Ahrefs Content Creation Prompts
Last updated: April 2026
I've spent three years using Ahrefs daily for content creation, and I can tell you that precise prompts are the difference between generic data and actionable insights. Good prompts transform Ahrefs from a simple research tool into a strategic content partner. The prompts I've crafted here will help you generate specific topic clusters, reverse-engineer competitor success, and identify high-opportunity keywords that most users miss. Expect to move from vague ideas to a prioritized content calendar with clear traffic potential in under an hour. These prompts are battle-tested from my own agency work.
Find low-competition content gaps
beginnerIn the 'Content Gap' tool, analyze the top 3 ranking URLs for [target keyword]. Set the filter to show keywords where my domain ranks below position 20, but the competition ranks in the top 10. Prioritize by Keyword Difficulty (KD) under 20 and search volume over 100.Expected Output
A filtered list of 10-30 specific keywords where competitors rank well but you don't. Each result shows volume, KD, and your current position, highlighting immediate content opportunities.
Generate blog post ideas from a seed keyword
beginnerIn the 'Keywords Explorer', enter [seed topic, e.g., 'yoga for beginners']. Go to the 'Questions' report. Filter for questions with 'how', 'what', or 'why' that have a 'Parent Topic' volume over 500. Export the top 20 questions.Expected Output
A spreadsheet of 20 specific, search-driven question ideas like 'How to start yoga at home?' with their monthly search volume and keyword difficulty scores.
Analyze top-performing page structure
beginnerIn 'Site Explorer', enter the URL of a top-ranking article for [your target topic]. Go to the 'Best by links' report. Analyze the top 3 linked pages. Note their H2/H3 subheadings, word count, and internal linking patterns to identify common structural elements.Expected Output
Insights into the content structure of winning pages, revealing common subheading themes, optimal content depth (word count), and how they use internal links for topical authority.
Find easy keyword variations to target
beginnerIn 'Keywords Explorer' for [primary keyword], go to the 'Also rank for' report (under 'SERP Overview'). Filter for keywords with a KD score 10 points lower than your primary keyword's KD, and with a volume ratio (vs. primary) above 20%.Expected Output
A list of 5-15 semantically related, easier-to-rank-for keyword variations that pages ranking for your primary term also rank for, giving you secondary targeting options.
Build a topical cluster from a pillar page
intermediateFirst, in 'Site Explorer', analyze your pillar page URL: [your-pillar-page-url]. Go to the 'Organic Keywords' report and export all keywords it ranks for. Then, in 'Keywords Explorer', take 5 key terms from that list. For each, use the 'Phrase Match' report to find 3-5 long-tail variations (KD<15) to create cluster content.Expected Output
A mapped content cluster: 1 pillar page and 15-25 supporting cluster article ideas (long-tail variations) with defined semantic relationships and individual keyword targets.
Reverse-engineer a competitor's content strategy
intermediateIn 'Site Explorer', enter [competitor domain]. Go to 'Pages' > 'Best by links'. Filter for pages published in the last [6, 12, or 24] months. Analyze the top 10 results: identify common themes, keyword targets (from 'Organic Keywords'), and their average word count. Look for patterns in their content angles.Expected Output
A summary report identifying the competitor's recent strategic focus areas, their preferred content formats (guides, lists, etc.), and the average investment (word count/backlinks) per piece.
Craft a data-driven content brief
intermediateFor target keyword [keyword], analyze the top 5 SERP results in Ahrefs' 'SERP Overview'. For each URL, note: Word Count (in 'Overview'), # of Referring Domains (for authority), and key subheadings (manually). Also, check the 'Questions' report for the keyword and include the top 5 questions. Compile this into a brief.Expected Output
A structured content brief specifying target word count range, required authority benchmarks (backlink targets), mandatory subtopics (from H2s), and exact questions to answer.
Identify trending topics before they peak
intermediateIn 'Keywords Explorer', use the 'Trend' chart for your [core industry topic]. Identify keywords where the trend line has increased steadily over the past 90 days. Cross-reference with the 'Questions' report for those rising keywords to find emerging question-based topics.Expected Output
A shortlist of 3-5 topics with visual trend data showing increased search interest over recent months, paired with specific, rising question queries to target.
Optimize old content for new traffic
intermediateIn 'Site Explorer', go to your domain and use the 'Pages' report. Filter for pages with traffic decline (set 'Traffic Change' to last 3 months, negative). For each declining page, check its 'Organic Keywords' report. Identify keywords where you've lost >5 positions. Use 'Keywords Explorer' on those lost terms to analyze current top results and update your page accordingly.Expected Output
A prioritized list of declining pages, each with a shortlist of specific keywords they lost rank for, providing a direct roadmap for content refresh and re-optimization.
Strategic keyword mapping for a new topic cluster
advancedAct as an SEO strategist. First, use 'Keywords Explorer' to find the 'Parent Topic' for [core topic]. Then, use the 'Phrase Match' report to gather 50+ related terms. Export to a spreadsheet. Categorize them by intent (Informational, Commercial, Transactional) using the SERP features (e.g., 'Shopping' for transactional). Finally, map high-volume (500+) informational terms to cluster content and commercial/transactional terms to product/service pages.Expected Output
A complete, intent-based keyword map for a new topic cluster, clearly assigning target keywords to specific page types (blog posts, category pages, product pages) based on search intent.
Predict content ROI with traffic value estimation
advancedFor a target keyword list [list of 10 keywords], use 'Keywords Explorer' to get the volume and CPC for each. Estimate a realistic click-through rate (CTR) based on your target position (e.g., 35% for position 1, 15% for position 3). Calculate potential traffic: Volume * Target CTR. Then, estimate value: Potential Traffic * CPC. Prioritize keywords with the highest estimated value relative to their Keyword Difficulty.Expected Output
A prioritized keyword spreadsheet with two new columns: 'Estimated Monthly Traffic' and 'Estimated Traffic Value ($)', allowing for data-driven content investment decisions.
Build a comprehensive, evergreen content refresh system
advancedCreate a quarterly process: 1) In 'Site Explorer', export all pages with traffic > 100/month. 2) Filter for pages where the 'Traffic Change' (3 months) is negative or flat. 3) For each page, run a 'Content Gap' against the current top 3 SERP URLs. 4) Use 'Keywords Explorer' to find 2-3 new, related long-tail keywords (KD<20) from the 'Also rank for' report of your main target. 5) Update the page to cover these gaps and new terms. Track performance change next quarter.Expected Output
A systematic, repeatable workflow and spreadsheet template for identifying, diagnosing, and updating at-risk evergreen content to perpetually grow its traffic and value.
Tips for Better Prompts
Always start with the 'Parent Topic' filter in Keywords Explorer. I've found it cuts through the noise by grouping thousands of variations under a single, high-volume topic, ensuring you target the core query intent correctly. For example, for 'best running shoes', the parent topic might be 'running shoes'.
Chain the 'Content Gap' and 'Keywords Explorer' tools. Find a gap keyword, then immediately plug it into Keywords Explorer and check the 'SERP Overview'. This tells you not just if there's an opportunity, but what type of content (list, guide, video) you need to create to win.
The biggest mistake is treating Ahrefs data as static. Search trends shift. A prompt that worked last quarter might need tweaking. Always add a recency filter ('Past 1 month') when analyzing competitor pages or trending topics to get the freshest signal.