Content: Article Content

Guides creation of

article body content

—the actual text (intro, body, conclusion) for blog posts, guides, and long-form pieces. Focus on

what to write

. For

where it goes

(page structure, schema, metadata), see

article-page-generator

. For short conversion copy (ads, landing pages, CTAs), see

copywriting

.

When invoking

On

first use

, if helpful, open with 1–2 sentences on what this skill covers and why it matters, then provide the main output. On

subsequent use

or when the user asks to skip, go directly to the main output.

Scope

Article body

Introduction, body sections, conclusion, CTA

Content structure

Hook, QAE pattern, paragraph length, scannability

Word count

By article type and search intent

Writing frameworks

AIDA, PAS, BAB applied to articles

GEO elements

TL;DR, Key Takeaways, answer-first

Article Types & Word Count (2025)

Quality over length

Google prioritizes comprehensive coverage of search intent, not word count. Match length to topic depth and intent.

Type

Word count

Use case

News / announcements

300–600

Product updates, breaking news, FAQs

Short-form

500–800

Landing pages, product pages (scannable)

Standard articles / how-tos

1,000–1,500

Single topic; actionable; listicles

Listicles

1,200–2,000

"Top 10," "Best X"; numbered lists boost CTR ~70%

Cluster articles

800–2,500

Subtopic; links to pillar

Pillar / cornerstone

2,000–3,500+

Comprehensive; cluster hub; 6–12 sections

Competitive keywords

1,800–2,500

Page-one SEO posts avg ~2,400 words

Intent-based

(Google 2025): Validate 1,200–2,000; Explore 2,000–3,500; Compare 600–1,200; Do 900–1,500; Know 300–800. Informational ~40% longer than transactional.

Avoid

Under 300 words (thin); over 7,000 (often underperforms due to reduced focus).

Content Creation Workflow

Four Inputs

Article content rests on

four inputs

. See

article-page-generator

for full workflow.

Input

Purpose

Product

Connection, features, CTA placement

Keywords

Target keyword, primary/secondary

Article intent

Informational, commercial, transactional

Competitor articles

Structure to adopt, content gaps, length target

TL;DR or Key Takeaways (GEO)

Choose one; place after intro. Content with these elements is cited ~35% more by AI.

Format

Spec

TL;DR

50–100 word bold summary paragraph

Key Takeaways

5–7 bullet points

See

generative-engine-optimization

for full GEO strategy.

Introduction

Length

40–120 words; 2–3 paragraphs. Readers decide in ~8 seconds; hook must work instantly.

Element

Guideline

Hook

First 1–2 sentences: pain point, stat, or question; curiosity gap; specific data or contrarian fact

Primary keyword

In first 100 words

Expectations

Set what reader will learn

Hook types

"You're doing X wrong"; "97% of Y…"; bold question; challenge assumption. Well-crafted hooks boost CTR 30–50%.

Body

Element

Guideline

QAE pattern

Question (H2) → Answer (2 sentences) → Evidence (data, examples, lists)

Answer-first

Direct answer in first 40–60 words after each H2

Answer blocks

100–200 words per section; direct answer + context + evidence

Paragraph length

40–80 words; 2–4 sentences; avoid walls of text

Break long blocks

Lists, H3s, images, callout boxes every 2–3 paragraphs

Scannability

Front-load key info (F-pattern);

bold

key phrases; one idea per paragraph

Long-form (1,000+ words)

Place engagement hooks every 500–600 words; mix 40–50% explanatory text, 20–25% examples, 10–15% data, 5–10% visuals.

Conclusion

Summary

+

CTA

newsletter signup, related content,

product

(link to product/feature when relevant). Product-linked content ties to product naturally.

Product Connection

Articles should tie to the product (problem it solves, features, use cases). Avoid purely generic content. Link to product/feature pages naturally in conclusion or when context fits.

Writing Frameworks

Apply

copywriting

frameworks to article structure. See

copywriting

for full PAS, AIDA, BAB.

Framework

Article use

AIDA

Intro (Attention); body (Interest, Desire); conclusion (Action/CTA)

PAS

How-to guides: Problem in intro; Agitation in body; Solution throughout

BAB

Case studies, transformation: Before → After → Bridge

Choose by audience

AIDA for ready-to-buy; PAS for pain-driven; BAB for transformation seekers.

Article Headlines

See

copywriting

for headline formulas (How to, Number, Problem→Solution). For article titles specifically:

Length

50–60 chars; see title-tag Primary keyword near start Numbers and power words boost CTR ~36% References & Citations Scenario Practice Data or statistics Cite inline (e.g. "According to Source , 72% of…") or in References section Expert quotes Attribute; link to source Reference section For 5+ citations; list at end before Related posts Format Inline links preferred; numbered refs [1], [2] for academic-style See eeat-signals for E-E-A-T, author bio, citations, YMYL. Content Quality Element Guideline Readability Grade 8–10 (Flesch-Kincaid); short sentences, clear language Depth Match type; comprehensive coverage over padding Originality Unique angle, data, examples; avoid thin or rehashed content E-E-A-T Author bio, citations, expert quotes — see eeat-signals Content Audit Checklist When auditing or optimizing article content: Dimension Check Hook Intro opens with pain point, stat, or question? Keyword in first 100 words Primary keyword present? QAE pattern H2s as questions? Answer-first (40–60 words) in each section? Word count Matches type? (300–600 news, 1,000–2,500 cluster, 2,500+ pillar) Paragraph length 40–80 words per paragraph? No walls of text? Product connection Ties to product? Natural links to features/pricing? CTA Placement (conclusion, mid-article); clarity; product link References Data/stats cited? Reference section for 5+ citations? Gaps What do top-ranking articles cover that this misses? See competitor-research for competitor analysis; article-page-generator for page structure and metadata. AI-Assisted Content When content is AI-assisted: human review before publish; verify facts and add citations; original insights or data; avoid generic phrasing. See eeat-signals for E-E-A-T and AI content guidance. Output Format Outline (H2s with keyword placement) TL;DR or Key Takeaways (if SEO-driven) Introduction (hook + keyword) Body sections (QAE, answer-first) Conclusion (summary + CTA) CTA copy options