# SERP Review Checklist

**Purpose:** Granular checklist for manual browser-based SERP analysis. Minimum 30 minutes total.

**Reference:** [SERP_ANALYSIS_WORKFLOW.md](../../SERP_ANALYSIS_WORKFLOW.md)

## Setup

- [ ] Open browser in incognito/private mode (google.de)
- [ ] Clear cookies and cache
- [ ] Disable personalization extensions

## Primary Keyword

- [ ] Search primary keyword in Google
- [ ] Screenshot full SERP (above and below fold)
- [ ] Document top 10 URLs:
  - [ ] Position 1: URL, title, domain
  - [ ] Position 2: URL, title, domain
  - [ ] Position 3: URL, title, domain
  - [ ] Position 4: URL, title, domain
  - [ ] Position 5: URL, title, domain
  - [ ] Position 6: URL, title, domain
  - [ ] Position 7: URL, title, domain
  - [ ] Position 8: URL, title, domain
  - [ ] Position 9: URL, title, domain
  - [ ] Position 10: URL, title, domain
- [ ] For each top 10: click through and note:
  - [ ] H2 count
  - [ ] H3 count *(informational; structure based on content flow, not quotas)*
  - [ ] Word count estimate
  - [ ] FAQ count
  - [ ] Tables present? Lists present?
  - [ ] Videos or calculators?
- [ ] Featured snippet: present? Format (paragraph/list/table)? Length?
- [ ] People Also Ask: expand all questions; list each with source
- [ ] If data/paa-questions.json exists, cross-check: are all listed questions either in outline H2s or in FAQs? Add any missing to SERP_ANALYSIS.md
- [ ] Related searches: note all

## Secondary Keyword 1

- [ ] Search secondary keyword 1
- [ ] Document top 10 URLs (or overlap with primary)
- [ ] PAA questions: list any new ones
- [ ] Featured snippet: note if different from primary

## Secondary Keyword 2

- [ ] Search secondary keyword 2
- [ ] Document top 10 URLs (or overlap)
- [ ] PAA questions: list any new ones
- [ ] Featured snippet: note if different

## Related Keywords and New Topics

- [ ] **Related keywords / secondary queries:** List 5–10 from Related Searches and PAA (add to SERP_ANALYSIS.md "Related Keywords" section)
- [ ] **New topics to consider:** From competitor H2/H3 headings not yet in our outline (add to SERP_ANALYSIS.md "New Topic Opportunities") 

## Fill SERP_ANALYSIS.md

- [ ] Add Featured Snippet Analysis (format, length, source, opportunity)
- [ ] Add all PAA questions with "answered in post?" status
- [ ] Add Ranking Factors (what makes top results rank)
- [ ] Add Recommendations (content improvements, next steps)
- [ ] Add Related Keywords (from Related Searches, PAA)
- [ ] Add New Topic Opportunities (from competitor H2/H3 headings)
- [ ] Verify competitor section matches automated extraction (or correct)

## Verification

- [ ] Minimum 30 minutes spent
- [ ] All placeholders in SERP_ANALYSIS.md filled
- [ ] SERP_ANALYSIS.md referenced when creating CONTENT_OUTLINE.md
- [ ] **MCP (when sparse):** Pipeline auto-remediates sparse top 5. If re-running: `validate-blog-competitor-data-completeness.php --post={slug} --category={category} --top=5 --remediate`, or use Firecrawl MCP **firecrawl_scrape** (markdown, 1 credit/URL). Use Serper for PAA; Fetch for schema validation. Document findings in SERP_ANALYSIS.md. See [SERP_MCP_IMPROVEMENT_GUIDE.md](../../SERP_MCP_IMPROVEMENT_GUIDE.md)