Overview
SEO briefs from templates are generic; briefs from live research are useful. This two-step workflow uses Perplexity to pull current SERP intent, competitor angles, and PAA questions, then Claude to synthesize a brief that includes the H2s, angles to differentiate on, and the questions you must answer.
How it works
- Perplexity Pro query: SERP analysis for the target keyword with citations.
- Second Perplexity query: PAA and related searches with source URLs.
- You paste both outputs into a Claude Project with the brief template as its system prompt.
- Claude returns a brief: target intent, must-cover subtopics, differentiation angles, suggested H2s, target word count.
- You paste the brief into your CMS or Notion as the writer's starting point.
Benefits
- Writers open a brief with citations, not vibes.
- Differentiation angles surface before writing, not in editing.
- Repeatable — the same two prompts work for every keyword.
Use cases
- In-house SEO teams briefing freelancers.
- Agencies producing 20+ briefs a month.
- Founders self-writing cornerstone content who need a rigor forcing function.
Step-by-step guide
Step 1: Standardize your Perplexity queries
One for SERP intent, one for PAA/related. Save them as templates in a Notion page so team members don't reinvent.
Step 2: Set up a Claude Project
Attach your brief template as a project file. Every brief request now inherits the format.
Step 3: Prompt for angles, not summaries
'What are the 3 angles competitors are NOT taking on this topic?' is worth more than 'summarize the top 10 results'.
Step 4: Demand H2s tied to intent
Every H2 should map to an intent bucket (informational, navigational, commercial). This makes editing painless.
Step 5: Version briefs in git or Notion
Track which brief produced which article. Over 3 months you'll spot which brief patterns rank.
Example
Brief snippet: 'Differentiator #2 — no competitor covers the failure modes. Include a section titled "When this workflow breaks" with 3 real examples.'