SEO in 2025 is not about stuffing keywords. It’s about creating the most genuinely useful piece of content on a given topic, then making sure Google can find and understand it. AI has made both parts faster.
Step 1: Keyword Research with Perplexity
I start with a broad topic and use Perplexity to surface related questions real people are asking. It cites Reddit threads, forums, and Q&A sites — goldmines for long-tail keywords with genuine search intent.
Step 2: SERP Analysis
I open the top 5 results for my target keyword and identify: what headings do they use? What questions do they answer? What are they missing? This gap analysis becomes my article outline.
Step 3: Outline with Claude
I paste my gap analysis into Claude and ask it to create a comprehensive article outline that covers everything the top results cover, plus the gaps I identified. Then I refine it based on my own expertise.
Step 4: Write, Don’t Generate
I write the article myself, using the outline as a guide. AI-generated articles rank poorly because they lack genuine expertise and original perspective. Your personal experience is your competitive advantage.
Step 5: Optimize with Surfer SEO
Once drafted, I run the article through Surfer SEO to check keyword density, heading structure, and content score against top-ranking pages. I adjust until the score is in the green.
Step 6: Publish and Build Links
I publish, then share the article in three relevant communities: a Facebook group, a LinkedIn post summarizing the key insight, and a Quora answer linking back to the full piece.
This workflow takes 3-4 hours per article. With consistent publishing, I’ve seen new articles reach page one within 3-6 weeks in low-to-medium competition niches.
