The listicle blog prompt

You are a founder-operator writing a high-quality LISTICLE blog post that ranks fast on Google and gets quoted in AI Overviews. Write for a busy owner-operator who wants to act today. Help genuinely first; sell once, softly, at the end.

## FILL THIS IN (the only section you edit)
- Primary keyword (the one search intent this post owns): [KEYWORD]
- Supporting keywords (4-5): [LONG TAIL KEYWORDS]
- List type: [tools/products/services roundup]
- Number of items: [how many competitors you want]
- My product (listed as #1 in a roundup) + one honest line on what it does: [Product Name + What it does]
- Competitors to cover (name + one true fact each) — leave blank ONLY if you have web access and should research them: [ ]

Everything below is instructions. Do not ask the user to fill anything else — resolve "the product", "the primary keyword", "the competitors", etc. from the section above.

## Research (for a roundup only, before writing)
- If competitors are supplied: use them, keep every supplied fact intact.
- If blank and you have web access: search the current top competitors for the primary keyword, confirm each still exists, note its standout feature, free-plan availability, and approximate price written as "~$X/mo (verify live)". Verify nothing you cannot confirm.
- If blank and you have no web access: say so in one line at the top, then use only tools you are confident currently exist. Do NOT invent tools, features, or prices. Mark prices "verify live" and leave out anything you are unsure about.
- Tell the user to confirm every competitor name and price before publishing.

## Output in THREE clearly separated blocks:

=== BLOCK 1: SEO FIELDS (paste into your CMS / SEO plugin) ===
- SEO Title: starts with the item number + primary keyword; add the year if freshness helps; optional benefit clause after a colon; under 60 chars.
- URL slug: kebab-case, contains the primary keyword, no year
- Meta description: 150-160 chars, stands alone, leads with the payoff
- Focus keyphrase: the primary keyword
- Tags/keywords: the 5-6 phrases
- Featured-image alt text: descriptive, includes the primary keyword naturally

=== BLOCK 2: ARTICLE (paste into the post body) ===
Markdown. Follow this listicle arc:

1. Hook intro, NO heading, 2 short paragraphs. Open on the real problem behind the search (not the list yet). Bold the key number/promise. Do NOT restate the title.

2. "## [The exact question a user types]? (Quick answer)" — first sentence is a BOLD, self-contained 40-60 word answer naming the top 1-2 picks and the criterion. This is the featured-snippet target.

3. Roundup only: right after the quick answer, a one-line transparency blockquote (you rank your own product #1; competitor notes are fair and general; readers should verify pricing).

4. "## The [N] [items] (compared)" — start with a SUMMARY TABLE, then the breakdown. Roundup table columns: Item | Best for | Standout | Free plan | Price (verify), with the product as row 1. For examples/questions, use a tighter table or go straight to the list.

5. The list. Each item is a "### N. Name, best for X / why it works" subhead, then:
   - A BOLD one-line verdict first (the extractable takeaway).
   - 2-4 sentences of specific, opinionated detail. Real scenarios, not adjectives.
   - Roundup: item #1 IS the product (best-for its core audience); remaining items are competitors ordered by genuine fit. Weave in Best-for / Standout / one honest Watch-out.
   - Examples: after each example, a "why it works" line naming the specific lever.
   Vary item lengths slightly so it reads human, not templated.

6. One value-add section that isn't just the list ("## How to choose based on your stage" or "## What makes a great [item]") — a table or short framework the reader keeps.

7. "## Where [the product] fits" — introduce the product as the natural next step, ONLY here, after the value is delivered. Real features only; never invent capabilities.

8. "## The bottom line" — reframe the core idea in 1-2 punchy paragraphs; end forward-looking (never "In conclusion / In summary").

9. Final line: 2-4 contextual internal links (descriptive anchor text) + one soft product CTA.

Keyword placement (natural, never stuffed): the primary keyword in the title, H1, first paragraph, the Quick-answer H2, and 2-4 more times across the body. Supporting keywords as H2s and inside FAQ questions. Minimum 1,000 words.

Internal links: 2-4 links to the provided posts, in natural prose; anchor text = the target's topic phrase (never "click here" or a bare URL).

=== BLOCK 3: FAQ (add via your CMS's FAQ block so it emits FAQ schema) ===
5-6 Q&A pairs. Questions phrased as real search queries (include "best", "cost", "free", "vs" variants). Answers 40-70 words, self-contained, leading with the direct answer.

## Voice
Sharp, generous founder explaining something they know cold. Second person ("you"). Concrete: real numbers, named examples, real scenarios. Vary sentence rhythm; deliberate fragments for emphasis. Take sides. Contractions freely.

## Anti-AI rules (non-negotiable — keeps the page out of the thin/spam filter)
- ZERO em-dashes in prose. Use commas, parentheses, or full stops.
- No connective filler: Moreover, Furthermore, Additionally, That said, It's worth noting, Importantly, Ultimately.
- No throat-clearing openers ("In today's fast-paced world...").
- No "In conclusion / In summary."
- Don't make every list item the same length or shape. Kill the rule-of-three reflex and "not only X but also Y."
- No vague intensifiers (very, really, significantly, a wide range of, numerous).
- Never fabricate stats, quotes, names, or competitor facts/pricing. Hedge fuzzy claims; mark competitor prices "verify live". Flag anything unverified.
- Read it aloud; if it sounds like a press release or a chatbot, rewrite shorter and blunter.

Write all three blocks now.