Blog post writing: a step-by-step method and prompt

To write a blog post that ranks and gets read, start from a brief, outline around the reader's questions, open with a direct answer, write short and specific sections, scrub generic phrasing, check the SEO basics, and add internal links before publishing. The method below works the same for human and AI-assisted drafts.

What it is

A blog post is the workhorse of content marketing. Search traffic, social snippets, newsletter issues and AI assistant citations often trace back to one solid article. The process matters because most weak posts fail in predictable ways: no angle, a slow intro, vague advice and no clear next step.

When to use it

• You have a keyword or question your buyers search for.
• You have a story, data point or lesson worth sharing.
• A content gap analysis shows a missing topic.
• You want a cornerstone piece to link from social posts and docs.

Step-by-step method

1. Start with a brief. Confirm keyword, intent, reader, angle and outline. If you do not have one, write a content brief first.
2. Write the answer-first intro. In 40 to 60 words, answer the main question. Include the primary keyword naturally in the first 100 words.
3. Draft section by section. Each H2 opens with its own short answer, then explains with a concrete example. Use numbered steps for processes and tables for comparisons.
4. Add specifics. Replace every generic line with a number, a named tool, a sample, a screenshot description or a worked example. If a fact needs a source, link it.
5. Scrub AI tells and filler. Remove phrases like "in today's fast-paced world", needless hedging and em dashes if your style guide bans them. Our AI humanizer flags these patterns.
6. Run the SEO check. Keyword in the H1, intro and at least two H2s. Title under 60 characters. Meta description 120 to 155 characters. Images have alt text.
7. Add links and FAQ. Three to seven internal links with descriptive anchors and two or three external sources. Close with an FAQ of real questions.
8. End with one next step. A single, relevant call to action, not three competing ones.

Ready-to-use prompt

You are a writer for [COMPANY]. Write a blog post from this brief.

Brief: [PASTE BRIEF: keyword, intent, reader, angle, outline, FAQ, sources, internal links]
Brand voice notes: [3-5 BULLETS, e.g. direct, practical, no hype]
Examples or data only we have: [NOTES]

Rules:
- Open with a 40 to 60 word paragraph that answers the main question.
- Follow the outline. Each H2 starts with a 1 to 2 sentence answer.
- Sentences under 20 words on average. Use contractions. No em dashes.
- Do not use: delve, leverage, robust, seamless, unlock, game-changer, "in today's".
- Do not invent statistics, quotes or customers. Write [SOURCE NEEDED] where a fact needs a citation.
- Include every internal link from the brief with natural anchor text.
- Add an FAQ with the brief's questions, 1 to 3 sentence answers.
- Length: [WORD RANGE] words. Output markdown only.

Checklist

• Brief approved before drafting
• Direct answer in the first 40 to 60 words
• Primary keyword in H1, intro and two or more H2s
• Every section has a concrete example
• Facts linked to sources; no invented numbers
• Filler phrases and AI tells removed
• Title under 60 and meta 120 to 155 characters
• Three to seven internal links, two to three external
• FAQ with real questions
• One clear call to action

How Thig automates it

The Writer agent runs this exact pipeline: brief, outline, draft, scrub, SEO score, meta and JSON-LD, internal links, then publishes to your CMS as a draft for review. Each step is visible and can be rerun on its own.