> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.erlin.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Article

> Generate an AI-optimized article in Erlin from a keyword, with SERP-based research, a structured brief, and chat-based editing.

Enter a keyword and Erlin researches the top-ranking content, builds a structured brief, then writes a full article you can edit and publish to WordPress.

## Two creation modes

Erlin offers two paths to create an article:

| Mode                          | How it works                                                                                                 | Best for                                                         |
| ----------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **SERP review** (recommended) | Erlin fetches search results, you choose which sources to analyze, Erlin builds the brief from those sources | When you want control over what Erlin learns from before writing |
| **Quick brief**               | Erlin generates a brief directly without showing you SERP results first                                      | When speed matters more than source control                      |

Select the mode using the toggle buttons below the keyword input. SERP review is selected by default.

## Creating an article with SERP review

<Steps>
  <Step title="Enter a keyword">
    Open **Content > Create > Article** and type your target keyword in the input field. Click **Research with SERP review**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review SERP results">
    Erlin fetches the top search results for your keyword. Each result shows the URL, title, snippet, and content type (article, aggregator, forum, video, etc.). Toggle sources on or off to control which ones Erlin analyzes. Add custom URLs if you want Erlin to include a specific page.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm sources">
    Click confirm. Erlin scrapes and analyzes the selected sources, then generates a structured research brief in markdown. This takes 30 to 60 seconds depending on the number of sources.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review and edit the brief">
    The brief appears as a markdown document with headings, key points, and a recommended structure. Read it. Edit anything that needs changing: reorder sections, add points Erlin missed, remove irrelevant content. The brief is the blueprint Erlin writes from.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Approve the brief">
    Click **Approve**. Erlin generates the full article from your approved brief. The article typically matches the target word count (default 1500 words). Generation takes one to two minutes.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Edit via chat">
    Once the article is ready, a chat panel appears alongside the content. Send edit instructions in plain language: "make the introduction shorter," "add a section about pricing," "rewrite the conclusion with a stronger CTA." Erlin rewrites the relevant sections based on your message.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Publish or export">
    Copy the article as markdown or publish directly to WordPress if you have the integration connected. Erlin shows a publish dialog where you set the post title, category, and status.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## The research brief

The brief is the most important step. It determines what Erlin writes. A good brief includes:

* A recommended article structure (headings and subheadings)
* Key points to cover under each section
* Competitor angles Erlin identified from the analyzed sources
* Target word count

You can edit the brief freely before approving. Add your own angle, remove sections that do not fit, or restructure the flow. Erlin writes exactly what the approved brief describes.

## Editing the article

After Erlin generates the article, you can refine it through chat. Send a message describing what to change. Erlin rewrites the affected section and updates the article in place. You can:

* Ask for tone changes ("make it more conversational")
* Request structural edits ("split this section into two")
* Add missing content ("add a paragraph about compliance")
* Regenerate the entire article from the same brief if the first output missed the mark

Each edit instruction counts as one edit. The article stays in your Library regardless of how many edits you make.

## Publishing to WordPress

If WordPress is connected via **Integrations**, a publish button appears on the article page. Click it to open the publish dialog. Set the post title, select a category, choose draft or published status, and confirm. Erlin pushes the article to your WordPress site.

If WordPress is not connected, copy the markdown content and paste it into your CMS manually.

## Where articles are stored

All generated articles and briefs appear in the **Library**. Return to any article to continue editing, regenerate, or publish. Briefs that have not been approved yet also appear in the Library with their current status.

## Related

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Create a product page" icon="store" href="/improve/create/products">
    Generate product page descriptions from a title or URL.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Create a collection page" icon="store" href="/improve/create/collections">
    Generate collection and category page content.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Library" icon="library" href="/improve/library">
    View and manage all content Erlin has generated.
  </Card>

  <Card title="AEO opportunities" icon="sparkles" href="/improve/opportunities">
    Find content gaps that need new articles.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>