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87 agent skills for AI coding assistants — marketing, growth, web3, dev, design & operations. Built for OpenClaw, Claude Code, Cursor, and Codex.

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--- name: blog-engine description: "End-to-end pipeline for one long-form, answer-engine-ready blog post — brief, primary-source research, intent mapping, outline, draft, on-page + AI-search optimization, JSON-LD, internal links, QA, and refresh, with 50+ headline formulas and 8 post-type templates. Use when researching, outlining, drafting, optimizing, or refreshing a blog post or SEO article." --- # Blog Engine Production pipeline for **one excellent long-form post**, from blank page to publish-ready and through its first refresh. This skill owns *execution of a single article*. It deliberately does **not** re-derive program strategy or engine internals — cross-link instead: - **Topic clusters, editorial calendar, pillar/cluster model** → `content-strategy` - **Template/directory/comparison pages generated at scale** → `programmatic-seo` - **Engine-by-engine GEO stance, schema catalog, E-E-A-T, Core Web Vitals, hreflang** → `seo-geo` - **Headline/CTA frameworks (PAS/AIDA/4U/BAB), voice calibration, before/after rewrites** → `copywriting` - **Local intent (city/service pages, NAP, GBP)** → `local-seo` - **Post-publish distribution sequences** → `email-sequence`, `social-media-kit`, `social-media-growth` ## 2026 ground rules (read first) Search in mid-2026 is split between classic blue-link ranking and **answer engines** (Google AI Overviews & AI Mode, Bing Copilot, ChatGPT Search, Perplexity, Gemini, Claude). A post must work for both. Non-negotiables: 1. **Information gain over imitation.** Copying the SERP's structure/word count produces derivative pages that Google's helpful-content systems and AI engines both ignore. Every post must add something the top results don't have: original data, a first-hand test, a named expert quote, a calculator, a decision table, or a clearer synthesis. Aim to be *the* source an answer engine quotes, not the tenth paraphrase. 2. **First-party experience (the extra "E").** Show you actually did the thing: screenshots you took, numbers you measured, a methodology paragraph, a dated byline with a real author bio and credentials. This is what separates a quotable post from spun content. 3. **Length follows intent, not a target.** There is no minimum word count. A definition query deserves 600 focused words; a "best X for Y" comparison may need 3,000 with a table. Match the depth a satisfied reader needs and stop. 4. **Disclose AI assistance + keep an editorial gate.** AI-drafted copy must be fact-checked, edited, and reviewed by a named human before publish. Add a transparency note in your content policy (e.g., "Drafted with AI assistance, reviewed and edited by [author]") where your jurisdiction or audience expects it. Mass-produced, unreviewed AI pages are the exact pattern Google's scaled-content-abuse policy (March 2024, enforced through 2026) demotes — see `programmatic-seo` for the scale-safe variant. 5. **Citation hygiene.** Cite primary sources (the study, the docs, the filing — not a blog citing a blog). Record the publish/last-updated date of every source; drop or re-verify anything older than ~18 months for fast-moving topics. Never fabricate a statistic, quote, or study; if you can't verify it, cut it. --- ## Pipeline ### 0. Brief (define before you research) Write these seven lines before touching a draft. They prevent scope creep and a post that ranks for nothing. ``` Primary keyword : best crm for solo consultants Search intent : commercial-investigation (wants a shortlist + how to choose) Audience + stage : solo consultant, evaluating tools, low technical depth Target query / JTBD : "which CRM should a one-person shop actually pay for?" Information gain : our own 30-day test of 6 tools + pricing table they can't find collated elsewhere Primary CTA + path : free trial of [product] (mid-article soft, end hard) Author + credibility : [Name], ran a consulting practice 6 yrs (real bio + photo) ``` **Map the intent → format** (this replaces "look at the top 5 and copy them"): | Intent | Query signals | Winning format | Primary CTA | |---|---|---|---| | Informational / definition | "what is", "meaning", "how does X work" | Concise answer-first explainer | Subscribe / related deep-dive | | How-to / procedural | "how to", "steps", "tutorial" | Numbered steps + screenshots + pitfalls | Tool/template download | | Commercial investigation | "best", "top", "vs", "alternatives", "review" | Comparison table + criteria + verdict | Trial / demo | | Transactional | "buy", "pricing", "coupon", "near me" | Short, decision-oriented, fast path | Buy / contact | | Navigational | brand + feature | Direct, brand-led | Login / product page | ### 1. Research (primary sources, not the SERP) Goal: collect material that lets you *out-cover* the field, and verify every fact. - **Define the entity set.** List the people, products, specs, standards, and sub-questions a complete answer must cover (the topic's "entities"). Coverage gaps here are why thin posts lose to thorough ones. For cluster-level entity planning see `content-strategy`. - **Harvest real questions.** People Also Ask, `AlsoAsked`/`AnswerThePublic`-style tools, Reddit/forum threads, support tickets, sales-call objections, and YouTube comments. These become H2s and FAQ candidates. - **Pull primary sources.** Original studies, official docs, regulatory filings, manufacturer specs, first-party analytics. Capture: source name, URL, **publish/updated date**, and the exact figure. Prefer the source over any blog summarizing it. - **Generate first-party information gain.** Pick at least one: run a hands-on test, survey your list, pull anonymized data from your product, screenshot a real workflow, or interview an expert. This is the single highest-leverage step and the one competitors skip. - **Read the SERP for *gaps*, not a template.** Skim the top results to find what's missing, outdated, or wrong — then fill that hole. Do **not** target their word count or mirror their headings; that's how you produce a forgettable near-duplicate. - **Note the answer-engine angle.** Check whether an AI Overview/Copilot answer already appears for the query and what it cites. Aim to become a more citable source (clear claims, a stat with attribution, a definition block). Engine-specific tactics live in `seo-geo`. **Fact-check gate before drafting:** every statistic has a primary source + date; every quote is attributed and real; nothing is older than your freshness threshold without re-verification; AI-suggested "facts" are independently confirmed. ### 2. Outline Structure follows the intent format from step 0; this skeleton is the common case for an informational/how-to post. Use the per-type templates below for comparison, listicle, alternatives, case study, thought leadership, and product-led pages. ``` # {Headline — primary keyword + a specificity hook (number, year, outcome)} > Author byline + publish/updated date + 1-line credibility ("ran X for Y years") ## Intro (80–150 words) - Open with the reader's problem or a concrete promise (NOT a generic "in today's world") - State the payoff: what they'll be able to do/decide by the end - For definition/how-to intent only: include a tight 40–55 word answer block near the top - Optional ToC for posts with 5+ H2s ## {H2 — first sub-question / step} ← mirror real PAA / entity gaps ### {H3 if a step has detail} ## {H2 — second} ## {H2 — third} ## {H2 — Our test / data / methodology} ← the information-gain section ## {H2 — Comparison / decision table} ← if commercial intent ## FAQ (optional; see schema note in §4 — schema ≠ visible rich result) - 3–6 genuine residual questions not answered in the body ## Conclusion / Next step - One-line synthesis (the takeaway, not a recap of every H2) - Single primary CTA matched to intent ``` ### 3. Draft Write for a satisfied reader first, the crawler second. Rules that hold up in 2026: - **Lead by intent, not by reflex.** Answer-first is right for *definition/how-to* queries (it earns the snippet and the AI citation). For comparison, investigative, narrative, or transactional posts a hard answer-first sentence reads robotically — open with the stakes, the surprising finding, or the scenario, and place the crisp answer where it belongs. - **One idea per paragraph; vary length.** Mostly 2–4 sentences, but don't mechanize it — a one-line paragraph for emphasis and an occasional longer one for nuance read more human and dodge the spun-content feel. - **Skip the formulaic filler.** Avoid manufactured "bucket brigades" ("Here's the thing:", "But wait — it gets better:") and AI throat-clearing ("In today's fast-paced world", "It's important to note that"). They pad word count, signal low-effort content, and don't help the reader. Earn engagement with specifics and a real point of view instead. (Genuine transitions are fine; canned hype lines are not.) - **Be concrete and original.** Replace "studies show" with the named study + number; replace "many businesses" with a real example or your own data. Specificity is the whole game for both readers and answer engines. - **Format for scannability and extraction.** Descriptive H2/H3s phrased like real questions; bulleted criteria; HTML `<table>` for any comparison; a 40–55 word definition block under a "What is X?" heading. Clean, self-contained chunks are what get lifted into AI Overviews and snippets. - **Insert images where they explain, not on a timer.** Add a diagram/screenshot/chart wherever it carries information (every ~300–500 words is typical, not a rule). Each needs a real alt text and ideally is original (your screenshot > stock). - **Readability ~grade 7–9** (Flesch-Kincaid ~60–70) for general audiences — but *don't* dumb down technical posts for technical readers. Match the audience in the brief. - **Voice & deeper headline/CTA craft** → `copywriting`. **Repurposing one post into many formats** → `content-strategy`. ### 4. On-page & answer-engine optimization Checklist — apply naturally, never stuff: - [ ] Primary keyword in: title tag, H1, first ~100 words, URL slug, meta description (once each, no forcing) - [ ] Secondary keywords + entities covered in H2s and body where they read naturally - [ ] **Title tag** ≤ ~60 chars, front-loaded keyword + a hook (number/year/benefit) - [ ] **Meta description** ~150–160 chars, includes keyword + a reason to click (it's a CTR lever, not a ranking factor) - [ ] **URL slug**: short, lowercase, hyphenated, keyword, no dates/stop-words (`/best-crm-solo-consultants`) - [ ] **Alt text** on every image: describes the image; keyword only if genuinely accurate - [ ] **Internal links**: 3–6 to relevant posts/pillars with descriptive anchors (see §5) - [ ] **External links**: 2–4 to primary/authoritative sources (studies, docs, official pages) - [ ] **One H1 only**; logical H2→H3 nesting; no skipped levels - [ ] **Author byline + bio + visible publish/updated date** (E-E-A-T signal) - [ ] **Article/BlogPosting JSON-LD** present (see below) - [ ] Quotable assets in place: a stat-with-source, a definition block, a decision table — the things answer engines cite **Structured data — what actually does something in 2026:** | Schema type | Use it for | Visible rich result today? | |---|---|---| | `Article` / `BlogPosting` | Every post — author, dates, publisher, image | Helps machine understanding; powers Top Stories/Discover eligibility | | `BreadcrumbList` (items are `ListItem`) | Site hierarchy | Yes — breadcrumb trail in SERP | | `HowTo` | Genuine step-by-step procedures | Largely **removed** from Google rich results (2023); still aids comprehension/AI — don't expect the visual widget | | `FAQPage` | Real FAQ blocks | **Do not expect a rich result.** Google restricted FAQ rich results to authoritative gov/health sites in 2023 and has retired general FAQ visibility since. Keep `FAQPage` only as machine-readable context / possible AI-citation help when you have *genuine* Q&A — never add fake questions to chase a snippet. | | `Product` / `Review` / `AggregateRating` | Product or review posts (only with real, verifiable ratings) | Yes — review stars (policy-gated; self-serving ratings are penalized) | Full engine-by-engine schema catalog and validation workflow: `seo-geo`. Validate any JSON-LD in Google's Rich Results Test and `schema.org` validator before publish. **Minimal `BlogPosting` JSON-LD** (fill the placeholders; dates in ISO 8601): ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BlogPosting", "headline": "Best CRM for Solo Consultants (2026): 6 Tested", "description": "We tested six CRMs for 30 days. Here's the shortlist, pricing, and how to choose.", "image": "https://example.com/img/best-crm-solo-cover.png", "datePublished": "2026-06-07T09:00:00+00:00", "dateModified": "2026-06-07T09:00:00+00:00", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Author Name", "url": "https://example.com/about/author-name", "jobTitle": "Independent consultant" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Your Brand", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://example.com/logo.png" } }, "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://example.com/best-crm-solo-consultants" } } ``` **Optional `FAQPage` JSON-LD** — add *only* for real Q&A; treat as machine context, not a guaranteed widget: ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [{ "@type": "Question", "name": "Do solo consultants need a CRM?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "If you track more than ~20 active relationships or any repeat pipeline, yes — a lightweight CRM beats a spreadsheet for follow-up reminders and history." } }] } ``` ### 5. Internal-link plan Internal links spread authority and define your topic structure — plan them, don't sprinkle randomly. - **Up to the pillar:** link this post to the cluster's pillar page (and the pillar back down to it). Cluster architecture is owned by `content-strategy`. - **Sideways to siblings:** 2–4 links to closely related posts using **descriptive anchor text** (the target's topic, e.g. "lightweight CRM pricing"), never "click here". - **Down to conversion:** 1–2 links to the relevant product/landing/pricing page on the natural path to your CTA. Landing-page craft: `landing-page-builder`. - **Backfill inbound links:** add links *from* existing high-authority posts *to* this new one — new posts have no internal equity until you do. - **Audit anchors:** vary anchor text; avoid 10 posts all linking with the identical exact-match phrase (looks manipulative). Quick plan template: ``` This post → pillar: /guides/crm (anchor: "complete CRM guide") This post → sibling: /crm-vs-spreadsheet (anchor: "CRM vs a spreadsheet") This post → conversion: /pricing (anchor: "[product] pricing") Inbound (existing → this): /freelancer-tools, /consulting-ops add contextual links ``` ### 6. Image brief Give a designer/generator everything in one block; originality beats stock for trust and reuse: ``` Cover (1200×630, also OG image): - Concept: 6 CRM logos on a comparison grid, brand colors, post title overlaid - Format: WebP, < 150 KB, alt: "Comparison grid of six CRM tools tested for solo consultants" In-body: 1. Screenshot — your actual pipeline view in [tool] (original, not stock) 2. Chart — 30-day response-time results from our test (label axes + source) 3. Decision diagram — "Which CRM should you pick?" flow Specs: WebP/AVIF, lazy-load below the fold, explicit width/height (CLS), descriptive alt on each. ``` ### 7. QA & publish checklist - [ ] **Facts re-verified** against primary sources; dates current; no fabricated stats/quotes - [ ] **Human editorial review** done by a named editor; AI assistance disclosed per policy - [ ] Reads well aloud; no filler/hype lines; intro delivers on the title (no clickbait gap) - [ ] Grammar/spelling clean; consistent terminology and capitalization - [ ] One H1; heading hierarchy valid; ToC anchors resolve - [ ] All links work (no 404s); external links open authoritative, live sources - [ ] Images compressed (WebP/AVIF), sized, lazy-loaded, all with alt text; cover doubles as OG - [ ] JSON-LD (`BlogPosting` + breadcrumbs; `FAQPage` only if real) validates in Rich Results Test - [ ] **Open Graph + Twitter Card**: `og:title`, `og:description`, `og:image` (1200×630), `og:type=article`, `twitter:card=summary_large_image` - [ ] Title tag ≤ ~60 chars, meta description ~150–160 chars, slug clean - [ ] Canonical tag set; not accidentally `noindex`; in the sitemap (verify in `search-console`) - [ ] Mobile render + Core Web Vitals sane (LCP/INP/CLS) — see `web-performance`, `seo-geo` - [ ] Internal-link plan executed both directions - [ ] Distribution queued: email (`email-sequence`), social (`social-media-kit`) ### 8. Refresh (the post-publish loop most teams skip) A blog post is an asset to maintain, not ship-and-forget. Schedule reviews; refreshed content often outperforms net-new for the same effort. - **Cadence:** evergreen posts every 6–12 months; fast-moving topics (pricing, tools, regulations, "best of 2026") quarterly. - **Triggers to refresh now:** ranking/clicks sliding (check `search-console`), facts/stats/screenshots gone stale, a year in the title rolling over, a competitor now out-covering you, or a new AI Overview answering the query (rework to become the cited source). - **What to do:** update stats + dates to current primaries, add new sub-questions/entities, re-shoot stale screenshots, prune dead/outdated sections, strengthen the information-gain asset, fix the internal-link graph, then bump `dateModified` and re-request indexing. - **Decide:** update in place when intent is unchanged (keeps the URL's history); split into a new post when you're really targeting a different intent; consolidate/redirect thin overlapping posts into one strong page. --- ## Headline formulas (50+) Pick a frame that matches intent, then make it **specific** — add a number, a year, a named outcome, or a constraint. Promise only what the post delivers; a clickbait gap between title and intro tanks dwell time. Deeper headline frameworks (PAS/AIDA/4U/BAB) and split-testing live in `copywriting`. `{}` = fill in. **How-to / instructional** 1. How to {achieve outcome} in {timeframe} 2. How to {achieve outcome} (Even If {common obstacle}) 3. How to {do task} the Right Way: {N} Steps 4. The Complete Guide to {topic} for {audience} 5. {Task}: A Step-by-Step Guide for {year} 6. How I {achieved specific result} — and How You Can Too 7. The Beginner's Guide to {topic} 8. How to {outcome} Without {pain/cost/tool} 9. {N} Steps to {outcome} (With Examples) 10. The Lazy Person's Guide to {outcome} **Listicle / number** 11. {N} {tools/tips/ways} to {achieve outcome} 12. {N} {category} Every {audience} Should {action} in {year} 13. {N} {mistakes} That Are {negative consequence} 14. {N} Surprising {facts/stats} About {topic} 15. {N} Best {products} for {use case}, Tested 16. Top {N} {category}: Ranked for {audience} 17. {N} {things} You're Doing Wrong (and How to Fix Them) 18. {N} Underrated {tools/tactics} for {outcome} 19. {N} Examples of {thing} Done Right 20. {N}-Minute {task}: {N} Quick Wins **Comparison / alternatives** 21. {Product A} vs {Product B}: Which Is Better for {use case}? 22. {Product A} vs {Product B} vs {Product C}: An Honest Comparison 23. The {N} Best {Product} Alternatives in {year} 24. {Expensive option} Too Pricey? {N} Cheaper Alternatives 25. Is {product/approach} Worth It? An Honest {year} Review 26. {Approach A} or {Approach B}: How to Choose 27. We Tested {N} {products} — Here's the Winner 28. {Product}: Pros, Cons, and Who It's Actually For **Question** 29. What Is {term}? (And Why It Matters for {audience}) 30. Why Does {phenomenon} Happen — and What to Do About It 31. Should You {action}? Here's How to Decide 32. Can You Really {desirable outcome}? We Checked 33. What's the Best Way to {achieve outcome}? 34. Is {common belief} Actually True? **Negative / mistake / warning** 35. Stop {doing common thing} — Do This Instead 36. The {N} {topic} Mistakes Costing You {money/time} 37. Why Your {effort} Isn't Working (and the Fix) 38. {N} Myths About {topic}, Debunked 39. The Hidden Cost of {common choice} 40. Avoid These {N} {topic} Pitfalls **Curiosity / contrarian / data** 41. The Surprising Truth About {topic} 42. What Nobody Tells You About {topic} 43. We Analyzed {N} {things}. Here's What We Found 44. {Counterintuitive claim}: The Data Says {finding} 45. I {did unusual thing} for {timeframe}. Here's What Happened 46. The {topic} Trend Everyone's Ignoring in {year} **Outcome / benefit-led** 47. {Achieve outcome} in {timeframe} — Without {sacrifice} 48. The {adjective} Way to {achieve outcome} 49. Double Your {metric} With This {tactic/framework} 50. From {bad state} to {good state}: A {timeframe} Playbook **Thought-leadership / opinion** 51. Why {prediction} Will Change {industry} by {year} 52. The Case for (and Against) {approach} 53. {Industry} Has a {problem} Problem. Here's the Fix 54. Unpopular Opinion: {contrarian take} --- ## Post-type templates Eight reusable skeletons. Each maps to an intent from §0; swap in your brief's keyword, entities, and information-gain asset. Keep one H1, descriptive H2s, and the schema noted. ### A. How-to / tutorial — *(intent: procedural)* ``` # How to {outcome} in {timeframe}: A Step-by-Step Guide Byline + date · 40–55 word answer block (what they'll achieve + rough time/cost) ## What you'll need / Prerequisites ## Step 1: {action} ← screenshot + the "why" ## Step 2: {action} ## Step N: {action} ## Common mistakes / Troubleshooting ← your first-hand pitfalls = info gain ## FAQ (real residual questions) ## Next step → tool/template CTA Schema: BlogPosting (+ HowTo for comprehension; expect no visual widget) ``` ### B. Listicle — *(intent: informational/commercial)* ``` # {N} {items} to {outcome} in {year} Intro: who this list is for + how you chose (selection criteria = trust signal) ## 1. {Item} — what it is · best for · 1 pro · 1 con · price ## 2. {Item} ## … N ## How to choose the right one for you ← decision guidance, not just a list ## FAQ Schema: BlogPosting · use ordered list markup ``` ### C. Comparison ("X vs Y") — *(intent: commercial-investigation)* ``` # {Product A} vs {Product B}: Which Is Better for {use case}? ({year}) Verdict up top: 2–3 sentences naming the winner *for each use case* ## Comparison at a glance ← HTML table: price, key features, best-for, free tier ## {Product A}: strengths & weaknesses ## {Product B}: strengths & weaknesses ## Head-to-head: {dimension 1}, {dimension 2}, {pricing} ## Our test / methodology ← information gain: how you evaluated ## Which should you choose? ← map persona → pick ## FAQ Schema: BlogPosting (+ Review/AggregateRating ONLY with real, verifiable ratings) ``` ### D. Alternatives ("best X alternatives") — *(intent: commercial-investigation)* ``` # The {N} Best {Product} Alternatives in {year} Intro: why someone leaves {Product} (price, missing feature, lock-in) + how you picked ## Quick comparison table ← alternative · best for · price · key differentiator ## 1. {Alternative} — who it's for · vs {Product} · pricing · catch ## … N ## How to migrate from {Product} ← practical info gain ## FAQ Schema: BlogPosting · ordered list ``` ### E. Ultimate guide / pillar — *(intent: informational, broad)* ``` # The Complete Guide to {topic} ({year}) ToC (this is long) · who it's for · what you'll learn ## What is {topic}? ← 40–55 word definition block ## Why {topic} matters ## {Core subtopic 1} → links to a dedicated cluster post ## {Core subtopic 2} → cluster post ## {Core subtopic 3} → cluster post ## Common mistakes / best practices ## Tools & resources ## FAQ Schema: BlogPosting · this is the hub — link out to and back from cluster posts (content-strategy) ``` ### F. Case study / results — *(intent: informational + proof, BOFU)* ``` # How {subject} {achieved result} in {timeframe} Result up front: the headline number + context (this IS the information gain) ## Background / starting point ← baseline metrics ## The challenge ## What we did ← specific, replicable steps ## Results ← before/after table or chart, real numbers ## What we'd do differently ## How to apply this to your {situation} ## CTA → relevant product/service Schema: BlogPosting ``` ### G. Thought leadership / opinion — *(intent: informational + brand authority)* ``` # {Contrarian or forward-looking thesis} Stake your claim in the first paragraph — say something a base model wouldn't ## The conventional wisdom (and why it's incomplete) ## My/our argument ← backed by data, experience, or first-hand examples ## Counterpoints & honest limits ← engaging with objections builds credibility ## What this means for {audience} ## Conclusion: the takeaway Schema: BlogPosting · author bio + credentials are essential here ``` ### H. Product-led / "jobs-to-be-done" SEO — *(intent: informational → product)* ``` # How to {solve problem the product solves} (with or without {product category}) Teach the solution genuinely first — earn trust before the pitch ## Understanding {the problem} ## Method 1: {manual / free approach} ← real, usable — don't gatekeep ## Method 2: {using a tool like ours} ← natural, honest product fit ## Comparison: when each method makes sense ## FAQ ## Get started → product CTA Schema: BlogPosting · keep teaching:selling ratio high; for scaled JTBD pages see programmatic-seo ``` --- ## Anti-patterns (do not ship) - Mirroring the SERP's word count/headings → derivative, demoted, never cited. - Fabricated or unverifiable stats/quotes; citing a blog that cites the real source instead of the source. - Fake FAQ blocks added only to chase a (now mostly gone) rich result. - Manufactured bucket brigades, hype lines, and AI throat-clearing as filler. - A rigid answer-first sentence forced onto narrative/comparison/transactional posts. - Unreviewed, undisclosed mass-produced AI pages (scaled-content-abuse risk — `programmatic-seo`). - Exact-match anchor text on every internal link; "click here" anchors. - Keyword stuffing in title/meta/alt; a clickbait title the intro doesn't pay off. - Publishing once and never refreshing.