What Is the SEO Content Template?
SEO Content Template is a content planning tool that generates data-driven briefs for new content. The tool analyzes the top 10 ranking pages in Google for your target keywords and provides specific recommendations to help you create competitive content.
Key features include:
- Semantically related keywords to include in your content
- Recommended text length based on top-ranking pages
- Target readability score for optimal accessibility
- Backlink target domains for outreach
- Competitor keyword usage analysis
- Integration with Google Docs via SEO Writing Assistant
How Does SEO Content Template Work?
SEO Content Template works in three steps:
1. Enter your target keywords. Enter one or multiple keywords you want to rank for in organic search. Select your target location (country, region, or city) and device type.
2. Semrush analyzes top-ranking competitors. Semrush analyzes the top 10 ranking pages (called "rivals") for your keywords and extracts data on content structure, length, readability, keywords, and backlinks.
3. Receive recommendations for your content. The tool generates a template with specific recommendations in two categories: Key Recommendations and General Recommendations.
What Recommendations Does SEO Content Template Provide?
Key Recommendations
Key Recommendations are based on competitive analysis of the top 10 ranking pages. These recommendations include:
- Semantically related keywords. Related topics and terms to include in your content based on what top-ranking pages cover.
- Backlink targets. Target domains to acquire backlinks from based on where competitors have earned links.
- Readability score. Target readability level based on how easy top-ranking content is to read. Easier readability makes content more accessible and can improve performance.
- Text length. Recommended word count based on the average length of top-ranking pages. Longer, in-depth content typically performs better for comprehensive topics.
General Recommendations
General Recommendations cover on-page optimization elements:
- Page title. The optimal length and target keyword usage
- Meta description. The optimal length
- H1 heading. The target keyword usage
- Body text. The target keyword usage
How to View Competitor Content
SEO Content Template displays the top 10 ranking pages ("rivals") for each target keyword.
Your target keywords appear highlighted in orange for easy analysis. Select "Show more" to see the full article text.
You can switch between keywords at the top of the section to compare how competitors address different queries.
How to Export a Template
You can export your template to a Word document that includes recommendations for page title, meta description, body text, backlinks, and rival URLs.
You can access previous templates from the start screen using "View SEO template" or "Export to DOC" buttons.
How to Use a Template to Create Content
Click "Real-time Content Check" to use your template for content creation. You can choose between two options: SEO Writing Assistant and AI Article Generator.
SEO Writing Assistant
Create content from scratch with real-time SEO guidance. SEO Writing Assistant is an add-on for Google Docs, WordPress, and MS Word that analyzes your content as you write against your SEO Content Template recommendations.
To send your recommendations to Google Docs, first click "Real-time Content Check" and select “Open in SEO Writing Assistant.”
Then, click "Move to Google Docs" in the top right corner.
In your new Google Doc, open “Extensions” at the top of the menu and select “SEO Writing Assistant.”
The add-on will open on the right side of your document and provide real-time optimization guidance as you write.
AI Article Generator
Generate a ready-to-publish SEO-rich article with AI with the AI Article Generator.
To start, click "Real-time Content Check" and select “Open in SEO Writing Assistant.”
AI Article Generator automatically pre-fills the target keyword, location, language, recommended keywords, readability score, and text length from your template.
When the article is generated, you can check the overall score, target keywords, word count, and brand voice.
You can publish via WordPress plugin, send to Google Docs, or share the article.
SEO Content Template Limits
Template creation limits depend on your subscription tier. SEO Content Template is part of the SEO Toolkit. The tool uses SEO Ideas units based on the number of keywords you analyze. Each keyword you analyze uses one unit.
Template limits by subscription:
- Free account: 1 template (lifetime limit) with up to 10 keywords | 10 SEO Ideas units per month
- Pro SEO Toolkit: 1 template (lifetime limit) with up to 30 keywords | 500 SEO Ideas units per month
- Guru SEO Toolkit: Unlimited templates with up to 30 keywords each | 800 SEO Ideas units per month
- Business SEO Toolkit: Unlimited templates with up to 30 keywords each | 2,000 SEO Ideas units per month
How SEO Ideas units are charged:
- Generating a template for one keyword charges one SEO Ideas unit
- Generating a template for multiple keywords simultaneously charges one unit per keyword
- Re-generating the same keyword charges one unit each time (templates are regenerated based on current search results)
- Opening a template in SEO Writing Assistant does not charge additional units, even if you make changes
Learn more about SEO Ideas Units here.