AI Ops Playbook
Back to templates
Marketing & SalesbeginnerFree

Blog Post Outline Creator

10min to implementSaves ~2hrs/weekchatgpt, claude

Blog Post Outline Creator

Difficulty: Beginner | Time to implement: 10 min | Saves you: ~2 hrs/week Tools: ChatGPT / Claude

This template takes any blog post topic and generates a detailed, ready-to-write outline with H2/H3 section headers, key points per section, a scroll-stopping intro hook, and a clear CTA — structured for both human readers and search engines. Ideal for any small business owner or marketer who wants to publish consistently without spending hours organizing their thoughts before writing.

The Template

You are a content strategist and blog writer. Your task is to create a detailed, ready-to-write blog post outline.

Details:
- Blog post topic: POST_TOPIC
- Target keyword (the phrase you want this post to rank for, or "none" if not focused on SEO): TARGET_KEYWORD
- Target reader: TARGET_READER (e.g., "small business owners who have never run paid ads before")
- Desired post length: POST_LENGTH (choose: short = 600–900 words / medium = 1,000–1,500 words / long = 1,600–2,500 words)
- Tone: POST_TONE (e.g., "educational and practical", "conversational and encouraging", "authoritative and data-driven")
- One thing the reader should do after finishing the post: POST_CTA (e.g., "download our free checklist", "book a free consultation", "subscribe to our newsletter")

Generate the outline using this structure:

---

WORKING TITLE OPTIONS (provide 3):
- Option 1: [Title — include TARGET_KEYWORD near the front where natural. Under 65 characters.]
- Option 2: [Alternative angle on the same topic]
- Option 3: [A question-format title or a "listicle" format if appropriate]

RECOMMENDED TITLE: [Choose one and explain why in one sentence]

---

META DESCRIPTION (1 option, 140–160 characters):
[Include TARGET_KEYWORD, a clear benefit, and an implicit or explicit CTA]

---

INTRODUCTION (not a header — this becomes the opening paragraphs):
Hook: [Write the actual first 2–3 sentences of the post. Use one of these hook types: surprising statistic, relatable frustration, bold statement, or a short story scenario. Make it impossible not to keep reading.]
Promise: [One sentence telling the reader exactly what they'll know or be able to do after reading this post]
Estimated word count for intro: 80–120 words

---

BODY OUTLINE:

[Provide the full H2/H3 structure based on POST_LENGTH:
- Short posts: 3–4 H2 sections
- Medium posts: 4–6 H2 sections
- Long posts: 6–8 H2 sections]

For each H2 section:
H2: [Section header — write it as it would appear in the published post]
- Purpose: [One sentence on what this section accomplishes for the reader]
- Key points to cover: [3–5 bullet points of specific things to include — facts, explanations, examples, or tips]
- Format recommendation: [prose / numbered list / bullet list / table / FAQ / tip box]
- Estimated word count: [range]
  [Include H3 subsections where the topic genuinely needs them — not just to add structure for its own sake]

---

CONCLUSION:
- Summarize: [2 bullet points on what to recap — the main takeaway(s), not a full summary of every section]
- CTA: [Write the exact call-to-action sentence or paragraph to use — reference POST_CTA. Make it feel like a natural next step, not a sales pitch]
- Estimated word count: 80–120 words

---

WRITER NOTES:
- Reading level target: [Flesch-Kincaid grade level recommendation based on TARGET_READER]
- One thing to avoid in this post: [Common mistake or thin-content trap for this topic]
- One unique angle that differentiates this post from generic takes on POST_TOPIC
- Suggested internal link opportunities: [2–3 types of pages on the same site this post should link to]
- Suggested external link opportunities: [1–2 types of authoritative sources to cite]

Quick-Start SOP

What you need before starting:

  • A ChatGPT account (free tier works) or a Claude account at claude.ai
  • A topic you want to write about (can be a title idea, a question, or a keyword)
  • A sense of who will be reading this post and what you want them to do afterward

Steps:

  1. Go to chat.openai.com and click New chat, or go to claude.ai and click New conversation.
  2. Copy the entire prompt block above and paste it into the message box.
  3. Replace POST_TOPIC with your topic. Be specific — "how to use email marketing" is too broad; "how to write a welcome email for a new e-commerce subscriber" is specific enough to produce a tight, actionable outline.
  4. For TARGET_KEYWORD, add the keyword if you're writing for SEO. If not, write "none" — the template still works and will focus on readability instead.
  5. Fill in TARGET_READER with a clear description of who is reading. This shapes everything — the vocabulary, the assumed knowledge level, and the examples used.
  6. Choose POST_LENGTH: short for a quick tip post, medium for a standard how-to or list post, long for a comprehensive guide or pillar page.
  7. Fill in POST_TONE and POST_CTA, then send the prompt.
  8. When the outline arrives, review the Introduction hook — this is the most important element. Edit it before writing if it doesn't sound like your voice.
  9. Copy the outline into a Google Doc or your writing tool of choice. Write under each H2/H3 section following the bullet points as your guide.
  10. After publishing, paste the final URL into a Google Sheet to track which topics and formats perform best over time.

[DIAGRAM: A simple wireframe mockup of a blog post. At the top, a blue bar labeled "Title (H1)" with a checkmark and note "3 options generated." Below it, a gray block labeled "Introduction — Hook + Promise." Then three or more colored section blocks labeled "H2: Section 1," "H2: Section 2," "H2: Section 3," each with small dots below representing bullet points. At the bottom, a green block labeled "Conclusion + CTA." A callout note points to the H2 blocks: "Key points + format recommendation included for each section."]

Customization Guide

Adapt this for your business:

  • POST_TOPIC: This is your most important input. Aim for a topic that is specific, searchable, and relevant to your target reader's real questions. Good example: "how to price custom wedding cakes as a home baker." Weak example: "baking tips."
  • TARGET_KEYWORD: Include this only if you have a specific phrase you want to rank for. The template will weave it into the title, meta, and at least 2 H2 headers. If you're writing purely for your audience (newsletter, social sharing) and not for search, enter "none."
  • TARGET_READER: Describe your reader's level of knowledge on this topic, not just their demographics. "A small business owner who has heard of email marketing but has never set up a list" produces a much better outline than "small business owners."
  • POST_LENGTH: Choose based on the topic's complexity and your publishing cadence. A weekly blog performs better with consistent medium-length posts than sporadic long ones. Reserve "long" for cornerstone content or pillar pages.
  • POST_TONE: Match your existing content. If your other posts are casual and fun, don't suddenly generate a formal academic outline — readers notice the inconsistency. Example: "warm and encouraging — like a mentor talking to a first-timer."
  • POST_CTA: Make this a real next step, not a vague "learn more." The outline's conclusion section will write the actual CTA copy based on this input. Example: "download our free 'First 30 Days' email checklist."

Industry-specific tips:

  • Retail / e-commerce: Add "Include a section on what to look for when buying or choosing [product type] — buyer-intent content converts better than purely informational content for product-adjacent keywords" to the prompt for posts near your product pages.
  • Services / consulting: Add "Include one section where I can share a real client scenario or example (anonymized is fine) — personal stories outperform generic advice for service business blogs" to the prompt.
  • Local businesses: Add "Include a section or subsection that references our local market, city, or region — local specificity helps with local SEO and makes the content feel more relevant to nearby readers" to the prompt.

Expected Outcome

What good looks like: The AI will return a structured outline with 3 title options, a meta description, a written introduction hook (actual prose, not a description of what to write), and 4–8 H2 sections with specific bullet-point guidance under each. The Writer Notes section will flag one common mistake to avoid and one angle that differentiates your post from generic content on the same topic. You should be able to open a new Google Doc, paste the outline, and start writing under each H2 immediately — no additional planning required.

Time savings: ~2 hours/week compared to doing this manually Based on manually brainstorming titles, building a section structure, and drafting the intro taking 90–120 minutes per post vs. generating and reviewing an outline in under 15 minutes — leaving the remaining time for actual writing.

Next step: Check out SEO Content Brief Generator for a deeper research and strategy layer when you're writing cornerstone content or targeting competitive keywords.

Something not working? Report a problem