# SERP Review Checklist (Templates)

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

## Setup

- [ ] Open browser in incognito/private mode (google.de)
- [ ] Clear cookies and cache
- [ ] **Serper MCP (mandatory):** Search primary keyword → capture PAA, featured snippet format, organic order. Use: "Use Serper MCP to search Google for [primary keyword]"
- [ ] **Firecrawl (when sparse):** If competitor-analysis.json has sparse FAQs, empty headings, or word_count < 100 for key competitors

## 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 4–10: URL, title, domain
- [ ] For each top 5: click through and note:
  - [ ] H2 count
  - [ ] Word count estimate
  - [ ] FAQ count
  - [ ] Tables or lists present?
- [ ] Featured snippet: present? Format (paragraph/list/table)?
- [ ] People Also Ask: expand all questions; list each
- [ ] Related searches: note all

## Secondary Keyword 1

- [ ] Search secondary keyword 1
- [ ] Document top 5 URLs (or overlap with primary)
- [ ] PAA questions: list any new ones

## Secondary Keyword 2

- [ ] Search secondary keyword 2
- [ ] Document top 5 URLs (or overlap with primary)
- [ ] PAA questions: list any new ones

## Related Keywords and New Topics

- [ ] Note related keywords from "People also search for"
- [ ] Note any new topics not covered by primary/secondary
- [ ] Assign new topics to content block or FAQ

## Fill SERP_ANALYSIS.md

- [ ] Add Featured Snippet Analysis
- [ ] Add all PAA questions with "content block or FAQ?" status (PAA → content block or FAQ cross-check)
- [ ] Add Ranking Factors
- [ ] Add Recommendations
- [ ] Verify competitor section matches competitor-analysis.json

## Verification

- [ ] Minimum 30 minutes spent
- [ ] **Serper MCP run** for primary keyword before SERP_ANALYSIS.md completion
- [ ] All placeholders in SERP_ANALYSIS.md filled
- [ ] SERP_ANALYSIS.md referenced when creating CONTENT_OUTLINE.md
- [ ] **Firecrawl (when sparse):** If competitor-analysis.json has sparse FAQs, empty headings, or word_count < 100 for key competitors, use Firecrawl MCP: "Use Firecrawl MCP to scrape [competitor URL] with markdown format". See [SERP_MCP_IMPROVEMENT_GUIDE.md](../../../content/blog/SERP_MCP_IMPROVEMENT_GUIDE.md)