Content Optimization & Content Ideas FAQs

Raptive creators have free, exclusive access to Topic, the industry’s best SEO technology! Topic helps you craft new posts and update existing posts that are primed to perform well in search results.

And, when you connect your Google Search Console account to your dashboard, we can provide you with Content Ideas — customized keyword suggestions for your site.

Learn more about Content Optimization and Content Ideas in our Resource Center:

In this article, we’ve answered some frequently asked questions about Content Optimization and Content Ideas. If you have additional questions, feel free to reach out to us!

Content Optimization & Content Ideas FAQs

1. How do I access Topic?

2. Can my writers/team members get access to Topic?

3. How does Content Optimization help me increase search engine traffic?

4. How should I prioritize which posts to update?

5. Why am I limited in the number of content briefs I can create?

6. Will this increase the level of competition for my site with everyone using Content Optimization?

7. I don’t feel good about copying another site, and I definitely don’t want someone copying my site.

8. I don’t want to compete against my friends.

9. How do you generate the Content Ideas you recommend to me? 

10. How are you using my Google Search Console data? Will my data be provided to a third party?

11. Why are you suggesting Content Ideas that my posts are already optimized for?

12. You suggested a Content Idea for one of my existing posts currently ranking for another keyword. Should I rework my post to focus on this other keyword?

13. If I don't use a Content Idea or "X" it out, will it remain in my Content Ideas so I can use it at a later date?

14. I’m already in a top 3 position for this keyword. Should I still update this post?

15. Why are you giving me keywords with low search volume?

16. Did other sites get these same Content Ideas? I just noticed another site is ranking for one of my suggested keywords.

17. Why don’t the metrics listed for my Content Ideas match what I see in Google Search Console or RPM by Page?

18. Why don’t I see performance data for one of my completed content briefs?

19. Can I see historical data for a post if I change the URL when I update it?

20. I just updated a post using Topic, and the traffic went down. Why?

1. How do I access Topic?

In your Raptive dashboard, click on Content Optimization in the left sidebar. This page will be your home base for creating and accessing your “content briefs”. 

In each content brief, you’ll use Topic’s data and suggestions to assess and edit a post, prepping it for top performance in search results.

2. Can my writers/team members get access to Topic?

They sure can! You have two options here. You can create a content brief and share the URL with your team member who can then work on the content in Topic. Or, we can create a new dashboard user with access to only the Content Optimization page (or, if you’d like, we can add access to the Content Optimization page for an existing Video-only user). Just reach out to us!

3. How does Content Optimization help me increase search engine traffic?

Google uses three primary signals to rank content in the search results: relevance, quality, and usability. The Content Optimization page integrates directly with Topic, an advanced SEO program that can help you in each of these areas.

First and foremost, Topic ensures that your content is relevant to the searcher’s query by helping you research and analyze the top-ranking search results. Then, Topic’s grading system updates as you create and edit your content, reminding you to use these important themes and topics to provide the most relevant resource for the query.

For gauging quality, Google’s algorithm will look at several factors. The first is authority, which is based on the number of backlinks your domain and page have. Authority is built over years of establishing your domain’s brand and reputation. By continuously updating your most evergreen content with Topic, you can increase the probability that other creators will find and link to those posts, increasing your authority over time.

Engagement is another great way to track how Google perceives the quality of your content. Various third-party studies and statements from Google suggest that strong engagement numbers correlate with higher search rankings. Google’s own recommendations state, “A frequently updated site encourages people to return - as long as your content remains relevant and engaging.” 

Metrics such as click-through rate, time on site, and bounce rate reflect the reader’s engagement with the content. Readers will stay on the page longer when an article is relevant and valuable, and they’ll be less likely to return to the search results to find another resource. This increase in engagement typically leads to an increase in search ranking.

4. How should I prioritize which posts to update?

You can use Topic to optimize any post on your site, but here are some criteria to help prioritize your efforts. Start with posts that haven’t been touched in over 6 months, including seasonal posts, and update them before search volume increases for those topics. Here’s how to use Google Trends to plan the perfect timing.

Look for posts that have a higher-than-average RPM but low search traffic — increasing traffic to these posts can provide a major earnings boost! Use a tool like Google Search Console to investigate which keywords are performing well for that post and optimize the post using Topic for your target keyword.

Be sure to connect your Google Search Console in the dashboard, so we can make this even easier by providing you with Content Ideas!

5. Why am I limited in the number of content briefs I can create?

We’re thrilled to hear you’re finding Content Optimization so useful! We allocate a set number of content brief credits each month, but we understand that some creators (like you) go above and beyond. If you'd like to increase the number of content briefs you receive each month, just reach out to our team with your request!

Your credits will reset on the first of the month to give you a fresh set to work with. And don’t forget that any briefs you create from your Content Ideas don’t count against your limit. Make sure to mark your optimized posts as complete in your dashboard, so we can track the performance of these posts for you and let you know how things are going!

6. Will this increase the level of competition for my site with everyone using Content Optimization?

Our goal with Content Optimization is to equip all Raptive creators with easy access to data and tools to optimize your content so you can compete against the big, corporate-run sites that don't provide the same incredible value and community that you offer to your readers. We want to see YOU succeed, and with access to this technology right in your dashboard, you have a measure of control over your own results. As you use Topic to optimize your content, we're confident you'll see some incredible growth.

In addition, our Content Ideas algorithm is designed to protect your search traffic from increased competition. We specifically avoid suggesting keywords where you or another Raptive creators are already ranking in the top positions, and we don’t use any of your keyword data or any content created in Topic to provide Content Ideas to other creators.

7. I don’t feel good about copying another site, and I definitely don’t want someone copying my site.

Copying another site is not the goal here, and we strongly encourage everyone using Topic to be unique and original in each post you optimize.

To help you best serve your readers and provide the information they are searching for, Topic shows you what other high-ranking posts have covered on the subject. This may spark some ideas for your content and help you cover the topic in-depth, but you should avoid directly copying a full outline from another post. Our ad partners want to monetize original content, so be sure to put your own spin on the subject and share your unique perspective and experience with readers.

8. I don’t want to compete against my friends.

I understand your concern here and would like to encourage you to use your own compass and judgment as you use the competitive info Topic offers. It’s always up to you to decide which posts you optimize and what information you take into account as you work on your content, and your creativity and unique voice should always shine through.

That being said, the “big guys” out there are doing whatever they can to gain the top-ranking spots, and with this technology we’re aiming to give you a fighting chance to keep your great content at the top where it belongs!

Feel free to reach out if you have any other questions about how Topic handles competition!

9. How do you generate the Content Ideas you recommend to me? 

Our proprietary algorithm combines multiple data sources to identify high-value content opportunities explicitly tailored to your site. These sources include SEMrush, Google Search Console, and others. After looking at the competitive landscape and performing a historical performance analysis, your content can move up in the search rankings (and therefore increase traffic) by targeting these keywords.

Click on any Content Idea card to see key metrics related to this keyword and post to help demonstrate why we think it’s a strong opportunity.

10. How are you using my Google Search Console data? Will my data be provided to a third party?

We only use your Google Search Console data internally to generate your Content Ideas. We do all the analysis in-house and do not share your data with third parties.

11. Why are you suggesting Content Ideas that my posts are already optimized for?

Our Content Ideas algorithm identifies the best growth opportunities, so while your post may already be pretty comprehensive on a topic, there may still be room for improvement. We recommend you create a brief for the Content Idea and look at Topic's suggestions to see if you can cover any other related topics, angles, or questions in your content.

You are the expert on your site, so combine our Content Ideas with your intimate knowledge of your content, readers, and business goals to figure out which opportunities to pursue that will be the most beneficial overall.

12. You suggested a Content Idea for one of my existing posts currently ranking for another keyword. Should I rework my post to focus on this other keyword?

If your post is performing well, we don't recommend completely reworking it. The suggested keyword is likely related to the other keywords the post ranks for and will help you build better and more comprehensive content around the subject matter.

Create a brief for the Content Idea, look at Topic's suggestions, and decide whether including additional information around this keyword would enhance your post and your reader's experience. When you incorporate these suggestions into your post, it has the potential to rank better for the primary keyword and gain additional traffic from secondary keywords.

13. If I don't use a Content Idea or "X" it out, will it remain in my Content Ideas so I can use it at a later date?

No, your Content Ideas will refresh each month, so if it is used it will disappear once the new set arrives.

14. I’m already in a top 3 position for this keyword. Should I still update this post?

We suggest not updating a post if it’s already in the top 3 results for the recommended target keyword. Since this post is already performing well, let it keep up the good work while you focus on other posts that might need more of a boost!

15. Why are you giving me keywords with low search volume?

Our algorithm looks at your historical performance at different search volume levels to determine your ideal range. Then, the algorithm identifies keywords that you should have the best shot at winning in search results. 

This “sweet spot” of search volume could change month to month based on new data we receive, so it’s possible that you could see keywords with a higher search volume next month.

When a keyword has a smaller search volume, your site is more likely to win a more significant share of the traffic. It’s similar to being a big fish in a small pond — capturing a larger share of the search volume for this keyword could yield more pageviews to your site than a small share of a high-volume keyword.

This is just one of the many keywords your post can rank for. There are likely many other related keywords that can drive traffic to your post, so consider adding information to your post that fits this keyword or slightly changing your angle versus completely reworking your post.

16. Did other sites get these same Content Ideas? I just noticed another site is ranking for one of my suggested keywords.

Nope, your Content Ideas are unique to you! We won’t offer the same keywords to any other creator.

It’s possible this creator identified the same keyword as a good opportunity for their site through independent keyword research. If you want to learn more about keyword research, check out this blog post.

17. Why don’t the metrics listed for my Content Ideas match what I see in Google Search Console or RPM by Page?

The metrics for each Content Idea are pulled when the Ideas are generated. We use the most recent week’s worth of data to capture the approximate current performance of your post. Position and CTR can fluctuate over time, so you might see something different in your Google Search Console account today than when these metrics were pulled for the Content Ideas algorithm. 

The RPM data for each Content Idea uses the RPM from search traffic only in the past seven days from when the Content Ideas algorithm is run, while RPM by Page reports RPM from all traffic sources.

The metrics we provide for each post demonstrate why it's a good candidate for optimizing while helping you evaluate the potential gain from improving these metrics.

18. Why don’t I see performance data for one of my completed content briefs?

The data we pull from Google Search Console is delayed by a few days, so it could be more than 28 calendar days until the data is ready to show. Once we have sufficient data, you can view your performance insights for the content brief — hover over the card where it says “still measuring impact” to see when your insights will be available.

If the URL contains query parameters, we cannot measure the performance for these specific URLs. The data shown in these cases might be for the more general page path and may not reflect the optimization done in the particular post, or we may not be able to collect it at all.

  • New as of July 12, 2023: We are investigating a data issue caused by GA4 not reporting pageview data by traffic source for all posts like in Universal Analytics. This is causing inaccuracies and underreporting of Search Pageviews in Performance Impact Details for some completed content briefs starting on June 26th. Our team is working to resolve this, and we’ll let you know when we have a solution.

19. Can I see historical data for a post if I change the URL when I update it?

Yes, you can add the redirected URL when marking a brief as complete or when editing a completed brief. This will provide continuity in the data analysis for the post, instead of starting over with data for the new URL. Just click ‘Changed the URL?’ when marking the brief complete, enter the new URL, and click ‘Save’.

Change the URL 1.jpgChanged the URL_Content Briefs.jpg

20. I just updated a post using Topic, and the traffic went down. Why?

There are a variety of potential causes for traffic going down after a change in the content. The first thing to check is whether other pages on the site were affected at the same time. If this is the case, then it likely wasn’t the update to the post that caused the drop in traffic but a sitewide change or an update to Google’s algorithm.

If the drop appears specific to the post, the next step is to check how long it has been since it was updated. It can take Google up to two weeks to re-establish the ranking on a post after changes are made.

If the drop in traffic persists after two weeks, check to see if you significantly changed the title and description as part of the update. One common cause of traffic drops is changes to the title, which can make the article less relevant for searchers. If you changed the title or description and the traffic has dropped, we recommend reverting to the original. 

Suppose you only updated the body of the article. In that case, the next aspect to consider is whether the “above-the-fold” experience (the part of the page that is visible before scrolling) and overall structure (especially headings) changed significantly. People typically spend just a few seconds on a page before deciding whether or not to bounce (click away from the site). If either of these is less relevant to the reader after the update, it can decrease traffic, and we’d recommend reverting to the original content.

Topic gives recommendations on the optimal information to include in an article. Still, it can take a couple of tries to include these recommendations in an organized way that is natural and compatible with your audience. So don’t get discouraged if it takes a few revisions to see an uptick in traffic.

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