Updated October 2026 · 15 min read
AI prompts for SEO work best when they give the model a role, real data, a clear task and a format, and when a person checks every fact before anything is published. Below are 25 prompts for ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and similar tools, grouped by the jobs content creators and marketers do every week: keyword research, briefs, drafting, on-page SEO, local SEO, repurposing and AI search visibility. Each one is written to be copied, with the placeholders in square brackets.
The structure behind a prompt that works
Weak prompts ask for “an SEO blog post about X” and get generic text that ranks nowhere. Strong prompts include five parts:
- Role: who the model should act as, such as a senior SEO editor for Canadian service businesses.
- Context: your business, audience, location, offer and what makes you different.
- Input data: real keywords, search results, customer questions, notes or a transcript. The model should work from your material, not from memory.
- Task and constraints: exactly what to produce, the length, what to avoid and the spelling standard (for example Canadian English).
- Output format: a table, a bulleted brief, HTML headings or a list of options.
A useful habit: end every prompt with “Ask me up to three questions before you start if anything important is missing.” It turns a one-shot guess into a short briefing.
Keyword research and search intent prompts
1. Group keywords by intent
Act as an SEO strategist. Here is a list of keywords with monthly search volume: [paste list]. Group them by search intent (informational, commercial, transactional, local). For each group, suggest which type of page should target it (service page, blog post, comparison, location page). Return a table.
2. Find the questions behind a topic
I run a [type of business] in [city, province]. List the 20 questions a customer asks before buying [service], ordered from early research to ready to buy. Mark which questions belong on the service page and which deserve their own article.
3. Read a search results page
Here are the titles, URLs and descriptions of the top 10 results for “[keyword]” in Canada: [paste]. What format is Google rewarding (list, guide, tool, comparison)? What angle is missing that a local expert could cover? Give me three title ideas that match the intent.
4. Spot cannibalization
Here are my page titles, URLs and the main keyword each targets: [paste]. Identify pages competing for the same intent and recommend which page should own each keyword and which should be merged or redirected.
Content brief prompts
5. Build a brief from real data
Create a content brief for the keyword “[keyword]”. Use these competitor headings [paste] and these customer questions [paste]. Include: search intent, target reader, angle, H2 and H3 outline, questions to answer, internal links to [list your pages], and facts that must be verified before publishing.
6. Find the information gain
Here is the outline of the top three ranking articles for “[keyword]”: [paste]. Here are notes from our own experience: [paste]. What can we say that none of them say? List five original points we can support with our experience or data.
7. Turn an expert interview into an outline
Here is a transcript of a 20-minute conversation with our [role] about [topic]: [paste]. Turn it into an article outline that keeps their specific examples and opinions. Flag any claim that needs a source.
Drafting prompts that keep your voice
8. Draft one section at a time
Write the section “[H2 heading]” for an article aimed at [reader]. Use only the facts in these notes: [paste]. Write in plain, direct Canadian English, short paragraphs, no filler introductions and no clichés. 200 to 300 words.
9. Match a house style
Here are three paragraphs that show our writing style: [paste]. Describe the style in eight rules (sentence length, tone, vocabulary, what we never say). Then rewrite this draft to follow those rules: [paste draft].
10. Write a direct answer first
Write a 50 to 70 word answer to “[question]” that could stand alone as a featured snippet. State the answer in the first sentence, then give the one condition or exception a reader needs.
11. Remove filler
Edit this draft for clarity. Cut filler phrases, repeated points, vague claims and any sentence that does not help the reader decide or act. Keep all facts and examples. Show the edited version only.
On-page SEO prompts
12. Title tags and meta descriptions
Write five title tags (under 60 characters) and five meta descriptions (under 155 characters) for a page about [topic] targeting “[keyword]”. Each title should make a specific promise a searcher cares about. Avoid clickbait and all-caps.
13. Internal links
Here is an article [paste] and a list of our pages with URLs [paste]. Suggest up to eight internal links: the exact anchor text already in the article, the target URL and why the link helps the reader.
14. FAQ section
From this article [paste], write eight FAQs real customers would ask, each with a two or three sentence answer drawn only from the article. Do not invent statistics.
15. Schema markup draft
Write JSON-LD for an Article on [URL] with headline [title], author [name, profile URL], publisher [business name, logo URL] and dates [published, modified]. Output valid JSON only so I can test it in Google’s Rich Results Test.
16. Image alt text
Write alt text for these images based on their descriptions [paste]. Describe what is in the image in under 125 characters. Include the keyword only where it describes the image naturally.
Local SEO prompts for Canadian businesses
17. Google Business Profile description
Write a Google Business Profile description (under 750 characters) for [business], a [category] in [city]. Mention our main services, who we serve and what makes us different. No phone numbers, URLs or promotional claims.
18. Review replies
Write a short, specific reply to this Google review: [paste]. Thank the customer by first name, mention the service they used, and keep it under 60 words. For a negative review, acknowledge the issue and invite them to contact [email or phone] without arguing.
19. Service area page plan
We serve [list of cities]. For each, list two or three genuinely local details we could include (projects completed, local regulations, neighbourhood needs) so each page is useful rather than a copy with the city name swapped.
Repurposing prompts
20. Article to LinkedIn post
Turn the main insight of this article [paste] into a LinkedIn post of 150 to 200 words. Open with a specific observation, give three practical points, end with a question. No hashtags in the body.
21. Article to email
Write a newsletter email based on this article [paste]: subject line options, a 120-word body with one link to the article, written for existing customers.
22. Video script outline
Outline a 60-second vertical video from this article [paste]: a hook in the first two seconds, three points, and a closing line. Include on-screen text suggestions.
AI search visibility prompts
23. Check how AI describes your business
What do you know about [business name] in [city]? What services do they offer, and how do they compare with other [category] businesses in the area? List the sources you are relying on.
Run this in several assistants every quarter. Wrong or missing facts usually point to inconsistent profiles or thin pages, which you can fix at the source.
24. Find the questions AI answers in your niche
List 15 questions a business owner in Canada would ask an AI assistant when choosing a [service] provider. For each, say what information a provider’s website would need to be cited in the answer.
25. Make a page easier to cite
Review this page [paste] for how easily an AI assistant could quote it accurately. Point out vague claims, missing definitions, missing data and sections that should open with a direct answer.
Which prompts to use for which job
| Job | Prompts | What a person must check |
|---|---|---|
| Planning what to write | 1 to 4 | Volumes and rankings come from a real tool, not the model |
| Briefing a writer | 5 to 7 | Every fact marked for verification is checked |
| Drafting | 8 to 11 | Accuracy, your real experience, brand voice |
| Publishing | 12 to 16 | Character counts, link targets, schema validation |
| Local search | 17 to 19 | Google’s profile and review policies |
| Distribution | 20 to 22 | Platform tone and consent rules for email |
| AI visibility | 23 to 25 | Which sources the assistants actually cite |
We help businesses show up in Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT and other answer engines.
How to check AI output before you publish
- Verify every number and name. Language models produce confident statistics that do not exist. If you cannot find the source, remove the claim.
- Add what only you know. Your projects, your customers’ questions and your opinions are what make content worth ranking.
- Check regulated claims. Health, legal and financial businesses have advertising rules that AI tools do not know.
- Read it aloud. Repetitive rhythm and stock phrases are easy to hear and easy to cut.
- Protect private data. Do not paste customer personal information into public AI tools; PIPEDA still applies to what you share.
Google’s guidance is clear that it rewards helpful, reliable content regardless of how it is produced, and that content made mainly to manipulate rankings is treated as spam. AI speeds up research and drafting; your expertise is still what earns the ranking.
If you would rather have the system built for you, our content writing team combines AI-assisted research with expert editing, and our AI search optimization service works on how ChatGPT, Gemini and Google’s AI Overviews describe your business. For the strategy behind both, see SEO services.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best ChatGPT prompts for SEO?
Prompts that give the model a role, your business context, real keyword or search data, a precise task and an output format. The 25 prompts in this article cover research, briefs, drafting, on-page SEO, local SEO and AI visibility.
Can AI write SEO content that ranks?
AI can speed up research and drafting, but ranking content needs verified facts, original experience and a clear answer to search intent. A person should edit and fact-check every piece before it is published.
Does Google penalize AI-generated content?
Google says it rewards helpful, reliable content however it is produced. Content made mainly to manipulate rankings, by AI or by people, is treated as spam.
How do I stop AI from inventing statistics?
Give it the data to work from, tell it not to add facts that are not in your input, and verify every number before publishing. Remove any claim you cannot source.
Which AI tool is best for SEO writing?
ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude all produce good drafts with strong prompts. The prompt, the data you supply and the human edit matter more than the tool.
Can AI help with local SEO?
Yes. It can draft Google Business Profile descriptions, review replies and service area page plans. Check every output against Google's profile and review policies.
How do I check what AI assistants say about my business?
Ask several assistants what they know about your business and which sources they rely on. Wrong facts usually trace back to inconsistent profiles or thin pages. Our AI search optimization service fixes those sources.
Should I paste customer data into ChatGPT?
No. Avoid sharing customers' personal information with public AI tools. Canadian privacy law still applies to the information you share.
How long should an SEO prompt be?
Long enough to include the role, context, input data, task and format. Most useful prompts are 60 to 200 words plus the material you paste in.
Can an agency handle AI-assisted content for us?
Yes. Our content writing team uses AI for research and first drafts, with experienced editors verifying facts and shaping the voice.
