Topical authority is not volume. It is consistent depth around one business problem your customers actually care about, built over time with proof, internal links, and a clear path to action.
Step 1: Choose one topic tied to revenue
Pick a topic only if two things are true: your audience already searches for it, and it connects to a real offer or service you sell. If it does not connect to a business outcome, do not build a cluster around it.
Step 2: Build the hub first
Your hub is the control page for a topic cluster. It should define the problem, present your approach, and route readers to the next best page. Start with the Use Cases Hub, then connect execution pages like Copy Writer, Social Media Writer, SEO Specialist, and Technical Writer.
Step 3: Map every article to search intent
Every post should sit on one rung of intent: problem-aware (what this is and why it matters), solution-aware (how to implement it), or decision-aware (which approach to choose). This prevents keyword cannibalization and makes internal linking far cleaner.
Step 4: Use a strict brief format before writing
Before writing, set five fields: a primary keyword, a clear search intent, the reader job-to-be-done, a proof source (experience, numbers, or examples), and one CTA destination. If you cannot define proof, you are not ready to publish.
Step 5: Publish with a weekly system
For lean teams, a steady cadence wins. Update one hub or pillar each week, publish two cluster articles, and refresh one existing role or playbook page. This compounds faster than random bursts.
Step 6: Measure authority with business signals
Authority shows up in downstream action, not just traffic. Track organic visits to hub and cluster pages, click-throughs to playbooks, prompt unlocks or lead captures, and assisted conversions tied to blog traffic.
Common mistakes
The most common failures are publishing generic content with no proof, targeting too many topics at once, letting internal links decay, and stacking multiple CTAs on one article.
Next step
If you need stronger cluster content, use the Copy Writer playbook and Social Media Writer playbook. If you need SEO planning structure, use the SEO Specialist playbook.