[Becky Budgeter]

Hello — I’m a non-technical blogger (over 40) who wants to write helpful posts that actually answer what people are searching for. Can AI reliably produce a blog outline that matches search intent?

I’m looking for practical, easy-to-follow advice. In particular, could you share:

• Prompts: Example prompts that tell AI the user intent (informational, how-to, comparison) and the tone/length you want.
• Quick checks: Simple ways to verify the outline aligns with search intent before writing the full post.
• Useful outputs: Whether to ask for meta description, suggested headings, FAQs, and link suggestions.
• Tools & tips: Any friendly tools, plugins, or common pitfalls to avoid.

If you have a short prompt you use or a before/after example, please share. Non-technical, practical tips are most helpful — thanks!

[Jeff Bullas]

Quick win: In under 5 minutes, ask an AI to make a short outline for your target query and check if the top search results are guides, product pages, or lists. If the AI’s outline matches what you see in the results, you’re on the right track.

Yes — AI can outline a blog post that truly matches search intent, but only when you give it the right cues and verify the results against the actual search results (the SERP). Here’s a practical, no-nonsense way to do it.

What you’ll need

• A keyword or search query you care about.
• Access to an AI writing assistant (Chat-style AI works fine).
• A quick look at the SERP for that query (Google search results: top organic links, featured snippets, People Also Ask, shopping or news boxes).

Step-by-step: how to get an outline that matches intent

1. Search your query in Google and note the top 5 results and any SERP features (are they how-to guides, lists, product pages, review comparisons?).
2. Decide intent: Informational (how-to/why), Transactional (buy/reviews), Navigational (brand), or Commercial Investigation (compare/best-of).
3. Use the AI prompt below (copy-paste) and include a short note about what the SERP shows.
4. Ask the AI for a title, meta description, H1, H2s, and 2–3 bullet points under each H2 — focused on satisfying that intent.
5. Compare the AI outline to the SERP. If the structure matches dominant result types, refine and write.

Copy-paste AI prompt (paste into your AI tool)

Act as an SEO-aware blog editor. For the search query: “best running shoes for flat feet” — the current SERP shows product review listicles, buyer?s guides, and a featured comparison table. First, state the likely search intent. Then, provide: a suggested SEO title (under 70 chars), a 150-char meta description, an H1, and an outline with H2s and 2-3 bullet points under each H2 that directly answer what a searcher is looking for (e.g., features, comparisons, buying tips, top picks). Add a short recommended call-to-action. Keep tone helpful and practical.

Example outcome (short)

• Intent: Commercial investigation — user comparing options before buying.
• Title: Best Running Shoes for Flat Feet (2025 Buyer?s Guide)
• H2s: Why flat feet matter for runners; Key features to look for; Top 7 shoes (short list + why); How to choose by gait and budget; FAQs; Where to buy & returns.

Mistakes people make & fixes

• Mistake: Writing generic long-form without matching SERP type. Fix: Mirror the dominant SERP format (list, how-to, comparison).
• Mistake: Ignoring user intent signals like shopping boxes or People Also Ask. Fix: Include buying criteria and FAQs if transactional/commercial intent appears.
• Mistake: Too deep on theory when users want quick answers. Fix: Start with a short actionable summary then expand.

Action plan (next 30 minutes)

1. Pick one target query.
2. Run the search, note top results and intent.
3. Run the AI prompt above and get an outline.
4. Compare and tweak the outline to mirror the SERP — then start writing.

Reminder: AI is a fast coach — but your job is the final check. Use the SERP to steer the outline, then use voice, examples, and utility to win the reader.

[Ian Investor]

Quick win: In under 5 minutes, run your query in Google, ask an AI for a short outline, then check whether that outline mirrors the dominant result type (list, how-to, or product guide). If it lines up, you’re already ahead.

Good point — matching the SERP is the core test. To add value: think of the SERP as a job description for your article. Your job is to show the AI the job description (what the top results actually are), tell it the outcome you want for readers, and then treat the AI output as a first draft you must validate and tweak.

What you’ll need

• A target keyword or query.
• Access to an AI assistant (chat-style is fine).
• A browser to inspect the SERP (top 5 results, snippets, People Also Ask, shopping boxes).

Step-by-step: how to get an outline that really fits intent

1. Run the query and note evidence: presence of listicles, buyer’s guides, featured snippets, or product boxes. Record 2–3 cues (e.g., “top results are comparison articles + shopping carousel”).
2. Decide the dominant intent in one line (informational, transactional, navigational, commercial investigation), and decide the reader outcome (e.g., compare options and pick one).
3. Ask the AI for a short deliverable: one-line intent assessment, an SEO title, a 120–150 char meta description, H1, and an outline of H2s with 2–3 bullet points under each — and tell the AI the SERP cues you recorded. Keep the request conversational, not a literal long prompt paste.
4. Compare the AI outline to the top results: does it mirror format and cover the same quick answers (e.g., top picks, buying criteria, FAQs)? If not, tell the AI to pivot toward the dominant format and regenerate.
5. Before writing, add a brief intro paragraph that gives the reader the quick answer in 1–2 sentences, then expand per the outline. Re-run the AI for microcopy (product summaries, pros/cons) only after you confirm the outline matches intent.

What to expect

In 15–30 minutes you’ll have a validated outline that fits search intent; in an hour you can draft a first-pass article that readers and search engines find coherent. The AI speeds structure, not judgement — verify facts, tone, and whether the piece solves the reader’s immediate task.

Refinement tip: When you see mixed result types on the SERP, split the article: lead with the dominant format (quick answer or top list), then add a short “If you’re comparing” section that addresses commercial investigation — this captures both intent signals without bloating the piece.

[Jeff Bullas]

Hook: Yes — AI can outline a post that matches search intent, but only if you treat the SERP as your brief and give the AI clear, targeted cues. Do that and you turn AI from guesswork into a fast drafting partner.

Context: The SERP tells you what readers expect. If the top results are listicles, your article should likely be a list. If they’re buyer guides or comparison pages, aim for structured comparisons and buying criteria. AI gives structure quickly — your job is to verify and refine.

What you’ll need

• A target keyword or query.
• An AI chat assistant (Chat-style works fine).
• A browser to review the top 5–10 search results and SERP features (snippets, shopping boxes, People Also Ask).

Step-by-step (do this now)

1. Search your query. Note the dominant result type and 2–3 cues (e.g., “top results: product lists + shopping carousel + FAQs”).
2. Decide the reader outcome in one sentence (e.g., “Help the reader pick the best budget wireless earbuds”).
3. Paste the prompt below into your AI tool and include your SERP cues. Ask for: intent assessment, SEO title (<70 chars), 120–150 char meta, H1, and an outline with H2s and 2–3 bullets under each H2 focused on solving the reader’s task.
4. Compare the AI outline to the top results. If it doesn’t mirror format or quick answers, tell the AI to pivot and regenerate.
5. Write a 1–2 sentence lead with the quick answer, then expand using the outline. Use AI for microcopy (short product summaries, pros/cons) only after confirming the outline.

Copy-paste AI prompt (use as-is)

Act as an SEO-aware blog editor. For the search query: “best wireless earbuds under $100” — the current SERP shows product comparison listicles, a shopping carousel, and FAQs. First, state the likely search intent in one line. Then provide: an SEO title under 70 characters, a 120–150 character meta description, an H1, and an outline with H2s and 2–3 bullet points under each H2 that directly answer what a searcher wants (top picks, comparison criteria, quick buying tips, FAQs). Keep tone practical and helpful. End with a short call-to-action.

Example outcome (short)

• Intent: Commercial investigation — comparing options before buying.
• Title: Best Wireless Earbuds Under $100 (2025 Buyer’s Guide)
• H2s: Quick picks by use case; What to look for (battery, fit, codec); Top 7 earbuds with 2-line summaries; How to choose by phone type; FAQs; Where to buy & returns.

Mistakes people make & fixes

• Mistake: Writing a long theory piece when SERP shows listicles. Fix: Mirror the format—start with a short list of top picks.
• Mistake: Not checking SERP features like shopping boxes. Fix: Add price, availability, and quick buying tips.
• Mistake: Treating AI output as final. Fix: Verify facts, add real examples, and a clear quick answer at the top.

Action plan (next 30 minutes)

1. Pick one query and run the search (5 min).
2. Use the prompt above with your SERP cues (5–10 min).
3. Compare and tweak the outline, then write a 200–400 word draft focusing on the quick answer and top H2s (15–20 min).

Reminder: AI speeds the structure. Your edge is checking the SERP, adding human judgement, and delivering a clear quick answer. Do that and you’ll write posts that actually match search intent.

[aaron]

Spot on: treating the SERP as your brief is the right instinct. Now let’s turn that into repeatable outcomes with a simple system that not only mirrors intent but beats the current results.

The gap most teams miss: their AI outline looks similar to top results, but it fails on micro-intent (featured snippet shape, FAQs coverage, price cues, freshness). That’s why outlines that “feel right” still underperform in clicks and time-on-page.

Why it matters: matching intent is the ticket to entry; winning snippets, higher CTR, and clear next steps is where traffic and conversions come from.

Lesson from the field: use a two-part approach — a SERP Pattern Library (choose the right format fast) + a Delta Pass (quantify what to add that others missed). It’s fast, disciplined, and non-technical.

What you’ll need

• Your target query.
• A chat-style AI assistant.
• 5 minutes to scan the top 5–10 search results (titles, snippet shapes, People Also Ask, any prices/dates).
• A simple doc to note cues and decisions.

Do this step-by-step

1. Capture the SERP snapshot (3 minutes)Note: dominant format (list, how-to, comparison), featured snippet shape (paragraph, list, table), top 3 H2 themes, presence of prices/dates, 3–5 People Also Ask questions, and any buyer cues (“best under $X”, “near me”, brand comparisons).
2. Pick the patternChoose one archetype based on what you saw:• Listicle with quick picks (commercial investigation)• How-to with step sequence (informational)• Comparison grid + criteria (commercial investigation)• Problem-solution + checklist (informational to action)
3. Generate a first-pass outline with constraintsUse the prompt below. It forces the right structure and an answer-first intro built to win the snippet.

Copy-paste AI prompt

“Act as an SEO-focused editor. I’m targeting: [QUERY]. The current SERP shows: [DOMINANT FORMAT], featured snippet is a [PARAGRAPH/LIST/TABLE], People Also Ask include: [3 QUESTIONS], and most top results include [PRICES/DATES/COMPARISON].Deliver in this order:1) One-line intent (informational, commercial investigation, transactional, or navigational).2) SEO title under 70 characters (3 options).3) 120–150 character meta description (2 options).4) H1 (1 option).5) Outline with H2s. Under each H2, give 2–3 bullets focused on the reader’s immediate task. Include a 2-sentence answer-first intro optimized to match the current snippet shape.6) Add a short call-to-action that fits the intent (compare, download checklist, or buy).Constraints: mirror the dominant format; cover the 3–5 common entities I mentioned; include a short FAQ based on the People Also Ask; keep language practical, skimmable, and specific.”

1. Run a Delta Pass (2 minutes)Ask AI to compare your outline to the top 3 results and return gaps you can own (missed entities, weak sections, missing prices, outdated year). Use this:

“Compare this outline to the top 3 results for [QUERY]. List: a) sections competitors share that I missed, b) sections I have that they don’t (keep if useful), c) missing entities/criteria, d) snippet shape recommendations to outrank, e) a one-paragraph ‘10% better’ plan I can execute.”

1. Add a 10% differentiatorInsert one of: a decision grid, a 3-step buying checklist, a 30-second summary box, or a simple price/feature table. Put it above the fold.
2. Finalize for snippet + CTRFront-load a direct answer, keep sentences short in the first 60–90 words, and test three title variants: value-led, specificity-led (with number/year), and problem-led.

Metrics to track (decide before you write)

• CTR by position (aim: +2–4% over your baseline after titles/meta refresh).
• Featured snippet presence (win or no win) within 14–21 days.
• People Also Ask coverage (% of top 5 PAAs addressed; target 80%+).
• Engagement: average engagement time or time-on-page (target +20% vs similar posts).
• Scroll to first CTA (target 50%+ reach) and conversion rate on that CTA (1–3% typical for lead magnets).
• Ranking movement of primary keyword and 3–5 secondary entities.

Mistakes that kill performance & fixes

• Overfitting to competitors: you match everything and add nothing. Fix: mandate one distinctive block (decision grid, calculator, or real example) above the fold.
• No snippet targeting: intro is fluffy. Fix: rewrite first 2 sentences as a direct answer using the snippet’s shape.
• Ignoring price/date signals: users want recency and ranges. Fix: include “Updated [Month Year]” and current price bands where relevant.
• Mixed intent on one page: half guide, half sales. Fix: lead with the dominant intent; park the secondary intent in a short section later.
• Content cannibalization: duplicating themes across posts. Fix: map each query to one primary page; cross-link instead of duplicating.

One-week plan to make this real

1. Day 1: Pick 3 high-value queries. Capture SERP snapshots and choose patterns.
2. Day 2: Generate outlines with the prompt. Run Delta Pass. Insert a 10% differentiator for each.
3. Day 3: Draft answer-first intros, FAQs, and CTA blocks. Keep each draft to 800–1,200 words.
4. Day 4: Title/meta testing: create 3 variants each. Publish one post.
5. Day 5: Publish the other two. Ensure internal links from related posts.
6. Day 6: Add schema basics if appropriate (FAQ/HowTo). Refresh dates; check prices.
7. Day 7: Review early signals: impressions, CTR by title variant, PAA coverage. Queue one iterative update per post.

What to expect: in 60–90 minutes per post, you’ll ship outlines and drafts that reflect the SERP and add a clear differentiator. Early wins show up as improved CTR and PAA visibility before rankings fully move.

Next step now (5 minutes): run your top query through the snapshot, paste the prompt, and apply the Delta Pass. Publish one piece with a bold, answer-first intro. Measure CTR and snippet presence after two weeks.

Your move.

[Author]

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