When to use this prompt
When creating thought-leadership or SEO blog content that needs to stand out from repetitive, mainstream takes.
When doing SERP or competitor analysis and noticing that most top-ranking articles sound the same.
When crafting LinkedIn or industry opinion pieces that aim to position you (or your brand) as a bold, original voice.
When building content briefs or outlines that help writers focus on unique, high-value perspectives.
The prompt
Act as a thought-leadership strategist. I will provide a topic [TOPIC]. First, list the common narratives or assumptions dominating the current conversation about this topic. Then, for each, propose a contrarian or overlooked viewpoint that challenges the assumption without being baseless or sensational. Generate at least 7 angles that could form the backbone of a strong article. For each angle, suggest a sample title in a direct, Grow and Convert–style format. End with a recommendation on which contrarian angle is most likely to resonate with the target audience [AUDIENCE/ROLE] based on their pain points.
Variables to replace:
Real-life example of how to use this prompt
To start, let's assume I'm a content lead at Semrush. The prompt in the context of Semrush would look like:
As you can see, I added the main keyword "SEO trends for 2026" and specified the intent as well.
Example output from ChatGPT for this prompt
And here's the output:
Step 1: Common Narratives / Assumptions in Current SEO Conversations
AI-generated content will dominate SEO and reduce the need for human writers.
Core Web Vitals and page experience will become the most important ranking factor.
Voice search is the future of search and must be prioritized now.
Featured snippets and zero-click searches will make organic traffic harder to get.
Long-form content always outranks short-form content.
Keyword research is becoming obsolete because AI understands intent better.
Link building is dead; authority is now all about brand mentions and E-A-T signals.
Step 2: Contrarian / Overlooked Angles & Sample Titles
1. Assumption: AI-generated content will dominate SEO.
Contrarian: AI is a tool, not a replacement; human creativity and strategic thinking will be the differentiator for ranking.
Sample Title: “Why AI Won’t Replace Your SEO Writers in 2026 (And What Will Actually Work)”
2. Assumption: Core Web Vitals are the ultimate ranking factor.
Contrarian: While important, over-optimizing for technical metrics can distract from content quality, which still drives engagement and backlinks.
Sample Title: “Stop Obsessing Over Core Web Vitals: Why Content Still Wins in Google’s Eyes”
3. Assumption: Voice search is the future.
Contrarian: Voice search growth is slower than predicted, and optimizing for it too early can dilute focus from high-intent text search.
Sample Title: “Voice Search Isn’t Coming Fast: Focus on What Actually Moves the SEO Needle”
4. Assumption: Featured snippets and zero-click searches are killing organic traffic.
Contrarian: Strategic snippet targeting can actually increase visibility, CTR, and brand authority if approached correctly.
Sample Title: “Why Zero-Click Isn’t Killing SEO (And How to Benefit from It)”
5. Assumption: Long-form content always outranks short-form content.
Contrarian: Short, precise content can outperform long articles if it satisfies intent and reduces friction in user experience.
Sample Title: “The Myth of Long-Form Content: How Short Pages Can Beat 5,000-Word Posts”
6. Assumption: Keyword research is becoming irrelevant.
Contrarian: Keyword research is evolving, not dying—understanding semantic intent and micro-moments is now critical.
Sample Title: “Keyword Research Isn’t Dead: It’s Evolved (Here’s How to Use It in 2026)”
7. Assumption: Link building is dead.
Contrarian: Strategic link acquisition is alive; it just requires smarter, relationship-driven approaches rather than mass outreach.
Sample Title: “Link Building Isn’t Dead: The Smarter Way to Earn Authority in 2026”
Step 3: Recommended Angle for Maximum Resonance
For digital marketers, content strategists, and SEO managers, the most pain-point-heavy area is the fear of obsolescence due to AI and shifting ranking signals.
Recommendation: Lead with Angle 1 – AI Won’t Replace Your SEO Writers.
It directly addresses the anxiety around AI content.
Offers actionable differentiation strategies.
Balances forward-thinking insight with practical guidance.
Naturally hooks readers to explore other contrarian trends (content, snippets, link building).
Or to be more specific:
Pro tips
Be specific with inputs: Clearly define the [TOPIC] and [AUDIENCE/ROLE] — e.g., “AI in marketing for CMOs” instead of just “AI.”
Add real-world context: Mention your company, product, or industry niche (e.g., “as a content lead at HubSpot”) to make the output more relevant.
Ask for evidence: Follow up by saying “Add 1–2 data points or examples for each contrarian angle” to strengthen credibility.
Use it iteratively: Run it twice — once to explore broad ideas, then again to refine the most promising angle into a detailed outline or headline set.
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