The Semantic SEO Checklist

01Why a generic SEO checklist doesn’t work here

Most “SEO checklists” are page-level: title tag, meta description, one H1, alt text. Semantic SEO is checked at the site and cluster level first, the page level second. A perfectly optimized individual page built on top of a broken topical map still underperforms.

This checklist follows the four-layer system used throughout this guide: Map → Brief → Produce → Link. Work through it in order — each layer depends on the one before it.

02Map

• Central entity for the site (or section) is written down in one sentence, not implied
• Core content (commercial, money pages) and outer content (supporting, educational) are separated on the map
• Every planned page maps to a distinct search intent — no two pages targeting the same intent
• Attribute list exists for the central entity (the things a genuine expert would always mention)
• Competitor coverage gaps are identified, not just competitor keywords

See What Is a Topical Map? for the full mapping process.

03Brief

• Brief names the central entity of the page and its required attributes, not just a keyword
• Related questions (from real search behavior, not guesswork) are listed as sections to answer
• Word count is a byproduct of coverage, not a target set in advance
• Internal link targets are chosen before writing starts, not bolted on after

04Produce

• Every attribute in the brief is actually addressed in the draft — check against the brief, not against “does it feel long enough”
• Claims are specific (numbers, named entities, real comparisons) rather than generic filler sentences
• No section exists purely to hit a word count
• Schema markup matches the actual content type — see Schema Markup for Semantic SEO

05Link

• New page links up to its pillar and sideways to directly related cluster pages
• Anchor text describes the destination entity, never “click here” or a bare URL
• Pillar page is updated to link down to the new page — the link is added both directions
• No orphan pages: every published page has at least one inbound internal link from a relevant page

Full internal linking mechanics: Semantic Internal Linking.