> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.rankability.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.rankability.com/copywriter/understanding-your-content-score.md).

# Understanding your content score

The content score is a 0–100 rating that measures how well your draft covers recommended topics and places your primary keyword in key positions.

Open a researched Copywriter project with a draft or manual content. The score depends on the project's recommendations and the text currently saved in that project; it is not a domain-authority score, a technical audit, or a prediction of the page's final ranking.

## How it works

A circular gauge appears in the top-right sidebar. The score has two components:

### Coverage

Measures how many recommended keywords appear in your draft. Keywords are color-coded: green (used sufficiently), yellow (used but could use more), red (missing). The total is displayed, for example “50/74 Keywords.”

### Placement

Checks whether your primary keyword appears in 5 key positions:

* Title tag
* H1
* First 100 words
* Meta description
* Early H2/H3

Each position shows a green checkmark or red X.

## Additional context

* Word count and target range are shown below the score.
* The keyword list is sortable (default: Relevance) and searchable.
* You can add custom keywords, copy to clipboard, or export as CSV.

## Improve the score without keyword stuffing

1. Confirm the primary keyword and page goal are correct for the project.
2. Review missing high-relevance topics and decide which genuinely belong in the page.
3. Add useful passages that answer the topic, then check whether coverage changes after the draft saves.
4. Fix primary-keyword placement in the title, H1, opening, meta description, and an early subheading where natural.
5. Re-read the draft for clarity, duplication, and intent before pursuing additional points.
6. Use an [editor review](/copywriter/running-an-editor-review.md) for broader feedback that the numeric score does not cover.

The expected output is an updated gauge, topic statuses, placement checks, word count, and target range. Scores are project-specific: two projects can recommend different terms or ranges for similar topics because their research and page goals differ.

## What the score does not measure

The score does not prove factual accuracy, originality, brand compliance, crawlability, backlinks, page speed, conversion quality, or future rankings. A lower-scoring sentence can be better than a forced keyword insertion. Treat the score as an optimization checklist alongside human editorial judgment and the evidence in the brief.

## Tips and best practices

* Focus on Coverage first – incorporate missing (red) keywords naturally.
* Check Placement second – ensure your primary keyword is in the H1, first 100 words, and meta description.
* A higher score does not guarantee rankings but indicates topical completeness.
* Prioritize red keywords for the biggest score improvements.

## Troubleshooting

* **Score seems stuck** – Make a small edit to trigger a refresh.
* **Placement X for Title tag** – The title tag is set in the Brief tab, not in the draft body.
* **A keyword stays red after use** – Save the draft and check whether the exact concept, not merely a partial word, was added in a useful context. Recommended usage can require more coverage than a single mention.
* **The score drops after an edit** – Restoring or replacing text can remove covered topics or placement. Compare the current draft with [version history](/copywriter/version-history-and-import.md).
* **No score appears on an existing Quick mode project** – That earlier workflow produced keyword research without a draft score. Start a current Create content project and choose **Write it myself** when you need research with a live editor score.

## Related articles

* [Creating a content project (Copywriter)](/copywriter/creating-a-content-project.md) — The full content creation workflow that produces your score.
* [Content editor reference](/copywriter/content-editor-reference.md) — Detailed reference for the editor sidebar and keyword tools.
* [Running an editor review](/copywriter/running-an-editor-review.md) — Get AI editorial feedback to improve your score.
* [Content types: Educate, Discover, Compete, Convert](/copywriter/content-types-reference.md) — How content type affects scoring and optimization.