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Every article created with SEO Machine must meet these quality standards to ensure consistent excellence and SEO performance.

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Content Requirements

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Length

  • Minimum: 2,000 words
  • Preferred: 2,500-3,000+ words
  • Target: Match or exceed top 10 SERP average (use /research-serp)
Why: Comprehensive content ranks better. Top-ranking articles average 2,500+ words.

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Value Proposition

  • Provides unique value vs. competitors
  • Answers user’s search intent completely
  • Includes actionable advice
  • Uses specific examples and data
  • Addresses “People Also Ask” questions
Test: Would you share this with a colleague? If not, it needs work.

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Accuracy

  • Factually accurate and current
  • Statistics cited with sources
  • Examples are real and relevant
  • Up-to-date (current year mentioned)
  • No outdated information
Rule: Cite every statistic. Link to original sources.

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Brand Voice

  • Matches context/brand-voice.md guidelines
  • Tone appropriate for target audience
  • Terminology consistent with style guide
  • Voice pillars maintained throughout
Check: Read aloud. Does it sound like your brand?

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SEO Standards

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Keyword Optimization

Primary Keyword Density: 1-2%
  • Too low (less than 0.5%): Increase mentions naturally
  • Good (1-2%): Perfect range
  • Too high (>3%): Reduce to avoid keyword stuffing
Keyword Placement:
  • H1 title (required)
  • First 100 words (required)
  • 2-3 H2 headings (required)
  • Meta title (required)
  • Meta description (required)
  • URL slug (recommended)
  • Image alt text (recommended)
LSI Keywords:
  • Include 5-10 related terms
  • Use semantic variations naturally
  • Cover topic cluster terms

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Internal Linking

Requirements:
  • 3-5 internal links minimum
  • Descriptive anchor text (not “click here”)
  • Links to relevant, related content
  • Links to pillar pages when applicable
  • Strategic user journey mapping
Best Practices:
  • Link from high-authority pages to new content
  • Use varied anchor text
  • Link early in the article (first 300 words)
  • Reference context/internal-links-map.md

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External Linking

Requirements:
  • 2-3 external authority links minimum
  • All statistics cited with links
  • Link to credible sources (.gov, .edu, industry leaders)
  • No broken links
Avoid:
  • Linking to direct competitors
  • Linking to low-quality sites
  • Excessive external linking (>10)

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Meta Elements

Meta Title:
  • 50-60 characters (required)
  • Includes primary keyword
  • Compelling and clickable
  • Year included if freshness important
  • Brand name at end (optional)
Format: [Primary Keyword]: [Benefit/Hook] (2026) Meta Description:
  • 150-160 characters (required)
  • Includes primary keyword
  • Clear value proposition
  • Call-to-action included
  • Compelling and actionable
Format: [What reader will learn/gain]. [Supporting detail]. [CTA] Example: 
Title: Content Marketing Strategies: 15 Proven Tactics (2026)
Description: Master content marketing with 15 strategies used by top brands. Get templates, examples, and step-by-step guides. Start ranking higher today.

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Heading Structure

H1 (Title):
  • Only one H1 per page
  • Includes primary keyword
  • Clear and compelling
  • 60 characters or less
H2 (Main Sections):
  • Logical flow
  • Include keyword variations
  • 3-7 main sections
  • Every 300-400 words
H3 (Subsections):
  • Support H2 sections
  • Break up dense content
  • Use as needed for clarity
Hierarchy: Always use proper nesting (H1 → H2 → H3, never skip levels)

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Readability Standards

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Reading Level

  • Target: 8th-10th grade (Flesch-Kincaid)
  • Flesch Reading Ease: 60-70 (Standard)
How to achieve:
  • Use simple words over complex ones
  • Short sentences (15-20 words average)
  • Mix sentence lengths for rhythm
  • Avoid jargon unless necessary
  • Define technical terms

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Sentence Length

  • Average: 15-20 words
  • Maximum: 30 words (occasionally)
  • Minimum: 5 words (occasionally)
Rule: Vary sentence length for readability and engagement.

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Paragraph Length

  • Target: 2-4 sentences per paragraph
  • Maximum: 5 sentences
Why: Short paragraphs are easier to scan online.

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Formatting

Subheadings:
  • Every 300-400 words
  • Descriptive and clear
  • Skimmable structure
Lists:
  • Use bullet points for non-sequential items
  • Use numbered lists for steps/rankings
  • Keep list items parallel in structure
Bold/Emphasis:
  • Highlight key points
  • Use sparingly (not every sentence)
  • Bold important terms, not full sentences
White Space:
  • Ample spacing between sections
  • Short paragraphs
  • Visual breathing room

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Structural Standards

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Introduction

Length: 100-150 words Must include:
  • Hook (question, statistic, bold statement)
  • Problem/pain point
  • Promise (what reader will learn)
  • Primary keyword in first 100 words
Example: 
73% of content marketers say their biggest challenge is creating 
content that ranks. [HOOK]

If you're struggling to get your content on page 1, you're not alone. 
[PROBLEM]

In this guide, you'll discover 15 proven content marketing strategies 
that top brands use to dominate search results. [PROMISE] Each strategy 
includes step-by-step instructions, real examples, and templates you can 
use today. [DETAILS]

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Body

Structure:
  • Logical section flow
  • Each section builds on previous
  • Clear transitions between sections
  • Examples in every major section
Content depth:
  • Answer questions completely
  • Provide context and background
  • Include real-world examples
  • Add data and statistics
  • Address potential objections

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Conclusion

Length: 100-200 words Must include:
  • Summary of key points
  • Clear call-to-action
  • Next steps for reader
Example: 
You now have 15 content marketing strategies proven to increase rankings 
and drive traffic. Start with quick wins like optimizing your existing 
top performers, then build comprehensive topic clusters around your core 
keywords.

Ready to put these strategies into action? Download our free content 
marketing template to plan your next 90 days of content.

[CTA Button: Download Free Template]

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Visual Standards

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Images

Requirements:
  • At least 1 image per 500 words
  • Featured image at top
  • Screenshots for tutorials
  • Original images preferred over stock
  • Proper alt text (includes keyword)
  • Compressed for web (less than 200KB)
Alt text format: [Keyword] [what image shows] Example: Content marketing dashboard showing traffic increase

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Other Media

  • Videos (embedded YouTube/Vimeo)
  • Infographics for complex data
  • Tables for comparisons
  • Charts for statistics
  • GIFs for demonstrations

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Quality Checklist

Use this checklist before publishing:

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Pre-Publishing Checklist

Content:
  • 2,000+ words (2,500-3,000+ preferred)
  • Unique value vs competitors
  • Factually accurate and current
  • Actionable advice included
  • Brand voice maintained
  • No spelling/grammar errors
  • Read aloud for flow
SEO:
  • Primary keyword density 1-2%
  • Keyword in H1, first 100 words, 2-3 H2s
  • 3-5 internal links with descriptive anchors
  • 2-3 external authority links
  • Meta title 50-60 characters
  • Meta description 150-160 characters
  • Proper H1>H2>H3 hierarchy
  • URL slug includes keyword
Readability:
  • 8th-10th grade reading level
  • Average sentence 15-20 words
  • Paragraphs 2-4 sentences
  • Subheadings every 300-400 words
  • Lists for scannability
Structure:
  • Compelling introduction (hook, problem, promise)
  • Logical section flow
  • Clear conclusion with CTA
  • Examples and data throughout
Visuals:
  • Featured image
  • 1 image per 500 words
  • All images have alt text
  • Images compressed (less than 200KB)
Technical:
  • All links working (no 404s)
  • Images load correctly
  • Responsive on mobile
  • FAQ schema added (if applicable)
  • Internal links point to correct pages

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Content Scoring

SEO Machine uses the Content Scorer module to evaluate articles on 5 dimensions:

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1. Humanity Score (0-100)

Measures: How human vs AI-generated the content sounds
  • 90-100: Excellent - Natural, conversational, engaging
  • 70-89: Good - Minor improvements needed
  • 50-69: Fair - Noticeable AI patterns
  • less than 50: Poor - Heavy editing required
To improve:
  • Add personal anecdotes
  • Use conversational transitions
  • Vary sentence structure
  • Include specific, real examples
  • Remove AI watermarks (em-dashes, filler phrases)

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2. Specificity Score (0-100)

Measures: Use of concrete examples vs generic statements
  • 90-100: Excellent - Highly specific
  • 70-89: Good - Mostly specific
  • 50-69: Fair - Too generic
  • less than 50: Poor - Vague platitudes
To improve:
  • Replace “many companies” with “73% of SaaS companies”
  • Add real brand names and examples
  • Include exact numbers and data
  • Use case studies
  • Be precise with recommendations

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3. Structure Score (0-100)

Measures: Heading hierarchy, formatting, scannability
  • 90-100: Excellent - Perfect structure
  • 70-89: Good - Minor issues
  • 50-69: Fair - Structure problems
  • less than 50: Poor - Difficult to scan
To improve:
  • Fix heading hierarchy
  • Add more H2/H3 subheadings
  • Use more lists
  • Break up long paragraphs
  • Add tables for comparisons

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4. SEO Score (0-100)

Measures: On-page SEO optimization
  • 90-100: Excellent - Fully optimized
  • 70-89: Good - Minor optimizations needed
  • 50-69: Fair - Multiple SEO issues
  • less than 50: Poor - Major work required
To improve:
  • Optimize keyword placement
  • Add internal links
  • Improve meta title/description
  • Fix heading structure
  • Add LSI keywords

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5. Readability Score (0-100)

Measures: Reading ease, sentence/paragraph length
  • 90-100: Excellent - Very easy to read
  • 70-89: Good - Readable
  • 50-69: Fair - Could be easier
  • less than 50: Poor - Difficult to read
To improve:
  • Shorten sentences
  • Simplify vocabulary
  • Break up paragraphs
  • Use more transitions
  • Add more white space

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Overall Content Score

Weighted average: 
Final Score = (
  Humanity × 0.25 +
  Specificity × 0.25 +
  Structure × 0.20 +
  SEO × 0.20 +
  Readability × 0.10
)
Publishing Readiness:
  • 90-100: Excellent - Publish immediately
  • 80-89: Good - Minor polish, then publish
  • 70-79: Fair - Address high-priority issues first
  • less than 70: Poor - Significant revision needed

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Tools for Quality Assurance

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Built-in Agents

Use these agents for automated quality checks:
  • Content Analyzer: Comprehensive 5-module analysis
  • SEO Optimizer: On-page SEO scoring and recommendations
  • Editor: Humanity and readability improvements
  • Keyword Mapper: Keyword density and distribution

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Commands

  • /optimize [file]: Final optimization pass
  • /scrub [file]: Remove AI patterns and watermarks

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Python Modules

  • seo_quality_rater.py: 0-100 SEO score with breakdowns
  • readability_scorer.py: Multiple readability metrics
  • keyword_analyzer.py: Keyword density and stuffing detection
  • content_scorer.py: 5-dimension quality scoring

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Common Issues

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Keyword Stuffing

Problem: Keyword density >3% Solution:
  • Replace some keyword mentions with synonyms
  • Use “it”, “this”, “that” for subsequent references
  • Focus on natural language

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Low Readability

Problem: Flesch Reading Ease less than 50 Solution:
  • Shorten sentences (break at commas)
  • Replace complex words with simple ones
  • Add more paragraph breaks
  • Use more lists and formatting

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Poor Structure

Problem: Hard to scan, no clear sections Solution:
  • Add H2 subheadings every 300-400 words
  • Use descriptive headings (not “Introduction”, but “Why Content Marketing Fails”)
  • Add more lists
  • Break up long paragraphs

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Generic Content

Problem: Low specificity score Solution:
  • Replace vague statements with data
  • Add brand names and real examples
  • Include case studies
  • Be precise with numbers
  • Cite sources

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AI Patterns

Problem: Sounds robotic, low humanity score Solution:
  • Use /scrub command to remove patterns
  • Add conversational elements
  • Include personal insights
  • Vary sentence structure
  • Remove em-dashes and filler phrases

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Enforcement

All content must meet these standards before publishing:
  1. Self-review: Use pre-publishing checklist
  2. Tool validation: Run /optimize for scoring
  3. Agent review: Address all CRITICAL and HIGH priority issues
  4. Manual review: Read content as end user
  5. Final check: Verify all checklist items
Minimum requirements for publishing:
  • Content Score: 80+
  • SEO Score: 80+
  • All CRITICAL issues resolved
  • Pre-publishing checklist 100% complete
If content doesn’t meet standards, revise and retest before publishing.

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