What's the difference between the Content Brief and Signals? Which one should I use?

The Content Brief in POP Pro is designed to make SEO judgment calls for you. It provides an easy-to-understand guide for optimizing content for both visitors and Google.

The Signals section in Advanced Analysis > Compare Data provides more detailed recommendations for important SEO factors. It is intended for SEOs who are comfortable making their own judgment calls and want more granular control over their optimization strategy.

Which one should I use?

A common approach is to start with the Content Brief and work toward a score above 80%. Watch how the page performs, then continue through the remaining recommendations. Once the Content Brief is complete, you can move into Compare Data and review individual Signals for additional opportunities.

Scoring in each system

POP Pro Content Brief

The Content Brief score is based on completing its recommendations. The system is designed so that a score of 100% is achievable. The source article notes that many users begin seeing positive ranking movement after reaching around 80%.

Signals

The Signals score is based on what competitors have done, so reaching 100% is not always possible or desirable. Competitors may also have made poor optimization decisions, which is why judgment is required.

The source article notes that positive movement can often occur around 60–70%, while scores in the 80–85% range are commonly strong. Performance of the target page matters more than reaching a specific POP score.

You can also review recommendations affecting the Signals score in the Custom Strategy tab, where POP provides a To-Do list of high-impact changes.