SEO

Create a comprehensive SEO content brief that gives a writer everything needed to produce a high-ranking, search-optimized article, including keyword targets, competitive intelligence, structural guidance, and internal linking directives.

CONTENT BRIEF DEVELOPMENT PROCESS:

1. Keyword Strategy
   - Define the primary keyword: the single most important keyword the content must rank for
   - Identify 5-8 secondary keywords that support the primary keyword and should be naturally integrated
   - List 10-15 semantic/LSI keywords that signal topical comprehensiveness to search engines
   - Specify keyword placement requirements:
     * Primary keyword in H1, first 100 words, at least one H2, meta title, meta description, and URL slug
     * Secondary keywords distributed across H2 and H3 headings
     * Semantic keywords woven naturally throughout body paragraphs
   - Include long-tail question keywords that could capture People Also Ask results

2. Competitor Content Analysis
   - Analyze the top 5 ranking pages for the primary keyword
   - For each competitor, note:
     * Word count and content depth
     * Heading structure and subtopics covered
     * Content format (guide, listicle, comparison, tutorial, etc.)
     * Unique angles or data they include
     * Weaknesses or gaps in their coverage
   - Synthesize findings into a "competitive content landscape" summary
   - Identify the specific angle or differentiator this content should take to stand out

3. Content Structure and Outline
   - Provide a detailed heading outline from H1 through H3 level
   - Each heading should incorporate a target keyword (primary, secondary, or semantic) where natural
   - Under each heading, include:
     * 2-4 bullet points describing what the section should cover
     * Key points, data, or examples to include
     * Approximate word count per section
   - Recommend content format (comprehensive guide, step-by-step tutorial, listicle, comparison, etc.)
   - Suggest where to place visual elements (images, infographics, tables, videos)

4. Word Count and Depth Guidance
   - Recommend a target word count based on competitive analysis (not an arbitrary number)
   - Break down word count allocation across major sections
   - Specify which sections need the most depth and which should be concise
   - Flag any sections where original data, expert quotes, or case studies would significantly strengthen the content

5. Featured Snippet Opportunities
   - Identify 2-3 specific featured snippet opportunities within the content
   - For each, specify the target query, recommended snippet format (paragraph, list, table), and the exact section where the snippet-optimized content should appear
   - Provide formatting guidance for each snippet target

6. Internal and External Linking Directives
   - List 5-10 specific internal pages to link to, with suggested anchor text for each
   - Identify where in the content each internal link should be placed
   - Recommend 3-5 types of external sources to reference (studies, authoritative sites, tools) to build credibility
   - Specify any pages that should link back to this new content once published

7. On-Page SEO Specifications
   - Provide the recommended meta title (under 60 characters) with primary keyword
   - Provide the recommended meta description (140-155 characters)
   - Specify the URL slug
   - List image alt text guidelines with keyword integration
   - Note any schema markup opportunities (FAQ, HowTo, Article)

OUTPUT CONSTRAINTS:
- The brief must be comprehensive enough that a writer unfamiliar with SEO can produce optimized content
- Include specific examples and data points to reference, not just vague topical directions
- Every heading in the outline must include its target keyword notation
- Word count recommendations must be justified by competitive data
- Internal linking suggestions must include exact anchor text
- The brief should be a single, organized document that the writer can follow top-to-bottom

FORMAT:

**CONTENT BRIEF: [Working Title]**

**PRIMARY KEYWORD:** [keyword] | Est. Volume: [range] | Difficulty: [level]
**SECONDARY KEYWORDS:** [list with volumes]
**SEMANTIC KEYWORDS:** [list]

**COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE:**
| Competitor URL | Word Count | Format | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---------------|-----------|--------|-----------|------------|

**CONTENT ANGLE:** [1-2 sentence description of unique angle]
**TARGET WORD COUNT:** [number] (based on competitor average of [number])
**CONTENT FORMAT:** [guide/listicle/tutorial/comparison/etc.]
**TARGET AUDIENCE:** [description]

**DETAILED OUTLINE:**

H1: [Title with primary keyword]

  H2: [Section title with keyword] (~[word count] words)
    H3: [Subsection] (~[word count] words)
    - Cover: [bullet points]
    - Include: [specific data/examples]
    [Internal link opportunity: link to [page] with anchor "[text]"]

[Continue for full outline]

**META SPECIFICATIONS:**
- Title Tag: [under 60 chars]
- Meta Description: [140-155 chars]
- URL Slug: [slug]

**FEATURED SNIPPET TARGETS:**
1. Query: [query] | Format: [type] | Section: [heading]

**INTERNAL LINKING PLAN:**
| Link To | Anchor Text | Place In Section |
|---------|-------------|-----------------|

**VISUAL CONTENT SUGGESTIONS:**
[List of recommended images, tables, infographics with placement]

**SCHEMA MARKUP:** [recommendations]

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MY INFO:

Primary Keyword: (required)
Website URL: (required)
Target Audience: (required)
Content Goal (traffic, leads, conversions, brand awareness): (required)
Competitor URLs (up to 5): (optional)
Existing Internal Pages to Link To: (optional)
Brand Voice Guidelines: (optional)
Writer Skill Level (beginner, experienced, expert): (optional)
Publication Deadline: (optional)