Brain SEO Template - Mission & Usage Guide
Mission
Brain SEO Template is a Git-based repository structure for managing SEO content, keyword research, competitor analysis, and technical audits in a structured, version-controlled way.
Why this template?
- Replace scattered spreadsheets and Notion pages
- Track SEO strategy evolution with Git commits
- AI-friendly markdown format (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, etc.)
- Human-readable, searchable, portable
Who is this for?
- SEO managers and consultants
- Content strategists
- Marketing teams managing multiple clients/projects
- Anyone who wants organized, version-controlled SEO workflows
Quick Start
1. Clone this template
git clone https://github.com/giobi/brain-seo-template.git my-seo-brain
cd my-seo-brain
rm -rf .git # Remove template git history
git init # Start your own repo
2. Open in VSCode
code .
3. Start adding content
Use the examples in each folder as templates. Copy, rename, and customize them for your projects.
Folder Structure
brain-seo-template/
├── keywords/ # Keyword research and analysis
├── content/ # Blog posts, landing pages, content briefs
├── competitors/ # Competitor analysis and monitoring
├── backlinks/ # Link building strategy and outreach
├── technical/ # Technical SEO audits and fixes
├── reports/ # Monthly/weekly SEO reports
└── projects/ # Client or site-specific projects
Each folder contains a .index.md file explaining what goes inside and an example file to get you started.
How to Use This with AI Assistants
With ChatGPT / Claude / Gemini
This repository is designed to work seamlessly with AI assistants. Here's how:
1. Ask AI to create content:
"Create a keyword research file for 'sustainable fashion' in the keywords/ folder"
2. Ask AI to analyze existing files:
"Read all files in competitors/ and summarize the main threats"
3. Ask AI to generate reports:
"Create a monthly SEO report in reports/ based on the last 30 days of content in content/"
4. Ask AI to organize projects:
"Create a new project folder for client XYZ in projects/ with keyword research, content plan, and technical audit"
With Claude Code (Advanced)
If you're using Claude Code (Anthropic's CLI), you can:
- Run agents to automate workflows
- Use Git hooks for validation
- Integrate with external APIs (Google Search Console, SEMrush, Ahrefs, etc.)
But this template is designed to work WITHOUT Claude Code. You can use it with any AI assistant + VSCode + Git.
Workflow Examples
Example 1: New Blog Post
- Research keywords in
keywords/ - Create content brief in
content/drafts/ - Write post in
content/posts/ - Commit changes:
git commit -m "Add blog post: SEO best practices 2025"
Example 2: Competitor Analysis
- Create competitor file in
competitors/ - Document their top pages, keywords, backlinks
- Identify gaps and opportunities
- Reference in your content strategy
Example 3: Technical Audit
- Create audit file in
technical/ - List issues (broken links, slow pages, missing meta tags)
- Track fixes with Git commits
- Generate report in
reports/
Example 4: Client Project
- Create folder in
projects/client-name/ - Add subfolders:
keywords/,content/,technical/ - Centralize all client SEO work in one place
- Share via Git (GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket)
File Naming Conventions
Use lowercase + hyphens:
- ✅
sustainable-fashion-keywords.md - ❌
Sustainable Fashion Keywords.md
Use dates for time-based files:
- ✅
2025-11-monthly-report.md - ✅
2025-11-21-blog-post-seo-trends.md
Use descriptive names:
- ✅
competitor-analysis-example-com.md - ❌
comp1.md
Markdown Best Practices
Use frontmatter for metadata:
---
title: Sustainable Fashion Keywords
date: 2025-11-21
status: research
tags: [fashion, sustainability, ecommerce]
---
# Sustainable Fashion Keywords
...
Use tables for data:
| Keyword | Volume | Difficulty | Intent |
|---------|--------|------------|--------|
| sustainable fashion | 12,000 | 65 | Informational |
| eco-friendly clothing | 8,000 | 55 | Commercial |
Use links to connect files:
See competitor analysis: [Example.com](../competitors/example-com.md)
Git Workflow
Commit often:
git add .
git commit -m "Add keyword research for Q4 campaign"
git push
Use branches for experiments:
git checkout -b new-content-strategy
# Make changes
git checkout main
git merge new-content-strategy
Use tags for milestones:
git tag -a "2025-Q4-launch" -m "Q4 campaign launch"
git push --tags
Customization
Add your own folders:
analytics/- Google Analytics reportssocial/- Social media SEOlocal/- Local SEO (Google Business Profile)ecommerce/- Product SEO for online stores
Add your own tools:
- Python scripts for data analysis
- API integrations (Search Console, Ahrefs, SEMrush)
- Automation with Zapier/Make
But keep it simple:
- Start with the core folders
- Add complexity only when needed
- Markdown-first approach
Tips for Transitioning from ChatGPT/Spreadsheets
From ChatGPT to This Repo
Before:
You: "Give me 20 keywords for sustainable fashion"
ChatGPT: [lists keywords]
You: [copies to spreadsheet]
After:
You: "Create a keyword research file in keywords/ for sustainable fashion with 20 keywords in a table"
AI: [creates keywords/sustainable-fashion.md with structured data]
You: git commit -m "Add sustainable fashion keywords"
Benefits:
- Versioned history (see what changed over time)
- Structured format (easy to search and reference)
- Shareable (send Git repo link to team)
- AI-readable (AI can read existing files and build on them)
From Spreadsheets to Markdown
Spreadsheet:
| Keyword | Volume | Difficulty |
Markdown:
---
title: Fashion Keywords
date: 2025-11-21
---
# Fashion Keywords
| Keyword | Volume | Difficulty | Notes |
|---------|--------|------------|-------|
| sustainable fashion | 12K | 65 | High intent |
Benefits:
- Markdown supports rich text (bold, links, code blocks)
- Easier to version control than Excel/Sheets
- Portable (works in any text editor)
FAQ
Q: Do I need Claude Code to use this? A: No. This works with any AI assistant (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini) + VSCode + Git.
Q: Can I use this without AI? A: Yes. It's just a folder structure with markdown files. Use it however you want.
Q: Can I share this with my team? A: Yes. Push to GitHub/GitLab and invite collaborators.
Q: Can I use this for multiple clients?
A: Yes. Create a folder per client in projects/ or create separate repos per client.
Q: Can I customize the structure? A: Absolutely. Add/remove folders as needed. This is a starting template.
Q: What if I don't know Git? A: Learn the basics:
git add .- Stage changesgit commit -m "message"- Save changesgit push- Upload to GitHub- That's 90% of what you need.
Support & Feedback
This template is maintained by @giobi.
Issues/Suggestions: https://github.com/giobi/brain-seo-template/issues
Template version: 1.0.0 (2025-11-21)
License
MIT License - Use freely, modify, share.
Now go build your SEO brain. Happy optimizing!