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StepTen Score

The only content scoring system that measures both SEO ranking potential and AI citation probability. 5 pillars. 28 sub-factors. Built on research from Yoast, Rank Math, SEMrush, Moz, and the Princeton GEO paper.

The 5 Pillars

28 SUB-FACTORS ACROSS 5 DIMENSIONS

Signal Strength

25%

Will Google rank it?

Based on what Yoast, Rank Math, SEMrush, and Moz all agree matters for traditional search ranking.

Title Engineering

Keyword near start, power word, number, 50-60 chars, curiosity gap

Meta Description

120-155 chars with keyword + call-to-action

Keyword Placement

In first 100 words, 30-75% of H2/H3, image ALT, URL slug

Keyword Density

0.5-1.5% natural density, semantic variations, no stuffing

Content Depth

1500-4000 words, topic covered, FAQ section, original data

Heading Structure

Single H1, H2->H3 hierarchy, heading every 200-300 words

Citation Power

30%

Will AI cite it?

Based on the Princeton GEO research (KDD 2024) and analysis of what ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overview actually cite.

Answer Capsules

Question-phrased H2 + 20-25 word self-contained answer AI can quote verbatim

Statistical Density

Specific numbers with unit + timeframe: "23% increase over 3 months"

Source Citations

Inline citations: "According to [Source], [claim]" — not endnotes

Extractability

Self-contained 50-150 word chunks. Each paragraph = one point.

Entity Clarity

Named entities in S-V-O syntax. No pronouns in topic sentences.

Quotability

Comparison tables, definition lists, authoritative quotations

Human Impact

20%

Will anyone give a fuck?

The differentiator between real content and AI slop. No tool measures this — but it determines whether content gets shared.

Voice Authenticity

Sounds like a real person with opinions, personality, and style

Story Architecture

Opening hook, tension/conflict, narrative arc, specific examples

Engagement Triggers

Questions, controversial takes, "holy shit" moments, real examples

Actionability

Clear next steps implementable TODAY. Specific tools and processes.

Originality

Unique angle only THIS author could write. Firsthand experience.

Readability

10%

Can humans read it?

Based on Yoast readability analysis, SEMrush readability scoring, and Flesch-Kincaid research.

Sentence Length

<25% of sentences over 20 words. Varied lengths for rhythm.

Paragraph Length

No paragraph over 150 words. Most are 2-4 sentences.

Passive Voice

<10% passive sentences. Active voice dominant.

Transition Words

30%+ of sentences use transitions (however, therefore, because)

Flesch Score

Flesch Reading Ease 60+ (8th-9th grade level)

Technical

15%

Can machines crawl it?

Based on SEMrush Site Audit, Rank Math Site Analyzer, and AI crawler research. If machines can't crawl it, nothing else matters.

Schema Potential

Article + FAQPage + BreadcrumbList + Person schema structure

Internal Links

2+ internal links with descriptive anchors (not "click here")

External Links

1+ dofollow external link to authoritative source

Media Presence

Hero image, body images/diagrams, meaningful ALT text

Meta Completeness

OG tags, canonical, datePublished, dateModified

Content Accessibility

SSR-rendered, clean HTML, <100KB, no JS dependency

Built on Research

The StepTen Score combines criteria from every major SEO tool with cutting-edge AI citation research. No other scoring system measures both search ranking potential AND AI citation probability.

Yoast SEO

20+ checks, readability analysis

Rank Math

22 tests, 4 categories

SEMrush

140+ audit checks, writing assistant

Moz

27 on-page factors

Princeton GEO Paper

KDD 2024 — AI citation research

AI Citation Studies

ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AIO data

Scoring Tiers

S90-100LEGENDARYExceptional content that ranks AND gets cited by AI

A80-89EXCEPTIONALPublished with confidence. Strong across all pillars.

B70-79SOLIDGood content. One or two areas to strengthen.

C60-69NEEDS WORKHas potential but needs revision before publishing.

D50-59WEAKMajor issues. Unlikely to rank or get cited.

F0-49REJECTStart over. Not worth publishing.

EVERY ARTICLE ON STEPTEN.IO IS SCORED WITH THIS SYSTEM

SEE OUR SCORED CONTENT

STEPTEN™