Updated February 2026 · 10 min read

Topic Clustering for Topical Authority

TL;DR
Topic clustering is the strategy of creating groups of interlinked content to build topical authority. Each cluster has a pillar page (broad topic guide) linked to 5-15 cluster pages (specific subtopics). This hub-and-spoke architecture signals comprehensive expertise to Google and dominates keyword rankings across entire subject areas.

Why Topic Clusters Work

Google's algorithm has evolved from matching individual keywords to evaluating topical authority — how deeply and comprehensively a site covers a subject. A single article about "AI SEO" competes with millions of others. But a cluster of 15 interlinked articles covering AI SEO from every angle — tools, workflows, comparisons, FAQs, case studies — signals to Google that your site is an authority on the topic.

The result: every article in the cluster ranks higher than it would as a standalone piece, because each article reinforces the authority of all the others.

The Topic Cluster Architecture

ComponentContentKeywordLinks
Pillar Page3,000-5,000 word guideBroadest (highest volume)Links to all cluster pages
Cluster Pages1,000-2,500 word articlesLong-tail variationsLink to pillar + 2-3 siblings
Answer Pages800-1,500 word responsesQuestion-based queriesLink to pillar + relevant clusters

Real Example: This Site

This very site uses topic clustering. The AI SEO cluster includes:

How to Build a Cluster in 5 Steps

  1. 1. Choose your topic — broad enough for 10+ articles, specific enough to define boundaries
  2. 2. Research keywords — find all related queries (pillar term + long-tail + questions)
  3. 3. Map the cluster — assign one primary keyword to each page, ensure no keyword cannibalization
  4. 4. Generate content — write the pillar first, then cluster pages, ensuring consistent linking
  5. 5. Publish and interlink — publish all pages within 1-2 weeks for maximum topical signal

Scaling Clusters with AI

Manually building a 15-article cluster takes a content team 4-6 weeks. With Clickcentric, you can generate the entire cluster in a single session, review it in a day, and publish it within a week. The speed advantage means you establish topical authority before competitors can react. Get started →

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Frequently Asked Questions

A topic cluster is a group of interlinked content pieces covering a single broad topic. It consists of one pillar page (comprehensive guide) and 5-15 cluster pages (detailed articles on subtopics), all connected via internal links.
A minimum of 5-7 articles per cluster to establish basic authority. For competitive topics, aim for 15-30 articles covering every subtopic, question, and comparison within the topic area.
A pillar page is the central hub of a topic cluster — a comprehensive guide covering the broad topic (2,000-5,000 words) that links out to every cluster page. It targets the highest-volume keyword in the cluster.
Every cluster page links back to the pillar page. The pillar page links to every cluster page. Cluster pages link to 2-3 other cluster pages where contextually relevant. This creates a hub-and-spoke with cross-connections.
Yes. AI tools can identify cluster opportunities from keyword data, generate all the articles within a cluster, and maintain consistent internal linking. Clickcentric's AI Writer can produce an entire cluster in a single session.

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