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

# Article Templates

> FAII offers six article templates optimized for different content types - from how-to guides to comparison posts. Each is designed for maximum AI citation potential.

<Info>
  **Quick Answer:** FAII automatically selects the best template based on your keyword pattern. Templates include How-To Guide, Comparison Post, Listicle, FAQ Article, Deep Dive, and News/Update - each optimized for specific search intents.
</Info>

## What You'll Learn

* What templates are available
* When each template is used
* What each template includes
* How to override automatic template selection

## Available Templates

### How-To Guide

**Best for:** Tutorial and process-oriented content

| Element               | Details                                       |
| --------------------- | --------------------------------------------- |
| **Typical length**    | 2,000-3,000 words                             |
| **Structure**         | Introduction → Steps → Tips → FAQ             |
| **Keyword patterns**  | "how to...", "guide to...", "tutorial for..." |
| **AI citation value** | High - AI loves step-by-step instructions     |

**Includes:**

* Numbered step-by-step instructions
* Prerequisites section
* Tips and warnings
* Common mistakes to avoid
* Expected outcomes

### Comparison Post

**Best for:** "\[Brand] vs \[Competitor]" and comparison queries

| Element               | Details                                             |
| --------------------- | --------------------------------------------------- |
| **Typical length**    | 2,500-3,500 words                                   |
| **Structure**         | Overview → Feature comparison → Pros/Cons → Verdict |
| **Keyword patterns**  | "vs", "compared to", "alternative to"               |
| **AI citation value** | Very high - AI uses comparisons frequently          |

**Includes:**

* Feature-by-feature comparison table
* Pros and cons for each option
* Use case recommendations
* Pricing comparison (if applicable)
* Final recommendation with reasoning

### Listicle

**Best for:** "Best \[category]" and list-based queries

| Element               | Details                                        |
| --------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
| **Typical length**    | 1,500-2,500 words                              |
| **Structure**         | Introduction → Ranked list → Methodology → FAQ |
| **Keyword patterns**  | "best...", "top...", "X ways to..."            |
| **AI citation value** | High - AI frequently references ranked lists   |

**Includes:**

* Ranked entries with descriptions
* Selection criteria explained
* Key features highlighted for each entry
* Quick comparison table
* How-to-choose section

### FAQ Article

**Best for:** Question-focused queries and knowledge gaps

| Element               | Details                                        |
| --------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
| **Typical length**    | 1,000-2,000 words                              |
| **Structure**         | Introduction → Q\&A pairs → Related topics     |
| **Keyword patterns**  | Question words, "what is...", "why does..."    |
| **AI citation value** | Very high - directly matches Q\&A format of AI |

**Includes:**

* 8-15 question-answer pairs
* Clear, direct answers
* FAQ schema markup
* Related questions section
* Links to deeper content

### Deep Dive

**Best for:** Comprehensive topic coverage and thought leadership

| Element               | Details                                              |
| --------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- |
| **Typical length**    | 3,000-5,000 words                                    |
| **Structure**         | Executive summary → Sections → Analysis → Conclusion |
| **Keyword patterns**  | Broad topics, industry terms, complex subjects       |
| **AI citation value** | Medium-high - establishes topical authority          |

**Includes:**

* Executive summary/TL;DR
* Multiple detailed sections
* Data, statistics, and research
* Expert analysis and perspective
* Actionable takeaways

### News/Update

**Best for:** Timely content and trending topics

| Element               | Details                                         |
| --------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- |
| **Typical length**    | 800-1,500 words                                 |
| **Structure**         | Lead → Context → Analysis → Impact              |
| **Keyword patterns**  | Trending terms, recent events, announcements    |
| **AI citation value** | Medium - time-sensitive but high initial impact |

**Includes:**

* News-style lead paragraph
* Background context
* Impact analysis
* Expert commentary angle
* What-to-do-next section

## Template Selection Logic

FAII chooses templates automatically based on:

1. **Keyword intent** - What the searcher wants to accomplish
2. **Gap type** - What kind of visibility is missing
3. **Competitor content** - What format competitors use
4. **Search volume** - Higher volume may warrant deeper content
5. **Topic complexity** - Simple topics get shorter formats

### Override selection

You can manually choose a template when generating content:

1. Click **Generate Content** on any gap
2. Before confirming, click **Change Template**
3. Select your preferred template
4. Click **Generate with This Template**

## Template Comparison

| Template     |    Length   | Best Intent     | AI Citation Potential |
| ------------ | :---------: | --------------- | :-------------------: |
| How-To Guide | 2,000-3,000 | Instructional   |          High         |
| Comparison   | 2,500-3,500 | Decision-making |       Very High       |
| Listicle     | 1,500-2,500 | Discovery       |          High         |
| FAQ          | 1,000-2,000 | Quick answers   |       Very High       |
| Deep Dive    | 3,000-5,000 | Research        |      Medium-High      |
| News/Update  |  800-1,500  | Current events  |         Medium        |

## Schema Markup by Template

Each template automatically includes appropriate schema:

| Template     | Schema Type        |
| ------------ | ------------------ |
| How-To Guide | HowTo              |
| Comparison   | Article + ItemList |
| Listicle     | ItemList           |
| FAQ          | FAQPage            |
| Deep Dive    | Article            |
| News/Update  | NewsArticle        |

## Tips

* **Let FAII choose** - The automatic selection is based on data analysis and typically picks the best format
* **FAQ for quick wins** - FAQ articles are the fastest to generate and have high AI citation potential
* **Comparisons for competitive gaps** - If a competitor is mentioned and you're not, a comparison post directly addresses the gap
* **Deep Dives for authority** - When you need to establish topic ownership, comprehensive content works best

## Related Articles

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Automatic Generation" icon="gear" href="/docs/content-automation/automatic-content-generation">
    How the generation process works
  </Card>

  <Card title="Schema Markup" icon="code" href="/docs/content-automation/schema-markup">
    How schema helps AI parse your content
  </Card>
</CardGroup>