Free topic cluster generator for your pillar page: Your topic cluster, built from real Google searches

You publish articles every month, yet your blog still feels scattered. Each post targets a keyword, but no pillar page ties them together. Google sees separate pages, and your readers leave after one article.

A pillar page fixes this. It sits at the center of a topic cluster and connects every article on the same subject. Your content gets a clear structure, for Google and for your readers.

Start with 1 core topic and collect the keywords around it. Give each keyword group its own page. Then link those pages so they support each other. The generator on this page does the first sort for you, from real search data.

What a pillar page and a topic cluster are

A pillar page is a long page that covers a broad topic from start to finish. It targets your main keyword, like "e-invoicing" or "account-based marketing". It answers the key questions briefly and links to deeper articles for the details.

A topic cluster is the group of pages built around that pillar page. Each cluster article covers one subtopic in depth and targets one specific keyword. These content clusters show Google that your pages form one body of work.

Pillar page, cluster article, content pillar and content hub

2 other terms come up often in content planning. A content pillar is a broad theme of your content strategy, like "finance operations". A content hub is a section of your site that gathers many pages on one theme.

Why topic clusters help your SEO

Google understands the topic you cover

When 10 pages cover one topic from different angles, Google sees a clear subject. Each page answers one question, and the links show how the answers fit together. Your site then reads as a consistent source on that topic.

Links spread authority across pages

Some pages earn more links and visits than others. Internal links pass part of that strength to the pages they point to. So when a cluster article gains attention, the pillar page and its neighbors benefit too.

Readers find the next step

A reader who lands on a cluster article often has a follow-up question. A clear link to the pillar page or a related article answers it. They stay on your site longer, and they learn more about what you offer.

A word of caution: a topic cluster guarantees no ranking. It gives search engines and readers a clear structure.

The 3 parts of a topic cluster

The pillar page

The pillar page covers the whole topic at a high level. Give each main subtopic its own section, with a short answer and a link. Aim for 6 to 8 sections as a rough guide. Place the main keyword in the title, the URL and the first paragraph.

The cluster articles

Each cluster article answers one question in depth. It targets one keyword with one search intent. Sort your cluster articles into 3 or 4 clusters of 3 to 5 articles each. Each cluster then maps to one section of the pillar page.

The internal links that hold content clusters together

Links turn separate pages into a topic cluster. Follow these rules:

• Link the pillar page to every cluster article.
• Link each cluster article back to the pillar page.
• Link each cluster article to 1 or 2 articles of the same cluster.
• Use an anchor text that describes the target page and matches its keyword.
• Place links in the body text, where they help the reader.
• Vary the anchors slightly so they read naturally.

How to build a topic cluster in 7 steps

1. Pick the core topic. Choose a topic your buyers search for and your product can address. It should be broad enough for 10 to 20 articles. "E-invoicing" works well, while "e-invoicing for florists in Ohio" is too narrow.
2. Collect keywords and their intent. List the searches around your topic, with their volume and difficulty. Note the intent of each one: informational, commercial, transactional or navigational. Intent tells you what kind of page to write.
3. Group keywords by intent and subtopic. This step is called keyword clustering. Put keywords that share the same intent and the same answer into one group. Each group becomes one page, so 2 pages never compete for the same search.
4. Outline the pillar page. Give the broadest keyword to the pillar page. Turn each large group into a section, with 6 to 8 sections as a rough guide. Each section sums up a subtopic and points to its cluster articles.
5. Choose the cluster articles. Keep the groups with a clear intent and a realistic difficulty for your site. Sort them into 3 or 4 clusters of 3 to 5 articles. Start with the articles closest to your product.
6. Plan the links and the anchors. Write down every link before you publish. For each article, note the target page and the anchor text. A simple spreadsheet does the job.
7. Publish in waves and measure. Publish the pillar page and the first cluster together, then add a cluster every few weeks. Track impressions, clicks and positions for each page in Google Search Console. Update the pages that stall before you write new ones.

Pillar page examples

A full example: e-invoicing for Billora

Billora is a fictional company, and its website is invented too: we created both for this example. Billora sells invoicing software to small businesses, and its core topic is "e-invoicing".

Pillar page: E-invoicing for small businesses, a practical guide (keyword: e-invoicing). Its outline has 6 sections:

1. What e-invoicing is and how it works
2. The rules small businesses must follow
3. What an electronic invoice must include
4. How to send and receive e-invoices
5. How to choose e-invoicing software
6. How to get paid faster with e-invoicing

Cluster 1: e-invoicing basics

• What is an e-invoice? (keyword: what is an e-invoice)
• E-invoice vs PDF invoice: what changes (keyword: e-invoice vs pdf invoice)
• How to create an electronic invoice (keyword: how to create an electronic invoice)

Cluster 2: rules and compliance

• E-invoicing requirements for small businesses (keyword: e-invoicing requirements)
• What to include on an invoice (keyword: invoice requirements)
• How long to keep business invoices (keyword: how long to keep invoices)

Cluster 3: software and payments

• How to choose e-invoicing software (keyword: e-invoicing software)
• How to send a payment reminder (keyword: invoice payment reminder)
• How to get paid faster as a small business (keyword: how to get paid faster)

4 example links, with their anchor text:

3 other kinds of pillar pages

• A guide. A guide walks the reader through a topic, from the basics to daily practice. The Billora page above is a guide, and it suits broad topics with many questions.
• A glossary. A glossary defines the key terms of a topic in a few lines each. Each definition links to the cluster article that explains the term in depth.
• A resource page. A resource page gathers your templates, checklists and tools on one topic. It works well when readers want to act fast.

A topic cluster template you can copy

Copy this table into a spreadsheet and replace each line with your own pages.

Add one line per page. Fill in the outgoing links before you write, so each link has a target.

Mistakes to avoid

• 2 pages for the same search. They compete with each other, so merge them into one page.
• A core topic of the wrong size. "Marketing" is too broad, and a topic that can't fill 10 articles is too narrow.
• A pillar page made of links only. Give each section a short answer before you send readers further.
• Orphan cluster articles. Every cluster article needs a link to the pillar page.
• Vague anchors. "Click here" and "read more" tell Google nothing about the target page.
• New articles on covered keywords. If a page already covers the keyword, update it first.

How the free topic cluster generator works

1. Enter your topic. Type your main keyword, like "e-invoicing" or "customer onboarding".
2. Pick your market. Choose the United States or France. The keyword data then matches the searches of that market.
3. Add your website if you want. Mark reads your pages and your published articles. It flags the cluster articles you already cover, so you can update them instead of writing new ones, and the article that can become your pillar page.
4. Get your topic cluster in under a minute. The tool gets the searches around your keyword, with their volume, difficulty and intent, and Mark organizes them into a full plan:
   • a pillar page with its title, keyword, volume, difficulty, intent and an outline in 6 to 8 sections
   • 3 or 4 clusters of 3 to 5 cluster articles, each with its title, keyword, volume, difficulty and intent
   • the linking plan, where each cluster article links to the pillar page and to 1 or 2 articles of its cluster, with the anchor text
   • 3 quick wins to start with
   • a CSV export of the keywords

A topic cluster tool built on Google data

A keyword clustering tool often starts from a list you paste. This topic cluster tool starts from the searches Google records around your keyword: the ones that contain it and the ones Google relates to it. Mark then picks each keyword by its number in that data, so every volume and difficulty on the page is a measured one.

What the tool doesn't do

• It invents no figure. Every volume, difficulty and intent comes from the keyword data. When the data has nothing on a keyword the AI suggests, the keyword shows without figures.
• It guarantees no ranking in Google. Your rankings depend on your content, your site and your competitors.
• It doesn't write the articles in its free version. You get the plan and write the pages yourself, or with Mark.

After the generator: write the cluster with Mark

Once the plan suits you, Mark writes the brief of each article, then the article itself, in your brand voice and with the internal links in place. Your team reviews before publishing. That step requires a sign-up.

How to apply these tips today

1. Pick 1 core topic. Choose a topic your buyers search for.
2. Run the generator. Enter your main keyword and your website address.
3. Check the flagged articles. Plan the updates of the ones that already cover a cluster article.
4. Start with the 3 quick wins. Publish the pillar page and your first cluster.
5. Copy the linking plan. Paste it into the template above and share it with your writers before they start.

Pillar page and topic cluster FAQ