Use this skill when planning new blog content to ensure topics target real user questions with meaningful search volume.
Purpose:
- •Identify what Filipinos are actually searching for
- •Prioritize topics that answer genuine questions
- •Find content gaps not yet covered by existing posts
- •Balance search demand with competition
Research sources (in priority order):
- •Google Trends Philippines (trends.google.com.ph)
- •Check rising queries in relevant categories
- •Compare seasonal patterns
- •Identify breakout topics
- •Google Autocomplete (search.google.com.ph)
- •Type partial queries and note suggestions
- •Add "sa pilipinas", "ph", "affordable" modifiers
- •AnswerThePublic or similar tools
- •Find question-based queries (how, what, why, where)
- •Reddit Philippines, Facebook groups
- •Observe recurring questions and pain points
- •Shopee/Lazada trending searches (for product-related topics only)
Topic selection criteria:
- •Relevance: Does it match the site niche (practical living, budget-smart)?
- •Search intent: What does the searcher want to accomplish?
- •Answerability: Can we provide genuine, helpful content?
- •Competition: Is there room for a quality answer?
- •Evergreen potential: Will this topic remain relevant?
Search volume tiers:
- •High: Popular queries with strong search demand (pillar content opportunity)
- •Medium: Moderate search volume (cluster content opportunity)
- •Low: Niche queries with specific intent (quick answer opportunity)
- •Emerging: Rising trends with growth potential
Content type mapping:
- •"How to..." queries → Step-by-step guides
- •"Best..." queries → Comparison or listicle (may include products)
- •"What is..." queries → Explainer content
- •"Where to..." queries → Location or resource guides
- •"Why..." queries → Educational content
- •Problem statements → Solution-focused guides
Quality-first filtering rules:
- •PASS a topic if:
- •It answers a real question Filipinos are searching for
- •We can provide genuine, helpful content
- •It fits the site niche (practical living, budget tips)
- •SKIP a topic if:
- •The only value is affiliate links (no genuine help)
- •We cannot provide unique insight or value
- •It requires expertise we cannot credibly offer
- •Product topics are ALLOWED when:
- •The searcher genuinely needs product guidance
- •We can provide honest, research-backed recommendations
- •The affiliate opportunity is secondary to reader value
Keyword research output format: For each proposed topic, provide:
- •Target keyword: The primary search query to target
- •Search intent: What the searcher wants to accomplish
- •Content angle: How we will answer the question
- •Content tier: Pillar (2,000+ words), Cluster (900-1,500 words), or Quick (500-900 words)
- •Volume tier: High, Medium, Low, or Emerging
- •Competition notes: Brief observation on existing content quality
- •Monetization fit: Natural affiliate opportunity (preferred). If none, flag for user-approved exception.
Pre-generation requirement:
- •Before writing any new post, keyword research is MANDATORY
- •Present the keyword research output to confirm topic viability
- •If multiple topics are proposed, rank by value (reader value first, then monetization potential)
Topic validation checklist:
- •Does this topic answer a real question? (required)
- •Can we provide genuine value? (required)
- •Is this topic already covered in topic-registry.md? (check for overlap)
- •What content tier is appropriate?
- •Is there a natural affiliate opportunity? (required unless user approves an exception)
Failure handling:
- •If no quality topics are found, do not force content generation
- •Instead, suggest broader research or a different angle
- •Quality over quantity: one excellent post beats three mediocre ones