Build SEO Content Clusters with Topical Authority Maps

Content Cluster Skill helps you plan a content strategy for building topical authority around a subject. It provides a structured approach to creating a pillar page specification, 5-10 foundational cluster articles with unique target keywords, an internal link map, a 20-day editorial calendar, and content gap analysis. Every article is assigned a search intent (informational, transactional, or commercial), content type (how-to, explainer, FAQ, comparison, case study, review, glossary, listicle, or opinion), and conversion goal.

Use this skill when you need to plan a comprehensive content strategy for a new website, expand authority in a specific niche, or organize existing content into a cohesive cluster. Trigger it with phrases like "build a content cluster", "create a topic map", "content pillar strategy", "what should I write about for [topic]", "cluster: [topic]", or "generate a content strategy for [niche]". Do NOT use it to hit arbitrary article counts - the skill explicitly warns against creating near-duplicate pages just to reach the default of 10 articles. Every page must solve a distinct problem and own a unique query. Do NOT use it when you need individual article drafts rather than strategic planning.

You provide a JSON input specifying your pillar topic, primary keyword, target audience, any existing content titles, additional target keywords, desired cluster size (5-10 foundational pages, defaulting to 10 only when justified), optional search intent evidence, and conversion goal:

{
  "pillar_topic": "string - the main subject to build authority around",
  "primary_keyword": "string - the keyword the pillar page targets",
  "target_audience": "string - who this content is for",
  "existing_content": ["string - titles of pages/posts already published"],
  "target_keywords": ["string - additional keywords to work into the cluster"],
  "cluster_size": "integer - foundational pages to generate, 5-10, default 10",
  "search_intent_evidence": "string - optional browser/API research",
  "conversion_goal": "string - what the content should move readers to do"
}

The skill is designed to produce a structured Markdown document containing: a pillar page specification with title, keyword, intent, audience, page type, word count target (2500-4000 words), and AEO priority; cluster articles organized into three priority tiers with titles, target keywords, search intent, content type, and internal link targets; a visual internal link map showing how every article connects back to the pillar page and to other articles; a foundational page plan mapping each page to the problem it solves, primary query, intent, product CTA, and supporting links; a 20-day editorial calendar with daily topics, target queries, article formats, internal link targets, and external distribution candidates; content gap analysis identifying underserved angles and topics to exclude; AEO cluster signals specifying at least two direct-answer pages (one FAQ targeting 8-10 questions, one "What Is" explainer); and a cluster health checklist.

Content strategists and SEO specialists planning comprehensive topic coverage for new or existing websites. Marketing teams building authority in a specific niche who need a structured roadmap from pillar page through supporting articles. Solo creators and agencies who need to organize content production around clear search intents and internal linking strategies. The skill enforces that every cluster article links back to the pillar page, no articles are orphaned, and at least two articles are structured for AI engine extraction (FAQ and explainer formats).