{"id":326,"date":"2021-08-18T06:21:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-18T06:21:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.usetopic.com\/blog\/?p=326"},"modified":"2021-08-24T02:35:38","modified_gmt":"2021-08-24T02:35:38","slug":"topic-clusters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usetopic.com\/blog\/topic-clusters\/","title":{"rendered":"Topic Clusters: The Missing Link In Your SEO Strategy"},"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 AreTopic Clusters','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 Are\nTopic Clusters<\/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 DoTopic ClustersImprove SEO?','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 Do\nTopic Clusters\nImprove SEO?<\/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 Do You Create a','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 Do You Create a Topic Cluster?<\/span>\n                    <\/p>\n                <\/div>  \n                <div class=\"topic-table-of-contents-line topic-table-of-contents-type-heading topic-table-of-contents-tag-h3\" style=\"margin-left: 2rem;\">\n                    <p onclick=\"jumpTo('1. Define the main topic','H3')\" 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;\">1. Define the main topic<\/span>\n                    <\/p>\n                <\/div> \n                <div class=\"topic-table-of-contents-line topic-table-of-contents-type-heading topic-table-of-contents-tag-h3\" style=\"margin-left: 2rem;\">\n                    <p onclick=\"jumpTo('2.','H3')\" 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;\">2. Find and group keywords<\/span>\n                    <\/p>\n                <\/div>  \n                <div class=\"topic-table-of-contents-line topic-table-of-contents-type-heading topic-table-of-contents-tag-h3\" style=\"margin-left: 2rem;\">\n                    <p onclick=\"jumpTo('3.','H3')\" 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;\">3. Optimize existing content<\/span>\n                    <\/p>\n                <\/div>  \n                <div class=\"topic-table-of-contents-line topic-table-of-contents-type-heading topic-table-of-contents-tag-h3\" style=\"margin-left: 2rem;\">\n                    <p onclick=\"jumpTo('4.','H3')\" 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;\">4. Create new content<\/span>\n                    <\/p>\n                <\/div>  \n                <div class=\"topic-table-of-contents-line topic-table-of-contents-type-heading topic-table-of-contents-tag-h3\" style=\"margin-left: 2rem;\">\n                    <p onclick=\"jumpTo('5.','H3')\" 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;\">5. Add internal links<\/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('Create','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;\">Topic Clusters = More Traffic<\/span>\n                    <\/p>\n                <\/div>    \n        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usetopic.com\/wordpress-table-of-contents\" style=\"color: transparent;\" data-lasso-id=\"545\"><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>It\u2019s 2010. You do keyword research, pick a keyword you want to rank for, and write a 1,000-word article on it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Simple and straightforward.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But will the same strategy work today? Not quite.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While keywords are still an integral part of content marketing, they should not be the sole focus.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With Google\u2019s ever-evolving algorithm and search engines becoming smarter, it\u2019s time marketers switch to a topic-focused content strategy to rank and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usetopic.com\/the-ultimate-guide-to-writing-seo-content-in-2020\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"546\">improve SEO<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is where topic clusters come into the picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Are <\/strong><strong>Topic Clusters<\/strong><strong>?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Search engines are changing because the way searchers search is changing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first big change came about in 2013 when Google launched its Hummingbird update which transformed how Google understood search queries. It started focusing on recognizing the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usetopic.com\/blog\/search-intent-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"547\"><em>intent<\/em><\/a><em> <\/em>behind a search to present searchers with more relevant results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Six years later, Google launched the BERT update which was about understanding the context of a search query rather than looking at keywords in silos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><em>As <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thinkwithgoogle.com\/intl\/en-apac\/consumer-insights\/consumer-trends\/evolution-search\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"548\"><em>Simon Kahn<\/em><\/a><em>, CMO, Google APAC puts it, \u201cWe have transitioned from using keywords to get answers to having longer conversational journeys.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Search has transformed from a tool that provides quick answers to one that enables continuous exploration with recommendations tailor-made to our needs.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means that one-off, keyword-focused articles won\u2019t cut it. You need to create comprehensive pieces of content that dive deep into the topic and provide users with valuable information.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These comprehensive content pieces are called topic clusters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Topic clusters are a group of content pieces on your website that relate to a common subject. This subject is known as the pillar content.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s an example of pillar content and topic clusters model by Moz. Their pillar page \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/moz.com\/beginners-guide-to-seo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"549\">The Beginner\u2019s Guide to SEO<\/a>\u2019 gives an overview of search engine optimization (SEO):&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/7exL15zaM0x01wkYzy7vN7fn1c_alqXT5ZNRQzxINgaXGA-x1xPrAlcQ3Vt3hKg8kO4zdNkSZyq-BgssjECjcv0DosGVajpw9B91UKYZg4_vElC6S3EyYY19rbPcndMhfokM3Syy\" alt=\"Topic Clusters\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>On scrolling further, you\u2019ll see that this pillar page is broken down into several smaller chapters (or topic clusters). Each chapter is optimized for a specific keyword and covers a particular topic in-depth:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/8_eweJYEI_LT5Gm9KeZYvrl2U7LDjNLIjMY1PjykHcMvcyzCRIXFVJkBDk37vxHOk0v4P2COOwclDPQXnNtJLfhcfErSPsDaQxoutCJJHU-WQ0b2LmUR6Jp6HpE09M6hkGgSg6MC\" alt=\"Topic Clusters\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The idea behind this approach is to interlink pillar pages and topic clusters, making it easier for Google to index your content and have it appear higher on the SERPs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How Do <\/strong><strong>Topic Clusters<\/strong><strong> Improve SEO?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Former product marketer at Buffer, <a href=\"https:\/\/alfredlua.com\/seo-topic-clusters\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"550\">Alfred Lua<\/a> built topic clusters around Instagram marketing (pillar page) by interlinking articles related to the same topic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In six months, weekly organic traffic went up by 48% from 27,000 to 40,000:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/4yZ_IGe91EAkfQ4H73C0re1-22tlXoxUCzMuI29cyyvEQnh4RJy2qD0fN3PWBBXBlTBZRTnNoqik0GN3tTcSB5xibLyKGIoX8l3brGsGBcJbe2YKIj6DfBhyPHaikv0OeeWsKBLy\" alt=\"Instagram Marketing Topic Cluster\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This example is proof enough that topic clusters when done right have the potential to improve your search engine rankings and boost traffic. Here\u2019s how:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. <strong>Organize website structure<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A well-structured website helps visitors find information quickly and easily. It also helps search engine crawlers understand your content pages better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Google\u2019s <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/wsrL6l2Fxvo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"551\"><em>John Mueller<\/em><\/a><em> recommends a pyramid site structure for SEO optimization.&nbsp;<\/em>He says:  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><em>A pyramid structure helps us better understand the context of individual pages within the site.<\/em> <em>So in particular, if we know this category is associated with these other subcategories then that\u2019s a clear connection that we have between those parts.<\/em> <em>That helps us better understand how they are connected and how they work together.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the most effective ways to implement this structure and organize your website is by creating topic clusters. It leads you to group topics and places them under their respective umbrella concepts:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/9gShwlZIB96Jj27GTn6oDjQqw-wkdgkT--bKemi0ymSZ91DDIBU8vusSsgG0mqrvoLvhHWHclCfzegzvoyqcG39qT58Rzkv2IUfDZC6K7LewtwDRBiGzYQl3dKrthk5_k8XQFCF1\" alt=\"SEO Site Structure\"\/><figcaption><a href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/hub\/seo\/architecture\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"552\"><em>Source<\/em><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Think of it as organizing your shelf and categorizing your belongings in different boxes. Neat and clean \u2014 exactly how Google (and your visitors) expects your website to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. <strong>Build authority<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Google aims to provide searchers with valuable and reliable information. This is why topical authority is a key SEO ranking factor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Topical authority is a measure of the depth of expertise you hold in your niche. For example, if your business offers HR solutions for remote teams, you can\u2019t afford to write 1-2 articles on remote work and hope to rank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s important to dig deeper into the subject, create multiple pieces of content and interlink them to establish authority. It\u2019s about showing Google that you know your stuff while writing high-ranking articles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Creating topic clusters lets you build authority and establish expertise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Looking to add more depth to your outlines and enhance your content? You can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usetopic.com\/blog\/seo-content-briefs-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"553\">create detailed content briefs<\/a> with Topic. Enter your target keyword and our AI will suggest angle ideas and generate a robust outline for you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/q3Z6GBB-fEoSmA5ZFCen8kvQw6tPatnpjaJwGWB34D1BEa72g7TDmzWi8CssviwwsLdcYCg0oF2ZA39nWyyUW5d60CLfgAtXFPyhncolpdcz9QFgmjDxK5_VcZl9Gdaqhskh-RSk\" alt=\"Topic Content Analysis\"\/><figcaption>Via <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usetopic.com\/content-analysis-tool\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"554\">Topic Content <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usetopic.com\/content-analysis-toolhttps:\/\/www.usetopic.com\/content-analysis-tool\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"555\">Analysis<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. <strong>Better user experience<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s say you come across a pillar page on how to start a blog. It leads you to topic cluster pages such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>How to pick a blog niche and name<\/li><li>How to choose a blog hosting platform<\/li><li>How to design your blog<\/li><li>How to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usetopic.com\/blog\/outsourcing-content-creation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"556\">write your blog post<\/a><\/li><li>How to promote your blog post<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>By the time you\u2019re done reading these articles, you\u2019re left with a comprehensive understanding of how to start a blog.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is an example of a positive user experience \u2014 one that lets you navigate the website easily and find relevant content while deriving value from it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, it\u2019s safe to say that creating (and interlinking) topic clusters improves user experience by helping them find the information they need.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. <strong>Reduce bounce rates<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/search-engine-ranking\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"557\">Backlinko<\/a>, websites with above-average \u201ctime on site\u201d tend to rank higher. This proves that bounce rates are a ranking signal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bounce rate refers to the percentage of website visitors who enter your website and leave without viewing other pages. A high bounce rate can be a sign of poor content or a bad user experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The good news is that when you provide in-depth content through topic clusters, it can help you reduce bounce rates. They attract the right traffic to your pages and give visitors a reason to stay on your website for longer.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How Do You Create a <\/strong><strong>Topic Cluster<\/strong><strong>?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that you know the impact a well-planned pillar and topic cluster model can have on your website\u2019s SEO, let\u2019s put it into practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s how you can create a topic cluster in seven steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>1. Define the main topic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The first step is to narrow down on the core topic that will hold the topic clusters together. The key is to choose a topic that isn\u2019t too narrow or too broad.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, a topic like \u2018what is productivity\u2019 is too broad. There\u2019s so much to say about it \u2014 what direction will you take?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Similarly, \u2018productivity tools\u2019 is too narrow a topic for a pillar page, leaving little scope to create topic clusters around it. But, it can be a good topic for a cluster content piece.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some ways to brainstorm topic ideas: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>List down your products, services or solutions<\/li><li>Think about your target audience\u2019s challenges or pain points&nbsp;<\/li><li>Define buyer personas<\/li><li>Map the buyer\u2019s journey<\/li><li>Speak to your customer service or sales team to uncover customer insights<\/li><li>Analyze your competitors\u2019 content<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pro Tip: <\/strong>Shortlist a few broad topics that are in line with your core offerings and will be of interest to your readers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. <strong>Identify and group keywords<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u201cIs <\/em><em>keyword research<\/em><em> still necessary?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Very much. When you write for SEO, you have to take keywords and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usetopic.com\/blog\/search-intent-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"558\">search intent<\/a> into account.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can use <a href=\"https:\/\/ads.google.com\/intl\/en_ae\/home\/tools\/keyword-planner\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"559\">Google\u2019s Keyword Planner<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"560\">Ahrefs\u2019 Keyword Explorer<\/a> to identify short and long-tail keywords with considerable search volume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s say you chose \u2018freelance writing\u2019 as the main topic. Here are some keywords you could create content clusters around:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/w1oYevPxVX-3dO6U_YJ-eMlcBGD4CdVxEuG2_FJzktIYWs9-ETPptR2kQz9oJxxDf7uuAVykHbGFbohi5CLllsuMt9koSpaIB60LFkWKx6Ml_AI55Ku2sWjRlfpRZBc-1ibbsPbG\" alt=\"Ahrefs Keyword Explorer\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><br>You\u2019ll notice a lot of overlapping keywords that can be grouped together.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, keywords like \u2018where to find freelance writing jobs&#8217; and \u2018best freelance writing sites\u2019 address the same search intent and can be grouped together under one topic cluster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pro Tip: <\/strong>While identifying keywords for topic clusters, opt for those with a monthly search volume between 100 to 2,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to this, it\u2019s also a good idea to do a SERP analysis and check the \u2018People also ask\u2019 section. This will give you insights into the types of questions people ask related to the keyword which you can incorporate in your cluster content model.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/tFsVgC022MudEmVgyW3-5eDWzz3XkINZasTHt_QU6QMYmVICVLk5k2TfxxMhTzbzqDL1TAAR2pWBimrPy0qxfk7YjeGUCC66JnDOn2oykrBEdncY3DRANhHBMRnXY3oO7Oc3ssnh\" alt=\"People Also Ask\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>You can pick out evident themes such as what is freelance writing, how to get started, how to get paid, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Alternatively, you can also use Topic\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usetopic.com\/people-also-ask#\" data-lasso-id=\"561\">People Also Ask<\/a> tool. This free tool extracts the most commonly asked questions on Google and groups them under broad categories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are the top questions asked about \u2018freelance writing\u2019. One glance at the visual below helps you identify different subtopics for your clusters:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/YZAmRp3J11fo3_ZmtZpegHFD5nfP3zaYMuw3Orh9uUdqTf3Lwj_YwvqEzv2UBtZa-g2R-cIMlrsdwukjsjLyoewxCGLmzdUBn2OhpqdW5nfC7UjuNgsN6BuuLSio8IOCBpmGAtQZ\" alt=\"Topic People Also Ask Tool\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. <strong>Review and optimize existing content<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ve done all the research and are now left with the specific topics you want to create cluster content around.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you start creating content from scratch, run a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usetopic.com\/blog\/how-to-conduct-a-content-audit-in-3-steps-with-template-included\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"562\">content audit<\/a>. Have you written articles that might be relevant to the cluster content topics?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s say you\u2019ve written an article on \u2018what is freelance writing\u2019 in the past. Instead of creating another one along similar lines (and risk them competing with each other), why not optimize the post and include it as a cluster content page?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can use Topic\u2019s Content Grader to see what your article is missing. This tool grades content in real-time, letting you know how your article compares to the competition and which topics to cover to optimize it:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/thWz6KH-NXrdwGojiRlMaauby6vNrgxr5Hqf-k0e5FUelQn85S8L2NbItQ2Id9DBEq03UQDtMGL24nRkgG5dQZ500hOX8s87HoDeJ58r2DKNGReQ5A4BEQscsyA8tSTnw9bgxesl\" alt=\"Topic Content Optimization\"\/><figcaption>Via <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usetopic.com\/content-optimization\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"563\">Topic Content Optimization<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. <strong>Create new content&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There will be topic clusters you will need to create new content for.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Start by checking the search intent of the target keyword on Google. Review the top-ranking articles to make sure you address the same search intent. You should also find questions people ask related to the keyword which can be included in your article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The next step is to create an outline. This helps you organize your content and include all the topics you want to cover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can then start writing the article. Here are some best practices to keep in mind:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Keep the headline under 65 characters<\/li><li>Use descriptive headers to break down large chunks of text<\/li><li>Use bullet points and write short paragraphs<\/li><li>Add visuals in the form of images, GIFs, videos, screenshots, etc.<\/li><li>Include interesting facts or relevant statistical data<\/li><li>Optimize the article for on-page SEO<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pro Tip: <\/strong>While word count doesn\u2019t guarantee success, it\u2019s a good idea to stick to the ideal blog post length of <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.hubspot.com\/marketing\/how-long-should-your-blog-posts-be-faq\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"564\">2,100 &#8211; 2,400 words<\/a> for cluster content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. <strong>Add internal links<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you\u2019ve created the pillar page and topic clusters, don\u2019t forget the crucial last step \u2014 adding internal links.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you link the topic clusters to each other and the pillar page, Google considers them to be related content. This helps search engine crawlers index your content, improves navigation, and helps you rank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Create Topic Clusters <\/strong>= Drive More Traffic<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The thought of creating elaborate content hubs and multiple in-depth articles might seem intimidating at first. But trust me, it\u2019s worth the time and effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Think of topic clusters as a long-term investment in SEO. The result: higher rankings, better UX, and a robust content marketing strategy.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>TABLE OF CONTENTS What Are Topic Clusters How Do Topic Clusters Improve SEO? How Do You Create a Topic Cluster? 1. Define the main topic 2. Find and group keywords 3. Optimize existing content 4. Create new content 5. Add internal links Topic Clusters = More Traffic WordPress Table of Contents by Topic It\u2019s 2010.&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usetopic.com\/blog\/topic-clusters\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Topic Clusters: The Missing Link In Your SEO Strategy<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":356,"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-326","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\/326","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=326"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.usetopic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/326\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usetopic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/356"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usetopic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=326"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usetopic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=326"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usetopic.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=326"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}