{"slug":"article-pipeline-workflow","title":"Article Pipeline: 4-Step Research-First Workflow","tags":["articles","seo","research","content-creation"],"agent_summary":"Four-step article creation pipeline that mandates research before writing: SERP analysis, social research (Reddit/YouTube), article planning, and section-by-section writing. Prevents generic AI-trap content.","trigger_phrases":["write an article","article pipeline","seo article workflow","how to write an seo article","research before writing","beat competitor article"],"runnable":true,"markdown":"\n# Article Pipeline: 4-Step Research-First Workflow\n\nCreates high-quality articles by enforcing research BEFORE writing. Prevents the \"AI knows everything\" trap that produces generic content.\n\n```\nSTEP 1: SERP Analysis     → See what Google rewards TODAY\nSTEP 2: Social Research   → Mine Reddit + YouTube for real insights\nSTEP 3: Article Planning  → Section-by-section strategy\nSTEP 4: Section Writing   → Write/edit each section individually\n```\n\n---\n\n## STEP 1: SERP Analysis (MANDATORY)\n\nBefore writing anything, analyze the current top 5-10 results:\n\n- **What's the dominant format?** (Listicle, how-to, comparison, case study)\n- **What's the average word count?** Match #1 ranking +10-20%, never an arbitrary floor\n- **What H2s/H3s appear most?** These are table-stakes topics to cover\n- **What's missing?** Gaps in competitor coverage = your angle\n- **What's the featured snippet format?** Paragraph, list, or table\n\n### Competitor Gap Blueprint\n\nFor each top-ranking piece:\n- Rate each section: depth, recency, specificity, E-E-A-T signals\n- Flag thin sections, missing subtopics, stale data\n- List every topic they missed → these become mandatory sections in your outline\n\n---\n\n## STEP 2: Social Research (MANDATORY)\n\n### Reddit\n- Search `site:reddit.com [topic]`\n- Look for: real language, complaints, unmet needs, \"what I wish someone told me\"\n- Extract: actual phrases people use, questions repeated across threads\n\n### YouTube\n- Search topic, sort by Most Relevant\n- Read top comments — these are customer voice gold\n- Note: What do reviewers say is missing from existing content?\n\n### Synthesis Output\n```\nUNIQUE INSIGHTS FOR ARTICLE:\n- [Insight from Reddit with exact language]\n- [Complaint/gap from YouTube comments]\n- [Recurring question not answered by top results]\n```\n\n---\n\n## STEP 3: Article Planning\n\n### Meta Elements\n- Primary keyword (exact match goes in H1)\n- Title: under 60 characters, front-load keyword\n- Meta description: under 160 characters, include CTA\n\n### Title Formulas\n- `How to [Action] + [Specific Outcome]`\n- `[Number] [Things] + [Qualifier]`\n- `[Topic]: [Benefit] in [Timeframe]`\n- `[Topic] vs [Topic]: [Decision Frame]`\n- `[Year] [Topic] Guide + [Audience]`\n\n### Section Plan\nFor each section:\n- H2 text (keyword-optimized)\n- Content type (paragraph, list, table, step-by-step)\n- Which SERP gap it addresses\n- Which social insight it incorporates\n\n---\n\n## STEP 4: Section-by-Section Writing\n\nWrite one section at a time. Don't draft the whole article at once.\n\n### EEAT Checklist Per Section\n\n| ID | Standard | How to Apply |\n|----|----------|-------------|\n| C01 | Intent alignment | Title promise matches content delivery |\n| C02 | Direct answer | Core answer in first 150 words |\n| R01 | Data precision | 5+ precise numbers with units and sources |\n| R02 | Citation density | 1+ external citation per 500 words |\n| E01 | Experience markers | First-person observations, case studies |\n| E02 | Expertise signals | Author credentials, methodology references |\n| A01 | Authority anchors | Links to authoritative sources |\n| T01 | Trust elements | Transparent sourcing, accurate dates |\n\n### Post-Writing Quality Loop\n- Every competitor H2 matched or exceeded in depth\n- 3+ sections covering gaps competitor missed entirely\n- More specific data points than the competitor\n- FAQ section targeting 5-7 PAA questions the competitor ignored\n\n---\n\n## Outrank Mode (`--outrank [competitor-url]`)\n\n1. Extract competitor content: full text, heading structure, word count, keyword density\n2. Score competitor weaknesses: rate each section for depth, recency, specificity\n3. Build gap map: list every topic/question they missed\n4. Apply PAS to intro: Problem (searcher's pain), Agitate (why existing answers fall short), Solution (what this article delivers)\n5. Run outrank checklist before publish:\n   - Every competitor H2 matched or exceeded\n   - 3+ sections covering gaps competitor missed entirely\n   - Meta title/description engineered for higher CTR than current #1\n\n#content-sop #articles #seo #pipeline\n","html":"<h1>Article Pipeline: 4-Step Research-First Workflow</h1>\n<p>Creates high-quality articles by enforcing research BEFORE writing. Prevents the \"AI knows everything\" trap that produces generic content.</p>\n<pre><code>STEP 1: SERP Analysis     → See what Google rewards TODAY\nSTEP 2: Social Research   → Mine Reddit + YouTube for real insights\nSTEP 3: Article Planning  → Section-by-section strategy\nSTEP 4: Section Writing   → Write/edit each section individually\n</code></pre>\n<hr>\n<h2>STEP 1: SERP Analysis (MANDATORY)</h2>\n<p>Before writing anything, analyze the current top 5-10 results:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>What's the dominant format?</strong> (Listicle, how-to, comparison, case study)</li>\n<li><strong>What's the average word count?</strong> Match #1 ranking +10-20%, never an arbitrary floor</li>\n<li><strong>What H2s/H3s appear most?</strong> These are table-stakes topics to cover</li>\n<li><strong>What's missing?</strong> Gaps in competitor coverage = your angle</li>\n<li><strong>What's the featured snippet format?</strong> Paragraph, list, or table</li>\n</ul>\n<h3>Competitor Gap Blueprint</h3>\n<p>For each top-ranking piece:</p>\n<ul>\n<li>Rate each section: depth, recency, specificity, E-E-A-T signals</li>\n<li>Flag thin sections, missing subtopics, stale data</li>\n<li>List every topic they missed → these become mandatory sections in your outline</li>\n</ul>\n<hr>\n<h2>STEP 2: Social Research (MANDATORY)</h2>\n<h3>Reddit</h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Search <code>site:reddit.com [topic]</code></li>\n<li>Look for: real language, complaints, unmet needs, \"what I wish someone told me\"</li>\n<li>Extract: actual phrases people use, questions repeated across threads</li>\n</ul>\n<h3>YouTube</h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Search topic, sort by Most Relevant</li>\n<li>Read top comments — these are customer voice gold</li>\n<li>Note: What do reviewers say is missing from existing content?</li>\n</ul>\n<h3>Synthesis Output</h3>\n<pre><code>UNIQUE INSIGHTS FOR ARTICLE:\n- [Insight from Reddit with exact language]\n- [Complaint/gap from YouTube comments]\n- [Recurring question not answered by top results]\n</code></pre>\n<hr>\n<h2>STEP 3: Article Planning</h2>\n<h3>Meta Elements</h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Primary keyword (exact match goes in H1)</li>\n<li>Title: under 60 characters, front-load keyword</li>\n<li>Meta description: under 160 characters, include CTA</li>\n</ul>\n<h3>Title Formulas</h3>\n<ul>\n<li><code>How to [Action] + [Specific Outcome]</code></li>\n<li><code>[Number] [Things] + [Qualifier]</code></li>\n<li><code>[Topic]: [Benefit] in [Timeframe]</code></li>\n<li><code>[Topic] vs [Topic]: [Decision Frame]</code></li>\n<li><code>[Year] [Topic] Guide + [Audience]</code></li>\n</ul>\n<h3>Section Plan</h3>\n<p>For each section:</p>\n<ul>\n<li>H2 text (keyword-optimized)</li>\n<li>Content type (paragraph, list, table, step-by-step)</li>\n<li>Which SERP gap it addresses</li>\n<li>Which social insight it incorporates</li>\n</ul>\n<hr>\n<h2>STEP 4: Section-by-Section Writing</h2>\n<p>Write one section at a time. Don't draft the whole article at once.</p>\n<h3>EEAT Checklist Per Section</h3>\n<p>| ID | Standard | How to Apply |\n|----|----------|-------------|\n| C01 | Intent alignment | Title promise matches content delivery |\n| C02 | Direct answer | Core answer in first 150 words |\n| R01 | Data precision | 5+ precise numbers with units and sources |\n| R02 | Citation density | 1+ external citation per 500 words |\n| E01 | Experience markers | First-person observations, case studies |\n| E02 | Expertise signals | Author credentials, methodology references |\n| A01 | Authority anchors | Links to authoritative sources |\n| T01 | Trust elements | Transparent sourcing, accurate dates |</p>\n<h3>Post-Writing Quality Loop</h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Every competitor H2 matched or exceeded in depth</li>\n<li>3+ sections covering gaps competitor missed entirely</li>\n<li>More specific data points than the competitor</li>\n<li>FAQ section targeting 5-7 PAA questions the competitor ignored</li>\n</ul>\n<hr>\n<h2>Outrank Mode (<code>--outrank [competitor-url]</code>)</h2>\n<ol>\n<li>Extract competitor content: full text, heading structure, word count, keyword density</li>\n<li>Score competitor weaknesses: rate each section for depth, recency, specificity</li>\n<li>Build gap map: list every topic/question they missed</li>\n<li>Apply PAS to intro: Problem (searcher's pain), Agitate (why existing answers fall short), Solution (what this article delivers)</li>\n<li>Run outrank checklist before publish:\n<ul>\n<li>Every competitor H2 matched or exceeded</li>\n<li>3+ sections covering gaps competitor missed entirely</li>\n<li>Meta title/description engineered for higher CTR than current #1</li>\n</ul>\n</li>\n</ol>\n<p>#content-sop #articles #seo #pipeline</p>\n"}