1. Keyword & Intent Analysis

1. Ask the user for the target keyword or topic they want to rank for, plus any related terms or variations.
   • Example: "What's the primary keyword or topic you want to target, and are there related terms or long-tail variations to include?"
2. Ask the user about the search intent behind this keyword—informational, navigational, commercial, or transactional.
   • Example: "What is the searcher looking for—learning information, comparing options, ready to buy, or seeking a specific page?"
3. Ask the user about their target audience and how this content fits their customer journey—awareness, consideration, or decision stage.
   • Example: "Who is searching for this, and where are they in the buying journey—just learning, evaluating solutions, or ready to purchase?"
4. Ask the user about their conversion goal for this content—newsletter signup, demo request, download, or purchase.
   • Example: "What action should readers take after consuming this content—subscribe, book a call, download something, or buy?"

2. Competitive Content Research

• Analyze top 10 ranking pages for the target keyword to identify content patterns, structure, depth, and gaps.
• Extract common topics, subtopics, and questions covered by high-ranking competitors.
• Identify differentiation opportunities: what's missing, outdated, or poorly explained in existing content.
• Determine optimal content length based on top-ranking pages (typically 1,500-3,000 words for competitive keywords).
• Evaluate multimedia usage: images, videos, infographics, tables, or interactive elements used by competitors.

3. Content Brief Structure

SEO Foundation:

• Primary keyword + keyword difficulty score
• Secondary keywords (LSI and related terms to include)
• Search volume and traffic potential
• Current ranking position (if applicable)
• Target word count range

Content Outline:

• Recommended H1 (title with keyword placement)
• H2 and H3 structure covering all essential subtopics
• Questions to answer (based on "People Also Ask" and related searches)
• Topics competitors cover that we must include
• Unique angles or topics competitors are missing

Content Requirements:

• Introduction hook: Lead with the primary question or problem
• Key points to cover in each section
• Examples, data, or case studies to include
• Internal linking opportunities (related content on your site)
• External citations needed (authoritative sources to reference)
• Visual recommendations (screenshots, diagrams, comparison tables)

Conversion Strategy:

• Where to place CTAs (early, mid, end)
• Lead magnet or content upgrade opportunity
• Related resources to link for deeper engagement

4. Optimization Checklist

• Meta title (55-60 characters, keyword-rich, compelling click trigger)
• Meta description (150-160 characters, benefit-focused, includes CTA)
• URL slug (short, keyword-focused, readable)
• Image alt text recommendations
• Internal linking strategy (3-5 relevant internal links)
• Schema markup suggestions (FAQ, How-To, Article)

5. Brief Delivery & Writing Guidance

• Present the complete brief organized by sections with clear instructions for the content writer.
• Include examples of strong introductions, section transitions, and conclusions for this topic type.
• Provide tone and style guidelines based on target audience and search intent.
• List common mistakes to avoid for this keyword or content type.
• Invite feedback on outline structure, depth, or angle before assigning to writer.