blog-post-engine

name	blog-post-engine
description	Generate SEO-optimized blog posts for Talosix EDC with competitive research, keyword analysis, E-E-A-T signals, schema markup, and a complete distribution checklist targeting clinical trial operations audiences.
argument-hint	[topic-or-keyword]
allowed-tools	WebSearch, WebFetch

Blog Post Engine for Talosix EDC

Purpose

Produce publication-ready blog posts that rank for clinical trial EDC keywords, establish Talosix as a thought leader, and drive measurable organic traffic. Every post follows a research-first methodology that identifies content gaps, optimizes for search intent, and embeds E-E-A-T signals throughout.

Phase 1: Research and Strategy

Before writing a single word, complete this research protocol.

1.1 Keyword Analysis

Primary keyword identification:

• Use WebSearch to analyze search volume and competition for the target topic
• Identify the primary keyword (the one search phrase this post should rank for)
• Map search intent: informational, navigational, commercial, or transactional
• Check current SERP results for the primary keyword -- what content already ranks?

Keyword cluster:

• Identify 3-5 secondary keywords (semantically related terms)
• Identify 5-10 long-tail variations
• Map each to a section of the planned post

Talosix keyword priorities (reference list):

Primary (high intent):

• clinical trial EDC software
• electronic data capture system
• eCRF design software
• clinical data management system
• EDC platform for clinical trials
• EDC vendor comparison

Secondary (informational):

• clinical trial data collection best practices
• eCRF design best practices
• EDC system validation requirements
• CDISC compliant EDC
• risk-based data management
• decentralized trial data capture

Long-tail:

• "how to reduce clinical trial data entry errors"
• "EDC system for decentralized clinical trials"
• "CDASH compliant eCRF templates"
• "clinical trial data quality metrics"
• "21 CFR Part 11 EDC requirements"
• "EDC vendor evaluation checklist"

1.2 Competitive Content Analysis

Search the primary keyword and analyze the top 5 ranking results:

For each competing piece, note:

• Word count and depth
• Structure (headings, sections, multimedia)
• Unique angle or data they present
• Gaps -- what do they miss that our audience would want?
• Quality signals -- author expertise, citations, freshness

Content gap identification:

• What questions does the audience have that competitors do not answer?
• What data or perspective can Talosix uniquely provide?
• Where can we go deeper or more specific?
• What format improvements would make our piece more useful?

Competitive advantage angle: Write one sentence describing why Talosix's blog post will be the best result for this query. This becomes the north star for the writing phase.

1.3 Search Intent Mapping

Classify the primary keyword's search intent and match the post format:

Intent	Post Format	Reader Wants
Informational	Educational guide, explainer	Learn something, understand a concept
Commercial investigation	Comparison, review, evaluation guide	Make a decision, compare options
Problem-solving	How-to, best practices, checklist	Solve a specific problem
Trend analysis	Thought leadership, data-driven	Understand what is changing and why

Phase 2: Outline Construction

Post Architecture

Every blog post follows this skeleton:

[Meta Title] -- Primary keyword + compelling modifier (50-60 chars)
[Meta Description] -- Value prop + primary keyword (150-160 chars)

H1: [Post Title] -- Matches meta title or close variant

[Hook Intro] -- 2-3 paragraphs (150-200 words)
  - Opens with a pain point, question, or surprising data point
  - Establishes why this topic matters right now
  - Previews what the reader will learn

H2: [Section 1] -- Includes primary or secondary keyword
  [Content: 200-300 words]
  [Data point or example]

H2: [Section 2] -- Includes secondary keyword
  H3: [Subsection 2a]
  H3: [Subsection 2b]
  [Content: 300-400 words]

H2: [Section 3] -- Includes secondary keyword
  [Content: 200-300 words]
  [Expert quote placeholder or data citation]

H2: [Section 4] -- Practical application / how-to
  [Content: 200-300 words]
  [Actionable takeaway, checklist, or framework]

H2: [Conclusion / Key Takeaways]
  [Summary: 100-150 words]
  [CTA: Next step for the reader]

[Internal link suggestions]
[Author bio with E-E-A-T signals]

Heading Optimization

• H1: One per post. Contains primary keyword. 50-70 characters.
• H2: 4-6 per post. Each contains a keyword variant. Scannable and descriptive.
• H3: Use under H2s when a section has 2+ sub-points. Not required for every section.
• Heading test: Someone scanning only headings should understand the post's argument.

Phase 3: Writing

Hook Introduction (First 150 Words)

The introduction must accomplish three things:

1. Hook -- Stop the reader from bouncing. Use a data point, question, scenario, or bold statement.
2. Relevance -- Make it clear who this is for and what they will gain.
3. Preview -- Tell them what the post covers without giving everything away.

Hook templates for clinical trial audience:

• The Stat Hook: "Clinical trials generate an average of [X] data points per study. When [Y]% require manual review, your data management team becomes a bottleneck. Here is how to change that."

• The Question Hook: "When was the last time your team finished a study build on schedule? If you are like most clinical data management teams, the answer involves a sigh and a story about protocol amendments."

• The Scenario Hook: "It is three weeks before your database lock deadline. Your query rate just spiked. The medical monitor has new edit check requests. Sound familiar?"

• The Trend Hook: "The FDA's latest guidance on decentralized clinical trials changes what your EDC platform needs to support. Here is what to prioritize."

Body Content Rules

Load brand-voice skill and apply throughout.

1. One idea per paragraph. If a paragraph makes two points, split it.
2. Evidence density. Every 200-300 words should include a data point, example, or citation.
3. Scannable. Use bullet lists, numbered steps, bold key phrases, and short paragraphs.
4. Clinical credibility. Reference ICH guidelines, FDA guidance, industry benchmarks (Tufts CSDD), or published studies where relevant.
5. Active voice. "Data managers spend 40% of their time on queries" not "40% of data manager time is spent on queries."
6. Specificity over generality. "Reduce query rates from 12 per 100 pages to 4" beats "significantly reduce query rates."
7. Natural keyword integration. Primary keyword appears in first 100 words, at least one H2, and naturally 3-5 times in the body. Never force it.

E-E-A-T Signal Integration

Google evaluates content on Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. Embed these signals:

Experience:

• Reference real clinical trial workflows and scenarios
• Describe problems in language that shows firsthand understanding
• Include "we have seen" or "in our experience" where authentic
• Reference conversations with customers (anonymized)

Expertise:

• Cite specific regulations (21 CFR Part 11, ICH E6(R2), CDISC standards)
• Use correct industry terminology
• Reference published research or guidance documents
• Include technical depth appropriate for the audience

Authoritativeness:

• Author bio with relevant clinical trial / EDC experience
• Link to other authoritative Talosix content on the topic
• Reference industry organizations (DIA, SCDM, ACRP, CDISC)
• Include quotes from or references to recognized industry experts

Trustworthiness:

• Accurate regulatory claims (never overstate compliance)
• Balanced perspective (acknowledge complexity, tradeoffs)
• Clear attribution of data and claims
• Transparent about Talosix's role (acknowledge when we are making a product-adjacent point)
• Date published and last updated date

Internal Linking Strategy

Every post should include 3-5 internal links:

1. Contextual link -- Links to a related blog post where the reader can go deeper on a sub-topic
2. Product link -- Links to a relevant Talosix product or feature page (max 1-2, not forced)
3. Resource link -- Links to a downloadable resource, white paper, or case study
4. Category/pillar link -- Links to the pillar page for this content cluster

Link anchor text rules:

• Use descriptive, keyword-rich anchor text
• Never use "click here" or "learn more" as standalone anchors
• Vary anchor text -- do not use the same phrase repeatedly
• Link naturally within the flow of the sentence

Expert Quotes and Citations

Include 1-2 expert quote placeholders per post:

Format:

"Quote text that adds credibility and a human perspective to the topic." -- [Name], [Title], [Organization]

Options:

• If a real, approved quote is available, use it with attribution
• If not, create a placeholder: "[Insert expert quote on the impact of risk-based monitoring on EDC requirements]"
• Alternatively, cite published statements from FDA, ICH, or industry leaders (with source)

Phase 4: SEO Technical Elements

Meta Title

• 50-60 characters
• Primary keyword near the beginning
• Include a modifier: "Guide," "Best Practices," "How to," year, or number
• Example: "Clinical Trial EDC Software: The Complete Evaluation Guide (2026)"

Meta Description

• 150-160 characters
• Include primary keyword
• Include a value proposition (what the reader gains)
• Include a soft CTA or curiosity trigger
• Example: "Compare the top clinical trial EDC platforms on study build speed, compliance, and total cost. A data manager's guide to choosing the right system."

Schema Markup Recommendations

Recommend the appropriate schema type for each post:

• Article schema -- Standard for all blog posts (headline, datePublished, author, publisher)
• HowTo schema -- For how-to or step-by-step posts
• FAQ schema -- For posts structured around common questions
• BreadcrumbList -- For navigational context

Provide the recommended schema type and key fields. Do not write full JSON-LD unless requested.

Image and Media Guidance

• Featured image: Describe a concept for the hero image (what it should convey, not a literal description)
• In-post visuals: Recommend where charts, tables, screenshots, or diagrams would add value
• Alt text: Write descriptive alt text for every recommended image, including primary keyword where natural
• File naming: Suggest descriptive file names (e.g., "clinical-trial-edc-comparison-table.png")

Phase 5: Distribution Checklist

After the post is written, provide this actionable distribution checklist:

Pre-Publication

• Meta title and description set in CMS
• Featured image uploaded with alt text
• Internal links verified (no broken links)
• Schema markup implemented
• URL slug is clean and keyword-rich (e.g., /blog/clinical-trial-edc-evaluation-guide)
• Categories and tags assigned
• Author bio attached with headshot and credentials
• Open Graph and Twitter Card metadata set
• Mobile preview checked

Publication Day

• Publish at optimal time (Tuesday-Thursday, 8-10 AM ET)
• Share on Talosix LinkedIn company page
• Share on Talosix Twitter/X account
• Post in relevant LinkedIn groups (if applicable)
• Send to email list segment (if high-value content)
• Notify sales team with a 2-sentence summary and link
• Submit to Google Search Console for indexing

Post-Publication (Week 1-2)

• Monitor search console for indexing and initial impressions
• Repurpose into social media posts (use content-atomizer skill)
• Add to relevant email nurture sequences
• Internal link from 2-3 existing blog posts to the new post
• Share in industry Slack/Discord communities (if appropriate and allowed)

Ongoing (Monthly)

• Check ranking position for primary keyword
• Update content if data or regulations change
• Refresh publish date if significant updates are made
• Monitor for backlink opportunities

Output Format

For every blog post, deliver:

1. Research brief (keyword analysis, competitive gaps, search intent)
2. Full blog post (1,000-2,000 words with all headings, body, and formatting)
3. Meta title and description
4. Schema markup recommendation
5. Internal link suggestions (specific pages to link to and from)
6. Featured image concept
7. Author bio template (with E-E-A-T signals)
8. Distribution checklist (customized for this specific post)
9. 3 social media promotion snippets (LinkedIn + Twitter, for immediate use)