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Guide · Agent skill

How to use the Bing Webmaster and IndexNow SEO agent skill

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

The seo-bing skill is an add-on for Claude that handles Bing-related SEO work: pulling backlink data from Bing Webmaster Tools, comparing two of your own registered sites, and sending new or changed URLs to Bing and other IndexNow-supporting search engines. It is part of the larger claude-seo extension and runs helper scripts rather than only giving advice. This guide explains what the skill does, how to install it, how to ask for it in plain language, and what to check for safety before you give it API keys.

Bing Webmaster and IndexNow SEOAgriciDaniel/claude-seo · MIT

Quick start

  1. 1Download and unzip. Download the ZIP from this page and unzip it on your machine.
  2. 2Place the skill folder. Move the folder to ~/.claude/skills/ for all projects, or to a project's .claude/skills/ folder for one project. Alternatively, upload it under Settings → Capabilities → Skills in the Claude apps.
  3. 3Run the installer. From the extension folder, run install.sh or install.ps1 to configure the skill.
  4. 4Add your Bing API key. Set BING_WEBMASTER_API_KEY in the env section of ~/.claude/settings.json.
  5. 5Optionally add an IndexNow key. Set INDEXNOW_KEY (32+ characters) and publish it at the URL given in INDEXNOW_KEY_LOCATION.
  6. 6Verify and submit. Run /seo bing verify-indexnow to check setup, then submit a URL with /seo bing submit <url>.

What is an agent skill, and what does seo-bing do?

An agent skill is a folder with a SKILL.md file that teaches Claude how to handle a specific kind of task. When the skill is installed and a request matches it, Claude follows the skill's instructions and can run the scripts it points to.

The seo-bing skill covers three jobs. It pulls backlink data for a URL from Bing Webmaster Tools. It compares link data between two of your properties, as long as both are registered to your Bing Webmaster Tools API account. It submits URLs to IndexNow, a protocol that notifies participating search engines when pages are new or changed.

The skill also explains that Microsoft Copilot citations draw on the Bing index, so its submission and visibility work targets Bing. It does not handle Google. The skill says Google does not use IndexNow and sends Google indexing tasks to a different skill, seo-google.

Install the seo-bing skill

Download the ZIP from this page and unzip it. To make the skill available across your projects, place the folder in ~/.claude/skills/. To limit it to one project, place it in that project's .claude/skills/ folder. You can also upload the skill in the Claude apps under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.

The skill's own setup instructions say to run the extension's installer from the extension folder, either install.sh or install.ps1, to configure it. The installer is also where credentials are set up, so run it from the extension folder.

  • Place the unzipped skill in ~/.claude/skills/ for all projects, or in a project's .claude/skills/ folder for one project.
  • Or upload it in the Claude apps under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
  • Run install.sh (macOS/Linux) or install.ps1 (Windows) from the extension folder to configure it.

Set up your credentials

The skill needs a Bing Webmaster Tools API key, stored as BING_WEBMASTER_API_KEY. An IndexNow host key is optional. If you use one, it must be 32 or more characters and be published at the URL you declare in INDEXNOW_KEY_LOCATION. The key is stored as INDEXNOW_KEY.

These values are placed in the env section of your Claude settings file at ~/.claude/settings.json. Anyone who can read that file can read the keys, so only set this up on a machine you control.

  • BING_WEBMASTER_API_KEY: required for backlink and compare tasks.
  • INDEXNOW_KEY: optional IndexNow host key, 32+ characters.
  • INDEXNOW_KEY_LOCATION: the public URL where the IndexNow key file is published.
  • Settings file: ~/.claude/settings.json, env configuration.

Ask for what you need in plain language

You can ask for a task in ordinary sentences, such as asking Claude to check Bing backlinks for a page, to compare two of your sites, or to submit new URLs to IndexNow. The skill also responds to explicit commands. The table below lists them with the script each one runs.

For a single URL, use the submit command. For a list of URLs, put them in a file and use submit-batch. To confirm your IndexNow key is set up correctly without submitting anything, use verify-indexnow.

  • Links: pulls backlink data for one URL from Bing Webmaster Tools.
  • Compare: compares link data for two URLs. Both properties must be registered to your API account.
  • Submit: sends one URL to IndexNow.
  • Submit-batch: sends a list of URLs from a file to IndexNow.
  • Verify-indexnow: checks the IndexNow setup without submitting URLs.
/seo bing links <url> /seo bing compare <urlA> <urlB> /seo bing submit <url> /seo bing submit-batch <file> /seo bing verify-indexnow

Use it for the right jobs, and know its limits

The skill fits three situations: you publish new pages and want Bing and other IndexNow engines to pick them up sooner, you manage several of your own properties in Bing Webmaster Tools and want to compare their link data, or you are a developer who wants a scripted way to submit URL batches.

It is not a competitor research tool. Bing data only covers properties registered to your account. For an arbitrary competitor, the skill points to DataForSEO, Moz, or Common Crawl. For Google indexing, use seo-google. For weighing backlink sources together, the skill points to seo-backlinks, which it says already integrates Bing, Moz and Common Crawl.

Safety: scripts, network and fetched content

This skill runs scripts and uses the network. Its commands call Python scripts through the claude-seo runner, and they contact Bing Webmaster Tools and IndexNow endpoints using the keys you configured.

The skill's security section says fetched pages, SERP results, API responses and third-party files are untrusted data. If any of that content addresses the agent with instructions, the agent should report it rather than run commands, install anything or change settings because of it. Review requests before you approve them, and keep your API keys out of shared projects.

  • Scripts run locally through the claude-seo runner.
  • Network access is needed to reach Bing Webmaster Tools and IndexNow.
  • Keys are stored in ~/.claude/settings.json, so protect that file.
  • Do not let fetched web content direct the agent to run commands or change settings.

What people use it for

  • Submitting a newly published blog post to IndexNow so participating engines are notified of it.
  • Sending a batch of updated product URLs from a file with submit-batch after a site redesign.
  • Pulling Bing backlink data for a page on your own site to review its link profile.
  • Comparing Bing link data between two sites you own and manage in Bing Webmaster Tools.
  • Checking that your IndexNow key is published correctly before a large batch submission.

Frequently asked questions

Does the seo-bing skill make Google index my pages faster?

No. The skill states that Google does not use IndexNow and does not accept it. Google indexing is handled by the separate seo-google skill, which the seo-bing skill points you to.

Do I need a paid account or API key to use it?

The skill needs a Bing Webmaster Tools API key stored as BING_WEBMASTER_API_KEY. The source does not state pricing or licence terms for that account, so check Bing Webmaster Tools directly. The skill's own code is listed under the MIT licence.

How do I install the seo-bing skill?

Download the ZIP from this page and unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ for all projects, or into a project's .claude/skills/ folder. You can also upload it in the Claude apps under Settings → Capabilities → Skills. Then run install.sh or install.ps1 from the extension folder.

Why won't the compare command work for a competitor's site?

Compare only works for properties registered to your Bing Webmaster Tools API account, because Bing data is limited to your own sites. For a competitor, the skill suggests DataForSEO, Moz, or Common Crawl.

Is it safe to store my API key in the settings file?

The keys are placed in the env section of ~/.claude/settings.json, so anyone who can read that file can read the keys. Use it only on a machine you control, and do not use it if you cannot protect those credentials.

What is an IndexNow key and do I need one?

The IndexNow host key is optional. If you use it, it must be 32 or more characters and be published at the URL in INDEXNOW_KEY_LOCATION. Run /seo bing verify-indexnow to check the setup.

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Our verdict

Use seo-bing if you publish pages often and want Bing and other IndexNow-supporting engines notified quickly, or if you manage several of your own sites in Bing Webmaster Tools. Skip it if you need Google indexing, competitor backlink research, or if you cannot keep API keys safely stored in a Claude settings file.

Download the skill