Most AI-generated blog posts fail for the same reason: they lack structure. Without a clear framework, AI produces walls of text that neither Google nor readers want to engage with.
Structure is not just organization - it is strategy. A well-structured post guides readers from curiosity to action while signaling to search engines that your content is comprehensive and valuable. This framework gives you the prompts to create blog posts that rank and convert.
Write a blog post about productivity tips.
Write a 1500-word blog post about productivity tips for remote workers. TARGET AUDIENCE: Remote employees struggling with work-from-home distractions SEARCH INTENT: Informational - they want actionable tips, not product pitches PRIMARY KEYWORD: "remote work productivity tips" SECONDARY KEYWORDS: work from home focus, remote worker routine, home office productivity STRUCTURE: 1. Hook: Start with a relatable struggle (not a statistic) 2. Promise: What they will be able to do after reading 3. 7 tips with: - Clear subheading (H2) including keyword variation - Why it works (the psychology) - How to implement (specific steps) - Pro tip or common mistake to avoid 4. Conclusion: Recap + single clear CTA TONE: Conversational but credible. Like advice from a successful friend. FORMAT: Short paragraphs (2-3 sentences max), bullet points for steps, bold key phrases.
The WRITE Framework
Every high-performing blog post includes these five elements. Use this framework in every prompt to ensure AI generates complete, engaging content.
Why (Hook)
Research Points
Information Structure
Takeaways
Engagement Elements
Insight
Blog Post Types
Different blog post types require different structures. Choose the format that matches your reader's intent and your content goals.
How-To Posts
Step-by-step guides that solve a specific problem. Best for targeting “how to” search queries with high intent.
Write a how-to blog post: "[HOW TO TOPIC]" TARGET READER: [Who is doing this and why] SKILL LEVEL: [Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced] PRIMARY KEYWORD: "how to [topic]" STRUCTURE: 1. Introduction (100-150 words) - Acknowledge the challenge - Preview what they will learn - Establish why you are credible to teach this 2. What You Will Need (if applicable) - Tools, materials, prerequisites - Time estimate 3. Step-by-Step Instructions - Number each step clearly (Step 1, Step 2, etc.) - One action per step - Include "why" for non-obvious steps - Add warnings for common mistakes - Include visuals/screenshots placeholders where helpful 4. Troubleshooting Section - 3-5 common problems and solutions 5. Conclusion - Quick recap of steps - Encouragement - Related resource or next-level CTA FORMAT: Use H2 for main sections, H3 for individual steps. Short paragraphs. Bold key actions.
Listicle Posts
Numbered lists of tips, tools, or ideas. High shareability and good for ranking on number-based searches.
Write a listicle blog post: "[NUMBER] [TOPIC] for [AUDIENCE]" Example: "15 Time-Saving Tools for Freelance Writers" KEYWORD TARGET: [primary keyword] STRUCTURE: 1. Introduction (75-100 words) - Why this matters now - What criteria you used to select items - Quick preview of standout items 2. The List (numbered 1-[N]) For each item include: - Descriptive H2 heading with the item name - What it is (1 sentence) - Why it made the list (1-2 sentences) - Best for: [specific use case] - Pro tip or insider knowledge - Pricing if relevant (free/paid/freemium) 3. How to Choose Section - Decision framework for picking between options - "Best for X" quick picks 4. Conclusion - Your #1 recommendation and why - CTA to related content REQUIREMENTS: - Order strategically (best first OR save best for last - specify which) - Include a mix of popular and lesser-known options - No fluff descriptions - every sentence adds value
Pro Tip
Comparison Posts
Side-by-side comparisons of products, methods, or approaches. Great for capturing high-intent “vs” and “best” searches.
Write a comparison blog post: "[OPTION A] vs [OPTION B]: [DECISION CONTEXT]"
Example: "Notion vs Obsidian: Which Note-Taking App Fits Your Workflow?"
READER CONTEXT: [Who is choosing and what matters to them]
PRIMARY KEYWORD: "[option A] vs [option B]"
STRUCTURE:
1. Introduction
- Acknowledge this is a common decision point
- Preview your verdict (do not make them scroll)
- Explain your evaluation criteria
2. Quick Comparison Table
- Create a feature matrix covering:
- Price
- Key feature 1-5
- Best for
- Learning curve
- [Other relevant factors]
3. In-Depth Analysis for Option A
- Overview and philosophy
- Key strengths (with examples)
- Limitations (be honest)
- Ideal user profile
4. In-Depth Analysis for Option B
- Same structure as above
5. Head-to-Head Comparisons
- For [use case 1]: Winner is...
- For [use case 2]: Winner is...
- For [use case 3]: Winner is...
6. Final Verdict
- Choose [A] if...
- Choose [B] if...
- Consider [C alternative] if...
TONE: Balanced and fair. Acknowledge you may have preferences but respect both options.Case Study Posts
Real-world examples showing how a problem was solved. Excellent for building credibility and demonstrating expertise.
Write a case study blog post about [SUBJECT/CLIENT/EXAMPLE]. RESULT ACHIEVED: [Specific, measurable outcome] TIMEFRAME: [How long it took] STRUCTURE: 1. Hook Headline - Lead with the result: "How [Subject] Achieved [Result] in [Time]" 2. Executive Summary (100 words) - The challenge - The solution - The results - Key takeaway 3. Background - Who/what is the subject - Starting situation - Why they needed to change 4. The Challenge - Specific problems faced - What they had tried before - Stakes of not solving it 5. The Solution - Approach taken (step by step) - Why this approach was chosen - Key decisions and trade-offs - Tools or methods used 6. The Results - Quantified outcomes - Before/after comparison - Unexpected benefits - Timeline to results 7. Key Lessons - 3-5 takeaways readers can apply - What would you do differently 8. Conclusion - Summary of transformation - CTA related to achieving similar results INCLUDE: Specific numbers, quotes, and concrete details. Vague case studies do not convert.
Thought Leadership Posts
Opinion pieces that establish authority and spark discussion. Best for building brand and attracting high-quality backlinks.
Write a thought leadership blog post arguing: "[YOUR THESIS]" CONTRARIAN ANGLE: [What conventional wisdom are you challenging?] AUDIENCE: [Industry peers, potential clients, or broader audience?] STRUCTURE: 1. Provocative Opening - Start with the controversial claim - Acknowledge why most people believe the opposite - Stake your position clearly 2. The Case Against Conventional Wisdom - Why the standard approach fails - Evidence: data, examples, logical arguments - Who benefits from the status quo 3. Your Alternative Framework - What you believe instead - How you arrived at this view (credibility) - Examples of this working 4. Addressing Objections - "But what about..." (address 2-3 counterarguments) - Acknowledge nuance and edge cases - Strengthen your position by engaging fairly with criticism 5. Implications - What changes if your view is correct - What readers should do differently - Predictions for the future 6. Call to Conversation - Invite disagreement and discussion - Ask a specific question to commenters TONE: Confident but not arrogant. Strong opinion, loosely held. Invite dialogue. LENGTH: 1200-2000 words. Thought leadership needs depth.
Warning
Component Prompt Templates
Sometimes you need AI help with specific parts of a post rather than the whole thing. These prompts target common pain points.
Write 5 different opening hooks for a blog post about: [TOPIC] TARGET EMOTION: [Curiosity/Frustration/Hope/Fear/Excitement] HOOK TYPES TO INCLUDE: 1. Question hook - Start with a thought-provoking question 2. Statistic hook - Lead with a surprising data point 3. Story hook - Begin with a brief anecdote 4. Contrarian hook - Challenge a common assumption 5. Pain point hook - Describe a frustration they are feeling REQUIREMENTS: - Each hook should be 2-3 sentences max - Do not use "In today's fast-paced world" or similar cliches - Make the reader feel understood, not lectured - Create immediate curiosity to keep reading
Expand this blog post section with more depth and value: SECTION TOPIC: [The subheading or main point] CURRENT DRAFT: [Paste your existing content] TARGET LENGTH: [Word count] ADD: - A specific example or mini case study - Data or research to support the point - A "pro tip" that shows insider knowledge - Common mistake to avoid - Transition sentence to the next section MAINTAIN: - The existing tone and voice - Key points already made - Logical flow DO NOT: - Add fluff or filler content - Repeat what is already said - Use generic advice that applies to everything
Write a conclusion for a blog post about: [TOPIC] MAIN POINTS COVERED: 1. [Key point 1] 2. [Key point 2] 3. [Key point 3] DESIRED CTA: [What you want them to do next] STRUCTURE: 1. Transformation statement - Where they were before reading - Where they are now 2. Quick recap (bullet points) - 3-4 key takeaways in one sentence each 3. Encouragement - Why they can succeed at this - Address common hesitation 4. Clear CTA - Single, specific next action - Why taking this action helps them TONE: Motivating without being cheesy. Confident they will succeed. LENGTH: 150-200 words
Write 3 meta descriptions for this blog post: TITLE: [Your blog post title] PRIMARY KEYWORD: [Main keyword to include] MAIN BENEFIT: [What the reader gets from this post] REQUIREMENTS: - 150-160 characters (Google truncates longer descriptions) - Include the primary keyword naturally - Create urgency or curiosity to click - Promise a clear benefit - Use active voice STYLES: 1. Benefit-focused: Lead with what they will learn/gain 2. Curiosity-focused: Tease interesting content without giving it away 3. Problem-focused: Acknowledge their pain and promise relief Do not use: "In this article..." or "Learn how to..." as openers.
SEO Optimization Tips
Great content that nobody finds is wasted effort. Include these SEO elements in your blog post prompts.
Keyword Placement
Include your primary keyword in: Title (H1), first 100 words, at least one H2, meta description, and image alt text. Do not force it - readability comes first.
Search Intent Matching
Before writing, search your keyword. What type of content ranks? Match that format. If listicles dominate, write a listicle. If how-tos rank, write a how-to.
Internal Linking
Link to 3-5 relevant pages on your site. Use descriptive anchor text, not “click here.” This helps both SEO and keeps readers on your site longer.
Content Depth
Cover the topic comprehensively. Check what questions “People Also Ask” shows and answer them. Thin content rarely ranks well anymore.
Pro Tip
Formatting for Readability
Online readers scan, they do not read. Format your posts for the way people actually consume content on screens.
- Short paragraphs: 2-3 sentences max. One idea per paragraph. White space is your friend.
- Subheadings every 200-300 words: Let readers jump to what interests them. Make subheadings descriptive and benefit-oriented.
- Bold key phrases: Highlight important points so scanners catch the essentials.
- Bullet points and numbered lists: Break up dense information. Lists are easier to process than paragraphs.
- Pull quotes or callout boxes: Emphasize key insights and add visual interest.
- Images and diagrams: Break up text walls. Add alt text for accessibility and SEO.
Add this to any blog post prompt to ensure good formatting:
FORMATTING REQUIREMENTS: - Paragraphs: 2-3 sentences maximum - Include H2 subheading every 200-300 words - Use bullet points for any list of 3+ items - Bold 1-2 key phrases per section - Include [IMAGE PLACEHOLDER: description] where visuals would help - Add a TL;DR or key takeaway box after long sections - Write for scanning - most important info first in each section
Next Steps
You now have the frameworks for every major blog post type. The difference between generic AI content and content that ranks comes down to specificity in your prompts. AskSmarter.ai can guide you through the details.
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