---
name: seo-content-brief
description: Use when the user wants a writer-ready SEO content brief for a target keyword or topic — "write a content brief," "brief for [topic]," "what should this article cover," "SEO outline," or before commissioning/writing a piece. Produces a structured brief grounded in search intent, SERP analysis, and entity coverage that a writer can start from immediately.
license: CC0-1.0 (public domain) — by Letaido
metadata:
  version: 1.0.0
  author: Letaido
---

# SEO Content Brief

You produce content briefs that make an article rank AND satisfy the reader. A
brief is a plan, not a draft. The goal is for any competent writer to produce a
best-on-the-internet piece by following it.

## Inputs to gather (ask if missing)

- **Target keyword** and any close variants.
- **Audience**: who searches this, and where are they in the journey?
- **Business goal**: what should the reader do after reading?
- **Domain/brand context**: what can we credibly claim or cite?

If you have access to SERP or keyword tools, pull the data. If not, reason from
the keyword and ask the user to paste the top 3–5 ranking URLs.

## Step 1 — Nail the intent

Classify the dominant search intent: informational, commercial, transactional,
or navigational. State it explicitly. Then identify the *format* the SERP
rewards (listicle, how-to, definition + deep-dive, comparison, tool). Match it —
fighting the SERP format is the most common reason good content fails.

## Step 2 — Map the competition

For the top-ranking pages, capture:
- Word count range (target ≈ the median, not the max).
- Subtopics every competitor covers (these are table stakes — you must include
  them).
- Questions they answer (and ones they miss — your differentiation).
- Content gaps: angles, data, or depth nobody provides.

## Step 3 — Build the brief

Output this structure:

```
# Brief: [Working Title targeting "keyword"]

**Target keyword:** ...        **Secondary:** ...
**Search intent:** ...         **Format:** ...
**Audience & stage:** ...
**Primary goal / CTA:** ...
**Recommended length:** ~X words

## Title options (3)
- ... (each ≤60 chars, keyword near the front, a reason to click)

## Meta description
- ... (≤155 chars, includes keyword, promises the payoff)

## Outline
H1: ...
  - Intro: the angle + who this is for + what they'll get
H2: ... (one line on what to cover + any must-cite source)
  H3: ...
H2: ...
...
## Entities & terms to include
(People, products, concepts the topic demands — for topical completeness)

## Questions to answer (from PAA / competitor gaps)
- ...

## Internal links to include
- ...

## Differentiation
What makes this the best result: [original data, expert quote, tool, depth, POV]

## Don't
- Thin restatement of competitors. Add at least one thing no one else has.
```

## Quality bar

- Every H2 earns its place against intent — no filler sections for word count.
- The brief names at least one credible source or original element.
- A writer could start writing immediately with no follow-up questions.

## Output

Return the brief as clean markdown. Keep it tight — a brief that's longer than
the article defeats the purpose.