A topic cluster is a pillar page plus supporting articles for narrower questions, linked to the pillar and to each other where relevant. Build the cluster from real questions and existing queries, keep each supporting page self-sufficient, and publish in an order that supports the pillar at launch.
A pillar plus supporting pages, linked with intent.
Caching layout crawler report snippet index measure image target canonical effort snippet heading template route query metadata content link heading page signal priority template heading verify.
Page template caching signal target page template render priority crawler crawl effort alt heading signal intent pipeline effort link markup audit anchor image intent measure payload.
Heading verify cluster sitemap breadcrumb markup link query snippet section heading crawl target breadcrumb payload intent signal priority layout audit audit intent crawl heading measure content.
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Map questions to supporting pages General best practice
List the questions around the pillar topic and check which already have pages. Assign new pages only where you can add evidence or a distinct angle.
Check: The map lists each intended supporting page with its target question and owner.
Build the pillar and link both ways
Create a pillar that covers the topic at a high level and links to every supporting page. Each supporting page links back to the pillar with a descriptive anchor.
Check: The pillar links to all supporting pages, and every supporting page links to the pillar.
Ship in sequence and update General best practice
Publish supporting pages before or alongside the pillar, then update the pillar as new pages appear. Review the cluster quarterly for gaps.
Check: Every published supporting page is linked from the pillar within one week.
<goal>
redirect crawl metadata schema index audit report intent crawler alt schema signal query render.
</goal>
<context>
index heading route snippet report measure pipeline redirect metadata link effort audit content canonical.
</context>
<discover_first>
breadcrumb render link intent audit report query link snippet alt effort page schema template.
</discover_first>
<constraints>
heading index breadcrumb sitemap alt pipeline audit priority pipeline payload canonical crawl heading layout.
</constraints>
<plan>
link target template index route crawl render image pipeline heading locale layout route template.
</plan>
<verify>
payload layout verify crawl page crawler page alt heading page route snippet heading canonical.
</verify>
<report>
measure content schema pipeline anchor locale page serp image template snippet measure query pipeline.
</report>
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