SEO Content Analysis API
Returns structured SEO feedback in JSON format when you submit a page URL or draft content for evaluation against a focus keyword.
If you have ever picked a keyword on a low score and still failed to rank, you already know the number is not the whole story.
Key points
- Use the API on drafts, not just published pages, to catch issues before they go live.
- Treat the score as a diagnostic signal, not a ranking guarantee — it estimates effort, not outcome.
- Check for keyword gaps and topical coverage beyond the single focus keyword, a feature common in seo writing software.
- Remember that scoring logic changes with API updates; scores are not stable across versions.
The same keyword, three different scores
A publisher submitted a draft on 'best running shoes' to a content analysis API. It returned a score of 72 with recommendations to add entity mentions and improve headings. After applying those changes, the same draft scored 88. When re-checked with a newer API version, the score dropped to 65 because keyword weighting had changed. The publisher learned that scores are tool-specific and version-dependent.
Three situations where this changes your decision
- Draft-stage QA Running the API on unpublished content lets you fix keyword coverage and entity gaps before the page goes live, saving rework later.
- CMS integration Embedding the API in your editorial workflow gives writers real-time feedback without leaving the content editor, speeding up optimisation.
- Competitive analysis Comparing your content score against top-ranking pages for the same keyword reveals where your topical coverage falls short.
Three ways it goes wrong
- Score overreliance Treating the API score as a ranking guarantee ignores search intent, backlinks, and technical factors that a full seo audit would catch.
- Single keyword focus Optimising only for the focus keyword misses related entities and subtopics that search engines use to assess relevance.
- Ignoring version changes API scoring logic updates can shift your score overnight; a page that scored 90 last month may score 70 now without any content change.
Common questions
Can you use the API on unpublished drafts?
Yes, the V3 content input endpoint is designed for unpublished content. It accepts JSON input directly, so you can analyse drafts before they go live.
Does the API score guarantee your page will rank?
No, the score is a diagnostic signal, not a ranking guarantee. A full seo audit api would provide more comprehensive technical checks.
Sources
- DataForSEO Content Analysis API Documentation for the V3 content analysis endpoint, including input formats and scoring details.
- SEO Review Tools Content Analysis API Free API for content analysis with keyword and entity detection.