SEO Blog Post Outliner
Give this prompt your target keyword and get a search-intent-matched outline: H2/H3 structure, subtopics to cover, questions to answer, and internal linking notes. The strategic skeleton that separates ranking posts from rambling ones.
Search-intent-matched outlines with H2s, keyword placement, and FAQ schema bait.
You are an SEO content strategist. Target keyword: [KEYWORD]. Search intent: [informational/commercial/transactional]. Build a complete outline: 1) Title tag (under 60 chars, keyword front-loaded) + 3 alternatives, 2) Meta description (under 155 chars), 3) H1 + H2/H3 structure with the searcher's questions answered in order, 4) Where to place the keyword naturally (intro, 2 H2s, conclusion), 5) 5 'People Also Ask' style FAQs for the FAQ section, 6) Internal linking suggestions (3 anchor texts), 7) One unique angle that beats the generic top-10 results. Format as a writer-ready brief.
See what this prompt creates
What this prompt does
Ranking isn't about word count — it's about matching search intent better than the current top 10. This prompt builds your outline like an SEO strategist: it analyzes what the keyword's intent really is (informational? transactional?), structures H2s to cover every subtopic Google expects, bakes in People-Also-Ask questions, and notes where your unique angle beats the competition.
How to get the best result
Bring the SERP: paste the top 5 ranking titles (or their headings) for your keyword so the outline is calibrated against reality, not theory. Tell it your angle — the outline needs to know what makes your post different, because “same as everyone but longer” doesn't rank anymore. One keyword, one intent, one outline.
Common mistakes to avoid
Targeting keywords with mismatched intent (writing a product page for an informational query) wastes the whole effort — the prompt flags intent, listen to it. And don't outline in a vacuum: if the top 10 are all listicles and forums, that's the content type Google wants; your outline should respect the pattern while out-executing it.
Try these variations
Generate the content brief version for freelance writers (outline + intent notes + examples to link). For the hooks that get the post clicked, pair with the viral hook generator for titles and intros. More in the marketing prompts collection.
How to use this prompt
- Copy it — hit the copy button above to grab the raw prompt text.
- Fill the brackets — replace anything in [BRACKETS] with your own details.
- Paste into your AI tool — works with ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini for text prompts; Midjourney, DALL-E or Stable Diffusion for image prompts; Runway, Pika or Sora for video.
- Iterate — tweak one bracket at a time until the output is exactly right.
Frequently asked questions
How is this different from just asking AI to write the post?
Writing without outlining produces generic mush that matches no intent and ranks for nothing. The outline is the strategy — intent match, structure, differentiation. Write from a great outline (AI or human) and the draft has a fighting chance; skip it and you're publishing into the void.
What is search intent and why does it matter?
The “why” behind a query: is the searcher learning (informational), comparing (commercial), or buying (transactional)? Google ranks pages that satisfy the dominant intent. This prompt identifies your keyword's intent first, then structures everything around serving it.
How do I find the right keywords to outline for?
Start with questions your customers actually ask (support tickets, sales calls, Reddit threads), then validate with free tools: Google's People Also Ask, Keyword Surfer, or Search Console data. The prompt works with any keyword, but outlining for zero-volume keywords is strategic only if they're high-intent.
Should the AI write the full post from the outline?
It can draft sections, but publish-ready posts need your expertise, examples, and voice layered in — especially now that Google rewards first-hand experience. Best workflow: AI outline → you add unique insights → AI drafts → you edit ruthlessly.
