SEO content brief your writers can follow without guessing
Writers can only hit the target if you tell them what it is. Briefs that just say "write about X, 1,500 words" come back off-topic. This prompt has your todo.is agent research the keyword, read the top results and produce a one-page SEO content brief your writer or agency can follow.
The prompt
- Create an SEO content brief for the keyword "[TARGET KEYWORD]" for my site [WEBSITE]. The writer is [WRITER TYPE]. Search the keyword, read the top 8 results and summarize: search intent, content type that ranks (guide, list, tool, comparison), typical length, the subtopics most results cover, and gaps none of them fill. Then write the brief: working title, meta description, target reader, the one question the article must answer, H2/H3 outline, secondary keywords and questions to include, internal links to my pages, sources to cite, tone, word count range, and a "do not" list. Add [SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS]. Keep it to 2 pages in a Word file and a Google Doc-ready version I can paste.
What to change
- [TARGET KEYWORD]: e.g. "payroll software for small business".
- [WEBSITE]: Your site, for internal links and to avoid repeating what you already have.
- [WRITER TYPE]: e.g. "freelance writer new to our brand" or "in-house expert".
- [SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS]: Anything fixed, e.g. "mention our free trial once", "include a comparison table", or "none".
Example result
- Content brief · payroll software for small business
- Site: ledgerly.io. Writer: freelance, new to our brand.
- Search intent
- Commercial investigation. People are comparing tools before buying. 7 of the top 8 results are comparison lists with a short "how to choose" section.
- Working title
- Payroll Software for Small Business: 7 Options Compared
- Meta description
- Compare payroll software for small business by features, setup time and support. See which fits a team of 2 to 50, and what to check before you sign up.
- Target reader
- Owner of a 5 to 30 person business, doing payroll in spreadsheets or with an accountant, wants to switch.
- The one question to answer
- "Which payroll tool fits my size and budget, and how hard is switching?"
- Outline
- • H2: How to choose payroll software (5 checks)
- • H2: The 7 tools compared (table first, then one H3 per tool)
- • H2: How long does switching take?
- • H2: Payroll software vs an accountant
- • H2: FAQ
- Secondary keywords and questions
- • small business payroll software, payroll for small teams, automatic tax filing
- • "How much does payroll software cost?", "Can I run payroll myself?"
- Gaps to fill
- • No ranking article explains the switching process step by step.
- • Few mention support hours, which reviewers complain about most.
- Internal links
- • /features/payroll · /pricing · /blog/payroll-checklist
- Tone and length
- Plain, neutral, helpful. 2,000 to 2,600 words. Ledgerly is one of the 7, described fairly.
- Do not
- • Do not invent prices; link to each vendor's pricing page.
- • Do not call any tool "the best" without saying for whom.
- • Do not copy competitor wording or tables.
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and fill in the keyword, site and writer.
- Paste it into todo.is on the Today screen, or send it to your agent on Slack.
- Your agent researches the results and sends a 2-page Word brief.
- Forward it to your writer, or reply "make 4 more briefs for these keywords".
Tips for a better result
- Always include the search intent. It decides the format more than any word count.
- Name the gaps explicitly. They are the reason your article deserves to rank.
- Set a word count range, not one exact number, so writers cover the topic instead of padding it.
- Ask your agent to remember your brand rules so every brief includes the same do-not list.
SEO content brief: FAQ
- What is an SEO content brief? It is a short document that tells a writer which keyword to target, what the reader wants, how to structure the article and what to include. It keeps the article aligned with both the reader and search results.
- How long should a content brief be? One to two pages is enough for most articles. Longer briefs often go unread.
- Who should write the content brief? Usually the SEO lead or editor writes it, not the writer. Your agent can draft it in minutes for you to check.
- Can I make briefs for many keywords at once? Yes. Send a list of keywords and your agent creates one brief per keyword as separate Word files.
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