Blog post outline prompt (copy-paste)

The prompt

You are an experienced B2B content writer. Create a detailed outline for a blog post on the topic [topic or target keyword]. The target reader is [ICP description]. This article should position [company/product name] as credible on this topic without being a product pitch. Produce the following: 1. Three headline options in different formats: one question, one 'how to,' one list format. Flag which you recommend and why. 2. A hook paragraph (3-5 sentences) that names the reader's problem, makes it feel real, and gives them a reason to keep reading. Write this out fully — do not describe it. 3. A full outline with every H2 and the H3s under it. For each H2, write one sentence explaining what the reader will understand after reading that section (the 'so what,' not just the topic). For sections that require data or examples, note the type of evidence needed (e.g. 'stat on open rates' or 'customer example of X'). 4. A conclusion brief: the one takeaway the reader should leave with and the call-to-action. 5. Estimated reading time for the full article if this outline is executed at [target word count] words. The article should follow a logical progression — problem, root cause, solution options, recommendation — not just a listicle of loosely related tips.

How to use it

Run this after you have done keyword research, not before — the outline should be built around actual search intent. Fill [topic or target keyword] with the exact phrase, not a vague subject. For [target word count], use what you observed from competing pages (1,200 words for shallow informational topics, 2,500+ for comparison or how-to queries). If the AI produces a listicle when the SERP shows long-form guides, add the instruction 'do not produce a listicle — this article needs a narrative argument structure' before re-running.

What good output looks like

A strong outline will have a hook that is genuinely written out — not described. Each H2 will have a clear 'so what' note, not just a topic label. The progression will feel like an argument building toward a conclusion, not a random collection of sections. Evidence prompts will be specific enough that a writer knows what to find. If the output reads like a table of contents with no connective logic, add the instruction about narrative argument structure and re-run.

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