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📄 Create a Pillar Page in Content Genius

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Camilo Aponte

Camilo Aponte

Last updated on Sep 30, 2026

📋 What Is a Pillar Page in Search Atlas?

A pillar page is a long-form, comprehensive piece of content that covers a broad topic in depth and links out to related cluster content. In Search Atlas, you create pillar pages directly inside Content Genius, the AI-powered writing environment within the Content section. This article walks you through every step, from setup to a finished draft.

🚀 Step 1: Open Content Genius

  1. Log in to your Search Atlas account.
  2. In the left sidebar, click Content.
  3. The default view opens on the SEO Content Assistant (URL: /content/seo-content-assistant). This is Content Genius — your pillar page workspace.

🗂️ Step 2: Start a New Document

  1. Click the New Document button in the top-right area of the Content Genius interface.
  2. A setup panel appears on the right side of the screen.
  3. In the Project dropdown, select the specific project you want the pillar page to belong to. If you have not created a project yet, click Create Project, enter a project name, and save before continuing.

🔑 Step 3: Enter Your Target Keyword

  1. In the Focus Keyword field, type the broad, high-volume keyword that the pillar page will target. For example: content marketing strategy.
  2. Select your target country and language from the dropdown menus to ensure the AI and SEO recommendations match your audience.
  3. Click Analyze or Generate Brief. Search Atlas will pull live SERP data for that keyword and populate an SEO brief with recommended word count, headings, NLP terms, and competitor insights.

✏️ Step 4: Review and Customise the SEO Brief

Before writing, review the brief that Content Genius has generated. The brief includes:

  • Recommended word count — pillar pages typically range from 2,000 to 5,000+ words. Confirm the target aligns with top-ranking competitor pages shown in the brief.
  • Suggested headings (H2/H3) — these outline the subtopics your pillar page should cover. Add, remove, or reorder headings to match your content strategy.
  • NLP terms and entities — key phrases the AI recommends including for topical authority. These appear in the right-hand panel during writing.
  • Competitor pages — review the top-ranking URLs to understand the depth and structure expected for this topic.

Make any edits to the brief before proceeding. The more accurately the brief reflects your strategy, the better the AI output will be.

🤖 Step 5: Generate AI Content for the Pillar Page

  1. Once your brief is ready, click Write With AI or select individual headings and click Generate Section to produce content heading by heading.
  2. To generate the full article at once, navigate to Content → Content Genius (What are we writing today?) and click the Generate button. Search Atlas will produce a structured long-form draft based on your brief.
  3. Review each section in the editor. Use the inline AI tools — Expand, Rewrite, or Shorten — to refine any paragraph.

📊 Step 6: Optimise While You Write

The right-hand panel shows your live Content Score, which updates in real time as you write and edit. To maximise the score:

  • Work through the NLP terms checklist — click any term to insert it at the cursor position or to highlight where it could naturally fit.
  • Ensure your word count falls within the recommended range shown in the brief.
  • Check the readability indicator and simplify any overly complex sentences flagged in the editor.

Aim for a Content Score of 80 or above before publishing, as this correlates with stronger on-page SEO performance.

🔗 Step 7: Add Internal Links to Cluster Content

A pillar page only delivers full SEO value when it links to supporting cluster articles. Once your draft is complete:

  1. Identify the subtopics covered in each section of your pillar page.
  2. Navigate to Content → Content Planner in the left sidebar to view or create cluster articles associated with the same topic.
  3. Return to your pillar page document and add internal links from each relevant section to its corresponding cluster article URL.
  4. Ensure the pillar page URL is also linked back from each cluster article to form a complete content hub.

💾 Step 8: Save and Export Your Pillar Page

  1. Your document saves automatically as you work. You can also click Save manually at any time.
  2. To export, click the Export button in the top toolbar and choose your preferred format: HTML, Markdown, or Google Docs.
  3. The exported file is ready to paste into your CMS, website builder, or content workflow.

💡 Tips for a High-Performing Pillar Page

  • Use Topical Maps (left sidebar → Content → Topical Maps) before you start to map out all the cluster topics your pillar page should connect to.
  • Run an On-Page Audit (left sidebar → Content → On-Page Audit) after publishing to identify any remaining optimisation gaps.
  • Revisit the pillar page every quarter and update NLP terms and headings based on fresh SERP data from Content Genius.
  • Keep your pillar page keyword broad — save specific, long-tail variations for individual cluster articles.

🆘 Need Help?

If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type human teammate to be connected with a member of our team.