How to Research, Write, and Optimize SEO Content with Frase

Creating content that ranks on Google requires more than just good writing — it requires understanding what top-ranking articles cover, what questions searchers are asking, and how to structure your content to satisfy both readers and algorithms. Frase streamlines this entire process by combining SERP research, content briefs, and optimization scoring into one platform. Here’s how to use it effectively.

Step 1: Set Up Your Frase Project

Log in to frase.io and create a new document. Enter your target keyword in the search bar — this is the primary keyword you want your article to rank for. Frase will immediately begin analyzing the top 20 Google search results for that keyword. This analysis typically takes 10-20 seconds and forms the foundation for everything that follows.

Step 2: Review the AI-Generated Content Brief

Once the SERP analysis completes, Frase generates a comprehensive content brief on the right panel. This brief includes several key sections: Recommended Headings (the most common H2 and H3 structures across top results), Key Topics (topics and entities that appear frequently in ranking content), Questions to Answer (pulled from People Also Ask, Quora, and Reddit), and Statistics and Data Points (numerical data cited by top results). Review this brief carefully — it represents the competitive landscape for your keyword.

Step 3: Customize the Brief to Your Needs

Frase’s generated brief is a strong starting point, but you should customize it. Remove headings that don’t apply to your angle, add unique perspectives that competitors missed, and reorder sections to match your narrative flow. Use the “Questions” tab to identify high-value queries that competitors aren’t fully answering — these represent content gaps you can exploit. Click any question to add it directly to your brief as a heading.

Step 4: Draft Your Content Using the AI Writer

With your brief finalized, start writing in Frase’s editor. You can write manually, use the AI writer, or combine both approaches. To use the AI writer, highlight any heading or section and click “Write.” Frase’s AI generates contextually relevant content based on your brief’s recommendations. You can also use “Expand” to add depth to existing paragraphs, “Rewrite” to rephrase sections, or “Simplify” to make complex topics more accessible. The AI is particularly effective for drafting first-pass content that you can then refine with your expertise and voice.

Step 5: Monitor Your SEO Score in Real Time

As you write, Frase’s SEO score panel updates in real time. The score (0-100%) compares your content against the top-ranking competitors on factors like topic coverage, heading structure, and keyword usage. If your score is below 70%, Frase highlights specific areas for improvement — missing topics, unanswered questions, or insufficient word count. Click on any recommendation to jump directly to the relevant section of your article.

Step 6: Analyze and Outperform Competitors

Use the “Competitors” tab to see a side-by-side comparison of your content versus top-ranking results. You can view each competitor’s heading structure, word count, and topic distribution. Look for patterns — if the top three results all cover a specific subtopic that you haven’t addressed, that’s a clear signal to add it. Frase makes this competitive intelligence visible and actionable.

Step 7: Finalize and Publish

Once your SEO score reaches 80% or above and you’ve addressed all the brief’s recommendations, export your content. Frase supports export to Google Docs, WordPress, and clipboard copy. Before publishing, do a final human review pass — ensure the content reads naturally, provides genuine value, and accurately represents your brand voice. Frase optimizes for search engines, but your readers are the ultimate judges.

Pro Tips for Better Results:

• Target long-tail keywords with Frase first — they have less competition and your content will rank faster, giving you early wins to build momentum
• Use the “Questions” feature to find featured snippet opportunities — answering a question concisely in the first paragraph of a section increases your chances of capturing position zero
• Don’t chase a 100% SEO score at the expense of readability — a well-written article at 80% will outperform a keyword-stuffed article at 95%
• Save your customized briefs as templates for recurring content types (product reviews, how-to guides, comparison posts) to standardize your team’s workflow