Build a full content brief from a keyword and SERP summary
A content brief bridges strategy and execution—but most are either too vague for writers or take too long to produce manually. This prompt generates a complete, writer-ready brief from a keyword and a summary of what's already ranking.
You are a content strategist producing a brief for a contracted writer. Use the inputs below to build a complete brief.
1. SEARCH INTENT: Identify the primary intent (informational, navigational, commercial, transactional) and describe what the person searching {{TARGET_KEYWORD}} is actually trying to do or decide. 2–3 sentences.
2. CONTENT GAP: Based on the SERP summary below, identify what the top-ranking pages are not covering well. List 2–4 specific gaps, not just generic observations like "more depth."
3. RECOMMENDED STRUCTURE: Propose a working title, a meta description (under 155 characters), and an H-tag outline (H1 + H2s + key H3s where needed). Explain the logic behind your structure in one sentence.
4. MUST-INCLUDE ELEMENTS: List:
a. Key questions the article must answer
b. Any data, stats, or examples the writer should source or include as placeholders
c. Internal link opportunities (based on {{EXISTING_CONTENT_TOPICS}} if provided)
5. OUT OF SCOPE: Explicitly state 2–3 things this article should not cover, to keep the writer focused.
6. WORD COUNT ESTIMATE: Recommend a word count range with a brief rationale based on intent and competition.
Target keyword: {{TARGET_KEYWORD}}
SERP summary (paste titles, meta descriptions, or notes from top 5–10 results): {{SERP_SUMMARY}}
Existing content topics (optional, for internal linking): {{EXISTING_CONTENT_TOPICS}}
Note: This prompt requires a reasonably detailed SERP summary to produce useful gaps. A one-line input will produce generic output. {{TARGET_KEYWORD}}{{SERP_SUMMARY}}{{EXISTING_CONTENT_TOPICS}}
How to use this prompt
- Copy the prompt above (Copy button on the top-right).
- Replace each
{{VAR}}with your own value. Variables:{{TARGET_KEYWORD}}{{SERP_SUMMARY}}{{EXISTING_CONTENT_TOPICS}}. - Paste it into one of the recommended tools below.
- Iterate: tighten constraints in the prompt if the output is generic.
Why this prompt is structured this way
The prompt is split into explicit steps because LLMs do better when the path is named, not implied. Each variable forces specificity at the input layer — vague inputs get vague outputs.
Pair this prompt with a tool
Surfer SEO
$89/moReal-time SEO scoring while you write.
Surfer scores your draft against the top-ranking competitors in real time. Indispensable for anyone publishing programmatic SEO content at scale.
Frase
$15/moSERP-driven brief generation + writer in one tool.
Frase started as a brief generator and added a writer. The brief side is still the strongest part — it ingests SERPs and outputs structured outlines faster than anything else.
Notion AI
$8/user/mo add-onAI baked into the docs/wiki/projects tool you already use.
Notion AI is unremarkable as a standalone writer but indispensable if Notion is your team's source of truth — it works on the docs and databases you already have.
ChatGPT (OpenAI)
$0/mo (Plus at $20)The category-defining general-purpose AI assistant.
ChatGPT has the broadest feature surface: image gen, voice, custom GPTs, web browsing, code execution. Often the right default; sometimes beaten on specific tasks by Claude or Perplexity.
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