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The Problem: AI can write a blog post in 30 seconds. But a post that ranks, earns trust, and doesn't embarrass you later? That requires a workflow. In 2025, the biggest upgrade isn't "better writing"—it's source-backed research via Deep Research tools, plus one simple discipline: verify claims before you publish.
How to Write a Blog Post with AI in 2025 (Research + SEO + Verify)
A step-by-step AI workflow to research, draft, optimize, and fact-check a blog post using ChatGPT Deep Research + Perplexity/Gemini—prompts included.
Key Facts (TL;DR)
- Deep Research tools help you gather sources fast, but you still must verify claims before publishing.
- Use a "claim table" and click sources before publishing anything factual.
- Draft in sections with constraints for better quality (don't draft everything in one shot).
- Do an SEO pass only after the draft is stable (titles, meta, FAQs, internal links).
- Know your upload limits: 512MB/file, 2M tokens/doc when working with big documents.
- This workflow separates research → draft → SEO → QA into clear stages.
Why Most AI-Written Posts Fail (and How to Fix It)
Most AI content fails for one of these reasons:
- No real sources (or fake/weak citations)
- Generic angle (reads like 100 other posts)
- Overconfident errors (hallucinations that sound "clean")
- Bad structure (no scannable headings, no clear takeaways)
Tools You'll Use (and the Limits You Should Know)
| Tool | Best For | Usage Limits |
|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT Deep Research | Multi-step investigations with citations | Free: 5/month, Plus/Team: 25/month, Pro: 250/month (as of April 24, 2025) |
| Perplexity Deep Research | Fast source discovery | Pro subscribers: unlimited, Non-subscribers: limited access |
| Gemini Deep Research | Quick "research report" drafts | Available widely (varies by country/language) |
| File Uploads (ChatGPT) | Analyzing PDFs, drafts, competitor posts | 512MB/file, 2M tokens/doc (text files) |
ChatGPT Deep Research (Best for Multi-Step Investigations)
OpenAI's Deep Research is designed to produce a researched report with sources. According to OpenAI, usage allowances (as of the April 24, 2025 update) are Free: 5 queries/month, Plus/Team/Enterprise/Edu: 25/month, Pro: 250/month, with a lightweight fallback after limits.
Perplexity Deep Research (Best for Fast Source Discovery)
Perplexity states Deep Research is broadly available, with Pro subscribers getting unlimited Deep Research queries, while non-subscribers have limited access.
Gemini Deep Research (Best for Quick Reports)
Google markets Gemini Deep Research as selectable directly in the prompt bar and available widely (country/language availability can vary).
File Uploads (For Analyzing PDFs, Drafts, Competitor Posts)
If you upload documents to ChatGPT, OpenAI's File Uploads FAQ lists a 512MB/file hard limit and a 2M token cap per text/document file (spreadsheets are different).
The Verified AI Writing Workflow (8 Steps)
Step 1 — Choose a Topic + Search Intent (Don't Skip This)
Before research, decide what the reader wants:
- Informational: "What is X?" "How does X work?"
- Comparative: "X vs Y" "Best tools for Z"
- Transactional: "pricing, plans, worth it" (needs careful sourcing)
Copy-Paste Prompt: Topic + Intent Picker
Help me choose a blog topic with clear search intent.
My niche: [YOUR NICHE]
My audience: [WHO]
My goals: [traffic / affiliate / newsletter / authority]
Output:
1) 10 topic ideas
2) The likely search intent for each (info/compare/transactional)
3) The best 1 topic to write today and why
4) What would make it unique (angle + examples)Step 2 — Generate a Research Plan (Outline Before Browsing)
This prevents the tool from wandering.
Copy-Paste Prompt: Research Plan
Create a research plan for: [TOPIC]
Requirements:
- Prefer primary sources first (official docs, pricing, changelogs)
- Then reputable secondary sources (major tech outlets, academic pages)
- Focus on the last 12 months for fast-changing facts
Output:
A) 10 search queries
B) A list of "facts that MUST be verified" (pricing, limits, dates)
C) A final article outline (H2/H3)
D) A risk list (what might be outdated or controversial)Step 3 — Run Deep Research (Force Citations + Dates)
In ChatGPT (what to click):
- Open ChatGPT
- Select Deep research in the composer/tool mode
- Paste the prompt below
Copy-Paste Prompt: Deep Research Master
Run deep research on: [TOPIC]
Hard rules:
- Every major claim must have a citation link.
- Include publish date (or "no date found") for each source.
- Prefer primary sources first (official docs/pricing/changelog).
- If you cannot verify something, label it UNVERIFIED.
Deliverable:
1) 12–18 key verified facts (bullets) with citations
2) What changed in the last 90 days
3) Common misunderstandings
4) A 200-word summary for beginnersStep 4 — Build a "Claim Table" (The Step That Prevents Disasters)
This is the secret step most people skip.
Take your research report and extract claims like:
- Claim: "Tool X costs $Y/month"
- Source: link
- Verified by clicking? Yes/No
- Notes: what the page actually says
- Status: publish / rewrite / remove
Copy-Paste Prompt: Claim Table Extractor
From this research report, extract a claim table.
Output format:
- Claim
- Why it matters
- Source link(s)
- What I must check when I open the source
- Risk level (low/medium/high)
- Suggested safe wording
Report:
[PASTE]Step 5 — Create a Differentiated Outline (Avoid Generic Posts)
Now you know the facts. Next: make it yours.
A differentiated outline includes:
- A strong point of view ("most people do this wrong")
- A step-by-step workflow
- A prompt pack
- An example walkthrough
- A checklist
Copy-Paste Prompt: Differentiated Outline
Build an outline that is NOT generic.
Inputs:
- Topic: [TOPIC]
- Audience: [WHO]
- My angle: [YOUR ANGLE]
- Verified facts: [PASTE 10-15 FACTS]
Output:
- H2/H3 outline
- Where to add examples
- Where to add screenshots/image placeholders
- A "mistakes and fixes" section
- A final checklist sectionStep 6 — Draft Section-by-Section (Don't Draft the Whole Thing at Once)
Drafting in chunks helps quality.
Copy-Paste Prompt: Section Drafter
Write Section: [PASTE H2 TITLE]
Constraints:
- 2–4 short paragraphs
- Bullets where useful
- Include 1 mini example
- Include 1 copy-paste prompt
- Use only the verified facts below (do not invent)
Verified facts:
[PASTE]Repeat for each H2.
Step 7 — SEO Pass (Titles, Meta, FAQs, Internal Links)
Now do an optimization pass.
Copy-Paste Prompt: SEO Optimizer (Safe)
Optimize this article for SEO without adding new facts.
Output:
1) 3 SEO titles (60–70 chars)
2) Meta description (~155 chars)
3) Suggested URL slug
4) 8–12 FAQs (short answers)
5) Internal link suggestions (generic placeholders)
6) A "Key Takeaways" bullet list
Draft:
[PASTE DRAFT]Step 8 — Final QA (Accuracy + Readability)
Use a checklist so you don't miss obvious problems.
Copy-Paste Prompt: Final QA
Do a final QA pass on my draft.
Checks:
- Any claim that needs a citation (flag it)
- Any wording that sounds certain but is not supported
- Any confusing sections (suggest rewrites)
- Any missing steps for a beginner
- Give me a "publish readiness score" (1–10) with reasons
Draft:
[PASTE]Copy-Paste Prompt Pack (Quick Access)
Research Prompt (Source-First)
Research [TOPIC]. Prioritize official docs/pricing/changelog first.
Return 10–15 verified facts with citations + publish dates.
Label anything uncertain as UNVERIFIED.Comparison Prompt (Two Tools)
Cross-check these 5 claims using a second research tool.
For each claim: confirm / partially confirm / contradict, and why.
Claims:
1) ...
2) ...
3) ..."Cite or Delete" Prompt
For every sentence in my draft:
- If it's factual, attach a citation (or mark it "needs citation").
- If no citation exists, rewrite as uncertainty or remove.
Return the cleaned draft.Example Walkthrough (Mini)
Let's say you're writing: "Deep Research tools in 2025: ChatGPT vs Perplexity vs Gemini".
- Use ChatGPT Deep Research to collect plan limits and official pages (plus citations).
- Use Perplexity Deep Research to cross-check and find additional reputable coverage.
- Use Gemini Deep Research to validate general availability claims.
- Build a claim table and click the sources before you publish.
That's how you move from "AI wrote it" to "I can stand behind it."
Common Mistakes (and Fixes)
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Publishing "pricing/limits" without primary sources | Put pricing/limits in your claim table and verify directly |
| Letting the AI choose the angle | You choose the angle + audience; AI fills the structure |
| Drafting everything in one shot | Draft by H2 with constraints and verified facts |
| Doing SEO before the draft is stable | Do an SEO pass only after the draft is complete |
Key Takeaways
- Deep Research tools help you gather sources fast, but you still must verify claims.
- Use a claim table and click sources before publishing anything factual.
- Draft in sections with constraints for better quality.
- Do an SEO pass only after the draft is stable.
- Know your upload limits: 512MB/file, 2M tokens/doc when working with big documents.
- Separate research → draft → SEO → QA into clear stages for best results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Deep Research for any topic?
Yes, but fast-changing topics (pricing, product features, limits) require extra verification. Always click the sources and check publish dates.
What if I run out of Deep Research queries?
ChatGPT offers a lightweight fallback after limits. You can also use Perplexity (Pro subscribers get unlimited) or Gemini Deep Research as alternatives.
How do I verify citations without clicking every link?
You must click critical claims (pricing, limits, dates). For general context, spot-check 3–5 sources. Use the claim table to prioritize high-risk claims.
Can I upload competitor blog posts for analysis?
Yes. ChatGPT's file upload supports PDFs and text files (up to 512MB/file, 2M tokens). You can upload competitor posts and ask for gap analysis or structure comparison.
Should I do SEO before or after drafting?
After drafting. Do an SEO pass only when the content is stable. If you optimize too early, you'll waste time re-optimizing after major edits.
How long does this workflow take?
For a 1,500–2,000 word post: ~2–3 hours total (research 45 min, outline 15 min, draft 60 min, SEO 20 min, QA 20 min). Much faster than traditional research + writing.
