 (referral) | ## Natural Traffic Benchmark **Location**: GA4 > Reports > Acquisition > Traffic acquisition 1. Review organic traffic trend 2. Record baseline (e.g., monthly total) 3. Compare periodically to detect growth or decline **Tip**: Add CTA events on key articles to track content ROI (see **analytics-tracking**). ## Article Database Track per-article performance to find high/low patterns: | Field | Use | |-------|-----| | **URL, publish date, target keywords** | Content metadata | | **Index status, rank, traffic, backlinks** | Performance | | **vs benchmark or competitors** | Context | Use to guide topic selection, optimization, and resource allocation. ## Tool Selection *Tool examples are illustrative; no endorsement implied.* | Use | Tools | |-----|-------| | **Precise attribution** | GA4, GSC, Bing Webmaster, Yandex Webmaster | | **Visit analytics** | Analytics platforms (e.g. Umami, Plausible) | | **Third-party estimates** | SEO tools | | **SEO data** | SEO tools | **Attribution config**: - **User ID**: Cross-device, cross-session identification; send to GA4 - **GSC API**: Index, clicks, impressions, coverage for automation, dashboards Choose by privacy, cost, and team workflow. ## Traffic Diversification | Principle | Guideline | |-----------|-----------| | **Search share** | Keep organic search below ~75% of total | | **Health** | Higher direct + referral share = healthier | | **Brand sites** | Diversified traffic is common for strong brands | | **Non-brand** | Possible without brand (e.g., tool sites) | | **Reputation** | Site/brand reputation matters; Google assessors evaluate it | | **Engagement** | Content, email, social, free tools drive return visits | ## Penalty Recovery | Step | Action | |------|--------| | **Identify** | Which algorithm update caused the impact | | **Analyze** | Site issues; draft fix plan | | **Assess cost** | Decide if fixes are worth it; sometimes abandoning is best | | **Execute** | Implement changes; wait at least 3 months until next major update | | **Parallel** | Use other channels for quality traffic; improve engagement data for Google | | **Data window** | Google typically uses ~6 months of data for site quality | | **Recovery** | Outcome is uncertain; do what you can, then wait | ## Monitoring Metrics Table ### Traffic | Metric | Source | Notes | |--------|--------|-------| | Total sessions | GA4 | | | Channel share | GA4 | | | Channel absolute | GA4 | | | Country % and absolute | GA4 | | | Top pages | SEO tools | Compare with competitors | | Key page traffic | GA4 | Define "key pages" first | ### Engagement | Metric | Source | Notes | |--------|--------|------| | Pages per session | GA4 | Use GA for own site; third-party for competitors | | Avg session duration | GA4 | | | Bounce rate | GA4 | | ### Backlinks | Metric | Source | Notes | |--------|--------|------| | Domain authority | SEO tools | | | Backlinks, referring domains | SEO tools | | | Top referring domains by authority | SEO tools | | | Important links | Manual log | Track loss | | Link graph | SEO tools | Health check | | New quality links (self + competitors) | SEO tools | Outreach | | Indexed pages | SEO tools | High-authority pages; internal linking | | Outbound domains | SEO tools | Partnership opportunities | ### Keywords | Metric | Source | Notes | |--------|--------|------| | Keyword count | SEO tools | How many keywords rank | ### Content Output | Metric | Source | Notes | |--------|--------|------| | Articles published | Manual | Weekly count | | Published vs indexed | GSC | New content indexing | | New page traffic | G
When the user wants to create, optimize, or audit About page content. Also use when the user mentions "about page," "about us," "company story," "our team," "about section," "company overview," "brand story," "team page," or "who we are." For sitewide page planning, use website-structure.
When the user wants to plan, implement, or optimize affiliate marketing strategy. Also use when the user mentions "affiliate marketing," "affiliate program strategy," "CPS model," "affiliate recruitment," "commission structure," "affiliate partners," "affiliate network," "affiliate tracking," "affiliate commission," or "partner marketing." For affiliate page, use affiliate-page-generator.
When the user wants to create, optimize, or audit affiliate program page content. Also use when the user mentions "affiliate program," "affiliate page," "partner program," "referral program page," "affiliate landing," "partner landing," "commission page," or "affiliate signup." For affiliate program strategy, use affiliate-marketing.
When the user wants to track AI search traffic in GA4 or GSC. Also use when the user mentions "AI traffic," "ChatGPT referral," "Perplexity traffic," "AI Overviews," "GA4 AI sources," "AI search analytics," "track AI referrals," "AI search traffic," "Claude traffic," or "how to track AI traffic." For AI SEO strategy, use generative-engine-optimization.
When the user wants to create, optimize, or audit alternatives or comparison content (page or blog article). Also use when the user mentions "alternatives page," "alternatives listicle," "X alternatives," "competitor comparison," "vs page," "compare page," "best alternatives to X," "switch from X," "competitor brand traffic," "brand keyword ads," or "intercept competitor search." For competitor research, use competitor-research.
When the user wants to set up, audit, or optimize analytics tracking (GA4, events, conversions). Also use when the user mentions "Google Analytics," "GA4," "event tracking," "conversions," "attribution model," "gtag," "data layer," "GA4 setup," "conversion tracking," "event setup," "User ID tracking," or "CTA attribution." For traffic insights, use traffic-analysis.
When the user wants to create, optimize, or audit the API introduction/overview page. Also use when the user mentions "API page," "API landing page," "/api page," "API overview," "developer landing," "API marketing," or "API for developers." Note: API documentation (endpoint reference) lives in docs; use docs-page-generator.
When the user wants to write, generate, or create article body content—blog post body, long-form content, how-to guide, listicle. Also use when the user mentions "write article," "article content," "blog post content," "article body," "long-form content creation," "generate article," "article draft," "how-to guide content," "listicle content," "information gain," or "content density." For single post page structure, schema, and SEO metadata, use article-page-generator. For blog index/listing page, use blog-page-generator. For short ad, landing, or email copy, use copywriting.