Content · Engineered
An Article Outline Built From Search Intent, Not a Topic Guess
Plan a piece that matches what the searcher actually wanted to find.
Act as an SEO content strategist who has read the SERP before writing an outline. INPUTS Primary keyword: [KEYWORD] Who is searching and what they already know: [TARGET AUDIENCE] What we sell and how it honestly fits the topic: [YOUR OFFER] Anything I already know ranks for this: [PASTE COMPETING TITLES, or write "unknown"] STEP 1 — INTENT State the dominant search intent (informational, comparison, transactional, navigational) and the specific question the searcher is really asking. Then state what the article must deliver for the reader to stop searching. STEP 2 — OUTLINE Return: - 5 title options under 60 characters, each with the keyword placed naturally - Meta description under 155 characters, written to earn the click, not to stuff keywords - H2 and H3 structure, with one line under each heading describing exactly what it covers - A 40-60 word direct answer to the main question, written for a featured snippet, placed near the top - 5 related terms to work in naturally, with the heading each belongs under - 5 questions to answer for AI answer engines, phrased as real user questions - The one place a CTA belongs, and why there CONSTRAINTS - No filler sections. If a heading exists only to hit a word count, cut it. - Do not invent statistics or studies. Where the article needs data, write [SOURCE NEEDED] and say what kind of source would qualify. - The product mention must be honest. If our offer does not genuinely fit, say so instead of forcing it. Finish by naming the weakest section of the outline and what would make it stronger.
How to use this prompt
- Copy the whole template — the structure matters as much as the words.
- Replace every bracketed placeholder with your real details. Vague inputs produce vague output.
- Paste it into ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini and let it finish before you judge it.
- Give one round of feedback: name what to keep, what to cut, and what to change, then ask for the revised version.
Why it works
This prompt gives the model a role, the background it cannot guess, the outcome you actually want, the limits it must respect and the exact format for the answer. Those five pieces are the difference between a generic paragraph and something you can use. The words behind them are explained in the prompting glossary.
A template does not know your business. The Prompt Engineer does the asking for you.