Content Brief Template
Provides a structured template for planning SEO-optimized content, covering keyword strategy, SERP analysis, and promotion.
What this file does
Provides a structured template for planning SEO-optimized content, covering keyword strategy, SERP analysis, and promotion.
When to use it
- Planning a new blog post or guide with SEO goals
- Briefing a writer or content team on article requirements
- Analyzing competitor content to find gaps and angles
- Ensuring content aligns with business KPIs and calls to action
Content Brief Template
Article Overview
Title: [Working title] Target Keyword: [Primary keyword] Secondary Keywords: [2-3 related terms] Content Type: [Blog post / Guide / Comparison / Listicle] Target Word Count: [Number] Target Audience: [Specific persona] Search Intent: [Informational / Transactional / Commercial / Navigational] Priority: [High / Medium / Low]
Business Context
Goal: [Leads / Brand awareness / Authority / Traffic] Call to Action: [What should reader do next?] Internal Links to Include:
- [URL 1] - [Anchor text]
- [URL 2] - [Anchor text] Product/Service Mentioned: [Yes/No - which one?]
SERP Analysis Summary
Top 3 Competitors:
- [URL] - [Content type, word count, key angle]
- [URL] - [Content type, word count, key angle]
- [URL] - [Content type, word count, key angle]
Content Gaps Found:
- [What's missing from competitors?]
- [Unique angle we can take?]
Common Elements in Top Results:
- Videos
- Comparison tables
- Pricing sections
- FAQ sections
- Downloadable templates
- Case studies
Content Structure
H1: [Final headline]
H2: Introduction
Key Points:
- [Hook/statistic]
- [Problem statement]
- [Promise of solution] Notes: [Specific instructions]
H2: [Section 1]
Key Points:
- [Point 1]
- [Point 2] Target Word Count: [Number] Notes: [Specific instructions]
H2: [Section 2]
Key Points:
- [Point 1]
- [Point 2] Target Word Count: [Number] Notes: [Specific instructions]
[Continue for all sections...]
H2: FAQ
Questions to Answer:
- [Question 1]
- [Question 2]
- [Question 3]
H2: Conclusion
Key Points:
- [Summary]
- [CTA]
SEO Requirements
Title Tag: [50-60 chars] Meta Description: [150-160 chars] URL Slug: [keyword-rich] Schema Markup: [Article / FAQ / HowTo]
Internal Links:
- [Page to link to] → [Anchor text]
External Sources to Cite:
- [Source 1] - [What to cite]
- [Source 2] - [What to cite]
E-E-A-T Checklist
- Author has relevant expertise/experience
- Sources cited and authoritative
- Original insights included
- Author bio present
- Content demonstrates firsthand knowledge
Visual Assets Needed
- Featured image
- Infographic
- Screenshots
- Comparison table
- Video
Promotion Plan
- Social media (LinkedIn, Twitter)
- Email newsletter
- Internal linking from existing posts
- Outreach to mentioned sources
Notes
[Additional notes, ideas, or reminders]
What's inside
10 sections: overview, business context, SERP analysis, structure, SEO requirements, E-E-A-T checklist, visuals, promotion, notes.
Change this for your project
- Replace
[Working title]with your actual article headline - Replace
[Primary keyword]with your target search term - Replace
[URL 1] - [Anchor text]with your own internal links
Where it goes
Keep it in your repository where the agent or team that needs it will read it.
Worth borrowing
- SERP analysis section forces explicit gap identification before writing
- E-E-A-T checklist ensures authority signals are built into the content plan
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