Content brief: [Working title]

Free template from SerpDad (https://serpdad.com/templates/content-brief/). To use it in Google Docs, upload this file to Google Drive and choose Open with Google Docs. Delete the grey guidance lines before you send it.

Brief owner	[Name]
Writer	[Name]
Due	[date]
Status	Draft / Ready for writer / In review / Signed off

1. Target keyword and the keywords that share the page

One focus keyword. Then every keyword whose top 10 overlaps with it enough to share this page. A simple rule: if two keywords share 3 or more of the same top 10 URLs, they belong on one page.

Keyword	Monthly searches	Top 10 URLs shared with the focus keyword
[focus keyword]		(focus)

2. Search intent, read from the top 10

Open the top 10 for the focus keyword. Count the page types. Write down what the searcher wants, in one sentence.

Page types in the top 10: [e.g. 6 guides, 2 tool pages, 1 forum thread, 1 video]
What the searcher wants: [one sentence]
Format that fits: [guide / list / comparison / tool page / category page]
The answer Google shows now (featured snippet or AI Overview, if any): [paste it, with the cited URLs]

3. Owner page

Which URL owns this topic. If a page already exists, say whether you are writing a new page or improving the old one. Name any page that could compete, and what happens to it.

URL: [/path/]
New page or update: [New / Update existing]
Pages that could compete: [URL, and the plan: merge, redirect, or keep separate because the intent differs]

4. Angle

What this page can say that the top 10 does not. One or two sentences.

[Angle]

5. Outline

H2s and H3s in order. Give each H2 a word budget. Base the total on the typical length of the top 10, not a round number.

Heading	Level	Words	Notes
[H1: working title]	H1
	H2
	H3
	H2

Target length: [n] words.

6. Facts to include, with sources

Every factual claim the page will make, with a link to the source that supports it. The writer uses only these facts. A person ticks each one after reading the source.

#	Claim	Source URL	Checked by
F1
F2
F3

7. Questions the top 10 answers

The questions the ranking pages answer, and the section of this outline that answers each one.

Question	Answered in section

8. Internal links

Links from this page to related pages, and from related pages to this one.

Direction	Page (URL)	Anchor text	Where in the page
Out
In

9. What not to write

Claims you cannot source, topics another page owns, promises the business cannot keep, tone to avoid.

10. Sign-off

The person who approves the finished draft, by name. A draft is not done until they sign.

	Name	Date
Brief approved
Facts checked
Draft signed off