Content Creation Master SOP

Content Creation Master SOP

Unified Guidelines for Rank Math & Yoast SEO Compliance

For Internal Use Only

1. Professional Content Structure Blueprint

Every article must follow this hierarchy to ensure scannability for users and "crawlability" for search engines.

A. The Headline (H1)

  • Requirement: Must contain the Primary Keyword. Ideally, place the keyword at the beginning.
  • Power Words: Include at least one "Power Word" to boost CTR (e.g., Ultimate, Strategy, Essential, Proven, 2026 Guide).
  • Length: Keep it between 50-60 characters.

B. The Introduction (First 100 Words)

The "10%" Rule: The Primary Keyword must appear within the first 10% of the article (First paragraph).
  • The Hook: Start with a problem statement or an interesting statistic.
  • The Promise: Clearly state what the user will learn (Search Intent).
  • Avoid Fluff: Do not start with "In today's digital world..." – get straight to the point.

C. Subheadings (H2, H3, H4)

  • Frequency: No block of text should exceed 300 words without a subheading.
  • Optimization:
    • At least one H2 must contain the Primary Keyword.
    • Use H3s for Secondary Keywords or step-by-step breakdowns.

D. Paragraphs & Sentence Length

  • Paragraphs: Maximum 3-4 sentences (or 4-5 lines visually). Large text walls increase bounce rates.
  • Sentences: Keep 70% of sentences under 20 words. (Use Hemingway Editor to check).

2. Keyword Strategy & Deployment

We follow a strict protocol to satisfy Rank Math (scoring) and Yoast (readability/context).

A. Keyword Types

Type Definition Usage Rules
Primary Keyword The main search term we want to rank for. Density: 1% to 1.5% (approx 10-15 times per 1000 words).
Must appear in: H1, First Paragraph, one H2, URL, Conclusion.
Secondary Keywords LSI terms, variations, or sub-topics defined in the brief. Use at least once naturally in the body or H3 headers.
Purpose: Helps rank for long-tail queries.

B. How to "Tweak" Keywords Professionally

Stop Words Allowed: Google and SEO plugins are smart. Never sacrifice grammar for a keyword match.
  • Brief Keyword: "content writing services london"
  • ❌ Bad Usage: "We offer the best content writing services london." (Grammatically incorrect).
  • ✅ Professional Tweak: "We offer the best content writing services in London." (Rank Math/Yoast will still recognize this match).

3. Tone, Grammar & Phrasing

We write for humans first. Tools like Grammarly are mandatory, but human judgment is final.

A. Professional Phrasing Guide

Instead of (Weak/Casual) Use This (Professional/Authoritative)
"A lot of people think..." "Many industry experts suggest..."
"You need to make sure to check..." "It is crucial to verify..."
"This is a good way to fix it." "This approach effectively resolves the issue."
"The tool is really cheap." "The tool is cost-effective / budget-friendly."

B. Readability Checks (Yoast Criteria)

  • Passive Voice: Limit to less than 10% of total sentences. (Use active verbs: "The team created the report" NOT "The report was created by the team").
  • Transition Words: Use them in at least 30% of sentences (e.g., However, Therefore, Furthermore, In addition, Consequently).

4. Technical SEO Specifications

A. Meta Description (The Ad Copy)

  • Character Limit: Strictly 140 - 145 characters.
  • Why? Anything over 155 is cut off by Google. We aim for 145 to be safe on mobile devices.
  • Formula: [Problem/Hook] + [Solution with Primary Keyword] + [CTA].
  • Example: "Struggling with low traffic? Discover our proven SEO content tips to boost rankings fast. Read the full guide now." (115 chars)

B. URL Slug

  • Short, lowercase, hyphen-separated.
  • Must contain the Primary Keyword. Remove stop words (a, an, the, in, on).
  • Good: domain.com/seo-content-checklist
  • Bad: domain.com/here-is-the-checklist-for-seo-content-2026

C. Linking Strategy

  • Internal Links: Include 2-3 links to our existing blog posts. (Context: "Check out our guide on [Topic]").
  • External Links: Include 1-2 links to high-authority, non-competitor sites (e.g., Wikipedia, Forbes, Statista, Official Google Blog).

5. Word Count Standards

Adhere strictly to the word count assigned in your brief.

Article Type Word Count Range Description
Standard Blog 900 - 1000 words Focused on answering a specific question or covering a single topic clearly.
Pillar Page / Guide 1600 - 2500 words Comprehensive, "Ultimate Guide" style. Covers "What, Why, How, Examples."
Custom Brief Specified (e.g., 600) Strict adherence to the requested count (±50 words tolerance).

✅ Final Submission Checklist

Writers must verify every item before marking the task as "Complete."

1. Quality & Grammar

Grammarly Score 90+: No spelling errors or basic grammar faults.
Professional Tone: No slang, no "I think," no fluff.
Readability: Paragraphs are short (max 4 lines). Sentences are punchy.

2. SEO & Keywords

Primary Keyword in H1 & Intro: It appears in the title and first 100 words.
Keyword Density: Primary keyword appears approx 10-15 times (for 1000 words).
Secondary Keywords: Used naturally at least once (preferably in H3).
Meta Description: Exactly 140-145 characters. Includes keyword + CTA.

3. Structure & Formatting

Subheadings: Content is broken by H2s and H3s every 300 words.
Links: 2+ Internal links and 1+ External link included.
Image Alt Text: Describes the image and includes the keyword where relevant.

Generated for the Content Team Strategy | By Debjit (Sr. Content Manager @Blogrator)