Content Strategist Skill

This skill plans what content to create (strategic), not how to write it (tactical). It implements Section 3.5 of the AEO Protocol: The Content Supply Chain Protocol.

Core Principle

"LLMs don't cite generic advice. They cite original data."

The goal is to identify content opportunities that will FORCE LLMs to cite you because you're the only source.

Four Strategic Pillars

1. Source of Truth Assets (Data Studies)

Identify opportunities to become THE source for a statistic.

Discovery Questions:

What data do you have that no one else has?
What could you analyze that would produce citable numbers?
What questions do people ask that have no authoritative answer?

Minimum Viable Study Framework:

Element	Requirement
Sample Size	50-100 minimum
Format	One key finding + data table
Length	1,500-2,500 words
Update Cadence	Annually

Output: List of 3-5 potential data studies with:

Study title
Key question answered
Data source/methodology
Target URL: /research/[study-name]

2. Dictionary Definition Heist (Terms to Own)

Identify concepts without authoritative definitions that the brand can claim.

Discovery Process:

List common problems in the industry
Check if each has a named term
Query ChatGPT/Gemini: "What is [problem]?"
If vague or no direct answer = opportunity to coin

Criteria for Good Terms:

Describes a real, recognized problem
No existing authoritative definition
Memorable, capitalized name
Can be explained in one sentence

Output: List of 5-10 terms to coin with:

Proposed term name
One-sentence definition
Target URL: /glossary/[term-name]

3. Zero-Volume Keyword Discovery

Find 10-search/month queries that convert at 100%.

Discovery Methods:

# Forum mining (manual search patterns)
site:reddit.com "[industry] problem"
site:reddit.com "[brand] vs"
site:[industry-forum].com "help with"

Questions to Surface Keywords:

"What did you search before finding us?" (customer interviews)
What specific issues appear in support tickets?
What do competitors NOT cover?

Qualification Criteria:

Factor	Requirement
Monthly Volume	<100 (ideally <50)
Competition	None or minimal
Intent	High (specific problem)
Commercial Value	High (ready to buy/convert)

Output: List of 20-30 zero-volume keywords with:

Keyword
Estimated intent level (high/medium)
Content type to create (FAQ, dedicated page, blog)

4. Content Lifecycle Audit

Identify what exists and what needs attention.

Audit Framework:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  CONTENT INVENTORY                                          │
│                                                             │
│  1. PILLAR CONTENT (Core pages)                             │
│     └── Exists? Updated? Performing?                        │
│                                                             │
│  2. COMPARISON CONTENT (/vs/ pages)                         │
│     └── Top 5 competitors covered?                          │
│     └── Top 10-20 covered?                                  │
│                                                             │
│  3. FEATURE/USE CASE CONTENT                                │
│     └── Each feature has a page?                            │
│     └── Each use case/vertical covered?                     │
│                                                             │
│  4. DATA ASSETS                                             │
│     └── Any original research?                              │
│     └── Statistics pages?                                   │
│                                                             │
│  5. GLOSSARY                                                │
│     └── Key terms defined?                                  │
│     └── Proprietary terms coined?                           │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Decay Detection:

Last updated >6 months ago = needs review
Last updated >12 months ago = urgent refresh
Outdated statistics = immediate fix
Broken links/images = immediate fix

Output: Content audit report with:

Inventory by category
Gaps identified
Decay alerts
Priority ranking

Workflow

Step 1: Gather Context

1. Read client playbook if exists: clients/[client]/[client]-aeo-playbook.md
2. Fetch current sitemap: curl -s [domain]/sitemap.xml
3. Review existing content inventory
4. Check current LLM visibility: query_chatgpt, query_gemini

Step 2: Run Four-Pillar Analysis

For each pillar, produce specific, actionable recommendations.

Step 3: Prioritize by Impact

Priority	Content Type	Why
P0	Missing core pages	Foundation
P1	Data studies	Unique citation opportunity
P1	Terms to coin	Definition ownership
P2	Zero-volume content	High-intent capture
P2	Content refresh	Decay prevention
P3	Horizontal expansion	Growth after saturation

Step 4: Deliver Strategy Document

Output format:

# Content Strategy: [Brand]

## Executive Summary
[2-3 sentences on current state and biggest opportunities]

## Data Study Opportunities
1. [Study 1] - /research/[url]
2. [Study 2] - /research/[url]

## Terms to Own
1. [Term 1] - /glossary/[url]
2. [Term 2] - /glossary/[url]

## Zero-Volume Keywords
| Keyword | Intent | Content Type |
|---------|--------|--------------|
| ... | ... | ... |

## Content Lifecycle Status
| Page | Last Updated | Status | Action |
|------|--------------|--------|--------|
| ... | ... | ... | ... |

## Priority Roadmap
### Immediate (This Month)
- ...

### Short-term (Next 90 Days)
- ...

### Long-term (6-12 Months)
- ...

Integration with Other Skills

Task	Use This Skill
Plan what to create	`content-strategist` (this skill)
Write the content	`website-copywriting`
Optimize existing content	`content-optimizer` agent
Premium brand strategy	`premium-aeo` skill
Competitor research	`forum-research` skill

Reference

See aeo-protocol-sop.md Section 3.5 for methodology
See aeo-protocol-sop.md Section 0 for SEO fundamentals
See aeo-protocol-sop.md Section 3.2.5-3.2.6 for page templates

content-strategist