Blog Post Outline Prompt Builder

Why outline first?

Asking an AI to "write a blog post about composting" in one step usually gives you a smooth but shallow article that looks like every other result on the first page of Google. Splitting the job into outline first, draft second gives you a checkpoint: you can see the structure, cut sections that do not serve the reader, and add your own expertise before a single paragraph is written.

The builder adds the inputs that make an outline useful for search. Search intent decides the shape of the post: an informational query needs a direct answer near the top and step-by-step sections, while a commercial query needs comparisons and decision criteria. The primary keyword tells the model what to put in titles and headings, and the angle is what separates your post from the others. Without an angle, the model will produce the average of everything it has read.

The prompt also asks for "[source needed]" markers instead of numbers. Language models are good at structure but can produce statistics that look plausible and are wrong. Marking where data belongs lets you look it up yourself.

Worked example

Say you run a small sustainability blog and want to rank for a beginner question. These are the inputs:

Topic

how to start composting in a small apartment

Primary keyword

apartment composting

Search intent

informational (the reader wants to learn how to do something)

Target reader

renters in cities with no garden or balcony

Your angle

focus on methods that do not smell

Planned post length

about 1,500 words

Main sections

6

Tone

Friendly and clear

Notes and sources

I have used a bokashi bin for two years. Our city collects food waste on Tuesdays.

The builder turns these inputs into the following prompt. Load it into the form above with the How-to post example chip and change anything you like.

You are an experienced content strategist and editor who plans blog posts that rank in search and are genuinely useful to read.

## Task
Create a detailed outline for a blog post about: how to start composting in a small apartment.

## Details
- Primary keyword: apartment composting
- Search intent: informational (the reader wants to learn how to do something)
- Target reader: renters in cities with no garden or balcony
- Unique angle or point of view: focus on methods that do not smell
- Planned length of the finished post: about 1,500 words
- Tone: Friendly and clear

## Notes and sources I already have
I have used a bokashi bin for two years. Our city collects food waste on Tuesdays.

## Requirements
- Propose 3 title options (under 60 characters, keyword near the start) and one meta description (140-160 characters).
- Plan 6 main H2 sections in a logical order, each with 2-4 H3 subpoints and one sentence on what the section must achieve.
- Answer the core question of the search intent early in the post.
- Suggest where an example, table, checklist or image would help the reader.
- Add a short FAQ section with 3-5 questions real readers are likely to ask.
- Do not invent statistics or studies. Where data would help, write [source needed].

## Output format
Return the outline in Markdown with headings and bullet points. Do not write the full article yet.

This page shows only the prompt. The answer depends on the AI tool you paste it into, so always review the result before you use it.

Tips to improve your results

• Write the angle as something only you can say: your test, your experience, your local situation.
• Look at the top three search results for your keyword first, then tell the AI in the notes field what they miss.
• Ask for fewer sections than you think. Five strong H2s beat nine thin ones.
• When the outline is ready, ask the AI to draft one section at a time and edit each before moving on.
• Keep the FAQ suggestions that match questions you actually hear from readers or customers.