SEEN/.blackbox/skills/seo/references/quality-gates.md

Content Quality Gates

Use these gates before recommending scale, templates, or programmatic rollout.

Thin Content Thresholds

Apply minimum effective content targets by page type:

Page Type	Minimum Body Content	Minimum Unique Content	Notes
Homepage	500 words	70%	Differentiate value proposition and audience
Service page	700 words	70%	Include process, proof, and FAQs
Location page	600 words	60%	Require city-specific proof and context
Product category	350 words	65%	Add buyer guidance, not filler
Product detail	250 words	80%	Unique specs, differentiators, and use cases
Blog/article	900 words	75%	Include original insights and references
Competitor comparison	1000 words	80%	Require side-by-side evidence

If intent is fully satisfied with less copy, allow exception only with strong evidence (high engagement and conversion outcomes).

Scaled Location Page Rules

• Warning threshold: 30+ location pages.
• Hard stop threshold: 50+ location pages.
• Require at least 60% unique content per location page.
• Require at least 3 localized proof elements per page:
  • local testimonials/case studies
  • location-specific service details
  • local team, office, or coverage details

At hard stop, ask for explicit user justification before proceeding with large-scale rollout.

Programmatic SEO Gates

Before recommending programmatic generation:

1. Confirm variable set produces real informational differences.
2. Confirm pages can include unique utility (data, tools, comparisons, or local proof).
3. Reject if output would only swap tokens (city/product names) in near-identical copy.
4. Define canonicalization and indexability strategy up front.

Duplication Risk Bands

Similarity Between Pages	Risk Level	Action
< 40% shared text	Low	Proceed
40% to 60% shared text	Medium	Add differentiators before publishing
> 60% shared text	High	Block rollout until content model is redesigned

Schema Content Policy

• Do not recommend HowTo schema as a growth recommendation.
• Limit FAQ schema recommendations to government and healthcare sites.
• Ensure structured data mirrors visible page content.

Gate Outcome Labels

Return one of:

• pass: Meets thresholds
• pass_with_risk: Can ship with documented constraints
• fail: Block and redesign content strategy

Always include concrete remediation steps for pass_with_risk and fail.