/comparison-post-writer

name: comparison-post-writer
description: >
  Write "X vs Y" comparison blog posts that help readers choose between two competing products.
  Triggers on: "write a comparison post", "X vs Y blog post", "compare [product A] and [product B]",
  "which is better [A] or [B]", "head to head comparison", "[product] vs [product] article",
  "comparison review", "write a versus article", "side by side comparison blog",
  "which should I choose [A] or [B]", "compare these two products for my blog".
license: MIT
version: "1.0.0"
tags: ["affiliate-marketing", "blogging", "seo", "content-writing", "comparison", "versus"]
compatibility: "Claude Code, ChatGPT, Gemini CLI, Cursor, Windsurf, OpenClaw, any AI agent"
metadata:
  author: affitor
  version: "1.0"
  stage: S3-Blog

Comparison Post Writer

Write high-converting "X vs Y" comparison blog posts that rank on Google and help readers make a confident buying decision. Each post includes a feature comparison table, individual product breakdowns, pros and cons, a clear winner recommendation, and affiliate CTAs placed at maximum-intent moments.

When to Use

• User wants to compare two or three competing products side by side
• User has two affiliate programs and wants a single article that covers both
• User says "vs", "versus", "compare", "which is better", "side by side"
• User wants to capture high-intent search traffic (X vs Y searches convert at 2-3x the rate of generic reviews)
• User has a product from S1 and wants to frame it against competitors

Workflow

Step 1: Identify Products to Compare

Parse the user's request for product names. You need a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 3 products.

**If only 1 product is provided:**

• Use `web_search` to find the top 1-2 competitors
• Search: `"[product name] alternatives" OR "[product name] vs" site:g2.com OR site:capterra.com OR site:trustradius.com`
• Pick the competitors with the most head-to-head search volume

**If 3+ products are provided:**

• Keep all 3 if they are genuinely comparable
• If the user listed 4+, ask which 2-3 to focus on — more than 3 makes the comparison unwieldy

**Affiliate priority**: The user's affiliate product goes first (featured position). If both products have affiliate links, feature the higher-commission one in the "winner" slot unless the product genuinely loses on quality.

Step 2: Research Both Products

For each product, use `web_search` to gather: 1. **Pricing**: starting price, tiers, free trial availability 2. **Key features**: 8-12 features that matter to buyers 3. **Target audience**: who uses this product and why 4. **Known weaknesses**: common complaints on G2, Capterra, Reddit, or Trustpilot 5. **Unique differentiator**: one thing this product does better than everyone else 6. **Search volume signal**: `"[product A] vs [product B]"` — check if autocomplete shows this is a real query

Search queries to run per product:

• `"[product name] review [year]"`
• `"[product name] pricing"`
• `"[product name] pros cons"`

Step 3: Build the Comparison Framework

Determine the 6-10 comparison dimensions that matter most for this product category. These should be:

• Directly relevant to buyer decisions (not vanity features)
• Measurable or clearly differentiable between products
• Things that appear in search queries ("does X have [feature]?")

**Example dimensions by category:**

• Email tools: deliverability, automation, templates, integrations, pricing/contacts ratio, free plan
• SEO tools: keyword database size, backlink data, site audit depth, reporting, API access, pricing
• Video tools: resolution, AI avatars, voice cloning, templates, render speed, watermark on free plan
• Project management: task limits on free, Gantt chart, time tracking, automations, integrations, mobile app

Assign a winner per dimension based on research. Mark ties where genuine.

Step 4: Determine the Narrative Angle

Choose one of three angles based on what the data shows:

| Angle | When to use | Headline formula | |---|---|---| | **Clear winner** | One product is genuinely better for most users | "[A] vs [B]: [A] Wins for Most, But [B] Is Better If..." | | **It depends** | Products serve different audiences | "[A] vs [B]: Which Is Right for You? (Honest Comparison)" | | **Upset** | Lesser-known product beats the market leader | "[A] vs [B]: Why [Lesser-Known] Is Actually Better in [Year]" |

Default to "clear winner" — readers want a recommendation, not a non-answer.

Step 5: Write the Article

Write the full comparison post following this exact structure:

**1. FTC Disclosure** (3 lines, above the fold) Read `shared/references/ftc-compliance.md` and use the medium format. Insert immediately after the title.

**2. Introduction** (150-250 words)

• Open with the core tension: why this is a hard choice
• State who each product is best suited for (one sentence each)
• End with: "By the end of this post, you'll know exactly which one to pick."
• Include target keyword naturally in the first 100 words

**3. Quick Verdict Box** (immediately after intro) A scannable summary for readers who won't read the full article:

**Quick Verdict**
- Best overall: [Product A] — [one-line reason]
- Best for [use case]: [Product B] — [one-line reason]
- Best for budget: [Product X]
- Skip if: [edge case where neither works]

**4. Product Overviews** (200-300 words each) One H2 section per product:

• What it is and what it does
• Who built it and when (brief credibility context)
• The one thing it does better than anyone else
• Starting price and free trial info
• Affiliate CTA: `[Try [Product] free →](affiliate_url)`

**5. Feature Comparison Table** A full markdown table with all comparison dimensions:

| Feature | [Product A] | [Product B] |
|---|---|---|
| [Dimension 1] | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| [Dimension 2] | ⭐ Better | Good |
| Price | $X/mo | $Y/mo |

Use ✅ / ❌ / ⚠️ (partial) for binary features. Use descriptive text for nuanced ones. Bold the winner per row.