Topic Cluster

Build pillar, cluster, and support relationships for related content, then publish structured navigation that reflects those relationships.

Overview

Topic Cluster helps you organize related posts into a clear hierarchy instead of leaving them as isolated articles.

You manage it in Airygen SEO -> Topic Cluster.

The module is designed for content series where one pillar article should connect to related cluster articles and deeper support articles in a deliberate reading path.

Output Methods

Topic Cluster supports manual placement and automatic placement.

Manual output

Turn on Manual output when you want to place Topic Cluster navigation yourself.

  • Use the Template function when you want to place the output directly in a theme template.
  • Use the Shortcode when you want to place the output inside post content or another shortcode-ready area.
  • Use the Block when you want to place the output visually in the block editor.

Template function:

<?php if ( function_exists( 'airygen_the_topic_cluster' ) ) { airygen_the_topic_cluster(); } ?>

Shortcode:

[airygen_topic_cluster]

Block:

<!-- wp:airygen/topic-cluster /-->

Automatic injection

Turn on Automatic Topic Cluster injection when you want Airygen SEO to insert the cluster navigation into eligible post content for you.

  • Insert position lets you place the output Before content or After content.
  • Automatic injection is best when the same navigation position should be used across many eligible posts.
  • Manual output is better when you want exact placement in a template, a specific content block, or a custom layout.

If you use both manual output and automatic injection, confirm the live page carefully so the same cluster navigation does not appear twice.

Settings

The page is divided into Settings, Layout, Preview, Groups, and Mind map.

Settings tab

Use this tab to control output behavior, title display, navigation overrides, and content scope.

Output settings

  • Manual output enables the Template function, Shortcode, and Block snippets.
  • Automatic Topic Cluster injection inserts cluster navigation into post content automatically.
  • Insert position controls whether automatic output appears Before content or After content.

Title settings

  • Title enabled turns the section heading on or off.
  • Title text changes the heading shown above the cluster output.
  • Title level controls whether the heading is rendered as h2, h3, or h4.

Behavior

  • Override breadcrumbs replaces the default breadcrumb trail with the Topic Cluster hierarchy.
  • Override WordPress previous and next links uses Topic Cluster relationships for adjacent navigation instead of generic WordPress next and previous links.

Scope

  • Post types decides which post types are allowed to participate in Topic Cluster groups and display front-end output.

Layout tab

Use this tab to style the output on the front end.

Templates

You can start from preset themes such as Snow Slate, Honey Paper, Sky Breeze, Mint Calm, Rose Blush, and Lavender Mist.

Style

The style area is divided into several card groups.

  • The section header controls change the title container border, spacing, background, title size, title color, and title emphasis.
  • The body container controls change the main output border widths, border style, radius, padding, margins, and background color.
  • The link style controls change the Topic Cluster link color, font size, and whether links are bold, italic, or underlined.
  • The list style controls let you choose plain text, bullets, or numbers and adjust the vertical gap between items.

Groups tab

Use this tab to create article series and manage which posts belong to each group.

  • Create group opens a form with Name and Description.
  • The groups table shows the current Pillar, L2, L3, Members, and Candidates counts for each group.
  • Manage expands the candidate area for a group.
  • Inside the candidate area, Search post title… and Search help you find posts to add as candidates.
  • Search results include an add action so you can move a post into the group’s candidate list.
  • The current candidate table shows Post ID, Post title, and a remove action.
  • Launch opens the Mind map for that group.
  • Empty groups can be removed, while active groups must be cleared before removal.
  • Previous and Next let you move through the group list when you have multiple pages of groups.

Preview tab

Use this tab to inspect sample output before testing the real site.

  • The preview includes L1 article output, L2 article output, and L3 article output.
  • The device switcher lets you preview Laptop, Tablet, and Cellphone layouts.
  • Each preview sample also includes generated HTML and CSS examples for reference.

Editor Panel

The editor panel is where you assign an individual post to the right place in the cluster hierarchy.

  • In the editor settings area, Topic level lets you choose Not set, L1 — Pillar, L2 — Cluster, or L3 — Support.
  • When the post is L2 or L3, Search parent helps you filter the available parent posts.
  • Choose an L1 parent appears for L2 posts, and Choose an L2 parent appears for L3 posts.
  • Save stores the level and parent relationship for the current post.
  • If the post already has child items, the editor warns you before you change the level.
  • In the block editor, the secondary panel view lets you review the current group summary and use Open mind map.
  • In the classic editor, the same information appears in the Summary view with the same goal: confirm the current Group, L1, L2, and L3 relationship before you leave the editor.

Mind Map

The Mind map is the planning and correction view for each Topic Cluster group. It helps you see the full content structure instead of checking one post at a time.

Each group has its own map. You can open it from Groups with Launch, or from the editor summary with Open mind map.

Use the map to build and maintain the hierarchy in this order:

  1. Start with an L1 pillar article that acts as the main entry point for the topic.
  2. Attach L2 cluster articles to the correct L1 parent so each cluster article belongs to the right pillar.
  3. Attach L3 support articles to the correct L2 parent so support content expands the right cluster article instead of floating separately.
  4. Review the full structure after every round of edits so orphaned or mis-grouped articles are corrected before they confuse readers.
  5. Re-check the reading path after structural changes so the group still works as a complete article series, not just a loose collection of related posts.

The map is especially useful when you want stronger contextual navigation than WordPress’s default previous and next links.

  • When Override WordPress previous and next links is enabled, the map can define left-to-right ordering between same-level siblings.
  • That ordering is useful when you want readers to move through a planned series instead of whichever posts happen to be adjacent by date.
  • This creates a stronger semantic path between related articles and makes the series easier for visitors to follow.

The map also supports practical maintenance work.

  • Candidate posts appear in the map so you can promote them into the hierarchy instead of rebuilding the group from scratch.
  • You can assign a candidate as L1, L2, or L3, and the map asks for the right parent when the level needs one.
  • You can drag nodes into a clearer visual layout when a group becomes large.
  • You can switch to full screen when you need more room to review a complex article series.

For best results, treat the Mind map as a planning tool, not just a diagnostic screen. Build the series around one clear pillar, make every cluster article answer part of that pillar, and make every support article reinforce a specific cluster branch.

How to Use

  1. Open Airygen SEO -> Topic Cluster.
  2. In the Settings tab, decide whether you want Manual output, Automatic Topic Cluster injection, or a single primary output method.
  3. If you need manual placement, turn on Manual output and copy the Template function, Shortcode, or Block snippet that matches your publishing workflow.
  4. If you need automatic placement, turn on Automatic Topic Cluster injection and choose the Insert position that fits your content layout.
  5. Set the section heading with Title enabled, Title text, and Title level.
  6. In Behavior, decide whether Override breadcrumbs and Override WordPress previous and next links should be enabled for this site.
  7. In Scope, select the Post types that are allowed to join Topic Cluster groups.
  8. Open Groups, click Create group, and enter the Name and optional Description for the article series.
  9. In the same Groups tab, use Manage, Search post title…, and the add action to place relevant posts into the group as candidates.
  10. Open each participating post in the editor, set its Topic level, choose the correct parent when the post is L2 or L3, and click Save.
  11. Return to Groups and click Launch for the correct group so you can review the hierarchy in Mind map.
  12. In Mind map, confirm that L1 connects to the right L2 articles and each L2 connects to the right L3 support articles.
  13. If you enabled Override WordPress previous and next links, use the map to confirm the sibling ordering reflects the reading sequence you want.
  14. Open Layout, choose a preset in Templates, and then adjust the header, body container, link, and list style controls.
  15. Open Preview, switch between Laptop, Tablet, and Cellphone, and review the sample L1, L2, and L3 outputs.
  16. Save the module settings and test one live L1, one live L2, and one live L3 post on the frontend.

After setup, verify these points on the live site:

  • The Topic Cluster output appears in the correct place and only once.
  • The current post shows the correct parent or child relationship for its level.
  • Breadcrumbs and previous and next links change only when you intentionally enabled the override settings.
  • The title, intro text, and link styling still look right inside your active theme.

Preview and Live Output

The Preview tab is a simplified representation of Topic Cluster output.

  • It shows sample L1, L2, and L3 outputs instead of your real posts.
  • It reflects your current styling choices, heading settings, and list style.
  • It includes HTML and CSS samples so you can inspect the generated example markup.

The live frontend can still differ from the preview.

  • The real output depends on the current post’s actual level and group relationships.
  • The live intro text changes based on whether the current post is a pillar, cluster, or support article.
  • The final appearance is still affected by your active theme, your CSS, and where you place the output.
  • If a post type is not selected in Post types, that content will not participate in Topic Cluster output even if the preview looks correct.

After saving, test real posts from all three levels so you can confirm the hierarchy, intro text, and override behavior on the actual frontend.

SEO Benefits

Topic clusters strengthen internal relationships between related articles and make the main topic easier for search engines to interpret across a group of pages.

They also create a clearer reading path for users, which helps deeper supporting content reinforce the pillar article instead of competing with it as isolated pages.

User Cases

Publishers building a pillar-and-cluster content hub

Before: A publisher has a main guide and many related articles, but the relationship between the main guide and supporting posts is not obvious.

After: Topic Cluster turns those pages into a visible hierarchy so the pillar article, cluster articles, and support articles work together as one structured topic.

Agencies reorganizing a large archive

Before: An agency inherits a site with many overlapping articles, and generic previous and next links do not reflect the intended content journey.

After: Topic Cluster lets the agency group related content, define better parent relationships, and build a more intentional reading path.

Teams publishing multi-part tutorials or travel series

Before: Readers can land on part three of a series without seeing the broader lesson or route.

After: Topic Cluster keeps the series connected so readers can move from the main guide to the correct subtopic and then to the supporting detail pages.

FAQ

Do I need every post on the site to belong to a cluster?

No. Topic clusters work best for article series, topic hubs, and content families where hierarchy matters.

Why is a post missing from the live Topic Cluster output?

Check whether the post type is included in Post types, whether the post has a saved Topic level, and whether the post belongs to the correct group and parent chain.

Can I delete a group after I start using it?

Only empty groups can be removed. If a group still has pillar, cluster, or support content assigned, clear those relationships first.

Why does the preview look different from the live page?

The preview uses simulated L1, L2, and L3 examples. The live output depends on the current post’s real hierarchy, selected output method, and active theme styling.