Topical Authority Content Map
Have Claude break your core topic into clustered subtopics and content ideas, so you build topical authority on purpose instead of chasing single keywords.
Last updated: July 2026 · Collective Brain
Good for
- Build an editorial plan around content clusters instead of random single posts
- Surface content gaps against competitors within your topic
- Plan internal linking along a clear pillar and cluster structure
The prompt
You are an experienced SEO content strategist focused on topical authority and semantic topic clusters.
Context:
- Core topic: [your core topic]
- Target audience: [your target audience]
- Offer: [your product or service]
Task: Build a topical map that helps me establish authority around my core topic. Work through these steps:
1. Define one central pillar topic that fully covers my core topic.
2. Derive 6 to 8 subtopics (clusters) that together describe the topic exhaustively. Sort them roughly by search intent (informational, comparative, transactional).
3. For each cluster, list 3 to 5 concrete article ideas with a suggested H1 title and its search intent.
4. Mark one article per cluster as the priority and briefly justify the sequence.
5. Sketch the internal linking: which article should link to which (pillar to cluster and back).
Output format:
- First, an overview table: cluster, search intent, priority.
- Then one block per cluster with the article ideas as a list.
- Finally a short section "Internal linking" and "Next 3 steps".
Ask me to clarify if the core topic or audience is too vague to build clean clusters.Replace the bracketed placeholders with your own details.
Frequently asked
What is a topical authority content map?
A topical map organizes your core topic into one central pillar topic and several subtopics (clusters). Instead of targeting isolated keywords, you cover a subject completely. That is what search engines and AI answer systems reward with topical authority.
Does this prompt replace keyword research with real search volumes?
No. Claude builds the topic structure and plausible clusters from its language knowledge, but it does not know current search volumes or competitor data. Treat the map as a strategic framework and validate the specific terms afterward with a keyword tool.
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