What You Get
A workflow for health-checking pages that already rank: pull real search queries from Search Console, hand them to Claude to check against the body text for gaps, and fill in only what's missing. No new articles to write, and no paid backlinks needed up front.
The article includes four prompts you can copy directly, a reference table for where each search query should go, and a change log template. First, the division of labor: Claude identifies what's missing, and you write the content.
First, Why Old Pages Are the Most Worth Fixing
If a page gets impressions on Google, Google has already connected it to certain questions. If it gets no clicks, it's usually not irrelevant; it's usually answering incompletely. Filling the missing piece is typically much faster than writing a new page from scratch, because the trust is already there.
During the check, focus on three signals:
- Queries with impressions that the body doesn't mention: users are asking, and you aren't answering.
- Queries with an average position between 11 and 30: they hover on pages 2 and 3, and completing the content is the easiest way to move them up.
- Pages with decent rankings but very low click-through rate: the problem is usually the title and description, not the body.
Step 1: Read the Four Export Columns, Then Pick Pages
In Search Console, open Performance, set the date range to Last 90 days (a shorter window lets random fluctuation hide the patterns), and switch to the Pages tab. The exported table has four columns, each telling you one thing:
| Column | Meaning | How to use it in the check |
|---|---|---|
| Clicks | How many people clicked through | Sort to pick pages |
| Impressions | How many times it appeared in results | Many impressions but few clicks means demand isn't being captured |
| CTR | Clicks ÷ impressions | Ranking high but low CTR: fix the title and description first |
| Position | Average position, not a fixed rank | 11 to 30 is the priority for completion |
Sort by clicks from highest to lowest and pick the top 10 pages as this round's targets.
Step 2: Give the Search Queries to Claude
- Search Console MCP tool connected: have Claude read the data directly. If you're not familiar with MCP, see the MCP handbook first.
- Not connected: in the performance report, click into a single page, switch to the Queries tab, export, and upload the file to Claude.
You can provide data for all pages at once, but make only one page's changes at a time. If you edit ten pages simultaneously, you won't be able to verify them all.
Step 3: Find the Gaps and Decide Where Each Goes
Once you've found the queries, the most common problem is knowing what's missing but not where it belongs. Start with this reference table:
| What the query looks like | Best way to fill it |
|---|---|
| A new subtopic ("how to set up...") | Add a new H2 heading |
| A follow-up on an existing topic ("why it fails...") | Add a paragraph after the related section |
| Can be answered in one sentence ("how long does...") | Put it in the FAQ at the end |
| Just a different wording (synonyms, colloquial phrasing) | Rewrite the existing sentence and naturally include the term |
Then use this prompt to have Claude give the location and fix for each query:
Sign in to unlock this key section
New accounts get 10 free credits, plus 1 more for each daily check-in. Spend 1 credit to unlock and it stays open for you.
The last sentence makes sure you personally review every page you change, which works like a brake.
Step 4: Let the Title and Opening Answer the Question First
Readers judge in seconds whether a page has an answer, and search engines weigh this too. Check two things:
- Do the first two paragraphs already state the conclusion? Move background, context, and stories after the conclusion.
- Does the primary keyword appear in three places: the title, the meta description, and the first paragraph of the body? Check each of your 10 pages, since missing one of these is more common than you'd expect.
Article: [paste]
Primary keyword: [keyword]
Please check:
1. Do the first two paragraphs directly answer the question behind this keyword? If not, rewrite the opening with the conclusion in the first sentence.
2. Do the title, description, and first paragraph all contain this keyword? Add it wherever it's missing.
3. Provide 3 alternative titles (under 60 characters) and 3 descriptions (under 155 characters).
Keep my tone and avoid filler phrases.
Step 5: Add What Others Can't Copy
AI-revised content tends to look alike, and rankings depend on what's uniquely yours:
- Screenshots and screen recordings of your own operations
- Tables, comparison charts, and flow diagrams
- Your real data, pitfalls you've hit, and clear opinions
- Angles that the top-ranking results don't cover
Write these sentences yourself. AI can tell you where they should go, but it can't access your backend screenshots.
Article: [paste]
1. Which paragraphs would be clearer as a screenshot, table, or diagram? For each, describe what to show and why.
2. Search for "[keyword]" and look at the top 5 results. What points do they have in common?
3. Based on my experience, give me 3 angles none of them cover, each explained in one sentence.
Step 6: Have the 10 Pages Refer to Each Other
The standard for internal links is just one: when a reader gets here, would they want to click?
Below is my page list, each line formatted as "URL | primary keyword": [paste]
Suggest internal links between the pages. For each, specify: source page, target page, which sentence to place it in, and anchor text.
Keep only the ones readers would genuinely click, no more than 3 to 5 per page.
When you publish new articles later, remember to link back to these 10 pages.
Step 7: Request Indexing, Log Changes, Re-check in Two Weeks
For each page you've changed, go to URL Inspection at the top of Search Console and click Request indexing for each one.
For every page you change, log a line, then compare against the data two weeks later:
URL | Queries added | Sections changed | Change date | Impressions / clicks / average position two weeks later
Re-export the search queries 7 to 14 days later and return to Step 3. Click growth comes from this loop, not from one big overhaul.
Save External Links for Last
The 10 pages from this round already sit near page 2, and a few meaningful backlinks can push them onto page 1, so they get backlinks first.
Don't chase quantity; a few relevant links a month, steadily, is enough. Industry directories, partner pages and podcast guest bios cost nothing, and answering journalists' expert-source calls is another option.
Notes
- Allow at least 1 to 3 months before evaluating; checking rankings the day after changes is meaningless.
- Judge Claude's suggested fixes yourself; forcing in keywords makes the article read awkwardly.
- Don't use this as an excuse to rewrite whole articles: content that already ranks can drop if overhauled.
- For the general method of writing prompts, see the prompt handbook; if your new site doesn't rank yet, see New Site SEO Basics.
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Start the conversation.