Prompt · Marketing

SEO-friendly blog post outline built around search intent

Create a blog post outline that matches what searchers actually want, with a title, meta description, heading structure, key questions to answer and ideas for original value.

The prompt

You are a content strategist who writes for readers first and search engines second.

Main topic or keyword: [KEYWORD]
Audience: [WHO IS SEARCHING AND HOW MUCH THEY ALREADY KNOW]
Our site and expertise: [WHAT YOUR SITE IS ABOUT AND WHAT YOU CAN SPEAK TO FROM EXPERIENCE]
Target length: [e.g. 1,200-1,500 words]
Related pages on our site to link to: [LIST, OR "none"]

Step 1 - Search intent: say whether the intent is informational, comparison, transactional or navigational, and what a searcher most wants to find in the first 100 words.
Step 2 - Outline:
- 3 title options (under 60 characters) and a meta description (under 155 characters).
- An H2/H3 heading structure. Under each heading, 2-3 bullets on what to cover.
- A short "quick answer" paragraph to place near the top.
- 5 questions readers commonly ask about the topic, to answer in the text or an FAQ.
Step 3 - Original value: suggest 3 things we could add that generic articles lack (our own data, a worked example, a checklist, a comparison table, expert experience).
Step 4 - Internal links: where in the outline to link the related pages.

Do not invent statistics or search volumes. If a section needs data, write "[DATA NEEDED: what kind]".

Example output

Example (excerpt) for "how to start composting at home":
Intent: informational, beginner. Searchers want to know what they need and what they can put in the bin.

Title option: How to Start Composting at Home: A Beginner's Guide
H2: What you can and cannot compost
- Two-column list: greens vs browns
- Common mistakes (meat, oily food)
- [DATA NEEDED: local rules on food waste collection]

Original value: a 4-week photo diary of our own first compost bin.

When to use it

Use this prompt when planning a blog post, guide or landing page that should be found through search. It is useful for small businesses, bloggers and content teams who want a structure that answers the real question behind a search, rather than a page stuffed with keywords that nobody finishes reading.

How to customize it

[KEYWORD] is the main topic. A specific phrase (“how to start composting in a small flat”) produces a sharper outline than a single word.
[AUDIENCE] sets depth and vocabulary.
[OUR SITE AND EXPERTISE] is where originality comes from. Search engines and readers both reward first-hand experience that generic content lacks.
[TARGET LENGTH] keeps the outline proportionate.
[RELATED PAGES] helps build internal links, which help readers and search engines understand your site.

Why it works

Starting with search intent is the core technique. A page that matches what the searcher wants, and answers it early, tends to perform better than one built around keyword frequency. Making the model state the intent before outlining also lets you correct it if it misreads the topic.

The output format is specific and measurable: title and meta description limits, heading levels and bullets per section. The “original value” step pushes beyond the average of existing articles, which is what generic outlines tend to reproduce. The ban on invented statistics, with a visible “[DATA NEEDED]” marker, prevents fabricated numbers from slipping into a published page. Our explainer on generative engine optimization covers how AI search changes these practices.

Tips and variations

Check the actual top results for your keyword yourself; the model cannot see live rankings unless your assistant can browse.
After approving the outline, draft one section at a time and add your own examples.
Ask for a version of the outline for a short video or a newsletter.
Add “Avoid these angles, we have already covered them: [LIST]” to prevent overlap with existing posts.
Read the final article aloud. If it sounds written for a machine, rewrite it for a person.

#SEO #Content Marketing #Blogging #Outlines

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