Query Gap Optimisation Checklist

Overview

Ensures every commercially important question your buyers ask is mapped to a page that genuinely answers it.

When to use this

Run before planning a content quarter or whenever money pages rank for terms that do not match real buyer intent.

Map demand to pages

• Export the full query set from Search Console, AI answer logs and buyer interviews for the target topic.
• Confirm every money page is answered by at least one mapped query with matching intent.
• Flag every query that has demand but no dedicated destination page.
• Tag each mapped query as informational, commercial or transactional so intent mismatches surface.

Score and prioritise the gaps

• Rank unmapped queries by monthly demand, business value and current visibility.
• Mark any query where a competitor is cited but you are absent as a priority gap.
• Decide for each gap whether to optimise an existing page, merge duplicates or create a new one.
• Set a target citation or ranking position for each prioritised query.

Close and verify

• Brief or update the owning page with the exact question answered in the first 100 words.
• Add the mapped query to your tracker so movement is measured, not assumed.
• Re-audit 30 days after publishing to confirm the gap has closed.