The difference between average and outstanding search performance often lies in the specificity and clarity of your prompts. This guide will show you how to use targeted questions to elevate your content, uncover valuable keywords, refine technical optimization, and strengthen your backlink strategy. With ChatGPT, each well-crafted question can generate new ideas, reveal hidden opportunities, and address complex SEO challenges. Below, you'll find 50 actionable prompts designed to help you move beyond routine tactics and achieve measurable results.
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Why smart SEO prompts matter now
Search engines continue to advance, interpreting user intent, voice queries, and even visual content with increasing accuracy. Mobile-first design, fast-loading pages, and strong trust signals are now essential for high rankings. In this environment, generic questions fall short. By crafting precise prompts, you can direct ChatGPT to deliver insights that matter most—helping you:
- Generate content ideas that attract both clicks and shares.
- Discover keywords your competitors may have missed.
- Write meta descriptions that encourage users to visit your site.
- Build purposeful backlinks that enhance authority.
- Address technical SEO issues efficiently.
Let's examine how 50 targeted prompts can shape a more effective SEO strategy.
1. Content ideation prompts: Spark ideas that drive traffic
Content creation begins with the right question. Use ChatGPT to:
- Generate 10 relevant and engaging blog topic ideas designed to appeal to [your audience] within [your niche], ensuring a mix of informational and actionable content. Cover different stages of audience awareness and address common pain points or interests. Numbered list of 10 blog topics, each ≤12 words, with a one-sentence description of the angle or benefit.
- Develop a comprehensive outline for a pillar page centered on [keyword] to serve as an authoritative content hub. Clearly organize the structure using a main H1, 3–5 key H2 sections, and 2–3 supporting H3 subpoints for each H2, indicating the focus of each section. Hierarchical outline (H1 > H2 > H3), using indentation and concise section descriptions.
- Identify the most current and popular user-generated questions about [topic] for 2025 to inform content planning and FAQ sections. Focus on questions reflecting recent trends, technology, or changes in user behavior. List 12 trending questions, each reflecting language and concerns relevant to 2025.
- Brainstorm timeless, evergreen content ideas for [industry] that will remain valuable and relevant over time. Focus on fundamental topics, how-to guides, and resources that won't quickly become outdated. Numbered list of 8–10 evergreen content ideas, each with a brief (1–2 sentence) explanation.
- Create a week-long schedule of compelling social media posts to promote [blog post] and maximize reach across platforms. Vary post formats (text, image, poll, question, etc.), incorporate relevant hashtags, and include suggested CTAs. 7-day table with columns: "Day," "Post Copy," "Format," and "CTA/Hashtag."
With each prompt, you open up new perspectives and angles to engage your audience.
2. Keyword research prompts: Find what your audience seeks
Effective keyword research uncovers the language your audience actually uses. Try these prompts:
- Compile a comprehensive list of 15 specific long-tail keywords closely related to [topic] to support targeted SEO and content creation. Ensure keywords reflect a mix of informational, transactional, and navigational intent, with moderate search volume and low to medium competition where possible. Numbered list of 15 long-tail keywords, each with a short note on user intent.
- Research and identify 10 high-volume, low-competition keywords that would effectively drive qualified traffic to [product/service]. Provide monthly search volume estimates and a brief note on competition level for each keyword. Table with columns: "Keyword," "Monthly Search Volume," and "Competition Score."
- Generate a list of question-based keywords that [audience] is likely to use when searching for [solution], to inform FAQ and content development. Cover various stages of the buyer's journey and address common pain points or curiosities. Numbered list of 10 question-based keywords, each ≤15 words.
- Suggest well-structured keyword clusters organized around [core topic] to guide pillar and cluster content strategy for SEO. For each cluster, include a primary keyword and 3–5 closely related supporting keywords. Bullet-point list organized by clusters, with indented supporting keywords under each main keyword.
- Conduct a keyword gap analysis to reveal search terms that [competitor domain] ranks for, but are currently missing from my site, highlighting opportunities to expand content coverage. Show keyword, competitor's ranking position, and search volume. Table with columns: "Keyword," "Competitor Position," "Search Volume."
These targeted questions help you identify valuable search phrases that drive discovery.
3. Meta description and title tag prompts: Write for clicks
Your meta descriptions and title tags are often the first things users see. Guide ChatGPT to:
- Craft a concise meta description for a page focused on [page topic] that will improve search visibility and attract clicks, while staying within the 160-character limit. Clearly communicate the primary value proposition and include an actionable phrase or call-to-action. Single meta description, maximum 160 characters.
- Create a title tag for a page targeting [keyword], making sure it is compelling, communicates clear benefits, and is no more than 60 characters. Place the keyword near the beginning, highlight a unique benefit, and use sentence case. One title tag, ≤60 characters.
- Suggest five different meta description variations for [landing page], each designed to maximize click-through rates (CTR) by appealing to user intent. Each variation should use persuasive language, include a benefit or offer, and fit within 150–160 characters. Numbered list of 5 distinct meta descriptions.
- Summarize the key points of [article] in a way that encourages readers to click through by appealing to their curiosity. Use an engaging tone, tease a surprising fact or solution, and avoid giving away the full answer. One or two sentences that spark curiosity and prompt action.
- Write a clear and compelling page title that seamlessly combines [main keyword] with [brand name], optimizing for both clarity and engagement. Place the main keyword prominently and ensure the brand name supports credibility or authority. One title, ≤60 characters, with main keyword and brand name.
Well-crafted snippets can significantly increase your click-through rates from search results.
4. Technical SEO prompts: Optimize behind the scenes
While technical SEO often goes unnoticed, it forms the backbone of your site's visibility. ChatGPT can help you:
- Generate a complete and valid XML sitemap for [website URL] to facilitate efficient search engine crawling and indexing. List all important URLs, include
, , and tags for each entry, and ensure the sitemap follows current XML standards. Provide the full XML sitemap code block. - Draft a functional robots.txt file that prevents search engines from accessing and indexing [section/page] while allowing all other areas of the website to be crawled. Specify user-agent directives, accurately block the intended section or page, and include a sitemap URL reference if relevant. Plain-text robots.txt file.
- Create the correct hreflang tags to indicate language and regional targeting for [languages/countries], improving international SEO and ensuring users see the appropriate content version. Use proper hreflang attribute formatting, include canonical URLs, and provide an x-default tag for unspecified regions. HTML snippet with one hreflang tag per language/country.
- Write schema.org markup in JSON-LD format for an [article/product/event] to enhance structured data and improve eligibility for rich results. Include all required and recommended fields based on schema.org guidelines for the selected content type, using clear example values or placeholders. JSON-LD code block.
- Suggest redirect rules to permanently forward all traffic from [old URL] to [new URL], preserving SEO value during a site structure change or migration. Use 301 redirect status, specify the correct syntax for either .htaccess (Apache) or server configuration (Nginx), and annotate the code for clarity. Code block with redirect rule and a brief comment.
A few lines of AI-generated code can save time and help prevent costly mistakes.
5. Backlink strategy prompts: Build authority, not just links
Building high-quality backlinks is essential for authority and rankings. Use these prompts:
- Conduct a detailed analysis of the backlink profile for [competitor], evaluating both the quality and potential spam risks of their referring domains. Highlight referring domain authority, link type (dofollow/nofollow), anchor text distribution, and flag domains with high spam scores or toxic signals. Summary paragraph plus a table with columns: "Referring Domain," "Authority Score," "Link Type," "Anchor Text," "Spam Risk."
- Create a professional and persuasive email outreach template to request a backlink to [resource], tailored to increase positive response rates. Personalization tokens, a clear value proposition, mutual benefit statement, and a direct call to action. Email template including subject line, greeting, body, and closing signature.
- List authoritative and relevant websites that are likely to link to [your content type], helping guide targeted link-building efforts. Focus on sites with high domain authority, topical relevance, and a history of linking to similar content; include contact or submission pages where possible. Numbered list with website name, URL, and a brief rationale for inclusion.
- Identify broken backlinks pointing to pages on [your site] and recommend actionable replacement strategies to recover lost link equity. Provide the referring site, broken URL, anchor text, and suggest suitable replacement destination pages or content updates. Table with columns: "Referring Site," "Broken URL," "Anchor Text," "Suggested Replacement."
- Summarize the most impactful and top-performing backlinks acquired by [industry leader], providing insight into effective link-building strategies. List referring domains, page authority, estimated referral traffic, and content type or context of the backlink. Table with columns: "Referring Domain," "Page Authority," "Referral Traffic," "Content/Context."
These questions help you uncover new link opportunities and maintain a strong reputation.
50 smart SEO prompts for ChatGPT
Use this list to guide your next SEO campaign:
- Goal & Context: As an SEO content strategist, compile a topical map that attracts and engages [target audience] around the subject of [keyword]. Details to Include: Cover all stages of the buyer journey (awareness → decision) and factor in seasonal or trending angles. Output Format: Provide 15–20 blog-topic ideas under 60 characters, grouped by funnel stage in bullet lists.
- Goal & Context: Develop a detailed content blueprint for an in-depth piece on [topic] that will guide writers and designers. Details to Include: Main H1, 3–5 H2 sections, and 2–4 H3 sub-points under each H2, plus brief notes on content intent and internal-link targets. Output Format: Use a hierarchical outline (H1 > H2 > H3) with short annotations.
- Goal & Context: Craft a customer-centric FAQ set that addresses pre-purchase objections for [product/service]. Details to Include: Common concerns, feature clarifications, pricing, and post-purchase support. Output Format: List 10–12 Q&A pairs, each question ≤80 characters, each answer ≤40 words.
- Goal & Context: Surface fresh, high-engagement content angles currently trending in the [industry] niche. Details to Include: Social share metrics, emerging sub-topics, and examples of headlines driving traction. Output Format: Present 8–10 ideas in a table with columns: "Trend," "Why It's Hot," "Example Headline."
- Goal & Context: Brainstorm a cohesive title series for multi-post coverage of [theme] that encourages binge reading. Details to Include: Maintain consistent branding, sequential numbering, and curiosity-driven hooks. Output Format: Provide 10 title options as a numbered list.
- Goal & Context: Expand the keyword universe by uncovering long-tail search phrases derived from [core keyword]. Details to Include: Minimum monthly search volume (>50), intent tag (informational, transactional, etc.). Output Format: Table with columns: "Long-Tail Keyword," "Search Volume," "Intent."
- Goal & Context: Identify rival SEO targets by extracting high-value keywords your competitors rank for in the [niche]. Details to Include: Competitor domain, ranking position, and estimated traffic. Output Format: Provide a table sorted by traffic potential.
- Goal & Context: Build logical keyword clusters stemming from the parent topic [parent topic] to guide pillar-cluster architecture. Details to Include: Core pillar keyword, 3–5 supporting keywords per cluster, and search intent. Output Format: Bullet list grouped by cluster with indented supporting terms.
- Goal & Context: Discover question-based queries prospective users ask about [service] to fuel FAQ and blog content. Details to Include: Indicative search volume and SERP features (People Also Ask, featured snippet). Output Format: List 15 questions with volume data in parentheses.
- Goal & Context: Pinpoint high-converting keywords to optimize a lead-generation landing page for [landing page]. Details to Include: CPC, conversion intent, and competitiveness score. Output Format: Ranked table (highest conversion potential first).
- Goal & Context: Compose a click-enticing meta description for [URL] that fits within Google's 160-character limit. Details to Include: Primary value proposition and one CTA verb. Output Format: Single sentence ≤160 characters.
- Goal & Context: Produce five compelling title-tag variants centered on [main keyword] to A/B test for CTR. Details to Include: Keep <60 characters, place keyword near the front, and vary emotional appeal. Output Format: Numbered list of 5 titles.
- Goal & Context: Generate meta descriptions that spotlight the unique benefits of the offering while driving clicks. Details to Include: Feature-to-benefit framing and power words, 150–160 characters each. Output Format: Provide 3 options in separate lines.
- Goal & Context: Summarize [article] into a concise, keyword-rich meta description. Details to Include: Main takeaway and CTA; 150–155 characters. Output Format: Single meta description sentence.
- Goal & Context: Craft a natural-sounding title that seamlessly integrates [secondary keyword] without keyword stuffing. Details to Include: 50–60 characters, compelling hook, sentence case. Output Format: One title line.
- Goal & Context: Produce a complete XML sitemap reflecting the hierarchy of [website structure] for search-engine submission. Details to Include: URL,
, , . Output Format: Valid XML code block. - Goal & Context: Draft a robots.txt file that blocks crawlers from accessing [folder/page] while allowing all other content. Details to Include: User-agent wildcard, Disallow rule, and a link to sitemap. Output Format: Plain-text robots.txt snippet.
- Goal & Context: Write accurate hreflang tags to serve the correct localized version for [languages/regions]. Details to Include: x-default and return canonical URLs. Output Format: HTML head snippet with one line per locale.
- Goal & Context: Generate JSON-LD schema markup tailored to [content type] to enhance rich-result eligibility. Details to Include: Required and recommended properties per Google guidelines. Output Format: Valid JSON-LD code block.
- Goal & Context: Recommend the appropriate canonical tags to consolidate link equity across duplicate or near-duplicate pages. Details to Include: Source URL and canonical URL pairs. Output Format: Table with two columns: "Duplicate URL" and "Canonical URL."
- Goal & Context: Detect and list all 4xx/5xx broken links across [website] to aid in cleanup. Details to Include: Source page, broken URL, and HTTP status code. Output Format: CSV-style table.
- Goal & Context: Evaluate the backlink profile of [competitor site] to uncover link-building opportunities. Details to Include: Referring domain authority, link type (follow/nofollow), and anchor text. Output Format: Summary paragraph plus a ranked table of top 20 domains.
- Goal & Context: Curate a list of authoritative websites likely to link to [content] based on topical relevance and outreach history. Details to Include: Domain authority, contact page URL, and content alignment note. Output Format: Bullet list with three data points per domain.
- Goal & Context: Compose a persuasive outreach email requesting a backlink to [resource]. Details to Include: Personalization token, mutual benefit angle, and clear CTA. Output Format: Email template with subject line, greeting, body, and sign-off sections.
- Goal & Context: Locate potentially toxic backlinks pointing to [domain] that could harm rankings. Details to Include: Toxicity score, source domain, and suggested action (disavow/contact). Output Format: Table sorted by highest toxicity.
- Goal & Context: Suggest fresh guest-post topics that would appeal to publishers in the [industry] space. Details to Include: Audience fit, keyword focus, and unique angle. Output Format: List 10 topics with one-sentence pitch each.
- Goal & Context: Identify unlinked mentions of [company] across web content to convert into backlinks. Details to Include: URL, context snippet, and contact info if available. Output Format: Table with three columns.
- Goal & Context: List the strongest backlinks pointing to [competitor page] to benchmark link quality. Details to Include: Linking domain authority, anchor text, and estimated traffic. Output Format: Top-10 table ordered by authority.
- Goal & Context: Draft a courteous follow-up email to remind recipients about a previous backlink request. Details to Include: Reference to original email date, concise value reminder, and CTA. Output Format: Email template with subject and body.
- Goal & Context: Provide varied, natural anchor-text phrases for linking to [keyword] without over-optimization. Details to Include: Mix of exact, partial, branded, and generic variants. Output Format: 12-item bullet list grouped by anchor-text type.
- Goal & Context: Recommend AI-powered SEO tools best suited for [specific task] to streamline workflows. Details to Include: Key features, pricing tier, and ideal use case. Output Format: Comparison table of 5 tools.
- Goal & Context: Compare side-by-side the feature sets of [SEO tool] versus [SEO tool] to inform purchase decisions. Details to Include: Core functionality, pricing, pros/cons. Output Format: Three-column table ("Feature," "Tool A," "Tool B").
- Goal & Context: List automation platforms that help SEO teams scale repetitive tasks. Details to Include: Integration capabilities and primary automation strengths. Output Format: Ordered list of 8 tools with one-line summaries.
- Goal & Context: Build a month-long content calendar for [month/quarter] that aligns with search intent and seasonal demand. Details to Include: Publish date, topic, target keyword, and content type. Output Format: Calendar table sorted chronologically.
- Goal & Context: Suggest actionable methods to improve Core Web Vitals for [site] focusing on LCP, FID, and CLS. Details to Include: Specific technical fixes, estimated impact, and implementation difficulty. Output Format: Bullet list with sub-bullets per metric.
- Goal & Context: Recommend analytics platforms that comply with privacy regulations yet still support SEO measurement. Details to Include: GDPR/CCPA status, key SEO reports, and data retention controls. Output Format: Table of 5 tools with compliance notes.
- Goal & Context: Provide voice-search optimization tactics for queries related to [topic]. Details to Include: Conversational phrasing, featured-snippet targeting, and local intent. Output Format: Checklist of 10 tactics.
- Goal & Context: Offer visual-search SEO tips for improving discoverability of [product type] in image-based search engines. Details to Include: Structured data, alt-text best practices, and image file optimization. Output Format: Numbered list of 8 recommendations.
- Goal & Context: Generate ideas that encourage user-generated content (UGC) for [brand] to boost engagement and trust. Details to Include: Campaign theme, required user action, and incentive. Output Format: Bullet list of 7 UGC concepts.
- Goal & Context: List practical ways to strengthen E-E-A-T signals on [website] to satisfy modern quality-rater guidelines. Details to Include: Author credentials, third-party reviews, and transparency elements. Output Format: Numbered list grouped under Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness.
- Goal & Context: Suggest hyper-personalized content tactics tailored to [audience] segments for higher engagement. Details to Include: Segment criteria, dynamic content ideas, and personalization triggers. Output Format: Table mapping segment → tactic.
- Goal & Context: Identify steps to maintain GDPR/CCPA compliance in SEO tracking workflows. Details to Include: Consent mechanisms, data retention policy, and processor agreements. Output Format: Checklist ordered by implementation priority.
- Goal & Context: Provide prompt templates for Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) to enhance content discoverability in AI-driven search engines. Details to Include: Context blocks, system instructions, and expected output guidelines. Output Format: 5 prompt templates with labeled sections.
- Goal & Context: Recommend optimization approaches for Google SGE to maximize visibility in AI-generated search summaries. Details to Include: Content freshness, authoritative signals, and perspective diversity. Output Format: Bullet list of 10 tactics.
- Goal & Context: Write a reusable JSON-LD schema template suitable for marking up [event/product] pages. Details to Include: Required fields with placeholders and example values. Output Format: Commented JSON-LD code block.
- Goal & Context: Generate .htaccess or server-config redirect rules for a full-site migration preserving SEO equity. Details to Include: Old URL pattern, new URL pattern, 301 status. Output Format: Code block with numbered comments.
- Goal & Context: Suggest technical and content-level methods for boosting mobile page speed metrics. Details to Include: Image handling, critical CSS, and lazy-loading techniques. Output Format: Prioritized checklist.
- Goal & Context: List reputable content syndication networks and partner sites within [industry] for expanded reach. Details to Include: Audience size, cost model, and typical performance. Output Format: Table sorted by potential reach.
- Goal & Context: Recommend real-time keyword monitoring tools tailored to the [market] landscape. Details to Include: Alert features, regional data granularity, and pricing tier. Output Format: Comparison table of 6 tools.
- Goal & Context: Provide prompt ideas to analyze competitor SERP performance for [keyword] using AI tools. Details to Include: Desired data points (rank, snippet type, SERP volatility) and output structure. Output Format: List 5 prompt templates with brief usage notes.
Conclusion
Leveraging these 50 smart SEO prompts for ChatGPT empowers you to create better content, discover new keyword opportunities, and solve technical challenges efficiently. By combining precise prompts with the right tools, you can strengthen your SEO strategy and achieve lasting results. Start experimenting, keep refining your approach, and position your site for success in 2025 and beyond.