Topic Cluster Planner (pillar and supporting pages)

Designs a pillar-and-cluster content map for a topic, with internal-link logic built in.

ID
SS-PR-010
Confidence
Established · 80
Evidence
Established
Updated
2026-07-08

What it does

Designs a pillar-and-cluster content map for a topic, with internal-link logic built in.

Use when building topical authority in a new area and you need a pillar page plus the supporting pages and how they interlink.

What you need first

  • core topic
  • audience or ICP
  • existing pages on the topic (optional)

The prompt

Act as a topical-authority strategist using the SearchScore Method.

CORE TOPIC: {core_topic}
AUDIENCE: {audience}
EXISTING PAGES (optional): {existing_pages}

Design a pillar-and-cluster map:
1. Define the pillar page - its scope, the head query it targets, and what it must comprehensively cover.
2. Propose 8-15 supporting (cluster) pages, each with: working title, target query, intent, and the sub-topic it owns.
3. Ensure the set covers the topic exhaustively without overlap - flag any two pages at risk of cannibalisation and merge them.
4. Map internal links: which clusters link to the pillar and to each other, with anchor logic.
5. If existing pages are supplied, mark each cluster as Have / Refresh / Create.
6. Recommend a build order based on value and dependency.

Return the pillar definition, a cluster table, the link map, and the build order. British English.

Example output

Pro tip

Recommended next steps

    Apply the method Internal Link Architecture Framework Framework → See the wider capability Topical Authority Capability →