If you’re writing content for your business, blog, or clients and want it to actually rank, you’ve probably heard about SEO tools that promise the moon. Most of them are either way too complicated or just spit out generic advice. The Surfer SEO content editor is different: it’s designed to make on-page optimization dead simple, even if you’re not an SEO pro.
This guide is for anyone who wants real results—people who care more about getting found in Google than chasing the latest SEO fad. I’ll walk you through Surfer SEO’s content editor, step by step, and call out what matters, what doesn’t, and what you can safely ignore.
Step 1: Know What Surfer SEO Content Editor Actually Does
First, let’s cut through the noise. Surfer SEO’s content editor isn’t a magic button for #1 rankings. What it does do is analyze top-ranking pages for your target keyword and give you a checklist of on-page factors—like word count, keywords, and headings—so your content looks more like what Google is already rewarding.
What it doesn’t do: - Replace your judgment or writing skill - Guarantee rankings (no tool can, no matter what they say) - Handle technical SEO or link building
Think of it as a GPS for on-page optimization. Still gotta drive the car.
Step 2: Set Up a New Content Editor Query
Here’s how to get started:
- Log in to Surfer SEO and head to the Content Editor.
- Enter your main keyword. This should be what you actually want to rank for—not something vague or impossible.
- (Optional but smart) Add related keywords. If you know some secondary phrases your audience uses, tack those on.
- Choose your target location and language. Local businesses: don’t skip this.
Pro tip: Don’t just stuff in a laundry list of keywords. Keep it focused. The more you dilute your query, the less useful the suggestions get.
Step 3: Tweak the Competitor Analysis (Don’t Just Trust the Defaults)
Surfer SEO will pull in the top results for your keyword. But here’s the thing: not every page in the top 10 is relevant. Sometimes you’ll see forum threads, junky e-commerce listings, or obvious outliers.
- Manually review the suggested competitors. Uncheck anything that’s not actually similar to what you’re writing.
- If you’re targeting a blog post, don’t include e-commerce product pages, and vice versa.
- The more precise your competitor set, the more actionable and accurate the recommendations.
It takes an extra minute, but it’s worth it. Garbage in, garbage out.
Step 4: Understand—and Actually Use—the Guidelines
Once your analysis runs, Surfer will spit out a set of guidelines in the right sidebar of the content editor. This is where most people mess up: they treat these as gospel instead of guidelines.
What you’ll see:
- Recommended word count: Based on what’s ranking. Not a law, just a ballpark.
- Heading structure: How many H2s and H3s, suggested topic clusters.
- Keyword usage: Which terms to include, and roughly how often.
- Other on-page elements: Like images, paragraphs, and bold/italic text.
How to use these: - Aim for the middle of the recommended ranges, not the max. - Don’t force keywords where they don’t fit. Google’s not fooled by awkward sentences. - Use the suggested topics and headings to make your content more comprehensive, but don’t pad it out with fluff.
What to ignore: - Exact keyword density. If your writing sounds robotic, you’re overdoing it. - Overly aggressive word counts. If you can answer the question in 800 words, don’t write 2,500 just because a tool says so.
Step 5: Write (or Paste) Your Draft and Edit with Surfer in Real Time
Now, the good part. Either start from scratch or paste your draft into the content editor.
- The tool will give you a real-time “score” out of 100.
- As you write, Surfer highlights which recommended keywords you’ve used and what you’re missing.
- It’ll also show you if you’re overusing certain phrases (good to know if you get keyword-happy).
Honest take: The content score is helpful, but don’t chase 100/100. Anything in the solid “green” zone is usually good enough. The last 10 points are mostly nitpicking.
Pro tip: Use Surfer’s outline and suggested headings as inspiration, not a template. If every article in your niche uses the same five subheadings, try to add something unique or more helpful. Google’s looking for completeness and usefulness, not just checklists.
Step 6: Polish for Readability—Not Just SEO
A big mistake people make is writing for the tool, not for humans. Surfer doesn’t check for tone, clarity, or actual helpfulness. That’s your job.
- Read your draft out loud. If it sounds weird, it is.
- Use short paragraphs, bullet points, and clear headings.
- Cut filler. If something’s there just to hit a word count, delete it.
Skip: Over-optimizing. Stuffing every recommended keyword in can make your content unreadable. If you wouldn’t say it out loud, don’t write it.
Step 7: Add Images, Internal Links, and Final Touches
Surfer does track image count, but not quality. Don’t just throw in stock photos to hit a quota.
- Add images, charts, or screenshots if they actually help the reader.
- Sprinkle in internal links to other relevant pages on your site.
- Double-check your primary keyword is in the title, meta description, and at least once early in the body.
Pro tip: Don’t let the tool distract you from SEO basics. Title tags, meta descriptions, and internal links matter more than hitting an arbitrary number of bolded words.
Step 8: Export and Publish (But Keep an Eye on Results)
Happy with your draft? Copy it to your CMS, format it nicely, and hit publish.
But don’t just set it and forget it:
- Check Google Search Console in a few weeks to see if you’re getting impressions or clicks.
- If you’re not moving up, revisit your content. Maybe you missed a big angle, or the competition’s changed.
SEO is about iteration, not perfection.
What Works, What Doesn’t, and What to Ignore
What works: - Using Surfer SEO as a real-time checklist can help you avoid rookie on-page mistakes. - The competitor analysis helps you understand what Google’s rewarding—right now—in your niche. - The suggested terms and headings can make your content more complete and relevant.
What doesn’t: - Blindly chasing a perfect score or stuffing keywords. - Writing only “for the tool” instead of for real people. - Relying on Surfer alone for rankings—links, site speed, and authority matter too.
What to ignore: - Recommendations that don’t make sense for your audience. - Exact word counts and density numbers—treat them as guides, not rules.
Wrapping Up: Keep It Simple, Iterate, and Focus on Real Value
Surfer SEO’s content editor is a practical tool for on-page optimization—when you use it right. Don’t overthink it. Use the data as a guide, write for actual humans, and don’t waste time chasing tiny score improvements. Publish, see what works, and tweak as needed. That’s how you actually move up in the rankings.