{"id":317,"date":"2021-08-21T08:05:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-21T08:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.usetopic.com\/blog\/?p=317"},"modified":"2021-09-16T14:12:33","modified_gmt":"2021-09-16T14:12:33","slug":"content-outline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usetopic.com\/blog\/content-outline\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Make a Content Outline (the Easy Way)"},"content":{"rendered":"<!-- Begin Table of Contents -->\n    \n            <script>\n                var allHeadings;\n                document.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function(event) { \n                    allHeadings = Array.prototype.slice.call(document.querySelectorAll('h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6'));\n                });\n                function jumpTo(title,tag){\n                    allHeadings.forEach(function (singleHeading){\n                        if((singleHeading.localName.toLowerCase().replace(\/\\u00a0\/g, ' ') == tag.toLowerCase().replace(\/\\u00a0\/g, ' ') ) && (singleHeading.innerText.toLowerCase().replace(\/\\u00a0\/g, ' ')  == title.toLowerCase().replace(\/\\u00a0\/g, ' ') )){\n                            singleHeading.scrollIntoView({behavior: 'smooth', block: 'center'});\n                        }\n                    })\n                }\n            <\/script>  \n        \n    <div class=\"topic-table-of-contents-container topic-table-of-contents-align-float-left\" style=\"position: relative; float:left; margin-right: 2rem;\">\n        <div class=\"topic-table-of-contents\" style=\"background-color: rgb(240, 244, 248);                        position:relative;                        margin-bottom: 40px;                        padding: 1.5rem;                        border-radius:4px;                        display: inline-block;                        text-align: left;                        width: 300px;\">\n        \n            <div class=\"topic-table-of-contents-label\" style=\"color:rgb(16, 42, 67) !important; font-weight: bold;                        font-size:1rem;                        margin-bottom: 1rem;\">\n                TABLE OF CONTENTS\n            <\/div>\n          \n                <div class=\"topic-table-of-contents-line topic-table-of-contents-type-heading topic-table-of-contents-tag-h2\" style=\"margin-left: 1rem;\">\n                    <p onclick=\"jumpTo('What is a content outline?','H2')\" style=\"color:rgb(16, 42, 67) !important; font-weight: normal;                        cursor: pointer;                        line-height:normal;                        margin-bottom: 1rem !important;                        font-size: 1rem;\">\n                        <span style=\"color:inherit;                        border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.1);                        line-height: 1.5rem;\">What is a Content Outline?<\/span>\n                    <\/p>\n                <\/div> \n                <div class=\"topic-table-of-contents-line topic-table-of-contents-type-heading topic-table-of-contents-tag-h2\" style=\"margin-left: 1rem;\">\n                    <p onclick=\"jumpTo('Why make a content outline?','H2')\" style=\"color:rgb(16, 42, 67) !important; font-weight: normal;                        cursor: pointer;                        line-height:normal;                        margin-bottom: 1rem !important;                        font-size: 1rem;\">\n                        <span style=\"color:inherit;                        border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.1);                        line-height: 1.5rem;\">Why Make a Content Outline?<\/span>\n                    <\/p>\n                <\/div>     \n                <div class=\"topic-table-of-contents-line topic-table-of-contents-type-heading topic-table-of-contents-tag-h2\" style=\"margin-left: 1rem;\">\n                    <p onclick=\"jumpTo('How to Create a Content Outline (the Easy Way)','H2')\" style=\"color:rgb(16, 42, 67) !important; font-weight: normal;                        cursor: pointer;                        line-height:normal;                        margin-bottom: 1rem !important;                        font-size: 1rem;\">\n                        <span style=\"color:inherit;                        border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.1);                        line-height: 1.5rem;\">How to Write a Content Outline (the Easy Way)<\/span>\n                    <\/p>\n                <\/div>          \n        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usetopic.com\/wordpress-table-of-contents\" style=\"color: transparent;\" data-lasso-id=\"565\"><div style=\"position: absolute;                    bottom: -28px;                    background-image: url(https:\/\/www.usetopic.com\/wordpress-table-of-contents-powered-by.png);                    background-size: contain;                    width: 134px;                    height: 22px;                    background-repeat: no-repeat;                    right: 0;                    opacity: 0.5;                    color: transparent;\">WordPress Table of Contents by Topic<\/div><\/a>\n        <style>\n\n                    \/* Alignment *\/\n                    @media screen and (max-width: 600px) {\n                        .topic-table-of-contents-align-float-left {\n                            float: none;\n                            margin-right: 0;\n                        }\n                        .topic-table-of-contents-align-float-left .topic-table-of-contents,\n                        .topic-table-of-contents-align-left .topic-table-of-contents,\n                        .topic-table-of-contents-align-center .topic-table-of-contents{\n                            width: auto;\n                            display: block;\n                        }\n                    }\n\n                    \/* General Styles *\/\n\n                    .topic-table-of-contents-type-heading.topic-table-of-contents-line span:hover{\n                        border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.4);\n                    }\n                <\/style>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <!-- End Table of Contents -->\n\n\n\n<p>Your boss gives you a target keyword to write a blog post on. Or maybe you\u2019re an agency owner creating a new piece of content for your client.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You open up Google Docs (like always) and see a blank page. How do you go from that to 2,000+ words of blog content?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Trust me, we\u2019ve all been there.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A year into my marketing career, I stumbled upon the concept of <strong>content outlines<\/strong>. I\u2019ve never written a blog post without it ever since.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With a solid content outline, you do three things:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Create in-depth content loved by readers and search engines.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li><li>Dispel fear of blank pages by working from a skeleton.<\/li><li>Organize your blog post so it\u2019s easy to read and flows well.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Isn\u2019t creating content outlines time-consuming? I agree. It took me hours of manual research in the past.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not anymore.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this guide, I\u2019ll share how I create content outlines <strong>FAST<\/strong>. I\u2019ll use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usetopic.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"566\">Topic<\/a> &#8211; a content optimization tool to aid me. Using the tool isn\u2019t essential, but it\u2019ll help.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By the end, you\u2019ll be able to create content outlines in minutes (not hours).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sounds good? Let\u2019s go!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is a content outline?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A content outline is an outline of how your content will look. This includes the headings, takeaways, images, relevant statistics, etc you plan on adding to your article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s what an outline looks like:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/nhoUPapnicoGJzEF5I1WK1HgLzczlcs7mHomEG6n1EgRy2Rob8xBSSM0QDUiNy04cJUeiuXYobrZ4w9RvVMnI7TRv4h6fdzymFZmt4xrghaJy1AkTM-Vo3TKXaO6Px7egYOP0OY1=s0\" alt=\"Content Outline\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In general, a content outline contains the following elements:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Title and meta description<\/li><li>Headings<\/li><li>Key takeaways&nbsp;<\/li><li>Images<\/li><li>Facts and statistics<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>A content outline is a great way to organize your research, structure your flow, and create a polished final draft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why make a content outline?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are many reasons why you should always work from a content outline.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are three:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>1. Create True Skyscraper Content<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Everyone creates skyscraper content. But few execute this strategy perfectly.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What is skyscraper content? In simple terms, it\u2019s finding <a href=\"https:\/\/www.searchenginejournal.com\/link-building-guide\/link-worthy-content\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"567\">link-worthy content<\/a> and making something even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the words of creator Brian Dean:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><em>It\u2019s human nature to be attracted to <\/em><strong><em>the best<\/em><\/strong><em>. And what you\u2019re doing is finding the tallest \u201cskyscraper\u201d in your space\u2026and slapping 20 stories to the top of it. All of a sudden YOU have the content that everyone wants to talk about (and link to).<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cTrue\u201d skyscraper content:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Earns more backlinks.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Ranks higher on SERPs.<\/li><li>Drives more social shares.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>But don&#8217;t take my word for it. Brian\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/content-study\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"568\">study<\/a> proves that long-form content attracts ~78% more links compared to shorter content:<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/GvZPkWTCPXLWR9umDAxS_zrKMKtqGUkJRA9lFwtxRrbpLiQ4I1gg7W3klWo3yQhkw3f-pqd_cLs_HoSF8K51A0dn0-UmrMCUOS95tr_Xo373MLapg-T5gP6fosUsoG_o6bVBds-S=s0\" alt=\"Blog Post Length\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Basically:<\/strong> In-depth content = more backlinks = higher rankings.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Content that covers all possible topics (and subtopics) will always outrank less comprehensive pages on SERPs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Without working from an outline, you\u2019ll most likely miss covering important subtopics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I know I did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A content outline will help you create true skyscraper content by identifying and filling any gaps in your knowledge.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Caveat: <\/strong>The concept of skyscraper content applies to only long-form content. Which includes but isn\u2019t limited to how-to guides, research studies, and viral content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2. No More Writer\u2019s Block&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When I created content without an outline, I always suffered from writer\u2019s block.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not anymore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By creating an outline first, I can work from the skeleton of my article. <strong>The end result:<\/strong> no more writer\u2019s block or fear of blank pages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With a content outline, you free your mind to focus on the writing. This means more time spent writing and less time second-guessing yourself.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The beauty of a content outline is in its versatility. You can outline blog posts, infographics, videos, ebooks, and more.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3. Scale Content Creation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Great content takes time. In 2020, it took a writer <a href=\"https:\/\/www.orbitmedia.com\/blog\/blogging-statistics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"569\">~4 hours<\/a> to write a blog post:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/pGkL0tadUVE-y9FdFyHe-GCxrrWmOUnPive5SjsTA5ttgHhXx7AWqhhOXiichqrvGZ70op1UjlxNnVC72ggyFDRFQK4qi0l2lH7ZpWXzqhdsRhXeaIoFFE-aHGoJwQmx669my5Uw=s0\" alt=\"How long does it take to write a blog post?\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A well-defined content outline can shave hours off drafting and optimizing your blog post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> If you\u2019re the subject matter expert, create outlines in-house. Google highly values content that demonstrates:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Expertise<\/li><li>Authoritativeness<\/li><li>Trustworthiness<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Or <a href=\"https:\/\/terakeet.com\/blog\/what-is-eat\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"570\"><strong>EAT<\/strong><\/a> for short.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Content outlines are helpful if you want to delegate content creation. At Topic, our freelancers always work from a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usetopic.com\/blog\/seo-content-briefs-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"571\">content brief<\/a>. This helps us save time in the editing process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By having our freelance writer create an outline first, we ensure the article doesn\u2019t head  in a different direction (than the one we planned).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Reduced Content Production Costs<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>On that note, an outline will also save you money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Imagine handing over a topic to your writer without an outline. What if they send you a final draft that\u2019s underwhelming?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means more time and money spent fixing a weak draft. An outline will help you reduce these costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Basically:<\/strong> content outlines boost collaboration, improve content quality, and lower writing costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Combine them together and you can create better content at scale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to Create a Content Outline (the Easy Way)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Now you know what a content outline is and why should make one.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Onto the fun part. Creating a content outline from scratch.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are the five steps I follow to create content outlines FAST:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Step 1:<\/strong> <a href=\"#analyze-search-intent\">Analyze search intent (crucial)&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li><strong>Step 2:<\/strong> <a href=\"#pick-a-content-angle\">Pick an angle<\/a><\/li><li><strong>Step 3: <\/strong><a href=\"#create-headings\">Create headings<\/a><\/li><li><strong>Step 4:<\/strong> <a href=\"#add-bullet-point-summaries\">Add bullet point takeaways<\/a><\/li><li><strong>Step 5:<\/strong> <a href=\"#include-questions\">Include questions<\/a><\/li><li><strong>Optional<\/strong>: <a href=\"#write-intro-and-conclusion\">Write intro and conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Are you a Topic user? Here\u2019s a simpler content outline process:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-vimeo wp-block-embed-vimeo wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How to Build an Outline with Topic\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/487099541?h=84246d3ce4&amp;dnt=1&amp;app_id=122963\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n[sc name=&#8221;cta-demo-request&#8221; ][\/sc]\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s go through each of them in more detail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"analyze-search-intent\"><strong>Step #1: Analyze Search Intent<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This is the first and most crucial step in the content outline process.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you skip this step, your content won\u2019t rank or resonate with your target audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even worse: <strong>both<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What is search intent? Simply put, it\u2019s the \u201c<strong>why<\/strong>\u201d behind a search query. What is someone hoping to gain by making this search?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The easiest way to infer search intent? Google your target keyword and look at the SERPs:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/azvLKwHxTvBM9kUZnZd3vmIhciL-W14aCVbwwfaYMpODIn-eeZrFcMwO6KoI3JfFYS9niT_1hDov5ZccQPJB9udOagc5ObXAUtz3DtJh22umj7w7QGOcWZ5WIcER7Uk96F2Z8AsK=s0\" alt=\"SERP\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>For \u201ccontent optimization\u201d I see that the search intent is <strong>informational<\/strong>. Searchers want to learn about content optimization. This explains why almost all search results are articles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Verdict:<\/strong> To maximize my chances of ranking for this keyword, I\u2019ll have to write a blog post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead of doing this research manually, let&#8217;s see how we can speed this up using Topic. Create a Brief &gt; Enter your Target Keyword &gt; Create Brief:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-8_NlO3zktPvMD1yYzslZWEbRaPne3APCEsu-LQdvAJpvvh8uB8UDB4--cwLTHhSbRMSonsVJ-E1eLWTfIi1JBW0F9WMiTromnYG-eXq5JjkstsYYoVvoLenGpgdzXFYkhOyGjXc=s0\" alt=\"Content Outline Creation\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Give it a few minutes. And voila:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/t9hro3_Ea7ygGV3UYIeMXuYdNmWVMEQ1pyrML_lHQczCcdlGvN6rIC9hHXxU542ZuBvG6BEQ5LPxKl3_WXtGtUc5TU6rUQ0sOPFPYgzuwaLjSsvd8LX5jH-VoylXVz2vQYm6Qbeh=s0\" alt=\"Content Outlines\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>66% of results on the first page are articles. The recommended word count is 1800. I\u2019m writing a blog post after all.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All in a couple minutes work.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Analyzing search intent will help you pick the right angle. The right angle will help you outrank the competition.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is why I recommend getting the first step right.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Further Reading:<\/em><\/strong><em> <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usetopic.com\/blog\/search-intent-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"572\"><em>How Search Intent Influences Your Content Strategy<\/em><\/a><em>&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"pick-a-content-angle\"><strong>Step #2: Identify your angle<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You now have an A-Z understanding of intent. So in this step, we\u2019ll determine our angle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Picking the right angle will help you determine what to write about. But more importantly, it\u2019ll help you outrank your competitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Think of your working title as your angle. Without it, your blog post can go in a hundred different directions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A great blog post title is:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Specific<\/li><li>Actionable&nbsp;<\/li><li>Captivating<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s head back to the SERPs. Here are the results for \u201ccontent optimization\u201d:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/6jlX9Cs1FwOsFAuTc6mgthOz49KYRn3sAwL9Rbt8jL7UpLgPKOMCPej6qnsbSFOASIi53QOLzWxL4aC_WI2QeXJcgR3Cs9w-HH7lSeslrSST2X_xhb-M3PmykhCyEa8rR6XgdpkH=s0\" alt=\"Search Results\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Google is prioritizing how-to guides. This makes sense since the search intent is <strong>educational<\/strong>. I\u2019ll need to follow the same format.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As I stated earlier, matching search intent with your content angle is crucial. If you don\u2019t nail intent, Google won\u2019t rank your content as high as you\u2019d like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/jbonini\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"573\">John Bonini<\/a>\u2019s search motivation framework can make this process easy:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/maP3DVGF6_ZiYaKBTqZgjF9LngH82fM3VvtU-B2CFy_gt4fEG196ITDC9kNo3jxXODPRovpDfyvEH2AA-YO4ci5buxOnPq09QpRTTdBRLlkdn5FP-1Diraf2hZNvKtZ_LjoUbyl1=s0\" alt=\"Search Motivation Framework\" width=\"574\" height=\"319\"\/><\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\n\n<p>Next, take a closer look at the top three ranking pages.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Go through each article one by one:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>How long (or short) is the content?<\/li><li>Is the content unique or cookie cutter?<\/li><li>What topics does the article cover?<\/li><li>When was the article (re)published?&nbsp;<\/li><li>How optimized is it for SEO?<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>At this stage, you\u2019ll have a general pulse of what your outline will look like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll notice most results are rehashed versions of each other. If you want the #1 spot, you\u2019ll have to write an article that\u2019s unique and in-depth.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also known as <strong>skyscraper content.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Topic, I can find all this information in one place. The research section:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/t9hro3_Ea7ygGV3UYIeMXuYdNmWVMEQ1pyrML_lHQczCcdlGvN6rIC9hHXxU542ZuBvG6BEQ5LPxKl3_WXtGtUc5TU6rUQ0sOPFPYgzuwaLjSsvd8LX5jH-VoylXVz2vQYm6Qbeh=s0\" alt=\"Content Research \"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Not only do I have richer competitor info, but I also get insight into:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Recommended word count.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Recommended content grade.<\/li><li>Target keyword volume.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>What does all this information tell me?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To rank on page one, I need to write an 1800 word how-to guide that\u2019s optimized with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usetopic.com\/content-optimization\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"574\">Topic\u2019s content grader<\/a> (recommended grade \u2018A\u2019).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But if I want the #1 spot, I\u2019ll need to find a unique angle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>My angle:<\/strong> show readers how Topic can help them <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usetopic.com\/blog\/content-optimization\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"575\">optimize content<\/a> in half the time. \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are three blog post titles I came up with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>What is Content Optimization? How to Optimize Content.&nbsp;<\/li><li>Content Optimization: The Definitive Guide.<\/li><li>A 5-Step Content Optimization Process For Higher Rankings.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> If you need help refining your title, try CoSchedule\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/coschedule.com\/headline-analyzer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"576\">Headline Analyzer<\/a>. It\u2019s a handy tool I use to make my blog titles engaging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Need inspiration? Topic\u2019s AI can auto-generate unlimited titles. Click on Content Ideas&nbsp; &gt; Enter Keywords &gt; Hit Enter:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/uQ0lIsfklMNeKoI7zVuuPMCtC_T6oz4pUTnmon7hiyv4M5PGtR6HdYqtkIE9kr8L7O2HAIpGuI7T8S_Zf8kOgxGogz6j637DMGQyOq3JSsLHZY8nF8Bzo8BfjnEEIL9Pzof83faO=s0\" alt=\"Content Outline Ideas\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>While you\u2019re at it, feel free to draft a meta-description for your blog post. Topic can give you ideas or rewrite your meta-description for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Further Reading:<\/em><\/strong><em> <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/databox.com\/blog-title-examples\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"577\"><em>25 Blog Title Examples That Get High Organic Search CTRs<\/em><\/a><em>&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"create-headings\"><strong>Step #3: Create Headings for Your Article<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This is the step where your outline will start looking like one. We\u2019re going to create headings for our article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The H1 of your article will be your angle from Step #2. In my case, it\u2019s \u201cWhat is Content Optimization? How to Optimize Content.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After that comes your introduction. We\u2019ll go over this at the end.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Up next are your H2s. Based on your research from Step #1, you probably came up with a few headings for your outline. Lay them out in order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pro Tip:<\/strong> Try to match your headings with an <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/lsi-keywords\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"578\">LSI keyword<\/a>. Also include any relevant questions from Google\u2019s PAA, Reddit, or Quora.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019ll use Topic to see how my competitors have outlined their content. I\u2019ll cherry-pick what I like most and add it to my outline:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/jLhX6vsjv-SX8VdjDO1XbjpJVO-Rl1h5j77m2vHiIFCwX7lZ0Ylji5pq0ph961i3oyQP8dj0RvusqipezJyOfWvg9M7PvPUhedLfEjsNf2OP18ySxydAzKCPhIcQ0-GpOptntXmO=s0\" alt=\"Competitor Outlines\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also add H3s and H4s underneath your H2s to fully flesh out your outline.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you don\u2019t use Topic, you can do the same thing by analyzing each competing article manually and using common sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your headings are the foundation of your outline. Once you\u2019ve created them, it\u2019s time to organize your information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"add-bullet-point-summaries\"><strong>Step #4: Add Bullet Point Summaries Under Headings<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ve got your headings in place. Time to add your takeaways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Why? If you\u2019re creating an outline for your writer, bullet-point takeaways will give them specific direction. This will lead to improved final output.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Or if you\u2019re writing the article yourself, it\u2019ll make the final drafting a smoother process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ask yourself, what do you want readers to take away from each section? By the end of the article, what will they learn?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your competitor research will also help this step.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Place your summary under each heading. Ensure your outline flows point to point. Does it follow a logical order? If not, rework it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Topic, I can simply click on \u201cextract key takeaways\u201d under any competing outline:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/AUJgfX6st38TMfkkL7yRyyBQO0chi4qdcu4YdZGP-7MBlQP4jC9RzYURP18GsmAPHw3RjhPlqTQeWYDLub-vhKeDm_XyvncV42YavtFGoAtgJgTNdH5WODFl3uRKBIglVBMkqHb5=s0\" alt=\"Competitor Content Outline\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>I liked a few of <a href=\"http:\/\/singlegrain.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"579\">Singlegrain\u2019s<\/a> key takeaways. Let me add them to my outline:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/Bu_GJAhM_wUYri6TzebFoBDh1Gti6gdwC0ajZrWhhUfu5FtWkGc8f9bqG_9RgY9KLblwRWiJduQE1uPp4x6bJJxQfFVGRN-y4eKtXeYeENb-dRcUx622ddKYYOkGh5IXsuOlcNlB=s0\" alt=\"Competing Content Outlines\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to your takeaways, make sure to cover all possible subtopics. Think of subtopics as long-tail keywords that relate to your target keyword.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to find subtopics: scroll down and look at \u2018Topics to Cover\u2019:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/tRpzubYHIff_E1-37ACI7auzURYWrWGIoPKOp4lLLM8m_J5ws8t-spIRrfPK0i8AohhAvmv2bZGKypRgIazCgoBu0NNXG7pXEikQ7it3U7AhoY2GOkjQAQnGjEuBYnpzaPy9XRTn=s0\" alt=\"Topics to Cover\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Topic analyzes the SERPs for your target keyword (so you don\u2019t have to). It lays out subtopics by semantic similarity, typical usage, and relevance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t use Topic? You can accomplish the same thing with Ahrefs. Enter your target keyword on \u2018Keyword Explorer\u2019 and scroll down to SERP overview:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/oWgzgKpgWbAFVSbtZKSJiGB3ANVA3Ni59eOdN-KKTovkXe7Z1dTK5Xz64Di0t143VsAo0W1I77S-o9hyKcPKQpXu4vJr5tkQjSib0LZHMVqUoiDLDf2_P07uf2eXA899oF5iNHpk=s0\" alt=\"Outline Content\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Go through each page one by one. Look at the keywords they rank for. List down ones that are relevant and\/or frequent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Add these subtopics to your outline to rank higher and drive more traffic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"include-questions\"><strong>Step #5: Add Questions to your Outline<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Questions that directly relate to your target keyword are a no-brainer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Including them in your outline practically guarantees that you\u2019ll be creating in-depth content for your chosen keyword.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are two ways to source questions:&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Google\u2019s PAA Section<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Google\u2019s \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/www.usetopic.com\/people-also-ask\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"580\">People Also Ask<\/a>\u2019 (PAA) section is a goldmine of questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What is it? The \u2018People Also Ask\u2019 box is a SERP feature that lists questions searchers need answers to (relating to your keyword).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to create content that covers all angles, optimizing for PAA is a good idea.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Start by googling your target keyword. See if any questions come up:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/SD_reo37ucmM8DxpgUUHRqgEUE6eLhJloANKmg10f8sFfeznChan6MslIBUDLfeSPzfixtH2kDF5CXEE6QrdEV7FUTf5AuShMBzcCVH5K6QRTi7rCr0ULg_Upq0TA-_8BAvWcQ7m=s0\" alt=\"Content Outline\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re an <a href=\"http:\/\/ahrefs.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"581\">Ahrefs<\/a> user, hop onto Keywords Explorer. Enter your target keyword. Scroll down to see a list of questions relating to your keyword:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/u1JqYdo5afeluJqyZ7kxgB-0NyWCQqDwB48Y_AjGyIUZk1ImUmogSZI0tuUzipwrhg5hW5flisA-S3-rhkjX21xDtmYOL_Z0ODJgVjAU6bKdE2YqKsLnFNLnlT4cnBT6YLultMXV=s0\" alt=\"Questions for Content Outline\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also do this in Topic. In content research, scroll down to the \u201cquestions to answer\u201d section:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/gWEGvJ7AFDHhJyIu0hlWu9LtuimViBJN8BVd3YaCamU7LsTLTAhLN093qjbFmdtedHYMuz3fYcqcbUG67rIfZXrQf6-F00PFVMKetBEDFwyfh_4CBFXd3hw8pwnGf4XNLk0ckg9s=s0\" alt=\"Questions to Answer\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The kicker: <\/strong>Topic automatically sorts questions by relevance.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019ve seen \u201cwhy is content optimization important?\u201d covered by some competitors. So I\u2019m going to add this as an H2 to my outline.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can keep going until your outline looks something like this:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>H2<\/strong> &#8211; What is content optimization?&nbsp;<\/li><li><strong>H2<\/strong> &#8211; Why is content optimization important?<\/li><li><strong>H2<\/strong> &#8211; How to optimize content?<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Using these questions as headings (or subheadings) in your content may help you claim a <a href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/hub\/seo\/featured-snippets\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"582\">featured snippet<\/a>. This means Google may replace another answer with yours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Reddit or Quora Threads<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Secondly, see if any Reddit or Quora threads show up for your keyword.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the case of \u201ccontent optimization\u201d, I couldn\u2019t find any. But what if I search for \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.usetopic.com\/clearscope-alternative\" data-lasso-id=\"583\">clearscope alternative<\/a>\u201d:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/eH-MWiYNGp-4gvBsX8qx6WYFCKPnymPBbAVk1UgyGra0-zZeIOWPJyxFIXshyhV2yBt017dTGhE4-89M1_fM2jPJ3T-QyYl5j1eMOwyFT_3Gy_Ls9OjheHC60KIvkEn2ATxwiugv=s0\" alt=\"Reddit Thread\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Bingo! If you want to cover this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/bigseo\/comments\/djrkw1\/clearscope_alternatives_for_content_writing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"584\">question<\/a> in your article, add it to your outline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This process is easier with Topic. Relevant Reddit or Quora threads show up within content research:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-J5C8LO1zND7EAyCTU9tvltBaNvfBnCrcW7rFSB_F89QWiq-47IHLKP0JvA1HSHYAXSwj4OVUgvOw4jCWYfM9t2QOVYR5ZU1XccBvbn8jzZwpESec5EzNFX2q1SMkxKb6G6fmnZL=s0\" alt=\"Content Outline Questions\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"write-intro-and-conclusion\"><strong>Optional: Write the Intro and Conclusion<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Ok, we\u2019re almost done.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> This step isn\u2019t crucial. But I\u2019ve found it helpful to write the intro and conclusion before writing the rest of my article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I write my promise in the intro and the main takeaways to conclude. By outlining exactly what the post covers from start to end, I\u2019m able to keep it narrow and focused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>BTW, here\u2019s my final outline. Total time:<strong> 20 minutes. <\/strong>Stress: none. It\u2019s that simple:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/nhoUPapnicoGJzEF5I1WK1HgLzczlcs7mHomEG6n1EgRy2Rob8xBSSM0QDUiNy04cJUeiuXYobrZ4w9RvVMnI7TRv4h6fdzymFZmt4xrghaJy1AkTM-Vo3TKXaO6Px7egYOP0OY1=s0\" alt=\"Content Outline\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Prefer to do all your writing in one go? Write a one-line intro and conclusion instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Final thoughts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Your content outline = complete.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Follow these 5 <strong>EASY<\/strong> steps to make effective content outlines. You\u2019ll find that your content is not only comprehensive, but the writing process is smoother and faster. Plus switching to and from your browser to look stuff up mid-writing will now be a thing of the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The best part? No more fear of the dreaded blank page. \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><em>\u201cIf I only had an hour to chop down a tree, I\u2019d spend the first 45 minutes sharpening my ax.\u201d<\/em><\/p><cite>Abraham Lincoln<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>The same goes for creating content. Always start with an outline. This way you guarantee your final draft is always clear, concise, and comprehensive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Topic helps you to create content outlines in minutes (instead of hours). Create better SEO content, faster today!<\/p>\n\n\n\n[sc name=&#8221;cta-demo-request&#8221; ][\/sc]","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>TABLE OF CONTENTS What is a Content Outline? Why Make a Content Outline? How to Write a Content Outline (the Easy Way) WordPress Table of Contents by Topic Your boss gives you a target keyword to write a blog post on. Or maybe you\u2019re an agency owner creating a new piece of content for your&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usetopic.com\/blog\/content-outline\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">How to Make a Content Outline (the Easy Way)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":344,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-317","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-content-strategy","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usetopic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/317","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usetopic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usetopic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usetopic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usetopic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=317"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.usetopic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/317\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usetopic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/344"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usetopic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=317"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usetopic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=317"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usetopic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=317"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}