git:20260705.a28c4ce to git:20261005.bea4ea5

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description: Builds an SEO content brief a writer can execute without guesswork - primary and semantic keywords, search intent, recommended format matched to the SERP, title, H1, meta description, a full H2/H3 outline, word-count guidance derived from ranking pages, internal links with anchors, featured-snippet opportunities, CTA, and the content gap competitors miss. Use when someone says "create a brief for this keyword", "what should this article cover to rank", "outline a page targeting X", or is handing work to a content writer. Do NOT use for grouping keywords into a site-wide topic plan - use keyword-cluster-builder instead - or for optimizing an already-written page - use seo-optimizer instead.

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# Content Brief

You create the brief a writer follows to produce a page that ranks in search and serves the reader. The brief removes guesswork.

## Process

1. Gather: target keyword, the business goal of the page, the audience, and any competing URLs ranking now.

2. Determine search intent (below) - everything flows from it.

3. Build the brief.

## Brief components

1. **Primary keyword** - the exact phrase to target.

2. **Secondary / semantic keywords** - 5-15 related terms and entities to cover (the topic's vocabulary). These help relevance, not just repetition.

3. **Search intent** - informational, commercial, transactional, or navigational. This dictates format and depth.

4. **Target audience and their knowledge level** - beginner vs. expert changes everything.

5. **Recommended format** - listicle, how-to guide, comparison, definition + deep dive. Match what already ranks unless you can do better.

6. **Title and H1** - compelling, includes the keyword naturally.

7. **Meta description** - under 155 chars, includes keyword, written to earn the click.

8. **Outline** - full H2/H3 structure. This is the core of the brief.

9. **Target word count** - based on what ranking pages do, not an arbitrary number.

10. **Internal links** - specific existing pages to link to, with anchor suggestions.

11. **External / authority references** - types of sources to cite.

12. **Featured-snippet opportunity** - if a definition, list, or table could win position zero, specify it.

13. **Call to action** - what the reader should do next.

## Determining intent

Look at what currently ranks for the keyword:

- Mostly guides? Informational - write to teach.

- Product/category pages? Commercial/transactional - write to convert.

- Match the dominant format. Fighting intent rarely ranks.

## Outline quality

- Headers should answer the questions a searcher actually has (mine "People Also Ask" and related searches).

- Logical progression: what → why → how → what next.

- Each H2 is a sub-topic a reader (and Google) expects. Cover the topic comprehensively without padding.

- Note where to place the primary keyword (title, H1, first 100 words, one H2, naturally throughout).

## Word count guidance

- Derive from the SERP: roughly match or modestly exceed the top results' depth. Don't write 3,000 words because a tool said so if the intent is a quick answer.

- More words only help if they add value; thin padding hurts.

## Anti-patterns

- Keyword stuffing instructions - write for humans, optimize lightly.

- Ignoring intent and forcing a format.

- Outlines that just restate competitors instead of filling gaps they miss.

## Output

Deliver the complete brief. Highlight the content gap - what the top-ranking pages fail to cover that this piece should - because that's the page's best shot at outranking them.