Outline a content pillar with topic clusters and supporting articles
advancedClaude OpusMarketingSeomarketingseocontent-strategypillar-contenttopical-authority
Use case
Use this prompt when planning a quarter or more of SEO content around a strategic topic. Most pillar plans are a list of keywords. This one returns a real architecture: pillar topic, cluster pages, supporting articles, search intent for each, and the internal linking map. Hand the output to writers and they can execute.
The prompt
You are a senior SEO strategist who builds topical authority through pillar and cluster content models. Build a full pillar architecture for the topic below. Topic:{{pillar_topic}}Brand context:{{brand_context}}Target audience:{{audience}}Current domain authority and existing coverage:{{existing_coverage}}Business goal this pillar should serve:{{business_goal}}Output: 1. Pillar page - Working title (search-intent appropriate, not clickbait) - Primary keyword and 2-3 secondary keywords with rough monthly search volume estimates (mark estimates as estimates) - Search intent classification (informational, commercial investigation, transactional) - Why this pillar is winnable for this brand given existing coverage and authority 2. Cluster topics (5-8 of them) For each cluster: - Cluster theme - Why it belongs under this pillar (do not include clusters that are weakly related) - Primary keyword and intent - 3-5 supporting article titles under it, each with intent type 3. Internal linking map - Pillar links down to all clusters - Cluster pages link laterally to 2 sibling clusters where there's real topical adjacency (not all of them) - Supporting articles link up to their cluster page and to one sibling supporting article 4. Risks and gaps - Where the brand likely lacks credibility or first-party data to rank - Which 2-3 articles need original research, interviews, or product data to be defensible Constraints: - Do not invent search volume figures. Use rough bands (low / medium / high) if you do not have data, and mark them as such. - Do not pad cluster count. Five strong clusters beats eight weak ones.
Variables
{{{{pillar_topic}}}}Replace with your {{pillar topic}}{{{{brand_context}}}}Replace with your {{brand context}}{{{{audience}}}}Replace with your {{audience}}{{{{existing_coverage}}}}Replace with your {{existing coverage}}{{{{business_goal}}}}Replace with your {{business goal}}
Example
Input
pillar_topic: equity compensation for early-stage startup employees brand_context: Carta-adjacent fintech offering equity tracking and tax planning for employees, not employers. Brand voice is plain-English, anti-jargon, sympathetic to the employee perspective. audience: software engineers and PMs at Series A to C startups, ages 25-40, first or second startup job existing_coverage: 30 articles on equity basics, no first-party research, DR 38 business_goal: drive sign-ups for the personal equity tracker tool, paid tier $15/mo
Output
Pillar page: "The startup employee's guide to equity compensation" Primary keyword: startup equity for employees (medium volume, informational) Why winnable: existing content gives topical breadth; this consolidates and adds an opinionated frame the incumbents (Carta, Pulley) cannot publish because their customer is the employer. Clusters: 1. RSUs vs ISOs vs NSOs for employees Why: highest-intent commercial investigation; supports the tax planning feature Supporting articles: ISO early exercise math, AMT explained for engineers, 83(b) decision flowchart, etc. 2. Equity at offer time (negotiation) ... (4 more clusters) Internal linking map: pillar -> all clusters; cluster 1 <-> cluster 4 (both tax-heavy); supporting articles link up to cluster and to one sibling. Risks: brand has no first-party data on dilution outcomes. Articles on "how much equity is normal at Series A" need interview-sourced data or they will not outrank AngelList and Carta. Flag two articles for original research before publishing.
Tips for best results
- 1Feed Claude your current site coverage if you have it. The 'why this pillar is winnable' answer changes a lot based on what you already rank for.
- 2Mark search volume bands honestly. Made-up specific numbers in this output mislead the writers downstream.
- 3Five strong clusters beats eight weak ones. Trim ruthlessly before handing off.
- 4Pair with a writer brief prompt to turn each supporting article title into a full outline.
- 5Re-audit the pillar every two quarters. Search intent for the same query shifts faster than most teams update.
Related prompts
Generate an ICP-tailored landing page from a single brand brief
intermediateTurn one source brand brief into a landing page rewritten for a specific ICP segment, with headline, subhead, social proof, and CTA tuned to that buyer.
Marketingmarketinglanding-pagedemand-gen
Generate a brand voice and style guide from writing samples
advancedReverse-engineer a usable brand voice and style guide from a set of existing writing samples, with do/don't examples and a voice fingerprint Claude can apply later.
Marketingmarketingbrandvoice
Build a lifecycle email cadence across onboarding, activation, retention, expansion, and win-back
advancedGenerate a full lifecycle email program spanning onboarding, activation, retention, expansion, and win-back, with triggers, timing, copy, and success metrics for each stage.
Marketingmarketinglifecycleemail
Need help implementing this prompt in your workflow?
Book a call