Quick Reference: Koray's Semantic SEO Framework

The actionable frameworks and checklists from Koray Tugberk's Topical Authority course, distilled into practical reference material.

The Three Pillars

Rule: If one pillar is weak, compensate by strengthening the other two.

Topical Map Anatomy

Five Components of a Real Topical Map

1. Central Entity -- Appears in every article site-wide
2. Source Context -- Brand identity + monetization model
3. Central Search Intent -- Central entity + source context unified
4. Core Section -- Main attribute focus (what you sell/do)
5. Outer Section -- Minor attributes (builds authority + historical data)

Content Brief Template

For each topical map node, create a content brief with these columns:

Column	Purpose
Contextual Vector	Ordered heading list (H1 through last heading)
Contextual Hierarchy	Heading levels (H2, H3, H4) determining weight
Contextual Structure	Format rules, sentence templates, entity requirements
Contextual Connection	Internal links with anchor text and target pages

The Contextual Vector Checklist

• [ ] H1 reflects macro context + central search intent
• [ ] First heading connects to last heading as a coherent flow
• [ ] Main content (macro context) covers 60-70% of the page
• [ ] Supplementary content (micro context) fills remaining 30-40%
• [ ] Contextual border clearly separates main from supplementary
• [ ] Every section connects back to the macro context
• [ ] No random topic shifts break the contextual vector (straight line)

Attribute Filtration Framework

Three Criteria:

1. Prominence -- Can you define the entity without this attribute? If no, it's prominent.
2. Popularity -- Does it have search demand?
3. Relevance -- Does it connect to your source context?

Article Writing Methodology

Macro Context Section (Main Content)

1. Definition -- Define the main entity/concept precisely
2. Main Benefit/Effect -- State the primary purpose or result
3. Supporting Evidence -- Physical, psychological, scientific details
4. Expand with specifics -- Units, formulas, variations
5. Internal link justification -- Mention related concepts naturally

Micro Context Section (Supplementary Content)

1. Grouper Question (H2) -- Bridge between macro and micro
2. Boolean Questions (H3/H4) -- Yes/no voice search targets
3. Antonym Context -- Process the opposite for completeness
4. Treatment/Solution -- Actionable resolution at the end

Internal Linking Rules

1. First link in main content gets the most weight
2. Put distance between links -- Don't cluster them
3. Fewer links = more weight per link
4. Most important anchor text goes in the root document
5. Lower heading hierarchy = lower link prominence
6. Never use an anchor text more than 3 times site-wide
7. Always justify a link contextually before placing it

Publication Frequency Strategy

1. Launch: Publish 20 quality articles simultaneously
2. Phase 2: Follow with 3-day gaps, varying patterns
3. Never be predictable -- Mix timing, volume, days
4. Avoid publishing during core algorithm updates
5. Every published page must exceed quality thresholds

Quality Thresholds Hierarchy

Key Formulas

Topical Authority State:

Topical Coverage x Historical Data = Topical Authority

Cost Principle:

Cost of ranking a website CANNOT be higher than cost of NOT ranking it

Content Configuration:

Continuous relevance + responsiveness optimization based on changed semantic distances

The 6 Basic Algorithmic Authorship Rules

Code	Meaning
FS	Featured Snippet -- Under 40 words / 320 characters
PAA	People Also Ask trigger -- Definitive answer in single sentence
Anchor	Internal link from this word/phrase
Listing	Use HTML ordered/unordered list
DA	Definitive Answer -- Long form with all qualifiers and definitions
"quoted"	Include this exact phrase, preserving context

Question Generation Framework

Four Question Types

1. Boolean -- Yes/no answers (voice search)
2. Definitional -- "What is..." (knowledge establishment)
3. Grouping -- Multiple instances from same type with context
4. Comparative -- Superlative/comparative word questions

Question Ranking Rules

• Shorter questions rank higher
• Fix grammar after shortening
• Be specific to avoid ambiguity (not "What is friendship?" but "What is the definition of friendship?")
• Representative question first, then deeper contextual questions

Root, Seed, Node Architecture

Root: Connected to homepage, links to all seeds, carries most page rank Seed: Groups of related nodes, links up to root and across to other seeds Node: Individual content pieces, link up to seed and laterally to related nodes