How to Use Surfer SEO to Optimize Blog Posts for Higher Rankings
I’ll just say it: I used to spend hours tweaking blog posts, second-guessing keyword choices, stuffing in synonyms, and praying for rankings. Sound familiar?
Then I discovered Surfer SEO.
This guide isn’t a review full of fluff. I’m Eli Mercer—solo founder, AI tool nerd, and full-time content optimizer. I’ve tested nearly every content tool out there. The one that stuck for me—and gets actual results for SEO-focused creators—is Surfer.
Today, I’m walking you step-by-step through how to use Surfer SEO to optimize blog posts. We’ll cover:
- Keyword research with intent
- Content optimization in the Content Editor
- Real-world SERP analysis
- AI suggestions that actually help
- Google Docs + WordPress integration
- My best Surfer SEO settings for results
- Plus, a live example showing rankings before vs. after
What is Surfer SEO and Why Should You Care?
Surfer is an AI-powered content optimization tool that helps bloggers, SaaS companies, and marketers rank higher in Google. Its real power lies in real-time SERP data, gathered from top-ranking pages for your keyword. This means the recommendations you get are based on what’s actually working — not someone’s theory.
If you struggle with:
- Keyword uncertainty
- Over- or under-optimizing content
- Structuring your blog for SEO
- Figuring out why your content falls flat
Then Surfer does the heavy lifting so you can write smarter and rank better.
Feeling intrigued? You can try it right now risk-free and follow along with me:
Step 1: Set Up Your Surfer Account
Head to Surfer SEO and sign up. I recommend the Essential Plan ($59/month) if you’re a solo blogger or creator. It gives you access to the Content Editor, SERP Analyzer, and Grow Flow—all the tools we’ll be using.
Once logged in, you’ll land on your dashboard. It’s clean, clear, and doesn’t take 30 minutes to learn (looking at you, MarketMuse).
Step 2: Do Keyword Research That Actually Helps Rankings
Let’s ditch old-school keyword “guesswork.” Surfer’s Keyword Research tool gives you intent-based recommendations from real SERPs. Here’s what to do:
- Open Surfer and click Keyword Research.
- Enter a broad topic (e.g., “best AI tools”).
- Surfer suggests keywords like:
- AI content tools for bloggers
- best AI writing software for SEO
- free Surfer alternatives
- Bonus: Use the SERP similarity filter to find overlapping keywords to target multiple terms in one blog.
You’re not getting thrown a random list — you’re building a cluster of intent-matching phrases backed by what’s working right now on Google.
Step 3: Create or Import Content Into Surfer’s Content Editor
This is where the magic happens—and what makes Surfer different. Go to Content Editor, type in your main keyword, and Surfer generates a real-time optimization brief.
In seconds, you’ll see:
- Optimal word count
- Heading structure (H2s, H3s)
- Keyword frequency ranges
- NLP terms and phrases
- Content score (0 to 100)
You can write directly in the editor, or paste in your draft for a real-time audit. I usually paste in my Google Doc and let Surfer guide the edits.
Step 4: Run a SERP Analyzer Deep Dive
Want to see what’s working right now for your target keyword? Use the SERP Analyzer.
Pop in your focus keyword, and Surfer shows you:
- Headline structure of top competitors
- Their keyword usage
- Word count averages
- Page speed and backlink counts
This lets you build a smarter structure and avoid accidentally writing a 500-word post when competitors are ranking with 2,200 words and topical depth.
Step 5: Optimize with AI-Powered Grow Flow
Surfer’s Grow Flow is your weekly SEO sidekick. It shows optimization tasks like:
- Add missing keywords in specific posts
- Create new pages based on content gaps
- Internal linking suggestions
- Opportunities to increase relevance
For busy bloggers, it’s like an AI SEO coach nudging you to improve — without the overwhelm.
Step 6: Integrate with Google Docs and WordPress
Don’t like hopping between platforms? Surfer integrates directly with:
- Google Docs: Optimize as you write via Chrome extension
- WordPress: Use the plugin to check scores in your dashboard
- Jasper + Notion: Embed into popular AI workflows
I typically write in Docs with the Surfer extension, then fine-tune and publish in WordPress.
Step 7: Best Surfer SEO Settings for Results
Here’s what’s worked best for me (and clients) across dozens of posts:
- Aim for Content Score above 70
- Don’t overstuff exact match keywords — follow the recommended ranges
- Focus equally on NLP terms and structure
- Use Grow Flow weekly to refresh old content
- Structure your first 400 words to include your focus keyword + a few variations
Live Example: Blog Post Before vs. After Surfer Optimization
Here was a blog post I had that stalled at Position 27 on Google for “best AI marketing tools.” I ran it through Surfer and:
- Increased content score to 81
- Added 5 NLP phrases I missed
- Rewrote the intro to match competitor formatting
- Added FAQs and internal links
Within 3 weeks, it moved to Page 1 — and I saw a 3x traffic lift.
Final Thoughts: Is Surfer SEO Worth It?
If you’re a blogger, marketer, SaaS founder, or content creator trying to rank on Google — yes.
Surfer eliminates most of the guesswork and gives you an edge over other writers who just hope tossing in a few “long-tail keywords” will cut it (they won’t). You still need to write good content — but Surfer ensures you’re writing smart content.
FAQs
What is a good Content Score in Surfer?
Aim for 70+ if you want to see ranking improvements. Going above 90 is ideal but not always realistic depending on topic difficulty.
Can you try Surfer SEO for free?
There’s no free plan, but Surfer offers a 7-day money-back guarantee. So yes — you can basically try it risk-free.
Does Surfer help with old blog posts too?
Absolutely. Use Grow Flow suggestions or paste your old content into the Content Editor to improve it using modern SERP data.
Is Surfer worth it for solo bloggers?
Yes. I’m a solopreneur myself — and Surfer is one of my favorite tools because it saves time AND gets results.
Wrap-Up: Your Next SEO Move
With Google constantly evolving, you can’t afford to write content in the dark. Surfer gives you the map, the compass, and the GPS.
If your blog deserves to rank higher — and you want the unfair advantage that data-backed SEO provides — you owe it to yourself to give Surfer a shot today.