STOP PUBLISHING AI SEO SLOP
It's NOT going to rank.
AI today is good enough to create AMAZING content...
You're just not using it right.
Here's my 31-point checklist for producing great content. 🧵
PHASE 1: RESEARCH
Most people skip this entirely.
They paste a keyword into ChatGPT and hit "write me a blog post."
That's why their content reads like every other page 4 result.
Research is what separates content that ranks from content that rots.
Most people skip this entirely.
They paste a keyword into ChatGPT and hit "write me a blog post."
That's why their content reads like every other page 4 result.
Research is what separates content that ranks from content that rots.
1. Feed AI your client's brand name, URL, and what they actually sell
2. Give it your blog URLs + service page URLs for internal linking
AI can't write for a brand it knows nothing about.
This takes 30 seconds and changes the entire output.
2. Give it your blog URLs + service page URLs for internal linking
AI can't write for a brand it knows nothing about.
This takes 30 seconds and changes the entire output.
3. Have AI scrape Google page 1 for your target keyword
4. Run 2-3 keyword variations to catch ranking pages the first search missed
You want 10-20 URLs to benchmark against.
One search isn't enough.
4. Run 2-3 keyword variations to catch ranking pages the first search missed
You want 10-20 URLs to benchmark against.
One search isn't enough.
5. Have AI filter every result into Keep or Drop
Keep - posts with original data, unique angles, real depth
Drop - thinly veiled sales pages, thin aggregation, outdated content with no updates
Keep - posts with original data, unique angles, real depth
Drop - thinly veiled sales pages, thin aggregation, outdated content with no updates
6. Deep-scrape the top 3-5 posts
Have AI pull:
- Word count
- Full heading structure
- Content depth per section
- Unique data points used
- Internal linking patterns
This is your competitive blueprint.
Have AI pull:
- Word count
- Full heading structure
- Content depth per section
- Unique data points used
- Internal linking patterns
This is your competitive blueprint.
7. Build a "table stakes" list
Any topic that shows up in 3+ of the top 5 posts is table stakes.
You MUST cover these or your content will feel incomplete to both readers and Google.
Any topic that shows up in 3+ of the top 5 posts is table stakes.
You MUST cover these or your content will feel incomplete to both readers and Google.
8. Run a gap analysis
Have AI compare what top posts cover vs. what they DON'T.
Missing angles, unanswered questions, formats nobody uses.
Calculators, comparison tables, decision frameworks - whatever's missing.
This is where you earn the ranking.
Have AI compare what top posts cover vs. what they DON'T.
Missing angles, unanswered questions, formats nobody uses.
Calculators, comparison tables, decision frameworks - whatever's missing.
This is where you earn the ranking.
9. Have AI generate your SEO metadata:
- URL slug (keyword with dashes, no year)
- Title tag (50-60 chars, keyword first)
- Meta description (150-160 chars, include a specific number or data point)
- URL slug (keyword with dashes, no year)
- Title tag (50-60 chars, keyword first)
- Meta description (150-160 chars, include a specific number or data point)
10. Set a target word count
Match or slightly exceed the average of the top 3 ranking posts.
Going 10-20% longer is fine - but only if the extra length comes from your gap analysis sections, not filler.
Match or slightly exceed the average of the top 3 ranking posts.
Going 10-20% longer is fine - but only if the extra length comes from your gap analysis sections, not filler.
11. Build the full content outline
Every section needs:
- The heading (H2 or H3)
- What it covers
- Target word count
- Specific data points to include
- Source type
AI should be able to draft from this without re-researching anything.
Every section needs:
- The heading (H2 or H3)
- What it covers
- Target word count
- Specific data points to include
- Source type
AI should be able to draft from this without re-researching anything.
PHASE 2: WRITING
"Write me a 2000 word blog post" is not a prompt.
You need guardrails. Here's what I enforce on every single piece of content AI writes.
"Write me a 2000 word blog post" is not a prompt.
You need guardrails. Here's what I enforce on every single piece of content AI writes.
12. Tone: direct, conversational, no corporate speak
13. Run an AI language blacklist
No "delve." No "leverage." No "in today's digital landscape." No "game-changer." No "robust."
If it sounds like default ChatGPT, rewrite it.
13. Run an AI language blacklist
No "delve." No "leverage." No "in today's digital landscape." No "game-changer." No "robust."
If it sounds like default ChatGPT, rewrite it.
14. Introduction: 50-80 words max
Use Problem-Agitate-Solution:
- State the reader's pain point
- Make them feel the cost of not solving it
- Hint at what the article delivers
15. Short paragraphs only. 2-4 sentences max.
Use Problem-Agitate-Solution:
- State the reader's pain point
- Make them feel the cost of not solving it
- Hint at what the article delivers
15. Short paragraphs only. 2-4 sentences max.
16. Proper heading hierarchy
H2 for major sections. H3 for subsections. Never skip levels.
17. Cite 3-5 external sources per article
Primary sources ONLY. Research papers, official reports, company data.
No "Top 50 Statistics" roundup posts. Ever.
H2 for major sections. H3 for subsections. Never skip levels.
17. Cite 3-5 external sources per article
Primary sources ONLY. Research papers, official reports, company data.
No "Top 50 Statistics" roundup posts. Ever.
18. Verify no source links point to client competitors
AI will link to competitors if you don't explicitly tell it not to. Add this to every prompt.
19. Include 5-10 internal links per post
Prioritize service pages over blog posts.
AI will link to competitors if you don't explicitly tell it not to. Add this to every prompt.
19. Include 5-10 internal links per post
Prioritize service pages over blog posts.
20. Anchor text rules:
- 2-3 words minimum
- Contextual and descriptive
- Never "click here" or "read more" or "this article"
❌ "learn more here"
✅ "resume writing tips"
- 2-3 words minimum
- Contextual and descriptive
- Never "click here" or "read more" or "this article"
❌ "learn more here"
✅ "resume writing tips"
21. One CTA per article, maximum
Only where it fits naturally. If no section creates a natural opening for it - skip it.
Forced CTAs hurt more than they help.
22. 4-5 visuals distributed evenly throughout the post, each with alt text.
Only where it fits naturally. If no section creates a natural opening for it - skip it.
Forced CTAs hurt more than they help.
22. 4-5 visuals distributed evenly throughout the post, each with alt text.
23. Add a key takeaways section at the end
Bulleted, under 150 words, no new info. Just the most actionable points summarized.
24. FAQ section: 9-11 questions as H3 headers
3-4 sentence answers each. Lead with the answer. These are your featured snippet plays.
Bulleted, under 150 words, no new info. Just the most actionable points summarized.
24. FAQ section: 9-11 questions as H3 headers
3-4 sentence answers each. Lead with the answer. These are your featured snippet plays.
PHASE 3: QA
The draft is done. Now tear it apart.
25. Have AI scan for hallucinations - confident claims with no basis, contradictions, or sentences that just don't make sense.
AI hallucinates. Catch it before it's live.
The draft is done. Now tear it apart.
25. Have AI scan for hallucinations - confident claims with no basis, contradictions, or sentences that just don't make sense.
AI hallucinates. Catch it before it's live.
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