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